Merry Christmas
Raymond Crawford
18 ct. painted canvas
It's finished! Woo Hoo! This project was a Mystery Class taught by Ms. Ruth Schmuff, Her Very Self, The Proprietress of Bedecked and Beadazzled. I started the class as a "distance learning" student in November of last year and put the last stitches into it in the wee hours of the morning today.
I love so many things about this, but I think the thing that tickles me most is the fact that this really stretched my abilities as a stitcher. Each time I sat down with a lesson, I wondered what new challenge would await me. The best part is that I felt like Ms. Ruth was right there on my shoulder cheering me on and providing just the perfect balance of know-how and encouragement. Yup, I frogged a bunch of stuff, and I'm still not exactly sure if I've got everything on there just "right", but the sense of satisfaction I got when I learned how to do something new was really quite nice.
(And I learned how to use my spanky little craft iron too!)
I'm off to purge the studio!
Up, up, and away!
It's beautiful. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteYour piece is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean 'purge'? You aren't getting rid of things are you?? That's not allowed in the stitchy community is it??
I just "blew up" your Merry Christmas canvas and I am in complete awe of your stitchy talents as well as the imaginations of Raymond Crawford and Ruth Schmuff. I will never know how you did some of those stitches. Love the fringie-looking stuff. Unbeleivable. Congrats on one of the best finishes ever!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sheri: this is the first time I've seen the canvas 'blown up', and it's so very impressive!
ReplyDeleteConi, your stitching is an inspiration.
It is a beautiful design and finish! Well Done!!
ReplyDeleteTres, tres magnifique! (sounds so "chi-chi" en Francaise, n'est pas?)
ReplyDeleteIn other words, it is gorgeous!
Gorgeous finish!
ReplyDeleteWow, Coni, that is GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteABFAB!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMelody
You do beautiful work. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous - well done in getting it all done ready to display for the season next year.
ReplyDeleteThe colours are amazing. Now best I go start a new challenge.
I blew the picture up to get a better look. It's absolutely beautiful. There are stitches and things in there that I've never seen before. It is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful finish! I love the colors:)))
ReplyDeleteBeautiful design; beautiful stitching. But what I like most about this post is the air of positivity (well, until we got to the "... idiot Spinster Stitcher ..." bit. Ahyway, I do believe that you are starting to glipse what we already know ... you are a wonderful stitcher!
ReplyDeleteHope the 4 of you had a lovely Christmas time.
Great job...just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you all had a lovely Christmas. I've been shoving left over ham in front of Masterchief for days! He had the last ham sandwich this afternoon. We had our big dinner a few days before Christmas.
Purge?
You're PURGING? Is that allowed?
Coni, just wonderful work. A lovely, bright and cheery needlework which puts you ahead on the Christmas front for 2011.
ReplyDeletePurge, surely not!Maybe just some re-arranging or sorting. Stitchy people sometimes re-home a know longer loved item, but purge, never. This advice may save you from a severe feeling of loss later.
Anyway, glad you four had a wonderful Christmas. Love to Stewie.
Wonderful finish!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stitching, Coni! Well done! I'm taking my first mystery class from Ms. Ruth and am very happy with the canvas, the threads, and the stitch guide. Give Stewie a hug for me. Wishing you both a very happy and stitchy new year!
ReplyDeleteSO beautiful!!! I love all the bright colors in this, and congrats for not blowing up the city you live in while working on all the new stitches in this!!! I'm sure your neighbors appreciate it! LOL
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful Coni! Your stitching looks so perfect!
ReplyDeleteI am seeing needlepoint canvas around the edges, but aida cloth in the middle...? How did you DO that??
Kisses to Stewey
mj
Ruth is an excellent distance instructor. After taking Eye Candy I was fired up to do more. And she is even better in person. I am lucky enough to live less than 2 hours from her shop, she is always charming and helpful, as is her staff.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic. Congrats with the finish.
ReplyDeleteLooks so bright and colorful... Congratulations on finishing this beauty
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your finish! It's absolutely stunning! :D Cathryn
ReplyDeleteConi
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job. It's spectacular. And yes, I was there cheering you on the entire way. Not that you needed it. You are a beautiful stitcher.
Ruth
Coni,
ReplyDeleteThis is a spectacular piece. You did a lovely job. Ruth is a terrific designer, but an even better cheerleader. I could hear her egging me on every step of the way while I did my "Merry Christmas Mystery". Cannot wait to see what you have in store for all of us in 2011.
Merry Christmas.
Missy
Merry Christmas is an amazing finish, Coni! What are your plans for displaying it? Frame? Pillow? Something else? Seems a shame that Christmas is over and it might not see the light of day for almost a year.
ReplyDeleteI adore you ! Reading your blog is the highlight of my day. But Chickie, you must tell me/us, what do you do for a living? I read about all the wonderful stitching you do and the goofy/spectacular things you and Stewy do everyday and I always wonder how you have the time. Hugs, Mz B and her little dog Mz Sugar
ReplyDelete