FAB finishing!

i received the fateful call from my lns this weekend telling me that my stitched holiday gifts were back from the finishers! 

cut to me...waiting promptly outside the shop at exactly 9:59 am to see my beauties!

i love LOVE (did i mention love?) these! special shout out to my homegirl vicky de angelis for introducing me to brenda hart's ribbon technique for the strap handles. girlfriend recently got some tote bag finishes back, found here and here. 

i might have gone a little overboard with the photo sesh...but tis the season right? here's round 2!

i'm so glad i stitched 2 of these for myself, there's no way i could part with all of them! i'm also glad that i forced myself to use different background stitches for each...it gives them their own personality and that extra special touch 

(especially those beaded crustaceans!)

if you haven't already stitched a million one of these for yourself or a loved one, do so immediately! 

you can see my journey with these cuties from start to finish here. 

river silk is my best friend

our needlepoint beyond class for kelly clark's spring crazy quilt has been put on a brief hold since my lns is moving locations. it comes at the perfect time however, because i wanted to get started on my tote bags. it always seems like the christmas finishing deadlines get earlier and earlier, so i want to be prepared! 

because i can't get to my lns until saturday to pick up thread and beads, i went ahead and started on the "straps" of the bag. i padded it with cotton floss in the corresponding color, and then wrapped the 4 mm river silk ribbon around it to create a gathered, ruching effect.

you can faintly see the "sanibel" that i lightly penciled on as well. i am in love with with this effect and have to give vicky de angelis a big thank you for the tip!