A Small Finish and a Large Start!

Good day stitching friends!  I have been getting into the Christmas spirit with some ornament stitching!  This piece by Homespun Elegance is featured in the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue.  It caught my eye immediately!  It is called 'Majestic Bird' and I stitched it in DMC colour variations (the red) and Nina's threads (the green).  The bird is supposed to have a crown charm in his beak, which I changed to some stitched holly and ivy.  It is stitched on 28ct self-dyed evenweave and is finished as a simple hanging ornament, backed with the green fabric pictured.  

I have stitched some other ornaments from the 2013 JCS Ornament Issue, but I still need to do the finishing :)  

I also have a rather large start to share.  I have been wanting to stitch one of Heaven and Earth Designs Christmas ornaments for a while and finally decided to stitch 'Not a Creature was Stirring' by Donna Gelsinger.  It does not look like much yet, but I am really enjoying it!  I am stitching it 2 over 2 on 28ct parchment evenweave, so it won't be ornament size, but rather a size more suited to framing.

Here is what the painting looks like, isn't it beautiful?

I have been spoiled by Michelle from StitchCraft Place again - this time with a Christmas gift!  She sent me a gorgeous Christmas card, some limited edition sampler thread from The Gentle Art and some special Christmas tea.  Thank you Michelle!

That is it for today, enjoy the rest of the week and Happy Stitching!

Michelle

Some Stitching and a Gift

I have some stitching (but no finishing!) to show! I'm going to try to stitch more Christmas ornaments this year - my first one for the year is 'Winter Sheep' by Little House Needleworks. He is stitched on 28ct straw evenweave in DMC threads and topped off with a little Christmas tree charm. He is pictured on the fabric I'll be using for the finishing:

This piece I stitched towards the end of last year, but never finished it for Christmas. It is such a cute design by Tra-la-la and is stitched on self-dyed 28ct evenweave in DMC stranded cotton and DMC colour variations. It is also pictured on the fabric that I will, eventually, be using for finishing:
I stitched this piece, 'Beneath Sunlit Skies' by Black Bird Designs, also towards the end of last year. It is stitched on a Natural 28ct evenweave in a variety of variegated cottons. I did not follow the recommended colours for this chart, but instead had a look at the pic, grabbed my floss box with variegated threads, and pulled whatever I liked and seemed would work. It was really fun to do and also a great way to use some stashed threads! (Some of the colours are very soft and don't show up too well in the photo.)
Here are a few closeups:
Last, but certainly not least - I would like to thank dear Edit for the lovely Christmas present she sent me at the end of last year. Look at all the lovely goodies - fabric, ribbon, beads and a beautiful snowman ornament. (The ornament took pride of place on our Christmas tree and looked great!) Thank you again Edit, it was an unexpected and wonderful gift!
That is it from me for now. Hope to have some stitching updates again soon.

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments on my previous post - it is appreciated.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!