0 Work In Progress Wednesday - 21 Jan 2015

Yes, I know, Sharon's not running this just at the mo, but I still thought that a Wednesday check-in wasn't a bad idea, (and I know I'm not alone).  All the more so as I finally had the desire to do some stitching the other day and so did some work on my Paradise Island cross stitch, on the lower left hand, dark-coloured leaf.

I'm sorry to say that I haven't put in so much as one stitch on the freestyle piece for a long time, and I realise that it's just not going to happen for the end of this month, but there is another hand-over opportunity in May, so I've mentally re-scheduled the finish for then.

At the mo, I just have so much going on, esp. with my poor mum, that I'm not troubling myself in the least about any stitching deadlines etc, although I hope I'll have a little finish to share later in the week for my Grow Your Blog Party post.  I'm also considering a bit of a stitcher's give-away too, so we'll see if I have chance to put something together....

BTW Anyone got any ideas on how to mark my blog's 10th anniversary in June?

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2015

Detail: Work In Progress Wednesday - 21 Jan 2015

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 10 Dec 2014

Yay!  A WIPW update post to share!

There's very little change since the last post on this piece back in early November.  I've just done some bits of dark green on the bottom left hand side.  I think I'm going to finish this corner before moving on anywhere else.

Actually, it's a bit awkward working in that area, but I'm managing it OK.

There are two shades of green down there, but it's hard to tell - even on the piece itself.  One's only very slightly darker.  Might consider changing one of them if they occur together much in other parts of the picture.

The 'Work in Progress Wednesdays' weekly project check-in is run by Sharon B over on Pintangle.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 10 Dec 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 5 Nov 2014

This is what I have for you this week.  Not a lot of progress, but a little.  I just put a few stitches in on two of the leaves.  Hmmm, looks like there are a lot of white bits on the fabric that I didn't notice when I was taking the photo this morning.  Not that it matters too gravely just now.

I really haven't had much stitching or art time as I've been busy with regular tasks (yawn) as well as doing some increasingly time sensitive proof-reading for a Chinese former manager who is applying for a grade promotion at work.  The application deadline is Friday 7th, and there are still two sections to go, including a long academic CV.  So, I think I know what I'll be doing at least part of tomorrow.=)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 5 Nov 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 29 Oct 2014

Here we have my one picture for this weeks WIPW 'challenge' as far as my pretty 'Paradise Island' goes.  I haven't got much done, but, to be honest, stitching isn't featuring high on my agenda at the mo.  Things are a little stressful, what with one thing and another - mostly connected with looking after Mum and how things will go in the medium term (she won't be around in the long term, that much is clear), as to where we need to be living etc.  So, things may not be as 'active' on blog as I might like over the coming few weeks or months, but there are plenty of other blogs to read if I'm quiet for a while. =)  I really don't get why readers unsubscribe if a blogger doesn't post a certain number of times per week.  I was 'talking' (by e-mail) about this with Sharon of Pintangle where WIPW is hosted, and she finds that her readership drops if she posts less than four times per week.  I've noticed a similar thing here. Now, if these were paid for subscriptions, I could understand people unsubbing, but as it's all free, it seems odd to me.  Maybe I'm easier to please!!LOL!  Well, in some things, anyway.... =)

I'm really not getting along well with my other piece, the 'Painted Ladies' butterflies picture.  I can't seem to get into it.  Having said that, I don't feel up to more challenging needlework at the mo, thus cross stitch getting more air time.  However, I don't have the luxury of choice with this one as it's really needed by the end of the year and I just must get on with it.  That being the case, I'm moving it into the WIPW slot as I like to have something to post about here!!!

Here are some more of the berries filled in, but not filled in terribly well, I think.  I just can't seem to get my stitches to look like Helen M Stevens'.... =(  Still, they'll look better with stems and 'trims' etc and, of course, as part of the full piece, so I'm not going to re-stitch them, I don't think.

I bought my ticket for the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show yesterday.  One can get e-tickets these days, but I was sorry to see that part of the advantage to buying well in advance, namely the £2 cheaper ticket has been swallowed up by the fact that Twisted Thread are now charging a £0.95 booking fee for advance purchases!  Whatever next??

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 29 Oct 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 22 October 2014

OK, so I was MIA for more than a week, but you had plenty of interesting blogs to read to mind too much, right?=)

I have got *some* stitching done, only not as much as I'd hoped.  I blame the feverish cold that decided to take over my body last week and is still leaving behind a legacy of sticky sludge!  Mercifully, I haven't developed a cough, unlike poor Sir, who sounds terrible hacking away...=(

Here are the shots of the four days' work I did on the pretty Paradise Island piece.  The first one was to complete the first three flower centres and outline the final flower.

