"C" is for Chelsea

It has been a while since I last posted and I have made a bit of progress on various projects.  I actually have a finish to share! (YAY!)

This is Letter's By Nora - Letter C. I did this for my daughter Chelsea.  Chelsea is seven and she chose this fabric - High Noon by Sunny Dyes Fabrics of Youthful Hand Needleworks. I think this turned out really sweet.  It has a lot more back stitching than a typical Nora design, but it really made the design pop.

I used for the most part the called for threads, I did substitute the flower for a variegated DMC that I had. Chelsea chose this as well. 

I love this shot.  I like being able to see the blending of the colours on the fabric mixed with thread and beads.

Another pretty close up shot

I have also continued to do work on Persephone.  I have had a lot of fussy bits to do....her hair, her collar on her dress, the flower on her arm....glad to be done those parts. I think she is turning out really pretty and I am back to enjoying working on her again.

Persephone by Mirabilia on Dusty Apricot by Crafty Kitten Fabrics

Also, I really immersed myself into the AAN piece called Arabesco.  It is my first AAN and my first abstract design really. I am done the center part - which I chose Polar Ice Waterlillies by Caron.  I am doing the middle layer in DMC 930 and the outside layer will be in DMC 932.  This piece is being stitched on Ice Princess by Under the Sea fabrics.

Finally a little Easter treat for myself. I got some pieces framed. Our local framing shop will allow you to bring in store bought frames and put the pieces in for you! I picked up frames for these after Christmas with the intention of doing it myself, but I never got around to it.  So finally I dropped them off and a few days later I'm so glad I did! Here is Charlotte and Queen Mermaid. 

As you can see they sit nicely on the wall with my Red Lady Pirate.  

I am anxiously awaiting a package from Colours By Lalena which has a whole bunch of goodies for me to work on...mainly my Rosewood Manor Autumn Sampler, my next installment of the Frosty Forest and two new Nora Corbett patterns.  

Remember to just keep stitching and thanks for reading! 

All hail the Queen Mermaid

I am proud to present in her full glory Mirabilia's Queen Mermaid on Crafty Kitten's 32 count Aurora (murano).  She is glorious and dripping with luxury.  She has always been on my must do list but it became really possible for me when my amazing friend Sharon Attwells gifted me the "bling" to finish kitting her up.  I had the pattern, I had the fabric... beads in hand - how could I not?

I started her around the first of February. She was a new start for my new life - and how appropriate given her stateliness and proud demeanor.  With that said, I didn't finish her until September.  I had started several other projects along the way and she got a little neglected for the summer.

I decided to do her skin 2 threads over 1 tent stitch. I tent stitch in the opposite direction as my top stitch. I think it adds the dimension and it flows more naturally to me. This took a very long time and overall I feel it was worth it.  Also I changed her eye. I adapted this eye after looking at many other Mirabilia designed patterns. I felt this eye fit more with my over 1 look. I also added crystal bicones to her choker and earring. 

The original pattern suggests stitching a cute little purse because every girl, even a mermaid queen needs a good purse, but in May I was privileged enough to visit with Sharon in Toronto and she took me to BeadFX. Now that is a fun store! I found this amazing cloisonne scalloped shell bead for her and it was a "MUST HAVE THIS" moment.

I also changed a few of her bead colours. One of the colours in her hair was a pearl coloured bead. I decided to go with the clear in a petite. I also changed added some white beads as well. It was more based on choice of fabric.  Her tail is dripping with beads, purples, greens, grey. She has lots of tear drop treasures... There is one thing I know for sure, she is truly deserving of the title Queen Mermaid. 

Hope you enjoy my Queen Mermaid. I have two large Mirabilia WIPS on the go right now - June's Pearl Fairy and Charlotte. They have take a back burner to some smaller projects for the moment but I hope to get back to them very soon! 

Stitching finishes....

Here are my 2013 finishes that I haven't yet posted.... enjoy!

Let's start with my Nora Corbett Pixies

Gardenia on Blue Hydrangea by Crafty Kitten Fabrics (not a good representation of actual colour of fabric)

Blue Bell on Evening Sky by Crafty Kitten 

Next up is my Round Robin work that I did. I was in a group of four - the theme was Mirabilia/Nora Corbett "Large Stitch". Each block was 5000 stitches.

Nora Corbett - Santa's Sleigh. I did 1/2 of this. The final product was the sleigh with all the reindeer.

Mermaid of the Pearls on a gorgeous mermaid themed Round Robin

Venetian Opulence on a Snotty Ladies themed Round Robin

My finished round robin - I chose four beautiful ladies. Top left: Villa Mirabilia, Top right: Lady Hera, Bottom Left: Crystal Elegance Bottom Right: Athena

I also managed to finish 1 full Mirabilia - Queen Mermaid. Here she is - but I want to dedicate a full post to her later with more detailed photos:

Queen Mermaid on Aurora by Crafty Kitten

Also one more Mira to show you. This is a cameo from Le Nouveau Sampler. It is a gift for John's grandmother:

Le Nouveau Sampler on Twilight by Hand Dyed by Stephanie

Finally, I did manage to complete some non-Mirabilia stitching: 

This is now a wall hanging - my mom did do the finishing work for me....

Lakeside Lodge by Littlehouse Needleworks on Sea Spray Linen 

Needleworker (Ltd Ed 2013) by Littlehouse Needleworks on Willow Green Linen

There you have it. Those are the finished pieces. I have several work in progresses (WIPS) and I will start sharing them now that I'm back into writing.

Thanks for looking!