Second Flower Done

I got the second flower done on this before we headed out for the trip, and the third one started. The leaves on it were pretty easy closed fly stitches, and I think they came out pretty well. There's not enough contrast in the raspberry colors for the flower, though. I picked them out of my stash. It looks good, but not as punched up as it should. The bud on the right hand side's started; it just needs its leaves.

Poofy Center

I did a lot of French knots in the middle of this and it made the flower just pop. I took it to my chapter meeting last night, and the ladies remarked on how curly the knots in the center were. It's coming along and will be going to Europe with me.

Petal Progress

Four out of five petals done, at least the outsides. I think they're coming out pretty well. Since the picture on Friday, I completed the last petal and did the French knots in the center. I think I did about a hundred or so. They look all nice and fuzzy and like the center of a flower, though. I wasn't sure about doing the satin stitches over the split stitches, but it turned out okay. The hardest part is alternating colors on two of the petals. Was difficult not to get the two strands tangled up with each other. I ended up using two needles. It seemed to work better.

Maidenly Progress

Somehow I missed getting a picture taken of this one week. As you can see, I've got the spiny leaves done and have started on the central flower. It was a pain to split stitch, but it's coming along nicely now. The satin stitch overlay looks pretty good to me. I will be working on this on Sunday in order to do some catching up.

Shading some Leaves

I got a bit more done on this, doing stem stitch on the long leaves. They're two toned, for shading. As usual, this goes quickly when I have time to work on it. I'm hoping to have more time than usual to work on it this week and move it forward quite a bit.

What You Can Do Waiting at an Airport

Yes, what progress I made this week was made at an airport, in the international arrivals waiting room. More stems are done- all the darkest color of green on the outside piece. Some of the lighter green was started, too. I hope to get it done in the next couple of days, but I've really not gotten much stitching done this week.

Stem Stitches

All the lighter colored stem stitches are done on the big panel, and I used the extra to start the small panel. I'm feeling some pressure to work more on this, since it would be nice to show people what they're signing up for at the April meeting. I don't think it's going to happen, though.

Starting To Be Crewel

I got the pieces onto their backing this week and started the stem stitches. As usual with crewel, it goes pretty quickly once it's started. I think it will look good when done.

A Crewel Start for a Fair Maiden

I was cornered into teaching a workshop this summer for my local EGA guild. We knew it was to be crewel, but didn't have an exact project. The day of the last meeting, I got my issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework quarterly in the mail. They had a very nice crewelwork sewing purse on the cover, and we decided to do it. So I've started one now in order to have a model to teach from and in order to clarify instructions and such. Here's the start. There are three pieces, two of which get embroidered. I'll be starting the actual stitching this week, but at least I have it all traced now.