Santas are framed

The two Joy Juarez  are framed! Santa on the left and Santa Kiss on the right.

 

All done?

I added the beads all around in the blue for the holly berries.  I have trimmed and shaped the beard and cuff on the sleeve.  I am still trying to decide if I want to add a real bow on top of the stitched one.  I am afraid it will become the focal point and I don't want that to happen.  Thoughts?

All the beard

The turkey work is done!  I have clipped it all and did the first brush.  I won't trim the rest until I take the canvas off the bars.  It will be easier to do all the shaping then.

Lots more beard

I am working away on the beard and have added the third color for more shading.  I have only done an initial trim as I want all of it in place before I reduce the height.  I will be shaping it a lot when it is all in place.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Progress on the beard

I have been working on the beard.  I also did the cuff and mitten.  The cuff is the purple and white untrimmed turkey work, and the purple mitten is basketweave right under that.  I am working the turkey work from the bottom to the top as it is easier to see the stitch placement.  I also found that the piece is called Santa Kiss!

And the bow

I worked most of the bow in Trebizond and have just a little bit left to finish.  I stitched it all in Basketweave and may add a real ribbon on top...still thinking on that one!

Turkey work

I have started the turkey work.  The hat area is all stitched and I have started on the beard area.  I like Furr Fuzz Funn and it is easy to work with.  I am using two strands in the needle.  This is going to take a while to finish all this!

Another border

I tent stitched the gold border around the inside circle with Kreinik #12 002 and then did random long and short stitches with a double strand of Furr Fuzz Funn in Flax.  Next up:  Santa's beard and hair.

Santa is back!

Santa with child is back on the stitching frame.  I did the sky today in Woven stitch using Pepper Pot Silk-Illusion 136, Provence 138, and Denim 139.  I added the Magnifica 10009 beads with a strand of Kreinik #4 100.

Gold and beads

I have added the gold veins and tips on the leaves with Kreinik #8 002.  Then I added white Magnifica beads 10009 with Kreinik #4 100.  Last, I added the Delica gold beads with Kreinik #4 002.

All of the greens!

All of the greens are in the leaves.  I used Neon Rays 33, 34, 35, 84, and 85, Trebizond 726 and 742.  Next I am going to add the gold in the leaves.   

All of the green colors

I have some of all of the green leaf colors stitched in.  There are still several leaves to finish but I am making progress.  I am working the perimeter first, which is unusual.  I am considering it the background and I like to get the background done before adding all of the other elements in.  I can rest my working hand on the Evertite frame so I am not touching the canvas at all.  Notice that among the leaves are white and gold dots, two colors of berries, and gold in the leaves.  These will also all be worked before I start the rest of the inner circle.  I will try to post most days but have a lot of things going on so it might be a bit erratic.

Lots more leaves

I am continuing to stitch all of the leaves.  All of the gold green ones are done in Neon Rays 85.  Next to most of those is Neon Rays 33.  I then started the other green next to the Neon Rays 35 but am using Accentuate 742 to stitch them as I needed another green not available in the Neon Rays.

Made it!

I finished all of the blue!  I also finished the lighest green leaves in the Neon Rays 35 and have started the golden green ones.

At the bottom

I have made it to the bottom of the blue circle.  Just a little bit more time and I will have all of the blue finished!

More blue and some green

I have continued working the blue rim but also added some Neon Rays 36 for the lightest green in the leaves on the top right.

Margaret, look at the comments on the Spring Fever stitch guide for some ideas to help your finger.

Lots more

I am still working on the blue rim in basket weave.  I have added Pepper Pot Silk Celestial 137 for the darker shading.

Sleeve, Hat and

I changed my mind and pulled out the previous hat stitches.  This is such a delicate piece that I  will be doing a lot of basket weave and tent stitches.  I did the hat and sleeve in Petite Very Velvet 602, 603, 604, and 606.  I then started the lightest blue in the background circle with Pepper Pot Silk Illusion 136 leaving the white and gold dots open.

Faces

I have started with the faces.  Basket weave stitches in Splendor 900, 926, 927 and 928 for the flesh tones.  The cheeks are Splendor 1004, 950 and 1152.  They eyes are Splendor 800, 801 and 862 for the blue.  I have also started the hat with Very Velvet....still thinking about the stitch choice and may change it.  This is a very delicate design and am really leaning towards mostly basket weave....stay tuned!

Next up!

I have framed up this Joy Juarez santa circle and am pulling threads to begin this piece.  It is a 6.75 inch circle on 18 count that is beautifully painted.  See the white and gold shiny in the border too?