And A New Start

All that serial stitching had me aching for something entirely fresh and different.  I am rather partial to mermaids and this complimentary chart from CEC, The Swimming Instructor, caught my eye.  The basic outline was charming but the color choices and facial details made it rather cartoonish.  So, I am following the designer's suggestion to tweak it and make it my own.  

I'll rechart the eyes and mouth, probably over one, to get a more realistic facial expression, i.e.; odd as it seems to use the words mermaid and realistic in the same sentence.  

The fabric is Silkweaver's Tropical Water.  I had my doubts about the fabric when I first pulled it out.  It looked almost neon bright but using Caron Waterlilies silk in Monsoon for the fishtail tamed it nicely.  I am using some Splendour silks for the flesh tones and am thinking of using Belle Soie Mahogany for the hair.

I want to have stitched the body before making a decision, the better to see if the hair color works with the flesh tones, background color and fishtail.  I'll be using a specialty stitch in the Monsoon silk, adapted from silk ribbon embroidery rosettes, to stitch the bra.  I also have some lovely turquoise beads from an old hippie-era bead and seed necklace that just might work for the mermaid's necklace.  I may even add one bead as a navel ornament.  It is fun to play with a design until it works to my own satisfaction.