I have made some small progress but no finishes this time. As you have recently read, I have been suffering from an infestation of frogs.
You can see photos of my progess on Merry Xmas and Travelling Stitcher in my previous post.
I have completed my last Mirabilia RR stitching and sent it home to the owner.
My poor etui has not seen the light of day. Maybe in November?
The most significant progress and lack of progress has been my Desert Mandala.
As you know, I had to remove the black borders on my Mandala as the Black Marlitt just did not lay right.
I replaced the borders with DMC 310. I started stitching the feathers. One feather was in the wrong place and I cut the fabric removing it. I have since restitched that feather. With a couple of carefully placed extra stitches and back stitching, I was able to cover the spot. I added a dab of Fray Chek to the back of the fabric to secure the threads. I think it will be okay now. All the rest of the feathers have been stitched and are in the right place!
I added the beads around the frame of the inside and then all around the beautiful border. I love how the beads just make it pop. The spaces left are for larger beads or bicones and I have left them off as the threads get caught in them.
I started stitching the top left corner. Those cacti are both stitched in Black Marlitt. I have one cactus stitched with a minimum of cussing. The blobs in the middle are the beginning of a rattlesnake - a beautifully beaded rattlesnake. As I stitched that black cactus, I realized I have some more frogging to do. The black border to the right is off by 1/2 stitch. It cannot stay there as much as I would like to leave it. It will throw off the outer borders if I don't remove it. Can you hear me cussing again?
Have you seen the latest Country Cross Stitch magazine? I had to buy this one!
I have a couple of lovely gifts to show you.
From Marlene at Poppy Patchwork - this lovely Christmas design with thread and beads
From my BFF Beatrice - some wonderful lighthouse fabric. I think I may soon have enough for a quilt.
From my sweet cousin - a new flower frog. Have you ever seen one like this? I never have! It is beautiful. The flowers on the side are hand painted.
Well, that's it for this post. Let's hope my frog visit is short lived. If not, I will be tossing them out of my vehicle bodily on my trip to Arizona - two more weeks until we leave.