Backstitching the Bride

I thought I'd share how far I've come in the backstitching for the Japanese Maiden and how much of a difference it makes.

What looked muddy and off color to me when I stitched it now looks much more beautiful with the back stitching. I am amazed at how she is turning out and how lovely the gold threaded stitches look.

The backstitching makes such a difference. The bride is much more prominent against the background and the cranes on her kimono are more vibrant as well.

It is difficult to see the gleam of the gold thread in the designs on the hat. Looks much better in person. Maybe when it is framed it will be more obvious in a photo, but I think I'll have to get a special lens and better camera skills to make that possible. Trust me; it looks beautiful in person.

I should finish by February and I am very pleased with the work so far. A few more days of stitching and she will be a fait accompli. That's a good thing.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to see them up close. Happy stitching

Japanese Maiden - Only Back Stitching Left

I reached an important goal last night. I finished stitching the Japanese Maiden by Dimensions Gold. I had just enough of the floss to complete the last part of the border, and I was sweating it. The stitching is all finished. All that remains is the back stitching and that will take almost as long as stitching the whole piece -- or at least that is the way it feels. 

Every stitch is in place and I'm ready to add the definition that comes with back stitching so the flowers, birds, leaves, and details of this bride's clothes will pop. I'm really done with the stitching. I finished. 

This is where I was last weekend with just the upper corner to do.

Here is where I stopped last night after taking out an extra row of stitching and cleaning up the tag ends on the back. She is done.

When I begin a project, I am always excited about the journey to come. At about the mid point, I feel like I'll never be done, especially with large projects like this. Like a pregnant woman who is close to her due date, I'm ready for it all to be over, the last stitch in place and the job finished. I look back over everything I've accomplished and get that warm glow of accomplishment that comes before the inevitable slide into the place where I realize I still have all that back stitching to do. It's a little like a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs and sideways bumps and careening around the tight curves, and the results are almost always good.

I did take a little while yesterday to stitch a birthday card for a friend, but came right back determined to finish -- and I did.

Whatever the ride stitching is for you, it's always worth it. Happy stitching.

Finishes: Big and Small

I didn't plan on posting any more pictures of the Japanese Maiden until she was all stitched, but I couldn't resist. After a couple weekends of stitching, I finally have the maiden finished. Well, except for 2 stitches in her ring. I discovered she is a Japanese bride. She is quite lovely and I'm proud of her. All that is left is the outside border and most of the back stitching and then off to the framers. I did wonder about leaving off the outside border and having her framed as a round, but that didn't occur to me until after I had stitched the left side of the border. Too late and I'm not about to rip it all out either.

A few more stitches to go.

She's all there now, and so is some of the right hand border. She is quite beautiful and I'm proud of myself. She's getting there.

It always seems such a surprise when I get to the point where a project is nearly done. I remember the blank canvas and the first few stitches and how long a road it looks from that point, but I always get there. She is quite simply a marvel and I stitched it all.

Happy stitching. From small beginnings come big finishes -- and the biggest finish is yet to come.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Returning to Japan

After all the Christmas madness, I decided to return to an old friend. That is what Dimensions Gold Japanese Maiden seems like to me. I have stitched on her off and on over the past year and it sometimes seems like so much longer. Doesn't matter because I got into the groove quickly.

This is where I was when I left off in September. It doesn't seem like so much now.

Here is the latest progress. There is so much more there there. I'm pleased with what a couple of days will do.

The obligatory close-up of what was actually done.

Close-up of the face. I decided to back stitch the face a little. Took me three tries to get the mouth right, but I'm finally satisfied with it. I may have to redo the right eyebrow, but she looks so different with the lines stitched in. Gives her more personality and brings together the different elements and colors of the face.

I often break up long works by doing something else, lately a small project like the Gingerbread and Jingle mice, but also by going back to other longer works. I had to rip out a couple of sections, other than the back stitching around the mouth, but I'm pleased with the results and that is all that matters.

In the meantime, happy stitching.

On an Asian Roll

Since I was already here and couldn't get the previous post to give me any more space, I'm putting the update for the Japanese Maiden here.

This is where I stopped to work on Xmas stockings. I love this design and I can't wait until it's finished, framed, and ready to hang. I'm keeping this one for myself.

Here's a closeup of the new details. Still have the outside to work on, but it's getting there and I'm really happy with what is coming from the threads. I'm so glad I decided to do this one. It's beautiful.

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.