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 - stitching begins

This past week had lots going on....but sometimes this can be a good thing.  We had our first guild meeting since June so it was fun to catch up with everyone.  And my husband and I had a chance to have lunch with our older daughter and son-in-law and had a great time.

But that means things in the studio kept piling up and it's now a big mess with the supplies for lots of individual projects covering every available surface.  But at least I have plans to get it all straightened out....the first step!

But I did complete a few things.  I marked all the canvases for an upcoming pilot....so that is great!  But I had to move back to the dining room table to mark them as there was no flat surface big enough in the studio. 

And, I stitched each evening on the new design.  As you can see I have started with (generally) the top two layers.  For this design it seems the best approach is to work with lightest teals and greens first.  So these are now in.  Step two is two stitch the areas with the lightest/brightest gold and orange shades.  The first small band is almost done. 

I have been continuing to experiment with the best combination of markers for the background and think I'm about ready to take the plunge and color it in.  You can see where the background color will be blocked in by referring back to the scan of the original sketch (posted a little over a week ago.  The small narrow band inside the picture frame in the center of the photo is what I've decided to work toward.  It's a tricky color as it appears slightly green when stitched (next to greens), but it is really a dark indigo blue thread.  At this point I plan to use three different markers and four passes of marker to approximate of color. 

Major goal for this week:  finish the instruction book for the upcoming pilot and start putting together the thread kits. 

And stitching continues....

New Studio Workspace Wall

Just yesterday I finally finished finding new homes for everything in the shelving unit and work table wall.  Took a little doing...and of course things needed to be sorted through and reorganized. This wall is for all my needlework and other media books, etc. and mixed media supplies.  The other wall, which is stricting threads and needlework supplies, is yet to be redone.

The shelving unit is the largest Expedit from Ikea.  The table top attaches to it any where along the width, so I can change my mind about its location.  We also got two spots and a table lamp for my computer table.  But, my favorite is my new work chair.  It looks cool and is really comfortable. 

I've been using the work table for about a week and it's a good size for one project at 30" X 40".  Now all we need (for now) is the slightly smaller Expedit shelving unit for the other wall (to replace the existing shelves) and several bins which just fit the cubicles.  Then more organizing of course. 

This Friday through Sunday is our first Creative Stitchers Retreat!  I have been finishing up a few special items for it and am really looking forward to it!  But before that can happen my daughter and her husband are moving Wednesday.  We are not helping them this time on their actual "move day" but we will be driving up to Santa Rosa (about 60 miles away) the next day to help unpack.  They have been living about 5 miles away for a few years now.  It will be really hard to get used to having them further away, but I know they will like the climate much better....Pacifica is very foggy!  Also, several of their good friends live close by. 

I am back to stitching after a few weeks of working of kit preparation.  Three pieces are going to the framers tomorrow!! Then back to the Bargello Pear and planning for a new geometric design. 

I hope to post photos from the retreat early next week.  Have a great week!