getting on with the challenge

i got a bit bogged down with the design for my challenge square - i was thinking too small and detailed - i wanted a design which would be easily recognisable from a distance and meaningful without any explanation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          after a lot of doodling and indecision i finally settled on a combination of hands and hearts - they are simple, common, almost universal images and symbols - in royston cave they appear several times individually and in combination with other symbols, i have copied some and used their outlines for my design

then i played around with backgrounds - i had picked up some ideas and photoshopped them with the hearts and hands - my preferred background reminded me of stained glass so it was the obvious choice as it refers back to the source window -
the small hearts and hand will be filled differently, possibly with hilary hollinsgworth style darn/weave



i've experimented with some different fabrics as i feel the linen weave is a bit understated - settled on a glittery gold toned down with a couple of layers of sheers, it gives a pleasant gold gleam which will set off the stained glass colours ...... i hope