Two more leaves &

Using four strands of Splendor 844, I used the stem stitch to fill in two more leaves on the lower right tonight.  They take me a while, but they do look good.  Almost all the leaves have directional lines on them and I am working them as drawn.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The center petal and....

I worked on the front poppy, center petal tonight using the single strands of either the peach Splendor or overdyed silk and got most of it done.  Carol Sylvester sent me a photo of her piece which she has completed and has ready to send in for the critique by Pat Van Cleve......Isn't it lovely?  She used different colors working from her stash for fibers and her fabric.  Congratulations Carol for completing it!

The last flower

Tonight I worked on the last flower on the right, which is the last flower on the fan.  I am using a single strand of DMC flower thread and the Alicia last stitch.

A little variety

Rotation day brings back Gifts of Love by Sharon G and I decided to work on the left bow streamer.  Using a single strand of Marlitt, I worked on filling in this streamer.  I used both the blue and the cream and made quite a bit of progress on this section tonight.

The beaded Snow Garden

I added the pearls to the Snow Garden tonight and it is now complete.  I will be finishing this as an ornament this next weekend!

Merry Christmas, one and all!

May you all be filled with the joy of family, fun, and friendship during the Christmas season and thank you for
visiting the blog!

Bargello Stocking

This is a bargello stocking that I started way too long ago, and decided it was time to finish it up.  I only had the last ten or so rows to do and it could move from the unfinished pile over to the finishing pile!  I worked the pattern in Needle Necessities,Flair, Patina, and Fyre Werks so it very shiny and glitzy.  It is about 6" tall and will be a lined stocking when next I remove the sewing machine from its' case!

Otto framed

Otto is framed!  The true color of the frame is depicted on the lower right.  The sun was shining and this is the best shot I could get!  The mat matches the darkest wine color in the mountains and the design on the frame reflects the mountain angles.  I will try again to get a better shot, but he is ready for his road trip!

The Snow Garden

I finished all of the rows in the Snow Garden!  The fibers in this piece are the Alabaster, Flair, and Encore from the outside in.....all that is left is the beads!

The week before Christmas...

Twas the week before Christmas, all through the house
All the creatures are stirring, even the mouse;
The stockings are packed by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be here:
The baked goods were nestled all snug in their tins,
While visions of more cookies danced in the din;
And mamma in her apron and hubby in his lair,
Had just settled in for the last of the baking usually done so rare;
When out in the garage there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the oven to see what was the matter.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a present laden hubby so dear,
Wrapped presents were stacked high already done,

Along with tins of  favorites for each of the loved ones.
Now cookies,  now caramels, and yes, chocolate fudge,
Then brittle and haystacks, and yes, peanut butter fudge.
"You expect me to get all this in the car, stacked to the wall?'
Yes, dear, I do, so we can dash away all!

p.s.  Cooking and baking consumed the stitching time today, but I will be back tomorrow with more progress...hope your shopping and baking and cleaning and cards are done.....I can say mine are now!

A little here and there

I worked on the bottom flower again tonight.  The outside left petal got some of the darkest orange and some of the overdyed as well.  The middle back petal got a bit more of the overdyed and then I barely started with the darkest for the center.

Flower Outlines

All of the black Flower Thread Alicia lace background is stitched.  I started the last white flower background at the top but only got a bit of it done.  For now, you can see where the last flower will go and that will probably take one more night of stitching all that white.  Then we move on to outlining the flowers as shown on the very left most flower.

Adding more walls

I repeated row two and using Encore did another row of Gobelin and corner Smyrna Crosses.  Then using the Flair, the next wall shimmers around the Encore.  I started the final row of Alabaster and finished one side of the Alternating Mosaics and started around the corner.  This one won't take much longer to finish!

The right side

I completed the right side tonight!  The background, that is!  I decided that I would do all the Double Stitch background before I did the hearts as they go so fast.  And, I am incredibly slow at the background!  I also have to basketweave the left tail of the bow and down the center of the package.  Decisions, decisions....which one to do first!

Center pink

I worked on Aurora Borealis tonight and finished Pattern 1.  this is a flat pattern variation.  I did a series of over five and over two to create the openings for the beads.  This is surrounded by Madeira gold over two as well and you can see I left some dangling at the top on the right.  I will finish the column up after I work the bottom row of the next pattern.  After placing the  beads,  I did uprights over five threads and on top of the beads using burgundy Soie d"Alger. 

