Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Calm colours...and then a pop!

A few years ago I came across a small partly stitched tablecloth during an op-shop treasure seeking day...


The variegated blues attracted me immediately but as it came with no threads to complete the cloth I wrapped it and placed it inside my large box of 'unfinished stitcheries' for future contemplation.

Last month my friend Heather dropped over for a late afternoon coffee, and we got to chatting about partially stitched projects we'd inherited, been gifted, or found in op shops. I brought out my big box of unfinished projects and we spent a good hour just examining them and sharing stories of how we'd both acquired treasures like this.

I'd forgotten all about this tablecloth, but as soon as I pulled it out from under a pile of orphan cross-stitches I was in love with those calming blues again, so I put it to one side and did not replace it in my box when time came to pack up.


Last Friday, when Blossom and I had our silly hat day (here) at the Spotlight craft store, I took the tablecloth with me to see if I could match the thread colours. These were as close as I could get...


When I laid them out on my sewing table the next day I began to look with my 'colour' eyes at what was in front of me. Adding some shading with complimenting threads, then a bowl randomly purchased because I was attracted to the calming white background and teal blue accents, I began to play a bit more with colour...


Bringing some greens into play; still quite calming...


But add a pop of pink, and I could sense romance in the air...


Let's crank up the romance a shade or two shall we?


One colour can dramatically change a design.
As I play around this year focusing on using only two or three colours in my designs I'm learning to appreciate how simply beautiful a colour can be when it becomes a main feature in a design, and not just one in a crowd of shades vying for attention...


I still haven't decided if I'll use a pop of pink to complete the tablecloth, but I'm very tempted to do so.
What do you think?

hugs


27 comments:

Farm Gate Creations Incorporating Hummingbird Quilting said...

Oh a pop of pink would go just lovely.

Gillie said...

Absolutely! Will be gorgeous when you are done!

Tammy said...

I like the idea of there being a difference between the old and new, even if it is subtle. Here in the UK, if you want to add on to historic buildings, the new design has to be in keeping with the character of the original but different enough to separate old from new. I think you should go along that route! The pink does look pretty!

Baa. xxx said...

Pop..pop away ...

Anonymous said...

I'd absolutely use the pink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joyce Carter said...

Adding the pink would be just the right touch that it needs to brighten it up.

Dee said...

Just to be different I say dont add to the colour palette, but I see I am out voted.

What stitch is used in the blue line that curves to the left in the first photo ?

Fee said...

Go for it - We always need pink xx

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Dee, it's a stem stitch, but there is another line of stitchery that looks like chain but with something else added. I got an embroidery stitch book out of the library and am tracking it down right now. ;-)

Dee said...

Thanks Jenny, I recognize the stem stitch as I learnt that many years ago but cant see the other one but it does look very effective.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Dee, I'll take a closer pic of that one and show it in tomorrow's blog post. Maybe someone can identify it for me? Wouldn't that be good? :-)

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Oh Fee, you're such a girl! LOL!! xx

Rosie said...

Glad to see you are taking out the orphans. That stitch looks like Palestrina stitch to me. Usually the knots are closer together. Only guessing though! I love all the colours you have selected, especially the pink!

Tammy said...

Wow ... what a beauty that is. Go for it Jenny add the pop of pink. Finish this beauty. It is too pretty to be cooped up in a box.

Anonymous said...

i tend to like it with just the blues and greens jenny,i wonder who started the tablecloth,if only it could speak.xx

Victoria said...

Hi! My vote for mixing the pink colour. What a nice embroidery colours and drawing!

Robin in New Jersey said...

I think the pink would be lovely. :(

Robin in New Jersey said...

That stitch looks like it could be the split stitch or perhaps the coral stitch?

Judy1522 said...

I think the pink would be beautiful with the blue and green.

DasMaria - Maria Amélia said...

Olá, acabei de conhecer seu trabalho e estou encantada, favoritei seu site e curti sua página no facebook, parabéns, você é uma artistas das linhas e agulhas. Grande abraço do Brasil!!
Maria Amélia

Petra said...

Hi Jenny. Reading your blog you mention working with 2 or 3 colours. At the beginning of this post I was wondering which colour you would choose. Pink will be perfect, giving a fresh look and cheerful.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Hi Petra,
I'm going to remove the yellow french knot centres that were in the partially stitched cloth when I purchased it, and add the pink instead. I really don't want a 4th colour, so this will pare it back to the blue, green and a pink. Still not sure which pink though. xx

Liz said...

This is beautiful. I think the pink is going to work wonderfully well.That was the colors for those days.

Anonymous said...

I think I'd stick with the blue and the green and the bits of yellow. It's a great tablecloth, whatever you do, and the previous stitcher did neat stitching, from what I can see.

Anonymous said...

I did see where you are taking the yellow out. =)

Barb said...

That pink will give it a nice lift. I tried to comment on the first post but couldn't for some reason.
Can't wait to see what "sweet tweet" is!!!! The pinch I saw has me well and truly HOOKED!!!!!!!

Petra said...

Hi. Personally I would go for the hot pink, fuchsia, to achieve that "pop". I am looking forward to see the result. God Bless. X