More Show and Tell!

Here are some 'old' cross stitch pieces today:


This is a hummingbird and hibiscus piece designed by Maria Diaz, which was in 'World of Cross Stitching' a couple of years ago. I put blending filaments in the bird so that it would shimmer. Sadly, the photo didn't really catch this part of it.=(


Here's a cutie: a 'Forever Friends' bear. Another one from WOCS, if I remember correctly.


Finally for today, a nice card. This one is from the oriental cards feature in 'Cross Stitch Card Shop' from about 3 years ago, and was a beast to stitch working cream and white on white, then all that back stitch.......

Showcase!

Whilst there's nothing new to show off, I thought I would showcase a few photos of older finishes.
Here's a strawberry and rose goldwork and stumpwork ring cushion I made for a friend's wedding last year. Typically, it didn't get to them until they got back from their honeymoon, but the thought was there. Never trust international parcel post to get something across the Irish Channel within a week!!!

What else have we? Oh yes, here are a couple of hardanger cards:

Got the card done in time.....

Here is the finished rose card. The recipient liked it very much, but I must say that it was hard to give that one away. I really wanted to keep it!!!

Not yet put in so much as one more stitch on the hardanger bookmarks for days, (although I had already done a lot more of the border than shows in the last photo), but I hope to get those done this week as well as the XS bookmark and needlecase made up. Lots to do.....

The story so far....

Despite some 'flu-ish thing or other, (again!), I managed to get quite a bit done! Might even get these done on time, but I can't guarantee it.....

This is the freestyle card which is 3 Helen M Stevens' design elements put together. Since this photo this morning, I've finished the ladybird completely and about 40% of the leaf work is also done too. The little butterfly on the right hand side is to be a common blue. Very pretty, just wish I'd ever seen one!!! They aren't common around here.

I've just ordered a batch of Pipers' silks to do my future HMS work (and others) in as I've used Madeira silks for this and they're twisted, so there is nothing like the sheen of even plain stranded cotton, never mind flat silk floss! It is good for some things though.

Here is the first of the three hardanger bookmarks. I have to get the stitching totally complete on all three before cutting even one out as they'll all be done on the same piece of fabric. Hey! I'm not well off enough to waste more pricey needlework fabric than is absolutely necessary. If Feifei doesn't get hers on time, well a week's delay won't kill anyone. At least the card will be ready for her. These are being worked in a mixture of Anchor pearl cottons, (plain, space-dyed and one with a metallic strand), Caron threads and Kreinik and DMC metallic threads. I want them to be really quite special.

Got my appetite back today and am managing to spend more time sitting up now, so things are on the mend. Yippee! Talk about one thing after another lately! Give a girl a break, huh??