Just an update on my progress... Any feedback is appreciated! This is my first attempt at designing on my own, and my first attempt at hand stitching turned edge applique. My biggest irritation so far is that I wish I had made the water a little more narrow, but it is acceptable.

In the photo the umbrella top and the sun aren't stitched yet, but the pole and everything else is stitched. The paper on top is just to help me in placement, since I decided it was easiest to leave myself lots of wiggle room and then trim it all down in the end.

I still want to come up with something else to add in to fill a little of the empty space on the sand... maybe a bucket, shells, or a sandcastle or something... not sure. I am also still trying to decide about quilting... I think it will be light on the quilting, just some variegated brown/tan threads here and there in the sand to add texture. The sky might get some swirls or small cloud shapes... and the water, that will be the trickiest. I am wanting to use some threads that will catch light and add in something that gives the impression of sunlight catching on ripples in the water.

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