All the closeups

Happy Halloween everyone!

 As promised, I took six closeups for your viewing.  This one shows all the outlining detail and the rest of the
hair I added with the Sulky

 The twisted cord for the cape tie is overlapped and then couched in place and remember I changed from lace to beads along the sleeve cuffs

 The cape ties are blowing in the wind

 Snow details and trees on the left

 Snow detail and hem of the dress on the right

Right side tree detail.  This design area  measures 11 x 11.
Thanks for watching this one as I stitched it....It is so pretty even if I can't capture the true shine to it with the camera.

Viola, Fini!

The Snowbird is finished!  I added the twisted two strands of white in the dress and around the neck.  I also twisted two strands and couched the cords for the cape ties.  She is done.....Lara asked for closeups and so tomorrow, I will take several closeups of various sections and post them so you can better see the detail and maybe even get a better idea of the true color.  The background is really pale blue and in order to get some of it to show up I have been enhancing it trying to get the glitz for you.....stay tuned

More outlining

I did more outlining today!  All around the outside of the coat and hood his done, down both sides of the blue lining as well, along the hem of the skirt too!  All I have left to do is the lines on the white gown.....

Yes, all the cookies are home made and baked and then wrapped in individual bags with each having a holiday label with the employee name on them....they all loved it!

Pumpkins, Monsters, Ghosts and Bats....oh, my!

I have not done any stitching all week!  Yikes, that is really scary isn't it?  I have been training a gal for the old
job with the speakerphone and a virtual desk top.  It is going great and she is going to be a great asset to the team!  Yippee! 

In addition to that, I have also been having fun!  The Kent District Library has a Team of gals that do "fun" recognition things for all the staff members in the system.  I helped with the Halloween Project for this year. Over 300 cookies were baked and then frosted, bagged and tagged with one for each of the employees, with a special decorated tag:

Pumpkins, ghosts, tombstones, Frankenstein, skulls, candy corn, bats and witches were bathed in butter cream frosting and duly decorated with more frosting, sprinkles, sugar and eyes!  After labeling each bagged cookie with the employee name, they were boxed up by branch and delivered along with one of these:

Yes, 19 huge glass bowls were filled with over 1800 pieces of candy!   The candy was purchased, mixed, and filled four cardboard paper sized boxes before being transferred into the bowls. Each branch will get one of the bowls for the staff along with the cookies!  The team finished loading all of this into the cars and set off to deliver them around ten this morning.  I am sure they were duly appreciated upon their arrival at the branches!

It has been a busy week for me, but it has been a lot of fun!  Thanks, Team KDL, for asking me to help!  You are a wondrous group of people!

Twisting and couching

I have started doing twisted cord with two strands of Soie D Alger and couching it to the design.  Down the right side of the coat, the sleeves and a bit of the back of the coat are done.
Doing the hair in Sulky was brilliant on Dorothy's part!  So real looking and very detailed. 

Details

First, I used medium brown for her tiny eyebrows in outline stitch.  Then a darker brown for her eyelashes in straight stitches.  Two tiny stitches of Kreinik made her green eyes sparkle and some bright Soie D Alger and three little stitches filled in her lips.  Her face is left unstitched!  Surprise!
Then, I twisted two strands of Soie D Alger for the twisted cord that is couched down along the outside edges of her coat.  On the sleeves there is a piece of lace in the kit that was to be sewn in place, but you know me......always have to change something....so I added petite beads along the edge instead.  Think about it....she is loaded and got this coat in Paris and it would have crystal beads, right?

All the snow

I finished all the snow!  Unfortunately my picture does not show it well, and I will do better tomorrow.  I also worked her hair in a single strand of Sulky and it is done using an outline stitch.  Next up is her face and then all the outlining work.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I don't get to stitch at all.....today was one of those days.....Unfortunately....so instead I ask you wait patiently until tomorrow when I plan on doing the stitching first and all the other stuff second!

It is the bird

 You have all been waiting for the cardinal and here he is.  He is done with three shades of red for his body, and has a bead for his eye.  No wonder she is smiling.

It then started working on the snow beneath her feet.  It is all worked with two strands of Accentuate.  I got most of it done and will finish it up tomorrow.

