Leaf Collage Update II

A few people have checked on me to make sure I'm still here because it has been so long between postings!  When I last posted I was leaving for a few days to teach a workshop and when I returned I realized my studio was just too much of a disorganized mess to continue.  So, among other things I have been doing lots of little reorganization jobs.  It was too much to consider the whole problem as a whole.  The job is certainly not done.....is it ever?  But things are back on track and I actually have my worktable back. 

 

I have been stitching on Leaf Collage and am posting an update here.  I will post one more photo in a day or two and then it will have to be set aside while I stitch on a few more projects.  I promise to continue with the project later!  Since the last update I have completed the "zig zag" vertical band and the frame at the lower right.  The frame is a slanted gobelin variation worked in two colors.  A little finicky to stitch but it certainly gives an interesting effect.  The rust, red and orange area at the top center is new.  I'm calling it a "gingham" stitch but it is stitched on the diagonal instead of the usual straight stitches.  The final new area is the background.  You can just catch the little bit of glitter.  Just enough stitching to integrate the rest of the stitching with the open background.  The last update before the hiatus will be one stitched leaf.

I've also been asked whatever happened to the Plump Pear.  Well, it has stalled a little, but I definitely plan to get back to that too....and will update that project also.  One of the issues is that I have realized I won't be able to kit with several of the threads  I've already used and need to see what is available as substitutes.  When a teacher is thinking in terms of teaching projects, this is always a consideration.

So, many projects in the works but little to show right now.  But keep checking back.  Over the next 3 months I hope to have several projects to show you.

Happy stitching!

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!!

New design - work continues

I haven't been able to do any stitching on the new leaf design since my last posting but I finally took the plunge and colored in the area I plan to be exposed canvas, or only lightly stitched.  I used a marker technique using three Copic transparent markers.  The colors used were a light green, a medium-dark blue green and a dark indigo.   I used the three markers in order, and changed direction with each of the 7 layers.   The resulting effect is supposed to be rather like a coarse  linen fabric.

The scan is only of the left side of the design, but gives a good idea of how the technique looks. 

The result might look at little rough right now, but there will be a little light stitching over the marker areas which will help to tie the areas together.   One interesting thing I did realize was that I really should have added the marker earlier....but I just couldn't design which markers and layering I wanted to use before today.  I kept making different samples, but never could settle on one.  Now that the background is in, I realize I think the orange and yellow gold vertical strip is too bright and I will re-stitch it in slightly softer tones.  Oh well....i'm no stranger to "unstitching".

I will be away for a few days and then back to stitching next week and will post more then. So, wishing everyone a great week.