Beehive: it's finished!

Here are a couple photos of the final beehive.  My idea was to keep the actual beehive fairly traditional in technique and only use gold with matching thread.  For the stand and post, I wanted to use more creative techniques with the metal threads and add some color.  

Beehive: More progress

I finished the beehive today.  Now I just need to do the bees and the stand!

Beehive: progress

Some progress on my beehive . . .

Beehive- padding

This is my weekend project.  I completed the padding tonight so I can focus on the metals this weekend!  

Color Experiments

I know it has been a while.  School started and I am just now getting to post this.

Color experiments- these samples are some experiments I have been working on looking at color relationships and color theory applied specifically in goldwork embroidery.  I thought I would start with the obvious color relationship- gold and it's complement of purple- for these first experiments.  I'm trying different stitch patterns in either purple gradients (working from dark to light purple) with gold or a complement gradient (working from purple to gold).

 flat cut work with gilt smooth purl and 3 different purples 

french knots with stretched gilt smooth purl and 3 different purples 

 french knots with gilt smooth purl working towards dark purple with stretched purl to non-stretched purl

s-ing rows side by side gilt and purple smooth purl 

 

 purple cross stitches to crossing bullion knots to smooth purl crosses with purple (still in progress)