Library building!

I picked up 4 new books on my travels!  A Book of Stitches by Eileen Bennett, Desert Island Stitches by Carole Lake & Michael Boren, Ins & Outs Interiors and Exteriors Plus, and Bling by June McKnight.  I have already spent a lot of time going through them.  Sorry, I did not buy them all in one shop but one in each of the several shops I visited!

Across the top

I added a row of tied Giant Scotch stitches across the top in Buds and the tie thread is Neon Rays.  Below that is a row of Van Dyke stitches in Kreinik #8 in 002.

Back at home!

We have been on a three week trip and got home today!  I am pretty much over the horrid cold we both caught while gone but still have a scratchy voice! 

We left and headed for Lexington, KY and visited family.  Also, stopped in M's Canvashouse--mre about that later as I unpack.  Then on to Asheville, NC to stay with friends, go to the baby shower previously mentioned, and visit more family. Also, visited my needlework shop there--more later.  Next we headed to Charleston, SC to see more friends and I visited the shop I posted about earlier.  As I finish unpacking I will show you what I got there.  Then we traveled up the coast, stopped at Kill Devil Hills, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, the Outer Banks and visited more friends.  Last leg of the tour was up to CT to stay with friends for Easter.  There I visited the Sudberry Outlet store  in Old Saybrook and picked up some boxes that will hold the 4 inch square designs--remember the Christmas designs?

We left CT on Monday and got home this afternoon.  Still unpacking but getting there!

Moving on

Well, this cold really took me a while to get over.  I almost have my voice back and am back to doing some stitching.  I added in the lines at the top and bottom with Watercolours in a Gobelin stitch.  The gold boxes are Treasure braid in a four way continental stitch to outline the Smyrna cross squares.

Gold Boxes

So I finally got some time in on Pieces of Africa.  These are all double crosses worked in #8 Kreinik 002.  I have caught a doozy of a cold and have not felt much like stitching due  to all of the coughing,  Hope none of you catch it!  Both of us have and now have a large collection of cold remedies to choose from!

Pieces of Africa

This is another stash piece!  It is called Pieces of Africa-the Nile by Terry Gifford.  I chose the blue colorway  and here are the threads.  I am going to put this on the bars and get it started.  It is a 10 x 12 piece of 18 count canvas.

Cabbage Row Shoppe

I stopped in the Cabbage Row Shoppe today!  This is Madonna Lewis, the owner.  She has a wonderful shop located in Charleston, SC.  I was met at the door with a cheery Hello from both her and Linda and a friendly tail wagging by her darling dog!   The gals were hanging some new Kirk and Bradley canvases but I told her I wanted to browse a bit and for them to go ahead.

The Christmas room has a charming fireplace that is the center with many wonderful ornament canvases.  There is an additional long hallway with  many other Christmas designs and  stockings, 

Walking around the entire store one is amazed by the many different painted canvases available.  The thread selection is also amazing!  Madonna carries all the accessories-from books to magnets and more.

Her exclusive new series are these darling basket purses!  You can request your choice of colors as  the canvas are painted for her there.  They will do the finishing for as well.

She has a facebook page and a website as well.   If you are in Charleston, I recommend a visit.  I had a great time chatting and purchasing a new canvas--which hubby helped to choose.

Finished

This one is done!  I finished laying in the rest of the ribbons in all the quadrants and added beads next to the Silver Lame Milanese stitches.  All done!

Round and round

I finished all of the Smyrnas and have laid in ribbon in between them.  It is really shiny!

A New baby!

Nate & Kate are having a baby in April and so I made a hat and baby blanket for the baby shower!  What a fun party this will be!  I know it is not needlepoint but wanted to share.  I knit in the evening when I sit with DH.

Working out

I am working my way out from the center.  All of the rows of Smyrna Cross are done with Nordic Gold in color 03

Rita & Hedy

 Pattie sent pictures of her finished Rita & Hedy from the stitch guides I wrote for her!  I forgot to post these when I got them.....Nice job Pattie!!

The center

I decided to work White Christmas all in silver!  The center Amadeus are worked in #8 Kreinik 001.  The Milanese arrows are Silk Lame Braid 48.  This is on 18 count canvas.

White Christmas

This is the next ornament that I am going to start.  These are from Christmas Ornaments Part I by Jean Hilton.  I am going to change the colors and only work part of the design again.  I am thinking all silver for this one.  Framing up the canvas and pulling threads.

Lesson Five

Lesson Five is all about adding a border around the square.  A strand of blue and yellow Kreinik are laid the length of a side and then overstitched with Soie Gobelin to create a pattern.   I have completed two of the 12 rows around the square.  This is going to take a while!

And all the yellow

I have finished all of the yellow Holbein stitches on top of the blue ones.  The top photo is a close up so you can actually see the squares.

Charley Harper Trio

I just finished another stitch guide for these 3 Charley Harper Birds. These are going to be stitched and hung together in a grouping.  Includes the Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Bank Swallow, and Blackburnian Warbler.  I hope to get final pictures!

And now, a square.

I have finished all four corners and started filling in the double Holbein stitch.  The first step of blue is all done.  I have one corner with the second layer of banana silk on top.

The Octagon

The Octagon is stitched.  The next step in Lesson 4 is to turn it into a square.  I have started filling in the first triangle.  

More of 4

I finished Sandy's slide for this area and have added the Diamond pattern in the square on the left.  I need to add the Kreinik to that square to have it finished.  Then one more quandrant and the rest of lesson 4 which is a surprise