All the white flowers

I got all the white outlining done on all the rest of the flowers! Yippee!  I can set the DMC pearl cotton aside, next to the grey and white flower threads.  I won't put them back into the stash until I am sure I did not miss a thread here or there.  I almost finished all of the Kreinik 04 in 032 as well and you can see the strand by the bottom leaf of the fifth flower where I need to finish that leaf.  Then on the right there is a small area of leaf closest to the flower that needs to filled in and it will retire from the active threads pile as well.  Tomorrow, I hope to get the beads on, but we will see!

And for a treat go and look at Mary Corbet's post:
http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/01/needlepainting-hand-embroidery-in-silk.html

Three, Four, Five

I am almost done with all of the outline stitching on all the flowers.  Three and four are totally done, and I am almost all the way around the outside of five!  I am going to finish the outlining and then come back and do all of the Kreinik #4 on the leaves and then do all the beads.  Of course, I don't expect to get that all done in one sitting!

White

I did all the white outline stitch on the bud and leaf on flower four and then started the outline on flower five.  I got quite a bit done on the outside but did not do any of the inside on five yet.

More of the same

I worked on the third flower more tonight.  I finished the DMC  outline stitch and started in on the Kreinik diagonal cross stitches on the petals and down the stem....and left a bit to do on the leaf.  I will finish that tomorrow as well as adding the beads to this center flower.

Lots of beads

I started by adding the beads to leaf two, then did flower two, and leaf three!  I started outlining flower three and got all around the outside and just a touch of the inside. 

Flower Two

Tonight I put in the Kreinik on the two lower petals and then down the stem and on the small leaf in the diagonal cross stitch.  I also worked the Cretan stitch on the larger leaf on the right.  I then added another row to the bottom of the Chinese Stitch in the lacquered jewels.

So I did...

After setting up everything last night, I went ahead and did a bit of the Chinese Stitch border, added the rest of the beads to finish the first flower, and then did the DMC white outline on flower two along with the leaf.

All over the place!

I started the stitching by adding the Cretan stitch in the large leaf next to the first flower on the left using the Kreinik 032.  Next I outlined the outside of flower number two and started leaf number two.  Then using Lacquered Jewels as a single strand, I did more of the Chinese Stitched that borders the fan.  I can now choose to bead, outline, put in Kreinik or work the background as I work my way across the fan!

Bead preview

Since I am going as fast as I can, I stopped outlining after doing just one leaf and added beads for Jane!  LOL,
These are petite Mill Hill 40374 so there are color variations.  I did all of the flower petals and the center, but that is as far as I got as there will be more on down the flowers.  I will finish beading this one tomorrow night so one entire flower will be completed for you to see!  Click the picture to enlarge and you should be able to see both the color variations in the beads along with the Kreinik diagonal cross stitch on the white.

Moving along

I finished the outline stitches on the very left flower and did the next leaf as well.  I then added #4 Kreinik diagonal cross stitches on the bottom bud, the flower and the leaves.   I purposely left this dark so the reiik will show up.

Changing it up

Monday is usually Gifts of Love, but I was showing this piece to a friend this weekend and she commented on how much she liked it.  I tried to explain to her how it would look all done, and since she will be back in about three weeks, I decided I would put some extra time in on it so she can see.  Tonight I worked on the left flower and did more of the outline stitch around the outside of each of the petals and leaves.  Then I filled in the petal outline on the bud on the lower left.  I also put in the top petal on the big flower.  Can you see the sparkle on the lower left petal?  That is Kreinik worked on top of the Alicia Lace pattern.  Can you also see the Lacquered Jewels pattern started out to the left?  Just a preview of what is yet to come....not to mention the beads!

Section Two in Pink

I completed the pink Bargello pattern section tonight.  The new camera card should be here tomorrow or Tuesday so the next picture will pick up better sheen and detail.  This is so much prettier in person!

Playing in the makeup

Tonight I finished the beige eyeshadow using the four strands of Splendor 926 and two strands of Accentuate  in 300.  Then, I started the turquoise using Splendor 866, again four strands, and two strands of Kreinik Blending Filament in 014.  Kind of looks like she puts her makeup on with a putty knife, doesn't it?  I left the picture a bit darker so the "shiny" will show up when you click on it and enlarge it.  Last I did a bit more of her neck line.  Hope she makes you smile!

B-r-r-r-r

B-r-r-r is appropriate today.  It was only five when I left for work this morning!  Yikes....a new record low,
but tomorrow it is supposed to be in the forties and melt some of the real snow!  Anyway, I worked on another leaf on the lower left and then wandered back over to the Brick Stitch.  I am using Splendor 976 and two strands. I can get a lot more Brick stitch done in the time it takes me to do one leaf!  Odd!

