Another band

Tonight I added another row of the slanted Gobelin in the single strand of Kreinik all the way around the four sides. I am only showing you one section so you get a better close up! Enjoy!

Getting back to business

Thanksgiving is over and the company is gone. As the dust settled evenly over the furniture, I managed to do a load of laundry and put away some of the things we had toted out. The shopping is pretty much done and everything we bought is wrapped already.....so I stitched. I finished the Bead Cup stitch all the way around the perimeter using a single strand of Marlitt. I hope to have this done before Christmas!

Yes, there will be beads

Jane picked up on the Bead Cup stitch from last night's post and yes, Jane, there will be beads. In fact more than a few. While I am busy doing the stitch around the other corners, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and I will be back Sunday!

Lesson Four Step one

First I finished the last corner from Lesson Three. Then using one strand of Marlitt, I started the Bead cup stitch. I will work this around all four corners of the design.

Step three

Moving on, I did a row of single strand Kreinik Gobelins and followed that with a border stitch design in a single strand of Floche. Last I did another row of Kreinik braid and have enclosed the diamond shape again. I finished three of these and I am working on the fourth one.

Moving on

Last night's picture was crap so you get to see a lot more this time. I am still on Lesson Three. This is step two and three. I first did Flat Base Sprat's heads on each side using one strand of Marlitt over 30 threads. They are very shiny! Then I did slanted Gobelins around each of those. DH likes how this keeps switching from diamonds to squares and so do I! I looked ahead and tomorrow I will be adding more Floche again.

Lesson Three Step One

Lesson Three, step one is done. I finished the mirror image by completing the very inside rows with one strand of Marlitt. I then filled in the center band with a single strand of Floche and did an upright cross stitch all the way around. You are not going crazy, I have been messing with the color so this does appear very black and white--which it is not. I wanted to see if I got clearer detail.

Closer

I finished all the sides with the Kreinik braid and then did the two rows of Floche as well. Next up is going to be the two last rows of Marlitt to have the mirror image completed. Jane asked what was next. This is step one of Lesson 3. There is a step two and a Lesson 4! Stay tuned!

Another closeup

It seems I can't stop working on this piece! These inside rows are turning into a mirror image of the outside ones I completed. As you can see I did more Floche and am now working on the #4 braid. This is the first side with those rows completed.

Ecrusheen up close

I played a little with the camera and white balance and this is pretty true to color for Ecrucheen. It also gives you great detail on the border I am working on. I turned this so it looks vertical but it is being worked on the diagonal. I completed the floche rows next to the Kreinik and then to the right of those I have started around again with the single strand of Marlitt. Looks like a fancy schmancy gimp doesn't it??

The top is done

Tonight's rotation is the Tooth Fairy Box. I finished the top with the Kreinik and then added the beads in the center of the gold stars. I moved down and started the bottom and got quite a bit of it in already. Remember this is all basketweave as the sides are going to fold up and create the bottom of the box before the hinge is attached and the top put on. Sorry that I did not focus better on this one!

Zip, zero, nada

Yup, that is it. No picture tonight and my most humble apologies for it! However, I was stitching on the Honeysuckle and Hummingbird piece. I did more of the fishbone stitch leaves and finished four of them. Not a significant enough progress to take a photo. Next time, I promise!

Starting September

I know I am a long way behind on this, and I admit, it has been a busy summer!! I started the Cassique stitch by working the Scotch portion with DMC #5 in overdyed color 4150. Next I did the fill in design with #12 Kreiik in 017HL. This stitch continues on the other side and you can see where in the bottom right of the photo. This is where I will resume stitching when this is back up in the rotation.

Down to the nose

I did, guess what?, French knots again. I did all along the top from his nose up to his eye and then finished filling in above his eye. Directly above his eye, I switched from three and three in shades of gray to six strands of my lightest gray to highlight that area. I still think he looks like he has a smirk on his face :)

More inside lines

I am working the border, per the instructions, from the outside in. In the last session I completed the stitches in the floche. Tonight, I did them in the #4 braid. The first row is the diagonal Gobelin over three threads and the second row is a single tent stitch skipping one thread all the way around. The pattern called for completing each of the four sides, and then moving around the piece. I knew that if I did that, I may get bored with the design and it would move slowly. This way, I watch it develop all the way around!

The reveal

We had the party last night, and now you can see the piece I gave as the birthday present. It is the Dragonfly Sampler by The Victoria Sampler. It is a combination piece with Hardanger, Stumpwork and Silk Ribbon. Only the wings of the dragonfly are done in stumpwork. The flowers on the top right are done in silk ribbon. The rest is Hardanger and a little decorative stitches in the bottom left. She loved it!

What in the world?

Well, you say this looks just like it did the other day....Ok, now look at this one.
See, I really did do something! In the last work session, I did the Slanted Gobelin in the single strand of Marlitt. Tonight I first did a row of tent stitches right next to the first row skipping one thread all the way around. Then I came back and filled in the skipped thread with a single tent stitch in the Floche, all the way around. Last I started the Slanted Gobelin this time using the Floche.

Filling in

I almost got the top piece all filled in. I am doing basketweave with the Kreinik. I worked all of the blue through the words and then came back and filled in with the white. I should finish the top piece on the next rotation of this piece and start on the bottom then.

Fishbone Leaves

I put in some time on the Hummingbird and Honeysuckle piece by Luan Callery. I used a single strand of Au Ver a Soie/Soie D' Alger and did all the Fishbone stitch leaves you see. There are two colors in so far. Luan gives the color numbers to use Au Ver a Soie, DMC or Anchor.

I can't show you

Yes, I stitched tonight but it is the finishing on a birthday present. "Well, then, why can't I see it?"
Because she reads this blog. "So? You can still put a picture"
No, I can't! "Why not? You don't have to say who it is for!"
Because if she saw it she would know it was for her! Now hush and keep the secret.
(whiny now) "Well, when can I see it?"
After the birthday party next week. "Next week?!"
Yes, next week. (really whiny now) "Well,, that is just not fair......and, besides, I will have forgotten by then......wah,wah,wah"
I don't know what to tell you, except, you can't see it! "Well, crap! (or your favorite expletive here)"
Patience is a virtue you know.. "I don't care about any dang patience....I am going to go and read another blog then."
I know, but it will be worth the wait......she said to an empty room!