Sonia Ruiz – Nature #4
Joshua Tree
Inspiration: Joshua Tree.
The Joshua tree is native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico. Don’t be fooled by the name, the Joshua tree is not actually a tree. They are actually a type of yucca. Legend has it that Mormons in the 1850’s named the tree after the biblical figure, Joshua, seeing the limbs of the tree as outstretched arms up to the sky in prayer guiding the travelers westward.
When mature Joshua trees bloom, it produces whitish-green or creamy yellow flowers. These flowers are bell shaped and arranged in clusters. They are pretty nice to look at but don’t get too close! Unlike most flowers, the Joshua tree flowers produce a very unpleasant smell. This is one flower you don’t want to stop and smell.
Materials: hand dyed cotton bed linen, hand dyed gauze, raw edge appliqué, vintage adMC embroidery floss, hand dyed oaxaca yarn, French knots, thread painting and free motion quilting.
Detail views:
FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN 
Love the Joshua Tree. My family often camped in the preserve near Death Valley, CA. You have wonderfully captured the essence of this fascinating plant and your use of color is spot-on.
This tree is fascinating ! I like the fabric you used for the background, it gives a good contrast with the colourful tree.
I really like the way that you created the Joshua tree, the colours are wonderful. Thank you for the description, very interesting. Great work well done!
The background fabric is so wonderful! I love how you stitched the hairy tree and the flowers. Very well done!
Use of the cheescloth is very effective and the texture is amazing. Also reminds me about my own experience with the Joshua tree 🙂
I love the way that your stitching gives the yucca its hairy, prickly character. The desert backgrouns is beautifully worked and shows off the plants really well. A beautiful piece
The tree is lovely, it looks so prickly! Clever stitching. The background sets off the tree perfectly.
You have created the Joshua tree in a beautiful way with that prickly green and the lovely white flowers. The colorful background and mountain set the tree off very well. Good composition, lovely piece.
I really admire and love your hand stitching . Amazing. The tree is beautifully done as is the background and the use of colors. great piece.
I just love the embroidery of your Joshua tree. It is so effective.
Beautiful color of your background. The stitching in the mountain makes it stand out. Well done.
I love Joshua trees. I recently went to Joshua national park to see the trees. They are so unique. I love the way you have interpreted them. The texture on the trees and the cheese cloth in the mountains. Beautiful stitching and colors. Bravo!
Never seen it in real but love your capture and detailed stitching, good job!
Fantastic trees and execution. As usual, I love your explanations. Bravo!