Keep Calm and Carry On - Started!

I really thought I would have had this canvas finished by now. I was so excited when I got this canvas from the girls at Unique New Zealand. My late Aunt always had a saying, either in person or by signing cards, she would end everything with "Carry On". Loved that about her!  When I saw this finished on Needlepoint in Your Nest's Facebook page, I was just blown away. I had to have those threads! The stitches! The Book! So I got in touch with Carolyn at Chaparral and she sent me everything I needed, including the book, Needlepointing In Your Nest, written by Carolyn Hedge Baird.

What scrumptious threads!

Needlepointing In Your Nest

I started stitching the letters in basketweave with the Kreinik #032. It's pretty mindless and the canvas is stitch painted so there is no doubt where each stitch goes.

The problem is I was getting antsy wanting to start the background! It's a 4 way Scotch Variation, using all these great threads. I thought, well, maybe I'll just start a wee bit to get a feel of it.

What a fun stitch! The Gloriana is fun, although a bit of a pain to separate (it requires 3-4 strands). It has this subtle shading that is just beautiful. Then there is an outer border of Neon Rays outside the Gloriana. Inside is this very cool Double Oblong Cross using Painters Threads which adds some sparkle and then there is going to be a little diagonal cross in between using Very Velvet. Talk about different textures, this one has it all!  Unfortunately, this is as far as I've gotten as other things have come up but this is definitely staying in my immediate rotation!

BTW, if you don't have Needlepointing In Your Nest, I suggest you add it to your stitching library. It is full of wonderful hints and tips plus it's chock full of STITCHES!! If you're a fan of combination or variation  stitches, this book is definitely for you!