Leaf Collage Update, July 14th

Leaf Collage is just about complete.  I have a stitch on the one remaining leaf frame and then four leaves to stitch........plus a row or two for the framer.  The unfinished frame is in the lower left quadrant along with the remaining collage elements.  As you can see the stitches on the left side are a different style than the right.   I have reposted my original sketch for comparison.  Interesting wouldn't you say?!

 

I won't be back again until I post the final finished photo which will be no later than  July 29th as I am leaving the next day for Louisville.  The piece is going to the framer before I leave town!

So wishing everyone a great two weeks.  Terry

COLOR KALEIDOSCOPE

The last few weeks have been busy, with teaching a new class and finishing up proposals for 2011.  I am putting the finishing touches on the last one today and they go in the mail on Monday! Color Kaleidoscope, shown above, is new I will be submitting, in addition to Leaf Collage (previously shown).  As you can see I have finished the left side, complete with the beads.  The total size is 7" X 7" but I do plan to add a border, which will add about another 1/2" to 1". 

For the proposal I sketched in the outline for the second half and then blocked in the colors with two to three layers of water color, followed up with color pencils for definition.   There wasn't enough room to scan the drawing turned on point as I would have liked.....but hopefully you can get the idea. 

This is my interpretation of a 12-point color wheel with the emphasis being on complimentary and analogous colors.  It  has taken 31 threads and beads so far...just to stitch the first half....and I estimate 40 to 45 threads and beads overall.  

I've had a lot of fun designing this project.  Can you begin to pick out the complimentary color patterns? And I know it is might be hard to see, but the beads are in the skinniest, zig zag patterns (green and red-orange).  I really like those flat, square beads. 

Wishing everyone a great week and better weather.

A stitched leaf.....

Well, the first leaf....the Ginkgo....is finally done! The technique used is what I think of as "rustic".  I love the look created with carefully blended silk threads, but do not feel it fits well with the type of textured pieces I tend to design.  I am trying to capture the essence......the colors, texture and movement....of each leaf with a limited number of well-placed stitches.

I used stranded silk thread for this leaf, except for the stem, but I varied the number of strands, with more strands being used for the two oranges. (The background is meant to peek through in places!)

Still to come is some type of openwork stitch for the background around the leaf, but I haven't decided on the stitch yet.  It will definitely be stitched to blend in with the background. 

Now I must set this design aside for a few months while I work on some other designs.  But,  I want to comment on another piece from the past....The Plump Pear!  I have had several inquiries about it recently, and have to admit 've been stalled with it.  But I've had a few suggestions which I plan to incorporate (thank you!) and plan to get back to it.  It isn't abandoned, just resting!

Well, I'm off now to do some online Christmas shopping! Happy Weekend!