let's talk nativity clubs...

i am so excited and proud to say that i joined my very first needlepoint club this week! after all the wonderful advice on my nativity dilemma, i was thrilled to learn of the "princess and me" nativity needlepoint club with what's the point. 

photos from what's the point

aren't these the most precious things ever?! i am so excited and can't wait to receive my first canvas this month. since i have so many other projects i will be working on simultaneously, i opted to do one canvas per month. 

thanks to everyone's helpful suggestions and advice. i have a sneaking suspicion that this will be the first of many nativities to come!

moving right along!

i've been spending quality time with my stocking, and finished up the background this week. the beads are the perfect little touch and add so much pizzazz to the piece. i've started on the cuff section and would like to try and complete that this weekend! 

starting to come together! i am determined to finish this project this month!

i don't like it...

i made progress with the water meter ornament last night, but after looking at it again this morning, i'm not sure how i feel about it. 

the stars are all so irregular that outlining them doesn't really help. it only makes it look more primitive. 

the moon beams are also irregular that doing a straight satin stitch doesn't make it look any better. 

i think i'm resorting to beads. yes, i've made up my mind and don't try and stop me. beads will be the perfect accouterments for this piece. 

i really was resigned to do this without the help of beads, but it's just not working. back to the shop i go this weekend! at least it will give me some quality time with my lady...oh how i've missed her...

monday monday

nothing to post today...

i'm almost done with the water meter ornament, hoping to finish it up tonight. then it's back to the stocking for the duration of the week!

tune in tomorrow!

a new purchase

pocket full of stitches is having a brenda stofft trunk show and i have been wanting this santa forever!

i love all of the "santa's wild rides" series, but the pig is my favorite.

even though i've been pretty good about not purchasing new canvases left and right, the trunk show discount made it impossible to pass up! i can't wait to get my needle into this little guy! 

let's talk nativities

i have drooled over all the beautiful nativity sets that i've seen people working on for the past few years, but i never got up the courage to purchase one of my own. which is weird because nativities are my absolute favorite part of holiday decor! i have a million in my collection, but none that are needlepointed. 

 the one that my heart desires most is this precious and whimsical set by princess and me

photo by what's the point?

i love all the colors and fun stitches in this group!

the other set that i absolutely love is by mile high princess (can you see that there is a pattern developing here?) again, i love the whimsical nature and sweet faces.

the question is...how to get started? buy all the canvases at once? slowly work on a few each year? i would love to hear your thoughts and what your process is in stitching a nativity!

stitching the blues away...

psych! 

the blues are complete!

the weekend's endless rainstorm provided the perfect backdrop for my needle to fly! i finished all the blue background and will be moving onto the beads.

a closer snap. the background stitch is really an optical illusion. the shading of the triangular stitches create a checkerboard pattern that i absolutely adore. 

i really feel like i'm on the home stretch! i've divided my threads into stitching groups (coat, flowers, cuff) and i'm thinking this will be finished within the month! can i do it???

i also worked a little more on the water meter ornament background while babysitting thursday and friday nights. i'm flying to fort worth this weekend for a bridal shower, so this may be a "mile high finish!"

i apologize for the week-long absence! what i needed more than anything was sleep, so it was nyquil at 8 pm every night for me, which also meant no stitching. but i'm back!