Just the maroon

I moved up and stitched the maroon part of the ribbon.  I will come back to the gold in a bit.

In between

In between the ribbon I was planning a Scotch stitch but it did not look right when I laid in the dark blue, so out it came.  Basket weave was the final choice after trying three other stitches.  Rule of thumb for me is that every canvas does need a place for the eye  to rest so I am now happy with this section.

Starting in

I am working the white background in the center first and today I finished about 3/4  of it.  I see lots of fun with this 6 inch circle!

Done!

 First the closeup of the third butterfly finished with more metallic and silk and some pink beads.

The completed piece--all three together.

The finished pillow

 Mr & Mrs is back from the finisher!  It is a 10 inch square pillow made with Silk Dupioni.

 Beautiful ruching on the sides.

The bride and groom's names and dates!

The bride to be with the ring bearer and flower girl!  Yesterday was the wedding shower we held for her and the first chance for her to ask them if they would like to be in the wedding!  Of course they both said Yes! and he also said "This is a lot to take in!"  We all laughed!

Progress!

Next tot the pink and blue in the middle of the second part is an X done in light blue filament.  Then starting the bottom, more filament in pink and blue silk.....getting there!

More mail!

Meditating Mums coaster came in the mail this week too!  It is a six inch design on 18 count.  I have pulled threads, bought some, and am ready to put this on the stretcher bars!  I will be writing the stitch guide too!
You can see all 8 of the designs at
http://leighdesigns.com/Grp629x.html
Jane of Chilly Hollow is doing the Timeless Tiger from this same grouping!

The third butterfly

I have started the third and final butterfly.  This photo is a lot darker than the actual piece but the top is pink with turquoise beads.  Next is a band of purple followed by turquoise, pink and blue.

An early present

My birthday is next week and look what I got in the mail!  I love early presents and I have already spent a great deal of time perusing this book.  Several years ago I took a "what do  I do with this canvas" class from Carole at Callaway Gardens.  I still have my note book from that class and this just makes me smile!  It is full of goodies from Carole Lake and Michael Boren.  If you ever get a chance to take a class, it is well worth it!  Not only does she have great ideas, but is also funny!!  Two of my favorite things!  The canvas I took to Callaway was Roses and Tassels and you can see the transformation by clicking on that title on the Right side.

Middle one

The middle butterfly is all done!  Love the colors on this one!  One left to do in turquoises, blues

Framed!

I framed Old Saint Nick in a vintage frame.  It used to hold a photo of my Dad when he was very young and I confiscated it from my parents.  Very suitable for Nick I think!

Outside of two

I did the outside stitches around the rest of the is butterfly!  Lots of outline stitches and long satin stitches with one ply of silk.

The middle one

I have started the middle butterfly.  I thought it was mostly red from the photo but is is more fuschia, lavender pinky, LOL

Old Saint Nick!

And he is all done.....his boots are navy blue, added some bling to the staff and just a few snowflakes!

One is done

The first butterfly is all done.  Very pretty golds, rusts, golds, purples, copper.

Top sections

I have been working on the top sections of the first butterfly.  Splendor and metallics add shine in a couple of areas.  Then just metallics, and finally the spangles.  Still more to do in the middle section.

Number One

The butterflies are worked from left to right.  This one has the top wings outlined in gold and the bottom are outlines in  a black/purple combo.  Splendor is filling in the areas on the top wing, so far.

Ready, set

Butterflies are 3 calls for Soie d'Alger, Waterlilies, Accentuate, beads and Paillettes (Spangles).  I have done the conversions and am using Splendor, some Accentuate, some Kreinik blending filaments and then of course the beads and Paillettes.

I have traced the designs--the three butterflies--onto a 10 x 13 piece of gold flecked canvas instead of Mocha congress cloth as called for.

What is next?!

I have set Old Saint Nick aside to wait for threads. So I am getting the canvas on the bars for Marnie Ritter's Butterflies are Three.  This pattern is available from ANG as the 2014 Workshop by Mail Project.  I plan on substituting threads on this piece and I am working on that as well!

All the knots

All of the French knots are done!  Just a few more touches....his boots and some background and he will be all set.  My threads for those two things should arrive tomorrow or the next day, so I am off to ponder another stitching adventure!

A beard...

I did his mustache and beard in more of the Angora but this time in satin stitches and then a bit of a brush with the Bunka.  I also did a lot more French knots!

A bag

I have added his bag in Silk Lame Braid, some roses, hearts and Christmas trees for decorations.  And.....a few more French knots at the bottom.  Trimmed his pom pom some more too!

It is done!

I did it!  I finished all of the black all the way around!  This one is going to be shipped to the framer!

All over the place

I did Nick's face cheek and added his eye.  Pearls were next for the top of his hat.  His staff is worked in Gobelin stitch-slanted, and then I added more of the French knots along the bottom of his coat. I trimmed the pom pom a bit more too.

The light at the end

I can see the light!  Made great progress on the black!  One more stitching session and this will be done!

Happy 4th!

Enjoy the wonderful holiday!

Celebrate, Cook,  Eat, Drink and watch fireworks!  That's my plan and hope to also stitch some too!

Hat and

The hat is all stitched in the Milanese and so is the rest of the sleeve.  The turkey work is done for the pom pom on his hat....needs to be  little trimming done!

A few more

A few more stitches equals a few more inches around!