Britty Kitty and Puppy Stitching Done

The last stitch was put in my granddaughter's Britty Kitty stocking yesterday and I feel a little at loose ends. I'll go back and finish the zombie Xmas stockings and have them done in plenty of time. Since I made some changes to the original design of the Britty Kitty stocking by using different threads (Flower thread, Rainbow Gallery white Wisper, and Kreinik blending filament and #4 braid), I feel much more confident in changing more of the design to include zombie head ornaments with the puppies. It will be a challenge, but it's one I now feel more equal to accomplishing.

The kitties are stitched and the ornaments look so pretty sparkling in the light shining on the Kreinik blending filament and braid.

The puppies were finished last week and they're ready to be attached to the backing and lining and will soon be ready to hang at the fireplace full of goodies and presents. I've already sent 6 beginning cross-stitch ornaments for the girls to try, hoping they will learn from the stockings that beauty is possible with needle and thread.

I need to find the perfect backing, but the sewing will be quick and easy. I recommend both designs for stockings for your favorite kids. They can be ready in a week or two, even if you have someone else put them together for you.

Happy stitching.

HalloXmas Stocking

I pondered this idea for a while before I finally came up with a way to make it work. That is making a Xmas stocking with a zombie theme. I wanted something that was still Christmasy and adding zombie elements.

This is the first stocking and the way I worked around the problem. Xmas tree with large ornaments depicting acts of zombie horror. What could be better? I hope.

 I've begun the outside elements. More branches and ornament hangers will be added. Snowflakes will be stitched on and inside each lovely looking ornament will be some sort of zombie horror. The perfect marriage of horror and sweet. Don't you think?

I used one of Dimension Gold's stocking patterns for the basis of my Xmas theme. It's coming along nicely. I have deleted some of the elements obviously, like the inside of the ornaments, which were holiday scenes, and will add the scenes -- or decomposing body parts -- of my design. This was actually fun.

Still haven't decided which one of my evil ideas I'll use for the other HalloXmas stocking, but I'm getting there. I haven't drawn anything in years and I've never designed a cross stitch pattern from scratch. I'm doing it in stages so I don't get design lash. Like whiplash only messier.

Happy stitching.

Moving Along with the Maiden

It has been a while since I posted anything, but especially since I updated my Japanese Maiden. Not here though because I've been stitching (and frogging) away. I'm amazed at how well it is coming, although I worry I won't have enough thread to finish, which is why I prefer buying patterns and using my own thread. DMC of course.

 

About 3/4 finished right now, not including back stitching, which will take a while since there are a lot of elements to outline. I am always surprised when the amorphous look of some elements become clearer and more beautiful as a simple dark thread is added around the outside and inside to create such pretty effects. 

That is all for today. I decided to leave details to the last. This is my last unfinished project waiting to be finished, but I have started another. Baba Yaga on her pestle in front of her house with its chicken legs with her broom and cat, although I always thought she used a mortar to drive herself along while she sat in her pestle. Details, details. 

Happy stitching. 

Not so quick quickie

I like doing simple projects while working on bigger projects, like Teresa Wentzler's Mermaid or the Xmas stockings I've returned to finish. One such project was the harvest sampler I found in the September issue of a cross-stitch magazine I take.

I was immediately struck by the simplicity and artfulness of the design and thought it would be a perfect weekend project. It wasn't. I just finished it this week after having had to rip out two whole sections. The effort wasn't wasted and the end result is worth it.

Harvest Sampler 2012

September section

October section

As you can see, there are only 2 colors and the design is mainly back stitching with a few areas of cross stitch, which is why I thought it would be quickly done. Not so. The design is a little more complicated than that and keeping on count in the right row is very important, as it is in any cross stitch project. 

I did get it finished and now all I need to do is figure out to whom it goes and whether to frame it or place it in a serving tray. What do you think?