After a visit to the Garden Supply in Cary, NC, I realized that my mind’s eye wasn’t correct on the color of poinsettias. “White” poinsettias are not white at all. They are a soft green creamy color and sometimes a soft creamy pink. I mixed lime green Dye n’ Flo ink (about 1 T) with Pebeo Seta Color opaque white acrylic paint (about 5-6 T) and Pebeo extender (about 2 T), to thin the mixture. Start with the dye ‘n flow lime green so you can remove some of it if it spills out too quickly. It takes very little green to turn white into the soft color you want! (Ask me how I know!)
I used an artist sponge to dab the paint onto the fabric. The fabric is a recycled drapery fabric that has the slubby texture I wanted. In the picture below, I appliquéd the blossoms and leaves in place with a machine satin stitch. It’s still all very “flat” looking, but the next steps will start to bring it to life. (If not, I can always slash it up and create potholders and coasters.) I’m in the process of beginning the machine quilting, and then some more machine embroidery. I will add another tier of blossoms, embroidered and quilted before being attached… maybe with beads. Sorry -there is a shadow on the right side…. just the time of day in The Loft Studio. Hope you are in a happy place, creating and enjoying this merry season!
Narrative Textile Illustrations 