New Year Update

It's been awhile since I've posted so I thought it was time for an update.

I've completed about 1/3 of Cleopatra's Cat. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge it. I chose reds that ranged from darker burgundy to lighter rust. Also, a lot of the threads are over-dyed which provides contrast within the stitched area itself. Some of the areas are empty because the thread is on order.

 Here are some detail photos. I like the contrast of the "open" stitch on the left that shows some of the canvas compared to the "closed" stitch on the right that covers the canvas completely. These are or nue or laid stitches where you secure a long piece of (usually metallic) thread over the entire area and then stitch over it with a contrasting thread.

Here are three different areas. The stitches at the top are done with a wool, the stitches at the bottom are done in cotton and silk flosses. I am using Splendor and Waterlilies silks and am surprised how different they are from each other. I am waiting for Gloriana silk so I get to try that too!

I really like this area. I would never have guessed how a stitch like that is done.

I've been working on Circque des Cercles from Ink Circles for awhile now. Even though I'm stitching it on 25-count fabric over 1 thread, it is actually pretty easy to see and has been my to-go project but I've bumped it up to working at home because I'm so close to getting it done.

And here is "A Williamsburg Illumination" that I gave my husband for Christmas. I picked up the chart at Haus Tyrol in Williamsburg back in December 2009 and have worked on it on and off since. It's stitched on 18-count navy aida. What's fun about this piece is that it isn't a picture of the palace, it's the fireworks reflecting on the palace. The Grand Illumination at historic Williamsburg is held early December and is super-fun!