Softer colors emerge...

With these three rugs, I explored using softer colors instead of some of the bolder colors I have used in the past.
The Ella rug has been made up completely in my imagination.  I was out for lunch one day with my Grandmother and noticed a knitted sweater she was wearing.  One of the patterns on it inspired me to create the flower border.  I started this rug with the border first and worked my way inwards.  I find I often do this so that my rug will be the dimension I have chosen and I make the center fit the border size I have chosen.  Because I created a flower border for the outer one, I also used flowers on the next inner border.  This border represents flowers on a table in each corner with the trailing flowers connecting to the next flowerpot.  Since the borders were so ornate and will be a challenge to stitch, I chose to create a fairly simple center.  I wanted to have a diamond-style pattern but once I had put the diamond shapes in, felt it needed "a bit more".  Therefore, I modified the diamonds and came up with this final pattern.  It was interesting to design and I look forward to stitching it someday.
Jasmine was inspired by another Aubusson style rug that I saw.  I wasn't able to incorporate all of the elements I saw in that rug and changed some others to suit my fancy.  It is designed in very soft shades as well.
Alicia was first inspired by an embossed design on the cover of a book for the border.  I also found an interesting Celtic knot design that I liked and decided to play around with it to create the center motif.  Once I finished the center Celtic design, I felt it looked a little sparse so I created the circular motifs from a Celtic circular tattoo that I once saw.  My original design used softer colors but I included other color ideas in the chart as well.