Big Hole Hop Teaser

Last month I was one of the lucky winners of Kristi Bowman's drawing.   I won one of her copper big hole copper focals and a chance to participate in her design challenge and blog hop.

Kristi Bowman's focal & my sad little sketch

I'll admit, I'd not-so-secretly hoped to receive one of her more organic patterns - they're right up my alley.  Instead, my focal is paisley.  Oops.  Guess I need to stretch.

First thing I discovered? I'm rather terrible at drawing paisley.  See what I mean?

I'd noticed that the heart of each of Kristi's paisley designs is a multi-pointed star.  Thinking I could work with that, I played with ways to incorporate some of my stars from my Snowflakes & Stars pattern into the design.

It still wasn't working, so then I went searching for further inspiration.

I thought I might have found it in the patterning of my favorite sundress.

Turns out it's not actually paisley.  And didn't go with the focal worth a darn.  I did like the dark background, however.

A dark blue would be better though, whispered a little voice in my head. 

Dark blue night skies, paisley stars, comet trails.....

Starry Night by Vincent VanGogh

And then inspiration truly struck.  What if my focal was a big, fat lazy moon in a starry night sky?  Vincent,  I think you might have saved me!

The patterning in his painting even reminds me of the paisley in Kristi's design - wonderful comet trails of brush strokes.

So now I finally know where I'm going.  Curious how it's going to turn out?  So am I!

I'll be beading this coming week, then I'll share the piece with you here at the 'reveal' next Saturday, June 30th.

I'd better get cracking!  And in the meantime, check out the other participants.