3 Steps Forward, 2 Steps Back: Collage Finished

Before stitching my collage for the American Cancer Society, I decided to cover it with tulle (bridal netting,) to help control all the tiny pieces.  The photo below shows me auditioning two colors.  I decided on white.
 
auditioning tulle

You can see that the white tulle dampens the strong black a little (below.)  However, I decided this was acceptable and started stitching.

white tulle laid in place
 
But, the more I looked at it, the less I liked the now grayer dark tones.  (They still look fairly dark in these photos, however.)  I wanted the contrast of a very dark background.  So, now what?
 
I got the wacky idea to color the tulle with permanent markers!  Could I do so without also coloring the underlying fabric?  The answer was no, so I had to use multiple colors and work carefully.  The photo below shows the black areas colored.
 
black sharpie added
 
Now you can see the difference in the black, can’t you?
 
Well, I continued coloring with markers and finally ended up with this:
 
all sharpie added
 
(Yes, I colored in between all the little squiggles of the black and tan print!)  This is much better, don’t you think?
 
Next, I stitched the piece, using black thread to accentuate the bud/petal shapes.  Then, at the last minute, I decided to go back to my original idea and add some buds at the very top.  So, FINALLY, here it is:
 
Ellen-Lindner-collage-on-wh
 
I’ve named it Hope Emerging, which I hope is appropriate both for the image and for those dealing with cancer.  It’s 10″ x 8″.  Here’s a detail shot.  (Click on any image for a larger view.)
 
detail, in progress
 
This little art quilt will be part of the “Have a Heart” (aka Big Names – Big Hearts) tote bag, which will be featured on February 9th.   Please check it out here.
 
Ellen Lindner