Down to the chin

I worked on Wild Woman's face again tonight getting her foundation on almost to her chin.  I am using four strands of Splendor and doing basket-weave.  I will continue past her chin and do her neck and the v  up to the dress all in basket-weave before starting on the rest of her face.

Stem stitching

I decided to start in on the leaves at the bottom of the circle and am using four strands of Splendor to do stem stitches that follow the drawn lines on each one.  I like how the direction has changed the sheen on them!  Even though the leaves are not the focal point, there are a lot of them and I knew what stitch I wanted for them.  I am still selecting other stitches for other areas.  By putting these in, it will help me make better choices for the others.

Petal Prepping

I worked on the two left front poppy petals tonight using the lightest value in the single strand of Splendor.  I also added the middle value in the top petal but still have more to add.  The curved petal at the bottom will get some of the middle value added to the open area, but will remain light as it swirls around the petal in the very center. 

Black is Back

While Otto is getting framed, I am resuming my rotations.  Last night I started his replacement and tonight I resumed stitching on the Black Lace Fan.  I almost completed the section on the right. I am using flower thread in the Alicia Lace stitch and it goes fairly quickly.  This area is the left section of the last flower on the fan. If you enlarge the photo you can see the outline of the flower very clearly now.

Snow Garden

Sometimes when I finish one big project, I pull out a little one, rather than start another large one.  Tonight I pulled this out of the stash pile (and it did not topple on me!).  It is a Carol J. Algie Design for Rainbow Gallery and it is worked on a 6 x 6 piece of white 18 count.  I started in the center and did four Cushion stitches using Rainbow Gallery Alabaster.  Next a border row of Gobelin and corner Smyrna Crosses in Encore.  The third row is slanted Gobelin in Flair, and the final two rows are alternating Mosaic using the Alabaster again.  This section went fairly fast and I am leaving it in the rotation for next week.  This will be made in to an ornament.

Just by the hair....

Well, folks, I am finished!  I have certainly had such fun reading all of your comments and talking and flirting with all of you--as appropriate, of course!  My chin hairs were finished with two strands of black Splendor in buillion knots.  Then my top eyelash was stitched on with another single strand of black thread.....oh, all right, it is a fake one....did you really think she could stitch something like that??  Last, the three bells are attached and knotted on by black Ultrasuede.  I think I am just as dapper a Suffolk sheep that hit town.  Thanks for coming along during the creation and for all the great comments.  See you after I am framed for an encore!

A full coat

Now that Otto is fully coated, he is much happier and a lot warmer since the temperatures are down in the twenties here in the mountains.  He was also a tad upset this morning during the snow flurries, but they have subsided and with his full coat he has returned to his happy disposition.  The last of the mountains under his chin are also completed and there are just a few odds and ends to finish up.  Anne asked about the background.  In her piece Ms. Portra did a four way continental in a matching DMC floss.  I am choosing not to do that on this piece.  I will finish this piece tomorrow night!

A long neck

Otto has a long neck and I worked more knots along his neck and down the fur to the bottom of the design.  All I have left is to complete one small area and hope that I don't run out of fiber!  I hope to get this last bit of fur done tomorrow....fiber permitting!

So it grows

Otto's coat is growing, maybe not by leaps and bounds, but by inches every day.  I have continued the two different color strands down the left side for more shading under his ear and close to his neck while staying with
the solid off white on the outside edge.  I also think his wool would be dirty close to his head but not so much further back on his body.  Either way, I like it.

Adding on

I finished out to the top right corner, rounded the ear and moved down the back of his head.  In so doing, I added in some of the darker color along the neck and then used a strand of light and dark under the ear closest to his neck.  I think he needs some shading in here and will shade some here and there all the way down.

Out to one edge

I worked on the top right area tonight and got out to one edge--see, up in the very corner-- and
also shaded ones around the ear.  I am glad so many of you like Otto as he is quite the character.   Thanks for
all the comments and emails about him!  Adding the "wool" adds to his charm I think and I am going as fast as I can!  I will look for the turbo needles tomorrow!  As you can see I still have a ways to go and some finishing touches, so thanks for the encouragement too!