Burst of Colour by Laurence Lieblich

It’s always a pleasure when someone starts a conversation with ‘this will brighten up your day’ as it means something good is to follow.

The very concept of being able to add brightness into someone’s day is a fabulous metaphor that can mean a great many things. From giving someone a smile, offering a word of encouragement or the delivery of good news, this list is long and varied. Brightness, however, can also be delivered through artistic expression.

Today we’re going to brighten up your day by having a chat about the project Burst of Colour by Swiss designer Laurence Lieblich, which appears in Inspirations magazine issue #118.

This piece is a petite, rectangular cushion that exudes everything needed to brighten up any day.

With a rainbow of colours, a kaleidoscope of butterflies and a sea of gleaming flowers, this cushion radiates joy.

From a technical perspective, it is also a joy to stitch. Comprising eleven familiar and popular stitches and worked in forty shades of the luxurious Au Ver à Soie, soie d’Alger stranded silks, the cushion, when finished, measures 22cm x 29.5cm wide (8 ¾” x 11 ¾”), making it a small to medium sized project.

From a design perspective, there are a couple of techniques Laurence has used that are specifically worth mentioning. Whilst the colour palette itself is bold and striking, the complexity Laurence has achieved comes from the frequency and approach to how she changes colours.

Rather than using subtle, shaded colour transitions typical in threadpainting, here we see sudden and dramatic shifts.

Gradients are replaced with hard lines, flower petals are more playful and shift hues suddenly, leaves are patchwork and chequered.

Then there is that bold zig zag running right down the middle reinforcing a mood of zany playfulness and giving us the feeling that Laurence was really enjoying herself when she created this piece.

Next time you’re looking for a little something to brighten up your day, bust out your Burst of Colour project and stitch your way to joy and happiness.

Make Your Own Burst of Colour

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Burst of Colour by Laurence Lieblich is a small cushion with butterflies and dragonflies in a delightful celebration of colour.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Burst of Colour includes everything* you need to re-create this beautiful, rectangular cushion: Fabrics (inc. with pre-printed design), piping, sewing thread, embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.