Here she is, in all her glory! Next I will turn her into an ornament and you will see the finished photo of that in a few days. Thanks, again to Janet Burnett of A Collection of Designs for her permission to blog stitch this piece.
I finally picked up the Tulip Study from the framer! It is a wooden shadow box, with a gold mat to accent the gold in the border. I also put museum quality glass on the front of this one. Notice I did not get a reflection from the camera! 
I am back to stitching and the background is worked in the Hungarian stitch using 6 strands of Splendor 879. The Hungarian stitch makes a very nice diamond pattern, adding some texture, but not so much as to detract from the design. Nice choice of stitches by Janet Burnett, the designer, don't you think? 
Tonight I filled in the holly leaves and the bow. Janet called for using J.L. Walsh silk for the holly and Flair for the bow. I did not have any of the colors called for and so I substituted from my stash. I used Vineyard Silks for the leaves and Neon Rays Plus for the bow. I also changed the stitches she called for. I did a stem stitch for the vein and tent stitched the rest of the leaves. The bow is also done in a tent stitch, and then I did put the X on the center for the knot.
Tonight I finished the underbelly with four strands of the Splendor 898, outlined the wing with the 819, and did some Random Split stitches to finish off the tail. Then, using Splendor 877, again in four ply, I worked the Split of Encroaching Gobelin over two for the nose, and legs. I added an eye, and although Janet did not say to, I gave Fatima a couple of eyelashes! Girls just gotta have fun!
Tonight I took four more strands of Splendor 898 and added a strand of Wisper and did the Nobuku stitch across his back and wing. You will also see a few of the stitches are done with the Splendor 819 and a strand of Wisper. You will notice there are a few compensating stitches to fit the body shape, and that there is the aura of fuzzy! LOL
Following my instructions, I first started stitching at the top with 4 ply of Splendor 898. When I got to the eye, I added my own light around it with Splendor 897, and the did the black cross with 4 ply of black DMC. It was painted a lot lighter around the eye, and I decided to make that small change. Continuing down, I added the shading with Splendor 819 under the chin and down the side of the neck. All the stitches so far are Interlocking Gobelin, worked over two. This is great fun and going to stitch pretty quick!
I continued working on the tummy from the left over. Then I moved up and filled in above the right wing and brought that down to the small area in the center and under the right wing. Little by little........
Chris is eager to know all of you! So, I started, again using four strands, and did the darkest red with Splendor 826, in either half cross in the small areas, or, basketweave when space allowed. Then, in Splendor S1005, I came down the right side, under the wings, and did the face areas as well. Next, in DMC 317, I did the gray eye outline, and dotted them with the white Splendor 800. Using Snow in black, I did his face mask. I started the pink at the top, and also filled in his face, but forgot to write that color number down for you. I will post that tomorrow night. Given I did not stitch at all on Saturday, due to the BBQ, I think that is a good day's progress!
Tonight, I finished another row and started the next one to the right. I also added his black bead eyes.
Unfortunately, I have been in bed since Saturday with some stomach virus! I tried to stitch a little today, but just not a lot strength to even sit and stitch--how bad is that! I will be feeling even better tomorrow and should have a lot more progress by then!
