Working on a new geometric design

Now that I have returned from ANG Seminar, and before I leave on my teaching trip, I have been working on a new design proposal.  Stitching finally begins this week!!  

Several people stopped me, while at seminar, to request I do blog posts more often, particularly related to what I am current working on.  So, I just took photos of most of the currents elements I have collected so far.  In general this might include any of the following:  sketches, marker or paint color samples, a selection of beads, threads I am "auditioning", stitch sketches, overall design sketches, etc.  

Let's start with the color inspiration.  I already had the colors in mind when I saw this Design Seeds images with the colors.  So, I printed it off and carried it with me at first to get going with choosing a thread palette.  I always begin by collecting at least twice what I end up using.  

Next is the (very rough) original sketch and later I added some Copic markers to help block in areas of color.  The actual size of the sketch is about 2" X 2".  The actual design will be 8" to 9" square.

Here are the Copic Sketch Markers applied to 18-count eggshell canvas that I am considering......and will probably only use 2 or 3 of them in the end. 

While collecting supplies I found some great beads I had never seen.....some very small triangle beads.  Loved the colors and bought several tubes (just in case).  There are also several bugle beads in the mix, which i definitely plan to use.  *** The triangle beads are the two center tubes, and the tube on the right are Tila beads.

Now, last but not least, are the threads I have collected.  They are separated into three groups:  purples/blue, burgundy/rose, and rust/golds.  The threads include the Painter's Threads ribbon with metallic, Treenway 20/2 silk, Planet Earth PepperPot and 6-stranded silk, River Silks, Gloriana 12-strand silk, Kreinik 1/16" ribbon, Rainbow Gallery Spendor and FyreWerks, and a new Bijoux color and Valdani silk.  

These are different colors than I usually use and I am looking forward to seeing how the colors, threads and stitches all come together!!  Now that I have made an official record of the "starting" palette, it will be very interesting to see how it compares with the "finished" palette.

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.