Finished at last!!!

Happy Dance!  I finally finished Celeste.  I thought the end would go faster with the Winter Olympics on but it turns out that's not good stitching TV.  You actually have to watch, can't just get away with listening.  So without further ado.

Some changes were made which I have to admit had I finished this back when I started it (2002 I think) I wouldn't have made but my stitching experience over the last 25 years has made me more comfortable changing the parts of a pattern that I don't really like.

I changed the background to just the single thread of light blue and added a light blue bead, size 11 I think, in the center of each mimicking more traditional Chinese pottery patterns.  The original  bead called for is a purple/blue bead and there were 4 at each cross section.

Also I changed the bright gold beads to a darker antique gold, size 15, it might be a hair small but I couldn't find that color in the next size up.  I like the subtlety and think it matches the couching better.  I also left out the gold beads that are supposed to be in the center of each woven diamond in the corners, I felt it was too crowded.

Now on to my next UFO which I don't want to take 15 years to finish!  Chatelaine's Chinese Garden.  I just have the 3 sides left, they are basically a repeat of the top.  Note, the colors are a little washed out in this photo.

Home stretch!

Yeah, I’m in the home stretch.  All the cross stitches are complete, the couching is all done and I just have the back ground to finish.
 

So here came the difficult part.  Wasn’t a fan of the indicated colors or all the beads in the netting so started trying different threads.  After ripping out 5 variations of colors or sizes of grid I decided to go with just the light blue thread at its original spacing leaving out the mauve thread completely.

Next step will be the beads.  Looking at Classical Japanese pottery it seemed that one blue spot in the middle of the blue grid was more typical so I went and found some blue beads in the right family and am planning on stitching one on the middle of each square.  Of course execution may decide that I don’t like that either, I’ll let you know next posting.  So without further ado, here it is in its current state.

I'm back . . .

So, I did a little stitching after the last post, more than a year ago and then got distracted with an obligation piece.  That's not really the right sentiment but it's when you want to stitch a piece for a friend and there is a target date.  Missed the date, no surprise on my part, but did finish the piece.  So hurriedly did I frame it that I have no pics.  Argh.  So back to my dragon.

Having a finish inspired me to get Celeste back out and knuckle down on finishing it.  I did more of the gold lattice/scales, the front arm and neck are all that's left.  All the cross stitches are in, most of the back-stitching is in and I've started doing the couching in gold braid around the outside squares and the curves, you might catch a glint at the bottom.  The lattice work behind the dragon and beading hasn't been started at all.  There are supposed to be blue/pink beads in the lattice work, which goes everywhere that's white around the dragon right now but I think they might be too much.  I might just put on the gold beads, they go in the blue field and the around the woven ribbon in the corners, and leave off the blue ones which would surround the dragon.  Here is a link to someone who left them off and I like how clean it looks.  I'm thinking about changing the colors used in background too, maybe going with blue and green rather than blue and mauve.  I'll decide when I start stitching.

Hoping to get you inspired to start again!

Is there anybody out there?

Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?

-Pink Floyd

Sorry if I just got Pink Floyd stuck in your head but since it was stuck in mine figure yourself in good company.  So I have a few WIPs that I need some motivation on, including the Celestial Dragon from 2011 and my question is this:  is there still enough of a cheering squad to get this site resurrected?

If you are interested in cheering on your fellow stitchers and maybe posting a few pics yourself please put your yeah, olé, áno, brava, ypa etc. in the comments.  Please note, I don't own this site and can't add authors so contact Jen, info in the side bar, if you are interested in becoming an author.

Cheers, Elizabeth

Celeste Update - February

Just a quick update, I have one of the four corners mostly done.  There is some couching and a little backstitching and the beads, that's what goes in the holes in the blue, gold beads.  You can see the gold that I didn't rip out yet in the coil by the tail.  It seems just a little too bright to me.  I'm not much into gold anyway.  Maybe that's part of the problem.  Next month I'm on the road for two weeks and am taking two smaller projects so this will be put aside for a little while.

Celeste Update!

I finished the dragon!  Well almost, I still have to stitch the scales but the rest of the backstitching is done.  Next I'll start on the border pattern.  I tried doing some of the scales but apparently back when I bought the materials I grabbed the wrong gold blending filament and I don't like the one I have so I need to frog that and try it with the right color.  But still I can't be happier with the progress I've made.  Happy New Year!

Celeste Update

Just a quick update on Celeste.  I did get the rest of the area filled in.  I have decided to switch to something else for a while so this will go back on the pile.  But hopefully for just a few weeks rather than 8 months this time.  Just one loop and the tail left and then off to the border.  I might get this finished yet!

Celeste update, finally!

I was embarrassed to go and find out how long it had been since I posted, 8 months!  But since this blog is about finishing 'eventually' I'll try not to be too hard on myself and it is very nice to have a place to share my accomplishments when I do get something stitched and I have been working on three other projects.  But I digress.  So I had a wonderful holiday stitching weekend.  Thanksgiving here in the States gave me lots of American football to listen to, can't take my eyes off the pattern or the fabric, and time off from work and even some sunny days which are a big plus when it comes to a TW design and rare in the winter in Oregon.  How was that for a run on sentence!  So here it is, March to November or more accurately November to March.  I am going to stick with it a little longer and finish this section.  I might go back and do some back stitching but may be ready to switch to another project.  You'll know when I do!

Celestial Dragon Quick Update

The head looked so unfinished that I couldn't leave it alone so went ahead and did the backstitching.  Whew!  Now I can change to the SAL Castles in the Air from Papillion Creations.  I'm only a few parts behind on that!

Celestial Dragon Update

Here is my update as promised.  I thought I might get a few more stitches in today but no such luck.  It did go smoother than I had feared but of course this is only layer one of the backstitching, who knows how I will feel after layer two!  And there is couching in another part of it!  Oh the horrors!  No wonder this became a UFO, must persevere!  Backstitching does bring characters to life though I must admit.  Here is a before and an after. (Sort of, I missed taking a full picture apparently before starting the dreaded backstiching. ;-) )

Celestial Dragon update

Just a quick update. I got 5 afternoons in instead of 3 so I have a whole leg and more spine. I've been thinking about everyone's comments the other day regarding back stitching and now am wondering if I should do some as I go along on this project because there is a lot! And I fall in the category that while I love what it does I'm not much a fan of executing it. Something to mull over while I switch to another project for the rest of this week.

Greetings and another TW UFO - Celestial Dragon

Thank you all for allowing me to join your group. I am hoping between blogging here and the Teresa Wentzler Cross Stitch SAL on Facebook I can stay focused and get some stitching done on my Celestial Dragon. I started this in 2002 did most of the work back then and then have picked it up periodically since. This past June was the last time it got any serious work. I think the problem is the amount of focus required. I can't do anything else while stitching on this. I plan to dedicate about 3 afternoons a month. I am working on three other projects I would like to keep in rotation. If you are interested, here is the link for the FB group: TW Cross Stitch SAL