You know, I love embroidery thread. But there are times – there are many times – when sitting down with the stuff can be rather frustrating.

For me, selecting colors for my own projects is usually more frustrating than not.

The other day, I sat down under a good, true spectrum light with a Whole Heap of Embroidery Floss on the table in front of me. My goal was to select a range of colors from that Whole Heap – a range that would impart a certain impression or idea that I have in mind.

Do you know, it took me forever to finally say “That’s it. For better or for worse, I’m done.” I sat there picking through floss for more than two hours!

At the end of that ridiculous amount of time, this is the range of colors I came up with:

Now, this isn’t meant to be any Deep Dark Secret here, but without saying the “theme” that I want these colors to impart, can you guess what impression or idea or theme I’m trying to get across with them?

In other words, when you see these colors, what comes to your mind right away?

Maybe if I change the orientation of the line-up:

What do you see?

Anything?

I’m never 100% positive about colors.

I’m embroidering one of my own designs, and these are the colors I’ve pulled to get me started.

What generally happens next, once I start stitching, is that I eliminate some colors and add others.

I might even start mixing in different types of threads.

And sometimes, none of it works and I go back to the drawing board.

Before I start stitching, though, I thought I’d show you the results of messing about with color for a couple hours, and ask you if this collection of color imparts any particular impression or idea on your mind when you see it, and if so, what idea? What impression?

If you want to help me gauge my color success, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

A jolly Thursday all around!