Kangaroo Completely Finished

Mr Kangaroo has been finished as a stand up, easel back.  My finisher couldn't resist giving him an Australian flag!  Isn't he cute?

Kangaroo FINISHED

Finally, Mr. Kangaroo is finished.  I started him in 2009, shortly after returning from a trip to Australia.  He will be framed eventually.  Horrible pattern.  Way too many 3/4 stitches and weird back stitches to work on Aida cloth, would have been much easier on linen or evenweave.  I think.

Map of Australia

I don't have any in-work projects to show you and won't for quite awhile. I'm working on a piece that I can't show you right now. I'm also about to start on the prework for the Mystery Retreat I'm going to in Las Vegas in July; there won't be anything interesting to show on that one till after the retreat!

Sooooo, I thought I would show you some older pieces that I have completed. The first is a Map of Australia which I completed last year. It is a HUGE (for me) cross-stitch with a lot of backstitching. I purchased the pattern in Australia a few years ago. The piece is stitched on linen with just a couple of shades of brown & some ecru. It was very tedious to stitch, there were waaaaay too many partial stitches, but I'm quite pleased with the result.

Dingo Hunting Kangaroo

I don't see the title in the picture, but I love the piece. I finally finished my Orana Originals aboriginal design. I purchased the pattern in Australia a year or so ago. It is a cross stitch pattern, which I stitched in needlepoint on 18-count Leventine Blue canvas. I used Watercolors for the background. The pattern is mostly in Kreinik metallics except where I couldn't get the right color, so there is also some floss. It is all Tent except for the white streak across the center which is done in Smyrna Crosses. I'll take it up to Reno with me this summer for my favorite framer to take care of.

Things & Stuff

Thanks to Front Range Stitchers blog, I learned about www.pattandleedesigns.com Wonderful designs, especially the kitties! Most designs are available as painted canvas or chart and an email placed an order in no time! I got a confirming email right back and can pay with PayPal. I'm happy!!!




Last week I dug out an Australian design I started last summer. I haven't worked on it since before Christmas. I had forgotten how much I enjoy working on this piece! I got quite a bit done, but then ran out of a Kreinik color and don't have time to get to the shop. So, this piece is put away again for a week or so. I bought the pattern in Australia last year. It is a cross stitch pattern but I am doing it in needlepoint. I substituted an overdye, Watercolors 156, for all of the black and dark blues of the background and I chose to use metallics for just about everything else. I was able to sort of match a Kreinik to most of the floss colors specified in the pattern. There are 6-8 that I couldn't match, so stuck with the specified floss. Those are mostly grays, hard to find gray metallics! The canvas is Levintine blue, but photographs much lighter, probably due to the white wall that was behind it!




Wed. we are heading up to Reno for a long weekend, so I probably won't get another post done till next week. It will be another packed few days. I will be stitching with friends one day and going to a farewell lunch/tea. Farewell to the restaurant, Belle's Tea Cottage, which is closing its doors. Belle's has been in Reno for many years and I have enjoyed quite a few pleasant lady's lunches there. DH is hoping to go skiing, we will be having several dinners with friends, and maybe even get some dancing in.