Linda is Finished

Finally, Linda (by Orna Willis) is finished!  It needed a lot of beads, and I added to it by deciding to do a bead cluster in each of the outside Jessicas.  I also found (in my box of odd things) a crystal bead with an aurora borealis finish to one side - so I put that in the very center.  I like it!  It's very different from any of the colorways shown on the pattern.
Another one to go in the to be framed pile.

Here is a detail so you can better see the beads.  I'm not totally thrilled with the photo, but at least I tried!

Linda, Progress 6

Linda is finished, except for beads.  I can't do the beads until we get moved & unpacked as my stash is in storage!  The good news is, we are moving this next week!  Yay! Finally!  It will be a few weeks before I find my stash, but at least the end is in sight!

Linda, Progress #5

Back to Linda, by Orna Willis.
I'm making progress, slow but sure!

There's a LOT of Jessicas.  The #8 pearl by Painter's Threads gave me trouble!  What I had in my stash that is the perfect color is waaaay different than the new stuff I got.  The new was not perfect for this piece, but I didn't have enough of the old.  So I tried a couple of different ways of using these threads and, with the help of a friend, decided to alternate the new & the old threads.It works pretty well and I don't think I could have found anything better.

Once I finish the Jessicas, each one will get a stitch in the middle with a metallic.  There will also be a lot of beads on this piece, so it won't get finished until my stash is unpacked!

Linda, Progress #4

I'm making good progress on Linda.  
Last time I posted, I though I was finished with the squares, but there were still stitches to do between the squares.
Now I'm working on the border.  I've been jumping around some because I wasn't sure what threads & colors I wanted to use.
When I looked at the big Jessicas, that go all the way around & form a circle, I first thought I would use Watercolours.  No, Watercolours is much too heavy.  OK, I'll use Wildflowers in the same color.  Well, Wildflowers would work, but the color was wrong (not the same as the Watercolours I'd picked).  Back to my stash!  I had nothing in DMC#8 pearl that was the right color.  But, oh look, maybe this Painters Thread #8 pearl.  OH YES, I like it, but I'm going to have to order more.  I think one skein will do more than half of the Jessicas, but I have ordered 2 more skeins in case the color has changed dramatically.

Linda, Progress #3

Linda is coming along nicely.  The Neon Rays, Rhodes stitched squares are complete and I have begun filling them in.  The diamonds in those squares are woven and that was pretty tricky, but now I am just filling in the rest of the squares with Watercolours.  That goes fairly quickly.  Then, on to the outer section.

Linda, Progress

I haven't worked on this much, but I have completed half of the boxes surrounding the center.  In Neon Rays Rhodes stitches.  Very tedious, but pretty.  I hope filling in the boxes will be more fun!

Linda by Orna Willis

I have just started "Linda" by Orna Willis.  I have had this pattern for years and finally decided to stitch it.  I have changed the colors quite dramatically.  Back to my favorite color palette!  
This project will take a long time, I will only work on it once in awhile, it is a good travelling piece.  I know it is a bit large for that (on 16" stretchers), but it is for when I will be doing a lot of stitching in a home environment.
BTW, the lightest shade is really a pale aqua, not white.