Mardi Gras Heart, Stitched

Sunday night I sat up and finished stitching the Mardi Gras heart. The hearts are small enough that as a project they aren't overwhelming. This one is a special request from a shop owner.

I had outlined the eye holes and the edges of the mask with a wrapped-back stitch using the DMC floss the shop requested (yellow, #444). I wanted the mask to have some sparkle so I used Petite Sparkle Rays in a matching yellow to fill in. The next step was to stitch the feathers. Here again I used the requested colors of DMC floss, green #700 and purple, #333. The purple ribbon is stitch in two shades of Fyre Werks and the stick holding the mask is done in a padded satin stitch using the yellow DMC. After the mask was stitched I added the 'bling'. The center jewel is a large green sequin with a Mill Hill Crystal Treasures bead in the center. Then a row of emerald green Sundance beads was added along the bottom of the mask. My main problem was the background. I originally thought to make it a soft white but after stitching a small area it just seemed so blah. I tried several other colors and variations and finally settled on a bright lime green shade of Splendor. (#S1105) The background is stitched in a cashmere stitch. I plan to have it finished with a purple silk fabric on the back and a twisted braid trim using all three of the Mardi Gras colors.

While working on this piece I researched the colors of Mardi Gras. I found out that the Krewe of Rex first introduced this particular scheme in 1872 but the meaning of each color wasn't revealed until twenty years later. Purple represented justice, green was symbolic of faith and gold represented power.

Mardi Gras Heart

While at the January TNNA Market I had a shop owner stop by my booth to inquire about my Calendar Heart Series. They wanted to offer this series to the stitchers in their area. I told them they could take my stitched models to use as a selling tool. Then they asked if I would design a special 13th heart as an exclusive bonus heart for those who signed up for the entire series. Being the accommodating person I am , I agreed. The shop owner wanted the special heart to be a Mardi Gras Heart and said that she would send me samples of the purple, green and gold colors she wanted to use. Good to her word she sent me three skeins of DMC floss, #333 (purple), #700 (green), and #444 (gold). I got busy and completed my sketch of a Mardi Gras mask embellished with feathers and beads. My sketch is on the right side of the picture. The next step was to paint one on canvas, that's obviously on the left side. I took my canvas to the local shop to pull extra threads and pick up the beads I wanted to use. I'm going to use the DMC floss that was sent for the feathers at the top of the mask. I wanted the mask to have a bit of sparkle so I picked out Petite Sparkle Rays in a matching yellow (PS27). The purple ribbon will be worked in two shades of Fyre Werks, #FT24 (lighter) and #FT31 (darker). Along the bottom of the mask is a row of green beads. For this I selected some emerald green Mill Hill Beads, #02054. On the top and in the center of the mask is another larger "jewel". I couldn't find any bead or button that I thought look right. I decided on the faceted Mill Hill Crystal Treasures, #13016. I'm going to put one of these on top of a 8mm. green or gold sequin. The only thing left to pick out was a thread for the background. I decided that a soft white would highlight the mask without overpowering it. I don't know what stitch I will use at this point but I'm thinking I might use one that will allow me to add a small gold stitch in it. Of course, every thing looks and sounds good before you actually start stitching. So many times I have changed my mind in the middle of the project because it just didn't have the right look. Now it's time to get to work.