I'm updating the images below after I created a large piece. It may still be one hot mess, BUT, I see it as victory, because I used this one for stencil practice, and I got some clean ones. LOL! I actually like it, which surprises me. (They may be wanting to examine my head soon.) Fun, fun, fun project. 

This whole project took me outside my comfort zone - and I'm so glad it did! Thank you for that.

I've never been a tapestry person, but I spent a couple of hours (at least) researching tapestries to find one I liked (I even went to our library for books, and they had no tapestry books!) But I finally stumbled across a Victorian fabric (reproduced? I can't verify its authenticity, but I went with it. LOL!)  It reminded me of my sister's bedroom when we were teenagers, so the emotional connection and the color palette sold me.

I kept hearing Denise's voice to throw everything at these, and it's obvious I listened. What a hot mess this was (my fault - not Denise's!) I still need so much more stencil practice. I had stencils that kinda/sorta matched the tapestry, which surprised me.

I left the page intact after I stenciled and went to bed. When I woke up, I discovered I didn't actually hate all of them. Ha. After I peeled tape, I discovered I actually liked at least one. Then when I cut them, I loved that same one, liked 6 others, and will collage/scrap/something 5 of them. So surprising. None of them are masterpieces, but I do want to make a larger one of my favorite. And with the 6 I liked, I can see now how they could be improved (mostly stencil improvement, but also compositions.) 

Thanks for such a fun project! You've given me tools to use forever - and taken away any excuses for artist block. Ha. 

Above: the tapestry/fabric inspiration.

Above: My favorite

The larger piece based on my favorite sampler shown above: