The challenge is busted

I signed up for this series with The French Knot in Fort Worth, Texas.  I have been pear crazy for awhile now and just gave in because they are so darn cute.  Click to see what I have gotten myself in to!


http://thefrenchknot.com  and go to current series at the bottom of the left hand column

Swan time

I sure do enjoy my Wednesday stitching time.  I love each and every Swan.  They all bring something unique to the table.   

DC stitched this for her son

LO stitching beautiful background 

Another purchase by me-too cute to pass up!

Joseph is back in the rotation

Joseph with his headdress stitched

In perspective

I don't know why...

I am always amazed at the progress I make when I stick with something.  There's more to show on the creche, believe it or not.

I stitched the rocks at the top of the inn door.

Then I went on to stitch the rocks to the left of the door.

Overview

Also, please make note of the threshold of the door being stitched.

Making serious progress on the Creche

 I stitched the odd little tree using the double stitch that Amy Bunger calls for in her guide.

 I stitched the window lintels in three layers of satin stitch using silk.  Oops.  Upside down pic.

 Window right side up.  I stitched in all that white wall, but no pic of that.

I got this finished as well.   I am beginning to feel that I might actually get this done by Christmas!

Happy Memorial Day to you all.  Thank you to all our veterans.  We appreciate your service!

Back to the Creche

Walls around the inn door

In perspective

After the slow going with the rock stitch, I wanted to feel some progress.  I chose the long stitches around the door to the inn.  Not bad for a night's work.

Could it be true?

Rumors are swirling that the Petei line might be picked up.  Wouldn't that be wonderful? 

All these were stitched by G.

It's Mine!

Birdhouses by Ewe and Eye

I have been thinking about this canvas ever since I first laid eyes on it.  So adorable and it is now mine! I bought it with a gift certificate that my husband got me for Mother's Day.  I love it.

Heartstrings Nativity---Where Do We Stand?

                                      Blue Magi is complete except for the background  

 Baby Jesus not even started

 Shepherd in the same boat as Baby Jesus

Mary is complete except for background

 Joseph is incomplete and serving as the guinea pig for background stitches

Green Magi is curiously incomplete as I am so close and no background

Red Magi is complete except for background

Rocking on and on and on...

Walls of the inn

I am digging this rock stitch by Amy, but do have to say that it is labor intense.  This is the result of about four hours of stitching this afternoon.  Some interruptions to reload the washing machine and put away the clean clothes, but pretty steadily stitching.  More to follow.

Rocking it with my creche

Here's what eight hours of steady stitching will get you:

Rocks on the inn

Close-up

As Amy describes it, the stucco has worn off the wall of the inn and stones are exposed.  This is a cool stitch with cross stitches, modified scotch, diagonal stitches followed with an oblique stitch at the end.  Very rock like.  I hope I can finish on Monday.

More on the Kelly Clark Creche

Just a little more stitching on the grass last night.

The Year So Far

There was no stitching yesterday.  I had to get my eyes checked.  Holding steady which at my age is a good thing.  Here is what I have finished for this year:

Melissa Shirley's LOVE Heart

Painted Pony SMU angel

Jody's Watermelon ornament

Red Magi from Heartstrings

Painted Pony Chi O Heart

Melissa Shirley's XOXO Heart

Did you think I had quit stitching?

It felt like it.  I had to move a college kid and that is exhausting!  More so than any other moves for some reason.  Anyhoo, I finished the dark section of grass on the right and it looks good.  This is Kelly Clark's Creche being stitched using an Amy Bunger stitch guide.