A New Design - 1st steps

You might have been wondering what had happened to me.  Well, I've been here at home, most of the time, working on putting together 60 kits for the upcoming seminar in Milwaukee.  I always have a preparation plan, but "other things" always seem to get in the way.  Anyway, as of this past Wednesday,  they were shipped off to a volunteer who has graciously offered to accept all the kit boxes from  teachers....and a huge job it is.  Thank you very much!

I did actually go on the field trip I spoke about a few weeks ago and found a few more threads to work with to stitch a Leaf Collage.   I plan to stay fairly true to the original sketch....designwise, but came upon a postcard photo a few months ago of some natural leaf jewelry that has the most gorgeous colors!  I like the colors much better than my original, so I used it as my go-by for pulling threads.               

 

Now I have pulled the first group of threads and they are spread out below in some semblance of order.  Of course, I always need to pull about three times more than I will need!  I will start stitching and then realize some will work, many will not, and it's back to the stash to find replacements....or maybe a few more new purchases will be required.  Oh well. 

If you compare the original sketch, the photo and the threads, you will see the quantity of threads I pulled in each of the different color groups are not proportional to the quantities which will be in the finished design.  So, think less green and more blue-green....if you can visualize that.  But when I was pulling colors, I was not just looking at color, but also at texture and type of thread, so you might see several threads that are the same color, but they are different textures, or content. 

I probably won't get to stitching on this until I get back from seminar.  It will be about 10" X 12" and on stretcher bars that means about 16" X 18".  That takes up just too much room in my bag.  But I do plan to work on the fabric transfer portion of the design next week and post some results.

Wishing everyone a great week.     

New designs for 2010

Most of you probably won't believe it but I am sitting here at the computer sipping hot cocoa to warm up.  It has been cold enough, and drizzily, the last three days in San Francisco that we have turned on our heater....partly because it is in the mid 50's when we get up and partly because it is so damp.  Not rain mind you, just heavy fog.  We're back to the regular San Francisco summer weather.  It does warm up some.....to 65 or so. 

I'm still working away on kits I need to have ready in two weeks or so.  But I also need to get started on new designs for next year.  I keep hearing about how everyone is pulling out their unfinished designs (or maybe never started?) to work on.  Well, I did a four-day proposal back in 2003 but just never did begin to kit it or stitch it.  I keep looking at it every year, but others keep pushing their way in front of it.  Well, now's the time for Leaf Collage.  Our guild is going on a field trip to two shops this next Tuesday, so I'm going to buy threads for it and begin stitching.  I am experimenting with transferring some of my watercolor painting of leaves to fabric transfers to apply to the canvas.  It might take a little trial and error, but it should be interesting and fun to stitch.........hopefully.

So, until next Tuesday, you will find me here marking canvases, then soon after I'll have a few photo updates to post.

Here's wishing for warmer weather!

TROPICAL JAZZ Tote

It's been awhile since I last posted.   On the one hand you might think I have not been doing anything because I haven't posted photos of anything I'm working on, but on the other hand, lots going on, just nothing very exciting to take photos of...........

There are thread supplies everywhere as  there are 5 workshops to get ready for between now and the end of August.  Finally yesterday, I just sat down and started filling over a hundred of my little drawstring bags with threads..........just so I could walk through the studio.  Whew...I feel a lot better.  Also, one instruction book is edited and printed with only two more to edit and print.  A friend is coming over for the day tomorrow to help me make up Harlequin Hearts kits.....now there is a good friend! 

But I do have a photo to post after all.  Tropical Jazz is back from the finisher.  Now I have to decide if I want to add more of the smallest beads around the top edge.  Maybe you can see them on the left side, threaded in with the large tubular resin beads.  There are flat square beads in blue and green and some Miyuki cube beads.  I'll probably need to live with it for a few days before I decide. 

The best way to describe the fabric is very like a very fine corduroy.  I think it is a cotton blend and the cording is cotton also.  The finisher add the quilting (it doesn't come that way). The inside lining is similar in color to the inside (soft pale blue) of the four large diamonds on the left side.....also cotton.  Of course, this bag, with all the embellishments, can't be washed but hopefully it will hold up to a little spot cleaning.  (I really do hope to use it after it has officially retired from teaching.

Now I'm taking off for the evening but will return sooner, rather than later this time, with bead update.

Have a great week!