Next you can see that I finished that flower and worked some more of the water.

The next day saw me adding in the first bits of the greenery in the shape of the flower stems and some more water.

The last day's work was ... more water!!

Finally, here is the piece as it appears in full just now:

Hmm, probably should have reduced the brightness further on these last two shots, but I'm still learning, really!  One kind reader suggested I post a tutorial on photographing this kind of project and flattered my vanity very much.  However, I'm really not sure I would have the know-how.  Still, a general 'photographing embroidery' article might be a goer.  What do you think?  Interested?  Any suggestions to make?

So, some visible progress and I'm back on to the duller bit now, that of building up more water.  Having said that, apart from the sea parts and the other set of flowers, the rest is mostly greenery, so I plan to split it down into parts so that I don't end up with endless green to work towards the end.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 22 October 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 8 October 2014

I have some progress to report! AND I seem to have managed to get a couple of passably decent photos of the work so far.  How's that for news?=)

I've been playing around a little bit with some of my camera settings.  Rather blindly, I'm afraid, as I really don't know what I'm doing with it, but having a good play around has helped me get some shots that seems to distinguish the different reddish shades.  The light's not quite right yet, but it's moving in the right direction and, well, there's always Photoshop!!!

I had quite a surprise the other day when I finally got around to putting the threads from the stumpwork face kit away.  I matched them up via my thread colour chart and found out the dark pink was shade #76.  However, there was no #76 in my thread pack (#s 52 - 100).  A missing colour, no less!  I thought I had the lot.  I then picked the shade card back up and looked through the whole of the section checking to see if any others were missing and there were two more in that pack.  A couple of days later I went through the rest of the collection and found another two missing.  A nice parcel of threads arrived from SewandSo this lunchtime with both the five missing stranded cottons and 14 more of the Anchor Coton à Broder #25 shades that I'm collecting.  About two dozen to go now....

To see what the rest of the WIPW team have reported on this last week, hop on over to Pintangle.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 8 October 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 24 September 2014

Here we are for the WIPW update.  I really haven't done much stitching at all recently. Sadly, I've been forced to deal with acute distress and hurt, [rest deleted].

Enough!

I've also been away for some work etc and so really haven't been getting much done.  Having said that, i had chance to return to the Leeds branch of Hobbycraft who are selling off their Anchor Coton à Broder #25 at about 20% of the normal price, so I grabbed another 8 skeins to help build my collection.  Thread therapy!!  I've been making lists of the beads I plan to treat myself to at the Harrogate Show this year as well and got one more 0.3l Really Useful Box to store them in the other day.

Thanks to Rachel and Kate for suggestions on how to improve the photography situation.  I tried Rachel's today, being the simplest, namely trying black and white card behind the piece, and the white card as well as focusing more on the main progress area (the flowers this time) seems to have helped.  I will try the more techy idea, Kate, I just need more peace of mind and time to play first.

To see others' WIPW updates and find out more about the 'group', click on over to Pintangle.

Now, I must crack on as it's visiting mum day and I still have to shower, make and eat lunch and what have you.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 24 September 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 17 September 2014

I did have some WIPW progress to report last week, I just didn't have the time and opportunity to do it, sadly.  The photo above was the one taken for last week.

As you can see from this morning's shot, I haven't done a lot more.  Just one session last night, in fact.  It's coming on a lot more slowly than I'd hoped.  It's nothing to do with difficulty, boredom, or anything like that, it's more time, strength and other things.  Anyway, it is progressing, however slowly, and that's the main thing, right?

Getting good photographs seems to be a real challenge with a black background.  Maybe it's just rank incompetence on my part (likely), but I can't seem to get a shot that shows good, clear 'X's when I get in close up.  Any thoughts or suggestions?

The thread reorganisation is essentially complete and I'm just about to edit the photos ready to share with you on Friday.  Stay tuned if you love threads and storage solutions.

Got a work in slow progress or a UFO you could use some group support to get on with?  Join in Work in Progress Wednesdays with Sharon B and the rest of us over at Pintangle. =)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 17 September 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 27 August 2014

I haven't made a great deal of progress lately, but I simply haven't had the time.  As you can see, I got a bit bored of blue, blue and more blue, so I decided to do a bit on the foreground flowers instead - yellow!  Shades of the Tudor Lady!!!

As ever, please pop over to Pintangle to find out more about the WIPW blog-along.

Thanks so much to all of you for your kind congratulations on my show wins post on Monday.=)  In all fairness, I should tell you that the Sheffield Fayre horticultural show is a relatively small and 'young' event (this was it's 14th year, as opposed to the huge Leeds Flower Show, which had it's 150th anniversary this year), run by a relaxed and encouraging team.  Judging won't be anything like as stringent as many of the bigger, longer established affairs, teh whole place is just too friendly.  Just very Sheffield, really!=)  Fun though, and I'm looking forward to next year's event already...

