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. 

TROPICAL JAZZ Update

For the last month I've been stitching a few hours a night on Tropical Jazz.The canvas has now been colored with a blend of translucent markers in several places. You can see where the canvas has been colored but not yet stitched. I 've decided to complete all the "regular" stitching before adding the embellishments. But the end is near for stitching. At the far right there is one strip with a little remaining. And at the left side, there is a large swath of four diamonds which is underway, as well as the border. When these areas are done, it's on to embellishments! It probably looks a little unfinished now, but just wait.

  

Now for the embellishments. I've gathered together all the things I've collected as options, EXCEPT for the resin beads which I  am re-posting below. I'm waiting for a few more beads to arrive and then I'll have a short painting session to add some Stewart Gill Metallica paint. I'll post some photos when they're ready.

See, there are lots of choices: some flat square and lentil beads, braids with sequins, "squiggly" rayon threads, and tiny round and square sequins. The multicolor thread at the bottom is what I plan to use as the background surrounding the diamonds on the left side.

 

Previously (back in January or February) I posted a sketch of the overall plan.  I've stuck to it fairly well, but as usual a few things needed to be changed.  That goes for the embellishments too.  I know I will use some of each of the four main groups seen above, plus the resin  beads, but I'm just not sure exactly which colors, etc.  It will take laying them out on top of the stitched areas and then picking one or two at a tme and then more, and more, etc. until it seems "right".   I was recently reading the latest Cloth Paper Scissors Studios magazine, and one of the artists included, Pamela Harvey, stated her design philosphy as "too much is not enough".  I can identify with that.

I'll post an update on the bead painting and a finished photo......soon.

Have a great week!

New Kit Available

 I have definitely too many things going right now but I am happy to say Shorebird Avocet is now ready to go with options, including stretcher bars and threads kit on Twitchetts cards and thread ring to add to the colorwashed 18-count canvas and wire-bound 1/2 size instruction book. 

 I have included a photo of the thread kit which is available.  It has 14 different threads, including Thread Gatherers' Sea Grass and Oriental Linen plus a few several other over-dyed and hand-dyed threads..... lots of texture.  As you can see, these are all partial skeins, but there's plenty to complete the project with enough for a few options.  Of course this could also be a good project to sort through stash!

My next order of business is to create the Description Page, so it will be on the website in about an hour. 

I hope you enjoy it!