I made this for the Abstract Hoop Swap. I was on the fence about joining but I’m glad @Kwality570 encouraged me to join because once I started working on this I got a bit obsessed and couldn’t stop! I’m also on an audiobook kick (romance for summer? yes, please!), and stitching this was the perfect pairing. 
I painted my fabric before stitching - just three colors rolled on with a brayer. I like the texture the brayer gives me and the imperfect coverage it creates. The details just kind of emerged organically as I went. I didn’t really have a plan.
I used felt circles, seed beads, wool yarn, and sari yarn, and embroidery floss of course. There’s one bead that I made using apoxie-sculpt in the center.
Once I had the first elements down, I did feel a little stuck on where to go next. But I fell back on some of the same tricks I like to use in abstract painting and suddenly I was done! Very relaxing and meditative and super fun.
I did add a woodburned detail to the edge of the hoop as a last minute add before sending off. You can see that detail in @jeanneleigh’s photos in the swap gallery!
Thanks for looking. 
