monk from uncle update

I have finally finished with all that blue!

here is the detail on the gold work outlining the water at the bottom, I think I will not outline the lily with gold as well. it stands out well all on its own merits.

 while i love how it turned out, split stitching the whole thing was a trial

I'm still not sure I like how the satin stitch came out on the cross run at the top I may have to pull some of that and do it differently.

If anyone has any suggestions there I would appreciate it!

 

although the crosses themselves came out nice, the Franciscan, the notre dame and the "law" cross

I also found some excellent braid to outline the whole blazon with.

once I put that on the whole thing started looking more "official"

BJP- february spirit doll

 This spirit doll I have named Dance me,


after a song called dance me to the end of love by Leonard Cohen.

 Kate Gibson sings this very soulful version.

January has been busy, happy and traumatic.



In as much as I don't like rushing things, I can't wait for it to be OVER.




so here's to February may it be calmer.

Pearls and lace update

Since I didn't work on this block until the absolute last minute I "threw" on a lot of lace, gimp,and other stuff to fill in space.

but I have always wanted to try doing a beaded bug

so here is my attempt
and truth be told I rather like the critter






 he sits at a rather crowded crossroads



though something needed to go there

to send the eye around mine kept getting stuck at Donna's, rather lovely, SRE


 the big ol' purple flower is there to do the same thing, move your eye around.

I still have some beading and finishing of the two seams I started 4 weeks ago



I feel rather guilty just getting to this now  but well I was a little distracted last month  ;)

with a little help from the audience

paisley#1

I am coming up on 300 posts!

Paisley#2

who knows when I will get there

             BUT


 As a celebration of this milestone I would like to host a giveaway.

Paisley#3

            Which to give away?

 I leave it up to you all in bloggerland, to tell me which of the following goodies you would most like me to gift.

 the Paisley to get the most votes will be the one I give away when I reach my 300th post..



where I will then ask for names to pull out of a random hat
                                                             to pull out of a hat randomly?
                                                      randomly pull names out of a hat?
Whatever
                                     Nothin up my sleeve......Presto!

                                                                                           

home again, home again, jiggity, jigg, jigg

so after 2 weeks in chicago, all the running around and planning before hand the running around visiting in indiana

and what-not while there, oh yeah and the getting married.
I got home to a cat who isn't at all happy to see me.
poor neglected baby!

Pictures are forthcoming and there is a vid one of my uncles shot on you tube here and here

now on to the thankyous and unpacking

I am feeling supremely unmotivated to do anything but sleep