When I was thinking through how to stitch this December angel, I checked with designer Judy Harper on possible color combinations for the angel's clothing. Judy explained that she saw this design as a guardian angel for the month, not as a Christmas angel per se. and would actually prefer I not use traditional red-and-green Christmas colors. I came up with three color schemes, all of which Judy approved, and she finally said "YOU pick!"
With all of my threads assembled, I then needed to figure out how to make the top of the dress lighter in color, so as to be more flattering to the face, while making the lower part of the dress darker to emphasize the white narcissus petals. The solution: needle-blending!
In my last post, I had already begun stitching the top of the dress in basketweave with DMC floss #778. Following the progression of lighter to darker in the same color family, I used DMC floss #3727 and #316, finally using four plies of DMC #3726 from the top of the highest narcissus to the bottom of the skirt.
Before I could finish stitching the darker background, I needed to outline the flower petals to avoid pesky threads working their way to the top of the canvas while I stitched the white flowers. For the outline I used Vineyard Silk Classic "Evening Haze."
I then added the jeweled belt with Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #002V in tent stitches and the blue zircons with #014 braid in Smyrna crosses. Next I'll be heading back to the top of the angel to work the shawl!
5 comments:
Love the choice of colors, and she's quite beautiful. I'm eager to see the shawl and flowers..
As far as I've seen, you're the best at needle blending. The crystals are a magnificant addition. Do you see this guardian as a stand up? Will there be background around the angel or simply remain the shape of the angel? Inquiring minds!
She's beautiful! I like what you're doing with her better than anything I could envision. I like the blue Tanzanite (zircon) much better as the birthstone on this than the turquoise.
The dress is just beautiful! I never would have thought to needle blend a dress. Keep going - we're all waiting anxiously.
Madonna- As this is Judy's model, I'm just doing the angel. No time to stitch a background right now-- I've got another project to work on waiting in the wings! I think Judy is planning on a background for the one she's working on right now, then finishing it as a stand-up with an easel.
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