The last leaf

I finished it tonight!  The last leaf is done and it creates a great balance in the design.  There is just a bit more gold trellis to put in place and that is next on the schedule.

On a sad note, Judy Harper passed away today from heart problems.  Her Possibilities and Elegant Whimsies were frequent stops on my nightly blog cruising.  I stitched some Halloween napkin rings for her a while back and she just recently added some new designs.  Take a trip through her blogs as I am not sure if they will be maintained.

Starting the final leaf

The very top and final leaf lays in next to the top poppy and I worked on the base of the leaf tonight.  While it is done with two strands of floss, it is slow to cover in stacked outline stitches, but well worth the effect on the presentation of the piece.

Thanks again to all of you who are enjoying watching this piece evolve.  Pat Van Cleve's design is a joy to work and her instructions are excellent.  I also love the "trellis" look of the gold blackwork in the background.  It surely makes this piece pop!

   More tomorrow....

In a couple of days

I walked around the yard today as the sun was shining and look!  The crocus are popping out of the leaves, and in a few more days the daffodils will cover the mulch area in the front yard!  The Hellebores are popping out as are leaf buds on the roses.  The Hyacinths are poking their heads up and so are the day lilies.  I hope that this is  going to be an early spring and not just a way too early sign that they will be frosted over later.  Poppy progress tomorrow!

Two down, one to go

I finished leaf number two tonight and actually started a bit of leaf three tonight.  My guess is a few more evenings and this one will be ready for the framer!

Poppy update

Tonight I finished the gold Fil on the lower right.  I then moved onto the next leaf under the middle poppy and worked on it a bit.  This picture is truer to the background color of the green and yes, Beth, the poppies really do pop on this piece.  It is going to be a very elegant, striking one for sure.  Thanks for following along!

If you have not heard, Judy from Possibilities-see my blog roll-is in the hospital.  Please keep her in your thoughts.

One is done

The bottom leaf is finished as of tonight, so then I moved over and started working on the goldwork on the bottom right section.  It is close but not quite finished.  DMC fil is very slippery and the single strand requires
a bit of patience and persistence but is well worth the effort.

Much better

I worked on the bottom leaf some more tonight.  I did not quite get it finished, but almost!  I am using two strands of Crescent Colors and doing the outline stitches so it will be slow go on the leaves for a bit, but they are working out much better this way.