Background in Fil

The blackwork design for the background on this piece is worked with  a single strand of DMC Fil.  I started the first step below the top bud and will work down to the bottom poppy in this design.

Alicia Lace

The Alicia Lace is all finished!  I completed the right flower tonight using the single strand of flower Thread.  I then started on the left flower using DMC size 8 and am doing the Outline stitch around all the white areas of each flower.  If you look closely, you will also see a bit of Kreinik highlight in the bottom petal.

All Four boxes

I finished the other two boxes that will frame the letters for the NOEL.  I used Watercolours Christmas and doing Gobelin stitches to create the outside and now we will be on to the next step.

Background again

I worked more on the background on the left and did around the top and right side of the heart closest to the bow.  You can see the little white heart below it is worked in Kreinik white basketweave.

More pinks

I am adding the Bargello M's pattern to Aurora Borealis.  This is being worked with two strands of Zwicky silk for the darker color, and a single strand of silk for the lighter color.  This is an unusual pattern and I am counting every stitch!  But, it is worth it!

A couple of things

 I worked on my Lee canvas that I call Wild Woman tonight.  She has a neck!  I am using four strands of Splendor in 900 for the "foundation" she is wearing.  I also started working on the V neckline skin as well....but then I decided to go ahead and start her eyeshadow.  The one on your right or her left eye has the top color of shadow which is done in four strands of Splendor 926 with two strands of Accentuate #300.  I hope you can see a little of the glitz it gives.  Tomorrow when I work on my Sunday project I am also going to watch my Amy Bunger DVD of Spiders and More!  I will probably not get much stitching done as these are great and full of lots of tips and hints--DH can read his list real well!  LOL

Keep it interesting

I finished the right quadrant of leaves using the four strands of Splendor 844 and the outline stitch.  Rather than work all of the other leaves right away (boring.....) I needed to do something else for a bit.  I chose to start the background.  I am using the Brick stitch over three and have started about the middle of the right side using two stands of Splendor.  I think it is 967 but rather than run back downstairs, I will give you the number on the next update!

The final petal

Woohoo!  I finished the last petal on the foreground poppy!  Then using a single strand of Splendor I did rows of Outline Stitch to create the stems for the poppies.  The top stem has three rows and the others all have four.

Repeat, repeat

I was sure that I would finish the rest of the Alicia Lace on the last white flower on the right tonight.  At least you really can see the rest of the shape after this session.  I am not going to jinx it by saying I will finish the final flower background the next time. 


Elaine...in case you did not see the comment, the Bling Magnets are by DeeBee's designs.

Another new project

Yes, Otto is done and it is time to add a new project to the rotation.  This is the beginning of the Kick Back and Stitch, N O E L, and instead of doing the individual six by six pieces, I am doing a panel.  I have started the outline of the boxes using Watercolours Holiday.  It certainly is holiday green and red!

Two Gifts

The first gift is a another Christmas present.....this one from one of my stitching friends.  This book is full of darning stitch ideas and some of Suzy's quotes and comments which are good for several laughs while perusing the contents.  It is laid out well with lots of patterns and suggestions.

The second is the Gift of Love bow by Sharon G.  Tonight I finished the left streamer with the single strand of Marlitt.  I then started on the blue Double Stitch background on the left below the ribbon band and completed it above the top three hearts

Reality, Possibility

 Reality is that I stitched on Wild woman's face and finished her foundation down to her chin and a bit of her neck.  I also added the darker shade around the edge of her face and down her neck and across her shoulders.  DH wanted know when I was going to do the "bags" under her eyes.  "What bags?  Do you mean the blush on her checks? " Yes, I guess that is what it is supposed to be....Hmmm....  See what we are up against?

Possibilities is another Christmas present from DH.  This is a wonderful book with major creativity inside. 
I am grateful that he keeps the list of ideas I give him, aren't you?  LOL

This n that

First, Sara sent me a much better picture of Otto.....which she loves!  The look on her face when she opened her eyes (I had her close her eyes and hold her hands out and then set him between them) was speechless!  She really likes him and plans on hanging him in her office.

Next, I wanted to share:

This Charley Harper design was a present from DH for Christmas.....He is going to be part of a set of three that I plan to stitch for the four season room.  He is a lot smaller than Brrdd Bath, but will go nicely in the trio.


Then, a couple of presents I bought myself this last week:

Aren't they fantastic?!  These are both by Orna Willis and they are in her Etsy store!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ornaw?ref=seller_info    
The needle case design comes with a button threads, fabric and all.  The Needle Art kit comes in several colors and of course, I wanted blue so she made one up for me and posted it to the store and....magic....it showed up so very quickly!  Thanks Orna!