Tuesday, June 21, 2011

12 Days of Christmas

When I said I'd be back with some photos of my current project, I didn't expect it to be so soon, but I am having a really good catch up on lots of bits and pieces today.

I bought the material for this back in December 2008 - very much a spur of the moment purchase as there was a finished one on display in the shop and I thought it was delightful.   I actually started to stitch on it in May 2009, thinking it would be done by Christmas !!! ho ho ho !  I worked on it until July 2009 and it got put aside.  I picked it up again in May 2011 and have been spending my all stitching time on it. 


The vine on the outer border is stem stitched in gold with red beads all along it;  the "12 Days ..." is outlined in chain stitch; all of the pale green borders have two rows of running stitch around them. 
I haven't been doing it in any particular order - just whatever takes my fancy.

The photos are not very good, but you should be able to click to enlarge them to see the detail.  The snowman's jacket has some stitching; most of the main bits are outlined, including all of the pears, birdcage, duck, gingerbread man etc.  I have started to add ribbons and trims here and there.

Satin stitch on the candy canes; the clock is outlined in stem stitch with metallic thread (not fun stitching with that!) and chain stitch on the gold rings.


The partridge is outlined in gold thread and has blue beads at his throat; red ribbon sewn on his wings and I have done some ribbon leaves too.  The birdcage is outlined, as are the birds, but they need something more to lift them a bit.

It is a fun project - but I am finding the stitching much harder to do than cross stitching on lovely soft linen. 

As always, thanks for popping in,
Mary


8 comments:

Gabi said...

What a beautiful finish. Congrats.

From the Attic said...

12 Days is really coming on Mary. What a lot of work involved. It looks great. You will certainly have it up and hanging by this Christmas.

Carol said...

Oh, how pretty, Mary! That looks like a ton of work, but all the ribbons and beads really make it extra special :)

Margaret said...

Oh that looks like such a pretty project! So much work though. Wow! It's wonderful!

Pumpuliina pistelee said...

So lovely and colorful makes me feel like christmas.

Sandra said...

What a lovely project to work on, you can do as much or as little as you like.

Siobhán said...

Wow, that is amazing. It will truly be an heirloom when you're finished!

Kathy Ellen said...

This is my first visit to your lovely stitching blog, and I absolutely love your beautiful "Twelve Days of Christmas" quilted piece! You have created a marvelous work of art!