This is a triple report! First, I competed the backstitching on Athena. There wasn't much, but doesn't the owl look great? Now, there is only beading and I definitely want to to finish her this year.
Then I worked on Woodland Enchantress. About 2 weeks of work yielded a happy dance! I can't wait to get her framed and hanging on the walls of my house. I am planning on a framing binge sometime soon- I have four projects waiting, 2 from the 2012 WIPocalyse and two older ones.
Finally I picked up Royal Holiday. Back in 2007, the gold brocade skirt worked up easily, as well as the small corner of her cape to the left of the skirt. Then, I put this project away after having issues with the Wisper thread, which forms the cape's fur trim. Since getting some advice, I have begun working with shorter lengths, like 12-14". That keeps the thread from shredding so badly, but it doesn't get me far and Royal Holiday has a ton of it. Oh well, the effect is cool, I suppose. But it will take a while to finish this project, since it's slow going with the Wisper.
I am stitching on a fat quarter of Sparkling Forest opalescent belfast linen from Silkweaver. This is a gorgeous fabric and the colors pop on it, but it's a bit challenging to stitch. First, most of my stitching time is at night and it's rather hard to see the threads of the dark green fabric. The sparkles create further difficulty. I have ordered a Needlework Uplight, that is supposed to sit on one's lap to light dark fabric from underneath. There are a number of designs I'd like to stitch on dark fabric (like Teresa Wentzler's Unicorn, Magnificent Wizard, and Midsummer Night's Fairy) and hopefully this will help.
Great finish, Stephanie!! Excellent progress on your Miras, too.
Posted by: Christine S | September 02, 2012 at 01:39 PM
Oh, those first two finishes are stunning! Congrats on finishing them. As for the 3rd piece, which looks to be equally as gorgeous, specialty fibers always stress me out... so pretty once they are in place, but making me say not so pretty things during the process! One thing you might try with the darker fabrics (if you're not doing it already) is to always where light colored pants or have a white towel on your lap. Makes it easier to see the holes through your dark fabric.
Posted by: Robin Patrick | September 05, 2012 at 09:39 AM
Athena and Woodland are gorgeous! Royal Holiday is looking beautiful as well. The fabric is fantastic, but I can see where it would be difficult to stitch on. I have tried stitching with Wisper, and I find it difficult, not as hard a some of the metallics, but not easy either. Good luck with it.
Posted by: Beth | September 10, 2012 at 09:33 PM