Leaf Collage completed

I am very happy to be able to tell you Leaf Collage is now finished.  Right at the end I had to unstitch part of one of the leaves.....because it just wasn't "right".   But changing one color to just a shade lighter made all the difference.  Anyway, it is now at the framers and is scheduled for pickup on August 16th. 

The mats we chose are soft gold for the outer mat and the dark orangey red for the inner mat.  The frame is simple soft gold wood with a subtle scroll work pattern.  An interesting question arose as to what color to use as the backing......since there is a lot of exposed canvas.  We finally decided on Eggshell, the color of the canvas, and not a darker one.  I am looking forward to seeing the finished, FINISHED piece!

But now, on to Color Kaleidoscope.  I will post something an update photo late next week on this one.

August is almost here already!

Leaf Collage update

First...a note about the above photo.  Just a reminder this project is on eggshell canvas.  It was taken outside today with great natural lighting.  Most of the previous postings have been scanned images which tend to bleach out the canvas.  But, this photo and the original ones of the individual leaves most closely represent what I see when I am stitching.  Of course I think the colors on everyone's monitor is different!

It has been 17 days since my last post with very little to show for myself in the way of stitching progress.  But, I wanted to show what I have done anyway.  The last time I was unhappy with the vertical band on the left....too bright after the background was added.  A reader suggested copper as a possibility and she was right.  This new version is more copper and orange.....less gold.....so it has a little softer look.  I also used copper in the frame to the right of the vertical band.  There are three threads in the frame.  It's a rice stitch!  The overdyed thread is a coppery orange and mauve/purple.  I plan to add a few subtle rose to mauve threads here and there.  One is used with copper in the skinny vertical band on the right side. 

The question I have now is if I need to change the vertical band to the very right.....the one in blue/green and gold?  I should take my own advice and wait until I have most of it done before deciding....or have added more color around it.  Or maybe the stitch itself is not the right choice.  Something to be decided later. 

I am leaving in the morning for a teaching trip and when I return on Monday afternoon I have no more flying trips planned until March.  So I plan to start stitching again in earnest. The holidays will be here before we know it and then.....where does the time go?!? 

So I hope to be back with a significant update in about a week to 10 days.

Happy Halloween to Everyone!!

TROPICAL JAZZ COMPLETED

I finished up Tropical Jazz last night.  The final touch was to the add the strip of assorted beads down on the left side.  In looking back at the sketch which has been posted on this site for several months, the final version turned out fairly close.  We took the photos this morning and then I worked with them a little in Photoshop Elements and printed out a photo on glossy paper.  The colors are very true, but it just couldn't capture all the texture and the bits of glitter from the small sequins on the braid and the glint off the resin beads touched up with the metallic and lacquer paints. 

I'll be taking it to the finished tomorrow.  My plan right now is to have it finished as something between a tote and a purse....maybe with a funky trim around the top edge.  Well, we'll see what the verdict is tomorrow.