The last of the finishing came in today and I love, love, love, love, love…did I say enough? You know it is really like the frosting on the cake when the finisher brings the pieces to life.

From Barbara’s Needlepoint in Sioux Falls, SD to Funda Scully in Texas and now Kristine Kingston from the home of those Baltimore Ravens…these ladies, all these ladies did a tremendous job. I must thank the delivery services too for getting them here on time! This way I won’t be late for a very important date.

Kristine Kingston did the hearts and she really turned them around very quickly for us and they got here right on time! the fabric is different on the back and the ribbons are not exactly the same. These hearts are so darling, that now I want to get busy and stitch the rest of them!

While you weren’t looking I did finish this one and it will be ready for primetime viewing at Sample It! I attacked this one in a reverse order then normally would. I stitched the leaves first and then I went for the background. After trying 1/2 dozen Kreinik colors and a few other threads, I settled on this Kreinik…knowing the stitch I wanted to use. Okay time for the red and pink leaves. I had 3 colors of River Silk ready and then realized they were not quite the right colors. Time to shop through the stash and I looked and tweaked and looked at more ribbon colors. Thank to Laura Taylor for nailing the color that I needed.

So you are looking at this and saying, well where’s the ribbon? Well after trying to execute the perfect look for over an hour, it just wasn’t working. Leaves are too tiny and it was getting overpowered. I decided that it was time for Plan B and get the stranded silks out and well what is wrong with a little basketweave? Simple and elegant. An overdye for the centers with a few beads and we are good to go!

And while you really weren’t watching me I finished this one too! You know even with beading the snowflake I completed this one is less than 4 hours.

My car is packed and now I just need to pack my clothes and a little stitching. Never do work on anything when I am market, but you know if I don’t have anything, that is when I will want it!

AlleyCat is being an AlleyCat! Next blog will be from market as soon as I have stuff to share with you! and until next time…keep on stitching