Getting ready to work with this rare and exceptional piece.

[hippywife]

She's an antique Art Nouveau poppy maiden. Have been going back and forth for days, torn between which color to use. I mean, poppies are red, right? But she's so stunningly beautiful with these aquas. So after a lot of thought, I've decided to go with the aquas. The thing that made my decision is that poppies don't have vines, yet the original artist who conceived this piece chose to incorporate ancathus into their design. I'm allowing myself the same artistic license to go with my gut and what feels right.

Unless someone talks me out of it.

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. I hope you will show us the finished piece!

[hippywife]

3. Thanks so much, tblue37!

I definitely will.

[2naSalit]

2. Poppies can also be...

Orange-ish/red or even a pale salmon pink. Depending on the kind of poppy, they can also be lavender and crimson, probably other colors as well. I have had a few poppy patches and they had this variety of colors. Hope that give you more wiggle room on colors.

[hippywife]

4. Thanks for the ideas, 2naSalit.

I can't work with pink. I hate pink and most blues.

But I may do some more digging thru my stash to see what else I can conjure up.

[2naSalit]

5. At the color selection stage...

It's best to have as many options as possible, and best when you already have the supplies on hand.

[hippywife]

6. I have quite a bit, but...

she's the only one of her kind I've seen, and I want to make sure she's as beautiful as possible. This is probably why I've been sitting on this piece for 5 years.

[2naSalit]

8. Don't feel bad...

Some of the projects I've been working on the past couple years have been moved around for years while I was getting all the components collected. Finally I have been working them.

I'm sure you'll come up with a fabulous color scheme.

[randr]

7. Surely you are not talking about changing the patina?

[hippywife]

9. Oh, heavens no, randr!

I'm just thankful to have such an old and gorgeous piece that escaped silver or gold plating. I would never touch that patina. I've only cleaned her up (hence the dirty fingernails) and sealed her with Renaissance Wax to help preserve her as she is.

Just working over the color scheme of the beads to decide which color best accentuates her natural beauty.

[randr]

11. Whew, the mere thought scared me

[hippywife]

13. No need to fear.

After all, I'm not a barbarian!

[Scrivener7]

10. I vote aqua.

[hippywife]

12. Thanks, Scrivener7!

I think they really make her look even more beautiful.

Appreciate your input!

[ratchiweenie]

14. Well, with copper and green or blues you can never go wrong. Reds not so much.

[blm]

15. True.

And poppies are more red with a hint of oange.

[hippywife]

19. And that would be an amazing color, too.

I just fear anything too bold will draw attention away from her. I think the aqua lets her shine through.

[hippywife]

17. Thanks, ratchiweenie.

I think the muted aquas really let her shine through, where as something in the red pallet would draw attention away from her beauty.

Appreciate the input!

[Bayard]

16. Looks like a mermaid?

I'd go with the colors of water.

She's a beauty.

[hippywife]

18. It does look like a mermaid at first glance.

And I think that's what made me reach for the aqua colors first, but on closer inspection, the poppies are pretty prominent. However, the ancathus leaves do look like a tail. So, I guess she's both, then.

Thank you, Bayard!

[hippywife]

20. Okay, final decision.

Based on bayard's comment, I've decided that she is a mermaid and the aqua is appropriate. So aqua it will be. Thanks to everyone who offered their opinions and advice.