Background progress

I am working the background for a couple of days.  It is going pretty fast even with the compensating around the letters.

Ampersand

I stitched the Ampersand with some silver Snow and then started the background with Splendor and a strand Kreinik to add some shine.  This entire piece is going to be silvers, white and gray. My niece and I discussed it and have decided to go with more monochrome to fit her color schemel

Progress!

I worked the Mr and M so far in Silk Lame in tent and basketweave.

Mr & Mrs.

Mr & Mrs. is by Raymond Crawford and is going to be the ring bearer's pillow for my niece's wedding in August!  She likes modern, simple designs so this will not be a frilly piece.  I have some
 Splendor, Gold Rush, Silk Lame and Kreinik to work the piece that is 5.5 5 on 18 count.

Finished!

I finished the sky by adding white matte beads and then worked across the bottom in all Neon
Rays.  This one is ready to be framed!

One from last year

Time to finish this little piece I started last year!  Today, I finished the sky in Kreinik, the  muffs in Wisper, the scarf (on the right) with Neon Rays and silk.  I also added the beads for the eyes.

Julep is finished!

I added three rows of basketweave around the outside of the silver border. This canvas is going to be
finished into a pillow! All I have left to do is finish writing the stitch guide!

Kitty Cheeks!

          I worked the cheeks in silk and Kreinik and then added the whiskers.  Julep is all worked!

The back leg

I have finished the back leg!  The entire body is now stiched! Next up is the pink cheeks!

Another leg

Julep now has both of his front legs and I am moving under his belly to the back one!

Right Leg

The right leg is all worked in the pattern I previously established. I am continuing to use more of the
silks.

And that is it

The background is all done!  Moving on to work on the rest of the lower body!

Left to right

I am working the blue sparkle from left to right and am half way across the bottom and the left leg area is finished.

The blue silk

                                        The background blue silk is all done!  Happy dancing!

Across the bottom!

I can see the end of the silk background....I made it all across the bottom and some of in between the legs.  All I have left is the little opening in the leg area and the bottom left corner.

To the corner

I made it down to the corner in the silk!  Yippee! 

More progress

Time to get more of the silk background in!  I worked down the right side and can see the bottom!
I only did the silk and will work on the shine the next time!

Setting the pattern

I worked on setting the setting on the lower body on the right side after I completed the top wave of blue
all across the design.  Again, I am continuing with the Silks, and feel I have made a lot of progress!

Blue sparkly

I added more of the sparkle to the left side and am almost at the corner with the silk.  I also added a few more rows on the right in the silk.

More background!

I worked down the left side doing a lot of compensating to fit all of the side bars.  I also a few more rows of shiny on that side too.

Starting the lower body

I have started the lower body.  Once again I am using more of the silks and creating the wavy sections for his belly.

Adding blue

Working on the background some more, I added in the blue sparkly to the silk stitches.  All under his chin and between the tail and body are done and I am moving down each side a bit at a time.

Filled in....

So I filled in under the chin, between the tail and the body and more down the left side. So far, just the silk on those areas.  Have you noticed that his pink cheeks and whiskers aren't done yet?  I am saving them for last!

The tail

 I had to laugh when I typed that title!  Anyway, both sides fo the tail are done, all in more silk!

Starting the tail

Taking a background break and am working on filling in his tail.  Again,  I am using the silks to create the design

On the right

I am working my way down the right side of the background.  I have marked the ends of the whiskers with a single strand of thread while I keep on going.

The Triangle

I worked all of the triangle in more of the silk and a bit of the braid!  Moving on down!

Starting down

I am working down the sides in the background.  I also have started down between the tail and the body.  This photo is easier to see where just the silk is done versus where I have added the braid.  The braid shines but also lightens the silk appearance.

And more background

I can see more progress now that I am working down the sides with the silk!  I am alternating between the silk rows and adding the cross stitches in the braid.

More background

I worked the Silk Lame Braid in the background pattern across to the right ear and some more of the background stitch in the silk over to the left and starting down.  I need to work a lot more of the background to lay in the direction for the areas in and around the chin and between the tail and the body.  I will keep going for a day or two to get this laid in and then resume patterns.

A big day!

Happy Birthday Mom!  A New Year's Baby!

Happy New Year everyone!

I finished all of the green and silver stripes!