Making Progress

I had not intended to update so soon, but here I am. I made some progress on the Winter White tree skirt and took pictures on Saturday after some stitching and again this morning to show how much more I got done. It is coming along very nicely and I'm almost finished with part C. Everything starts with part D and proceeds from there.

This was where I was on Saturday. I decided to go back and do all the silver braid and work it in along with the rest of the stitching. I still don't think doubling the braid works because it is too bulky and not at all attractive -- at least not to me. Working with shorter lengths makes the stitching easier, but it also means wasting more of the braid since it gets pulled and separated while stitching. Good thing there is a lot of braid included.

Close-up of the braided section. I'm considering doing some of the back stitching as well, but haven't quite made up my mind yet. The braid does make a lovely addition.

Today's stitching and a whole new section is nearly finished. I pulled out the A chart to use up the tweeded floss for the pine tree. I don't like wasting it and it just makes more sense to use it now instead of letting it get tangled up in the waste pile.

This is part of the new section with the ornaments and silver braid stitched in. Lots of pine boughs to go, but I'm getting there.

This ornament has a little cap at the top. That's where there are no stitches yet. The pattern calls for a silvery grey, but I've decided to drag out the Japan silver and do the cap with that. It looks like bugle beads in silver and will look more like what it is supposed to be. There are lots of beads to add, but I'll get to those later. I'm glad it is moving along so quickly.

I'll update again to share my progress, trials, and failures. Yes, there will be -- and have been -- failures. In the meantime,

Happy Stitching.

Quickies

Whenever I get frustrated with a project or just need a change of pace, I turn to quick little projects to ease the tension. Since I'm working on Xmas projects right now, I thought it would be the best use of my time to work on the grandkids' ornaments and part of an ornament set I'm giving as a gift. So, without further ado, the pictures.

Snowflake ornament by Mill Hill Beads

Closeup of the bead work. Really need a star filter and special lighting for this one. The project is done on perforated paper. 

Four calling birds ... From the Sweetheart Tree Teenie collection. This is one of 12 ornaments and I chose to do the banner version. I can get 8 of these on one piece of gold linen by Wichelt and it does look pretty.

Closeup view of the work. It's hanging wrong. The stitches are even and the work is not at all uneven. It will be much prettier when I get the backing and green floss hanger made, but I'm waiting until I get all of the ornaments done to do the finishing work.

I'm working on Five Golden Rings, although I always thought the song lyrics were Five Gooooold Rings. I could be wrong. The colors are simple and the have an old-fashioned feel to them, and the beads are actually not too difficult to put on, even with the three treasures that form the petals of the flowers. Each pattern comes with the treasures and the beads are bought separately.

I'm sure there will be other quickie projects between now and when I wrap and send off my Xmas gifts, but there is something satisfying about making ornaments and stockings and even afghans. It reminds me of making ornaments for Xmas trees when we were growing up. We made lots of them, like the styrofoam angels to which we added glitter and hangers or the handpainted stained glass ornaments done on clear plastic. There's something special about a tree decorated with homemade ornaments, even if the ornaments are cross-stitched.