Doodling my way to a design.

So many times I've been asked how I start creating a new piece of needlepoint and it has forced me to go back and figure out what the process is. (I talk some about it on the podcast HERE). 

One of the ways I begin a new design comes from a new interest, or infatuation if it really gets bad. If you've seen my new pieces of jewelry you will see feathers coming into play.  I'm feeling them.  I'm fascinated with the elegance of those "hair" like things, actually called "barbs" and how they line up beautifully side by side.  How you can stroke them and they move and then fall right back into place. How each of them is colored and how together they make up a whole other color story. 

But the feather thing has also found it's way to my needlepoint.  At this point I'm doodling.  Looking for how I'd like to represent those feathers, what I think I can do with thread that will be a new way of expressing those amazing delicate creatures.  Because they may seem delicate, they may blow away in the wind, but they can do the most magical thing, they make a bird FLY!

A feather I used in one of my earrings