Moving on again

I finished the bushes and tree on the left side using the Soie D Alger for the tree and adding Accentuate to it as well and the blue green bush.  The snow on the ground needs to be done as does her hair, face, the outlining and the bird.  I also added the rest of the beads on the cape lining today.
I have an email address for Dorothy Lesher on the pattern and if you would like it to contact her regarding this piece, email me at ndleartnut@aol.com and I will send it to you.  That is my suggestion for those of you who are looking to acquired the canvas and kit.  I don't have access to another one.  I would be happy to forward the stitch guide to you but without the canvas you won't be able to stitch it as it is line drawn and painted.  It has a 2006 copyright date on it so she may still have some or there are some out there.  I bought mine from a gal who was downsizing several years ago.

The trees are done

I finished the trees on the right side.  I added the rest of the silk on the middle tree and came back and added the Accentuate to it.  Then, the far right tree is all worked in the blue green Accentuate.  Last, I started the bushes on the left and have completed the far left one in Pewter Accentuate.

Back to the Snowbird

I finished the underlining on the dress bottom in straight stitches with Soie D Alger and then did her shoes in Kreinik.  Next I have started the trees on the right side.  The green one is two shades of silk in long stitches and the blue gray one is done with Accentuate.  All of the trees are worked using a single strand, so my progress is slow.   I will work on the trees more tomorrow as the green one will have Accentuate also.

Guess what?

Look what came in the mail!  Threedles Needleart Design's pattern called Cat's Eyes, Cleopatra by Kurdy Biggs.  I have been waiting to order this while doing some of the "ready to avalanche" stash.  I could resist no longer.  This design won a 1st place ribbon at the Woodlawn Needlework show this year!  It is awesome!  It is just one of the beautiful designs by Ms. Biggs and if you have not had the opportunity to see her others, go to
www.threedles.com
It is totally amazing and I hope you enjoy the awesome designs she has available.

I will continue working on The Snowbird to finish it first, so don't be alarmed! I have been "working" again this week as the replacement is still out ill. 

There, the gown is stitched

I finished the rest of the gown!  I also did the Kalem (knitting) stitch and then outlined her gloves.  Then, I moved on and did the diagonal and straight stitches that filled in the sleeve linings.....Next up?   The dress lining at the bottom, shoes and The trees!

The Gown, step two

Step two of the gown is to fill in all around the diamonds with a single strand of Pearl  Ombre.......I almost finished it all....just a bit at the very bottom to do tomorrow!  I believe Jane is right and this outfit is from one of the couture houses in Paris!

Last panel

I finished the last dress panel in the Soie d' Alger!  I can move on to step two.  I thought I might make it today.....oh, well, looking forward to starting it tomorrow!

More dress

I finished the center panel of the dress and down around the right side.  Then I started the last panel, just off by one thread.  Even if it is a fold, it should look like it all goes together.  Tomorrow I hope to finish this panel in this stitch so I can do step two.

Starting the dress

I started the dress with blanc Soie D alger and am working this pattern horizontally.  The dress is line drawn so that it has folds and the pattern will not line up through the dress so it looks like folds.  Pretty neat!
Thanks for all the bead offers!  I just have to find mine.  I did not have time to look today.  It has been a beautiful day here and I worked in the new flower beds and moved a few things around while DH painted handrails on the deck.  I got the better job!

Beading

 I worked on the right side cape lining and did all the beading except about the last 30.

I ran out of beads from the kit.  I am going to go through my stash and see if I have this bead and if not, I will have to get some quick!  I have to keep working on this one!  So much pressure.....LOL

Two more photos

This closeup, not true to color, shows the detail on the left coat lining which I finished today.  Then.....I added beads!

The regular overall picture shows both sections of the lining done, but only the left one is beaded.  I will work on adding all the beads to the right side tomorrow.  DH says, "That's nice, now....Hurry up and do the trees"  I said, " It is not time to do them".  Then "do the bird next instead",  "no, I am not doing that yet either".......so it goes at my house!

P.S.  click the images and they should enlarge for you.

Up close and more done

 As promised, this is a very closeup of the patchwork coat lining.  Such a pretty stitch!

Then, I finished the one long panel of the lining on the right and have started the small section at the top on the left.  This looks like a brocade lined cape to me and I bet it cost a boatload!

More coat lining

I resumed working on the coat lining with two strands of Soie d Alger.  This pattern is worked horizontally in rows with a stitch pattern of /// and then a reverse of it coming back leaving one thread in between.  I will do a close up shot next time so you can better see the detail.

Cool Cardinal Finish

Cool Cardinal is finished!  I finished the wing first and then completed all the French Knot snow he is sitting on.  I am back from all my travels and happy to be able to stitch again!  Woohoo!  Tomorrow the Snowbird reappears!