Tailings

The dragon's tail is very visible now.  This piece has so many confetti and partial stitches that it's challenging.

Framed Bayeux

MolDeco did another great job on this little shield from France.  I think Andreas is going to hang it near his blue dragon.

Working Around

There's a big counting mistake in this that I will fudge and fake a fix to.  When I started up top, I miscounted the distance to the top of the peacock.  This is a HUGE reason why I hate non-overlapping charts.  Anyway, it should be pretty easy to fix and will mean the piece is wider than designed.

And The Winner Is....

This is the piece that won technical competence and people's choice at the needlework exhibition.  I think it came out very very good framed.  People were also astonished that I would pay so much just for the materials for it - at least the cross stitchers who knew prices were.  The materials alone for this cost as much as a person's salary here for a month.

Marching Along

One daffodil's almost done and I'm almost halfway down with this.  

On The Leaf

The instructions for the fillings are all overall and not individual motifs.  I've decided to do them individually because it sends a bit of accomplishment with each of them done.

Thank You, Luca-S!

For the technical excellence prize, I received all these nice things from Luca-S.  The pillow kit is on a premade pillow.  I also got a 1500 lei (approximately $85) certificate from them.  I need to figure out how to spend it.  They gave me a catalog to see what I can get, even!

Butterfly Kit

Luca-S has a whole series of butterfly kits in their catalog.  This one was the only one in stock when I went to their store in Gemeni the other day.  Disappointed!  I do want the other ones, and I am definitely changing out the fabric....

At A Snail's Pace

This was a crazy January start from three years ago.  I've finally got it done.  When I worked on it, it was pretty quick.  My main problem with the kit is the color difference between the kit's photo and the colors provided in the kit.  There was at least a three shade difference.  I'm thinking of getting MolDeco to make this into a pencil box.

I Won!

Our framing shop held their annual embroidery exhibit.  It's the largest in Moldova, and they give prizes.  It's also curated.  I was asked to submit three of my pieces.  One won both the people's choice and technical competence awards.  I was shocked!  I was also  the only non-Moldovan in the exhibit.

To The Bottom

I've managed to bump into the bottom of the piece - the butterfly on the left is all the way to the bottom.  Now to fill in all that missing stitching....

Saled

The Silk Mill had a sale a little bit ago, so I bought the left hand package and got the right hand package free.  They're going in my suitcase to Luanda.  No idea what I'm doing with them yet, but they're going.

Everywhere A Line

Lines everywhere, but at least they're new ones.  I'm working on getting the width of the piece plotted out.

Be Egged

We got some eggs from Angela Eiiseeva.  They're beautiful additions to add to my egg collection.

Cornered

It took about a week to get that corner done, but it looks pretty good.  On to the line of trees next to it.

Letting It ...

More blue coming along in blocks.  The letters are really beginning to stand out now.

More Uruguay Prints

The three prints were bought in Uruguay, and we got them framed as a set at MolDeco.  I love them.

Small Sweet Heart

Yay, I did a bit of a small project for my EGA Chapter.  I think it came out pretty well.  Olga Maxden is the designer, and I think the design's great.

Slowly Serene

This is last week's work.  I haven't been able to work on it at all this week because work has been drowning me.  Hopefully I can get to the point where I can work on it in the upcoming days.

Library Quality

This drawing is of the port market in Montevideo.  We bought it there and finally got it framed a couple of weeks ago.  I think the framing makes it look like it should hang in a formal library.

Working On Faces

The work this time was almost totally on gargoyle faces.

Winter Painting

My daughter's birthday is today, and so I'm sharing a small painting she made for me.  We recently got it framed at MolDeco and it will hang in the house in Luanda.  Happy birthday, Tory!

February Done

Despite being the shortest month, February is the densest block in this set of twelve.  It's done, though, and now I'm on to a much easier March.

Needlepoint Stash

Gay Ann Rogers only sells her kits once a year, so I decided to buy this one.  It will go in my suitcase with me to Luanda unless I get it done first.

Pretty On Blue

The more I see this, the more I am happy I changed the background fabric.  I've got the second flower well underway now, so much progress.

Colonial Band Sampler Framed

Yay, the Colonial Band Sampler is framed, very simply.  I think it looks best this way.  The piece is actually quite small.

Finishing The Chimney

I am finished with the chimney, so now I'm working on the bricks of the last house.

Back To Winging It

I mainly worked on the central butterfly this time, though you can see two more lower ones taking shape.

Fancy Necklaces

I bought these two pieces along with the barrette last Wednesday.  Now I need t o go somewhere fancy to wear them.

New Designer

Natalya Maskvina came to the embassy last week for Artisan Faire.  I bought.  There's this barrette and two necklaces.  All her work involves soutache.

Tailed

The dragon has a tail now!  It must be taking shape.  This piece has more partial stitches than any other one I've ever worked on, I think.

Going Violet

The violets are getting closer to complete.  It does look like a spray of violets now.

Pointing To The Top

The top point's all filled in now, as are some of the green bars.  Slowly I progress.

All The Way Across

Yay, I've got the width of the mandala done.  Now it's working all the way down.

Afghan For Stephanie

 One more baby afghan made.  I have two more to make, at least, before leaving Moldova.  This one's for Stephanie, who's expecting a girl next month.

Working On Background

I've still been working on the background and blossoms on the left.  They're slowly getting done.

Let...

The letters are becoming visible in the stitching!  I've still got so much farther to go.

Sunny Day

I have sun rays, even on a cloudy day...

Courageous

Another excellent framing job by MolDeco - this time of the HAED bookmark Oriental Courage for my husband.

Another Crossed Off

Yay, I have another piece crossed off my old crazy January list!  It just needs to be made into an ornament.

Krakow Memories

We bought these two prints in Krakow last October.  Now, it's framed courtesy of MolDeco.  I think it looks pretty good.

Ornate And Dense

This piece is beginning to reveal how ornate and dense it is.  On the 40 count linen, it's also not that big.