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| Star Window is a small, simple pattern that is easy to stitch and fun to color. |
I also pulled a bunch of samples from my stitching box and have transformed them using colored pencils. I have learned a few things along the way:
1) Don't overdo the color. Many pieces can get weighed down and look muddy with too much color.
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| Just a hint of color makes the facets of Snowflake Mandala pop! |
2) Dampen the cloth, then roll it in a towel to remove excess moisture. A slightly damp canvas makes the color more vibrant. Be careful not to get it too wet; the colors can and will bleed if you're not careful.
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| I didn't like this pattern at all when I first designed it. The bright colors have given a boring and clinical -looking pattern a lively new look. |
3) Keep the pencils sharp. Or not. It depends.
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| A dampened, duller pencil is great for filling in larger areas, but as you can see, a fine point is needed to get the color into the nooks and crannies. |
4) It's okay to blend colors. In fact, it can lead to some exciting effects.
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| I was unhappy with the blue I had chosen for the small balls; they were too bright for the green and gray. I colored over them with the gray and got a fascinating patina. It wasn't so successful with the purple, but I think that I used too heavy a hand with the purple to begin with. |
5) You may need a second coat.
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| After the first coat. Look at the first photo again and you can see how much I missed. |
6) Keep a Tide Stain Stick handy. I got a smudge of color in the wrong spot and the Tide Stain Stick saved the day!
I'm contemplating using some sort of finish in addition to heat-setting the color. Something to protect it from the elements. Any ideas? Let me know.
