FINISHED!! A WIZARD'S VIEW!

Okay, I have to admit I am a little lost on my own blog.... Many things to update and finding the time has been a challenge. Will take baby steps and see if I can get this blog caught up!
Have been diligently stitching on UFO's for the last few months. While unpacking boxes I found more than I want to admit to. So only one new project has been started in the last two months. And that is for a gift.
I finally finished A Wizards View by Joan Elliott. Tons of beads and back stitching with Kreinik #4 braids. And love the effect of the Kreinik.

 Stitched in beads for his sleeve cuffs and for the tether on his magic pouch.

 Used Kreinik #4  for the crystals and added gold mill hill beads to the border, instead of the olive gold color. More Kreinik in the backstitching.

 Really love the way the beads and metalic threads sparkle. I have a frame and decided on stretcher frame to get the border straight in the frame. Will post another picture when he is stretched and framed.

 This is a finished project I keep in my van glove box. Used DMC Variations threads.

 An old UFO. This kitty is from More Country Cats book by Dale Burdett. A 1988 book. Wow, am I telling on my self here... A 26 year old project finally finished. One kitty has been done for years. The second kitty can finally join it's sibling in my little basket.

 This is another Un Finished Object. However, I don't like this one. Too much blue and was one of those projects that my "little voice" kept telling me I ought to change the blue colors to light grays. AND I didn't listen.... Much darker than the kit display pic. One of those things where one hopes that the piece will look better with time. Not so...

 I tried to "fix" this by adding 2 more strands of white floss over the blue stitches. Needs another strand, but now the stitches are getting a little bulky. Will probably stare at it a while and figure out what else to do to tame this blue color down.

 Finished stitching one of By The Bay Needlearts Funky Flowers. I changed threads to several colors of DMC Variations threads and added bright colored Mill Hill beads. HAve not decided how to finish the flower. I like some of the others in this series and was thinking of "patch working" them together for a different effect.
The kitty was a freebie that I redesigned. The proportions were a bit "off" and the neck was a single stitch. Added stitches to the ears, too.

 I finished Country Cottage Needleworks Red White And Bloom. Have an idea for a bell pull finish. The hardware is still packed away. So that will have to wait.

 This is another UFO from an old magazine. Threads are the old DMC flowers threads and #5 perle cotton. There were a few leaves and branches to finish. I used too light of a fabric and the ecru perle cotton lettering was not showing very well.

 Decided to "paint" the letters using some old ceramic stains(which is a permanent craft paint for many types of surfaces). I used cotton q tips and made sure to use the paint as if I were dry brushing ceramics, by dabbing excess paint onto a napkin. Once this paint hits fabric it is permanent when dried.

 I chose a yellow color, that matched the pears in the picture, used the q tip to brush yellow paint onto the letters. The q tip was held straight down so only the tip is the q tip was used. Ended up with a flattened tip for dry brushing. Fortunately the perle cotton stands up high off the fabric. I don't know if I would have tried this with embroidery floss, as the floss sits closer to the fabric. I let the first dry brush set. And went over the letters a second time, dabbing paint onto the words/letters until they were bright enough to stand out. Dab of pink for the heart.

 This was the final result. Think this one will be quilted into a holiday hanger.

 Current WIP is a Prairie Schooler design

The only HAED that I have made progress on is Fun Guys Stocking

Almost half way done!
Have to end with some flowers for your day!

Our Violets are loving the bright windows in the dining room. And they are taking up pretty much the whole table.
As always, thank you for visiting.
Happy stitching!
Deb