fabulous finishing!

as previously stated, i'm trying to be better about sending items off to the finisher and not letting the "finish" stash pile up too much. i completed the last 2 remaining canvases in the princess & me nativity set, and used my tax return to send them off to the finisher! #adulting

i tried my best with the lighting, but the constant downpour from this weekend wasn't doing me any favors...

the dog and cat were the last canvases stitched this year, and i chose to do the same black and white cording for each piece, since the checkers were a common theme amongst most of the canvases. the finisher did an amazing job on these, and they are nice and heavy. would it be wrong to have these displayed all year? i can't bear to put them away just yet!

previous nativity stitching seen here

a manger finish!

baby jesus is stitched and sleeping soundly in his manger!

i made some small variations from the stitch guide, and i love the finished result!

what do you think? only 2 more to go! any guesses as to what i'm starting in the meantime?

baby jesus

this is arguably the most enjoyable canvas to stitch up because it's the smallest and therefore the fastest which is just what i needed after languishing over the background for the angel

the big scotch stitches were a breeze, followed by the alternating stitches for the manger

this might be finished sooner than expected! dare i start a new fun project from le stash?

meet my new office mate for the week...

lots of snuggle time with this girl!

a friday finish (finally!)

i was able to finish this up last night, and now i'm happy dancing my way into the weekend!

the background seemed to plague me this time around. not sure if it seemed longer because i was traveling, or because there was more space to cover. in any case, i was more than happy to trade the navy floss for memory thread!

here's how my girl first looked after i tacked down the memory thread...

 and after i curled the thread around my needle...

 i'm purposely keeping the hair longer until it comes back from the finisher when i can trim it and fluff up the curls. the great thing about memory thread is that you can play and bend to your heart's content, so this will be ongoing fun!

what do you think?

saving the basketweave...

that's right. i'm saving the basketweave background for my flight to LA this weekend for a girls' trip!

this is the first time i've actually been excited to start the background for one of my nativity projects, since the flight from louisiana to california is a long one, and will no doubt lend itself to some serious progress!

when we last left off, i had completed the top half of the angel and her dress. i started on the orange basketweave for the bottom half of her dress, then followed that up with the turquoise tents.

the stitch guide called for red french knots in the center of each square, and for some reason that didn't sit well with me. remember how i went rogue with the elephant? i did it again. while the red worked on the elephant, i just wasn't feeling it on the angel. but you know what what did feel right? 

purple! and beads!

i love it! i've already got the navy thread packed and ready to go for my flight! and just in case i miraculously finish this...i'm bringing the next project along for the ride too!

baby jesus

i'm off for a long weekend and will be back next week (hopefully with stitchy updates!) 

the littlest angel

i am so happy to be back stitching my nativity club, especially this cutie little angel girl!

i feel so bad that she's bald, but the memory thread hair will be well worth the wait

i was able to complete the top half of her body over the weekend, and once again i'm loving the colors! i'm having trouble loving the gobelin variation stitch in the turquoise, the compensation seems to interrupt it so much. i'll give it some time though. 

only the bottom half of her dress is left before the fated navy basketweave background commences!

how was your weekend?

remember me?

remember the nativity club that i've abandoned for candy canes been stitching on?

i thought i'd give you a sneak peek at the next canvas...the angel!

i'm trying to stitch the last candy cane as fast as i can!

le nativity (so far)

i decided to take a quick inventory on my nativity thus far...i can't believe it's 2/3 of the way done!

which one's your favorite?

happy friday y'all!

it's a finish!

my sweet little elephant is finished, and it's a bittersweet one for me. i'm going to miss stitching on this guy!

but nothing can compare to the feeling of taking a canvas off the bars! yippee!

only 4 more canvases left in this club! who will be next?!

ta-da!

ok ok, technically it's not a finish yet but i'm still going to "ta-da"

meet mr. elephant

isn't he a dreamboat?

i gave the basketweave background the ole college try last night, but nothing worth noting. this guy is just too cute! 

how was your weekend?

sneak peek...

i'm not quite done with the elephant's skin, but i thought i'd show you a sneak peek in progress!

i went rogue and decided to bead the red dots on his headdress instead of french knots like the stitch guide called for. i'm a rebel :)

stitching the first layer of skin with dmc floss in the souffle stitch, then will go back and add kreinik to the remaining open canvas.

look at that cute trunk! let's hope i can get this finished up this weekend!

cuter than dumbo

i've been counting down the hours until i could finally get my hands on the next canvas in the nativity club! my hands could not stitch fast enough on this elephant!

finished his blanket and started on his headpiece. i cannot handle the black and white checks. i die!

the colors on the blanket threw me at first; the orange is so fluorescent and i worried about how it would look next to the rich purple and red, but i'm really starting to like the combination! especially when you look at all the pieces next to one another...

this project is moving too quickly already! i love it so much!

you ready for this?

is it just me or does that make you think of 2 unlimited from jock jams circa 1991?

ok but seriously...are you ready for the cuteness overload that is the next canvas in the princess and me nativity club?

he is so adorable i just can't stand it. this club has been so much fun and i just love all the animals in it! 

a memorial weekend finish!

i've been itching to start my next ornament project, so i promptly set about finishing the background on my the third (and last) wiseman!

the colors are so vibrant in person! and i just adore his strappy sandals...

i'm sure you all enjoyed having an extra day to stitch this weekend like i did!

the third beard...

i stitched the third beard in this club and now this magi is ready for background!

i love the overdyed threadworx used on his beard and mustache. the subtle color tones add so much depth!

i am going to stitch this background at the speed of light because the next canvas is too cute for words and i'm dying to get my hands on it!

i'm back and i'm stitching!

i did manage to sit down and stitch once the family left sunday

before

after

i started by finishing up the stripes on his blue gown, and then moved to the black and white mosaic checks. the yellow band is stitched in sprinkles and the bottom hem is diagonal mosaic with sprinkles and dmc floss.

don't you just love his cute little sandals? cuteness.

i just received the next canvas for this club and can i just say OMG. get ready for cute overload. 

inching along

short and sweet this tuesday morning!

 finished up the basketweave in treasure ribbon for his robe, and i'm hoping to finish the stripes this week but i really need to run a broom over the floor so we aren't swallowed up by cricket's fur tumbleweeds.

back to the nativity...

i was so excited to finish up the hot air balloon and get back to my next nativity canvas, the last wiseman!

i love all the bright colors in this series, and how each one complements the next. i started with his face and hands, then moved upwards to his turban

his top is done in a staggered cross stitch using neon rays+, with the black and white checks in mosaic

as of sunday, i am working on the blue dress and hope to finish up the stripes this week

what a handsome and regal fellow! 

a weekend finish!

remember this guy?

i decided to get him finished up to join his other nativity friends yesterday!

 (sorry, horrible picture)

i LOVE the memory thread leash! i forgot how much i love this little camel. now, onto the hot air balloon and the next wiseman for the nativity!

mail time!

look what mr. mailman brought me yesterday!

the third wiseman! this cutie will soon be joining his friends

and

it's fun to see the pieces next to each other and how they complement. i'll have to pull out all my finishes so far and take a group picture for you!

hand is still crampy so i may take the night off again. but i am itching to start on santa's balloon basket!

ta-ta!