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 27 August 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 20 August 2014

I'm taking a blog writing break just now.  No, not a break from blog posting, but a break from proof-reading a chapter of Sir's doctoral thesis to write my blog!!=)  It's not time for a holiday from my blog just yet.  I might take a week off every quarter or so.  At the moment though, I've too much to show to want to get that far behind with posting.

I've been working a little on the Paradise Island cross stitch and there's still not so much to see.  The first picture is how far I got on the last day I posted about it, a week ago.  The second one is after two  more sessions' work.  It looks a bit like a map at the moment.  The 'V' at the bottom left hand side reminds me a bit of the outline of India on a proper globe, but the wrong colour, of course!!

This piece is the complete opposite of the Tudor Lady.  This piece is whole cotton cross stitches only, whereas the last one was cross stitch, petit point, satin stitch, beading, rayons, metallics and what have you.  This is simplicity itself and will make a nice change to stitch.=)

As always, head over to Pintangle to see what the rest of the WIPW-ers have been doing.

There should be a tutorial coming up this weekend!  I'm just going to make a start on writing it/preparing the photos, so look out for that, Friday or Saturday.=)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 20 August 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 13 August 2014, plus a WIPW review!

The trouble with starting a new piece, especially a new cross stitch, is that there really isn't very much to show in the early stages.  Often, the first steps look much more like something very different from what they actually are.  Remember the 'cross stitched Emmenthal cheese' look in the first month of the Tudor Lady project?  Well, I'm not really sure what this section of tropical ocean looks like, but it's the first bit of my Paradise Island picture.  I've done quite a bit more since, but it was barely worth taking an extra photo, to be honest!  It's more of the same, really.  (OK, OK, it'll look more when updated next week too!!!)

So, as there's so little to show with this new endeavour, I thought I'd do a little review of what I've achieved in the just under two years that I've been joining in Sharon B's Work in Progress Wednesdays blog-along.  My first WIPW post was back on 6 September 2012 and I decided to enter two stalled pieces in the challenge, the first to be finished being the Rolled Roses Brazilian embroidery piece:

The other one, not finished for over a year more, was Cross'n'Patch's 'Sunshine and Flowers' sampler:

The next piece entered, and the most recent to be finished was my peacock feather, which you will remember from the WIPW post just last week.  It took me a long time to convince myself to finish that one, but I did work on it in two or three bursts of activity.  Reporting back to WIPW was a great help in getting both that and the other four pieces complete.

What about the final two?  Well, one is the Tudor Lady that I showcased just a couple of weeks ago and that is currently on my desk in the middle of being stretched pre-framing.  You'll see that again soon when I show my little collection for the Fayre just before the event itself.  I wasn't ever really struggling with this piece, I just decided to post an update most Wednesdays and stay in the WIPW 'group.'

The other piece was entered in two finishing challenges, WIPW and also Anna Scott's 'Finished in February' which she did last year, and was a stumpwork bunny rabbit adapted slightly from the design in 'The A-Z of Stumpwork' from Country Bumpkin (now known as Create in Stitch).

So, altogether, five pieces in various styles.  Having the semi-commitment of reporting progress each Wednesday (and, frankly, wanting to have something to post about at all at times!), has really helped and, if you're having trouble motivating yourself to finish one or more projects and would love to be able to blog/post to on-line albums etc about some stitching victories, then you just might find WIPW helpful.  Hop over to Pintangle and find out more!

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 13 August 2014, plus a WIPW review!

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 23 July 2014

Today's Work in Progress Wednesday is a complete misnomer, as I'VE FINISHED!   Here she is, complete with all her trims and fancies.  Actually, there are two stitches missing.  Can you spot where they are??

I did have several shots etc to show last week hoping to post them in the evening, but last Wednesday turned out to be crazy and I didn't get home 'til about 11pm and then went to bed!  However, I think today's collection of pix should make up for the wait.=)

Working from top to bottom now, here are some detailed shots.  As you can see from the lower ones, I changed the skirt beading from the pattern's gold one, to shades that followed the colour changes on the over-skirt.  The reason for this is simply that, on some of the trinket pieces, the gold simply didn't show up very well against the yellow stitches, so I felt that yet more gold beading would detract even further from the jewels and so needed to tone that down a little.

This piece was worked mostly in Anchor stranded cotton, with some parts in Anchor Marlitt, Coats Reflecta and the long, loose chains in Kreinik fine braid.  Beads all from Mill Hill, seeds and small bugles.

So, next week will see WIPW featuring progress on the peacock feather and I've already got the threads and fabric out for a bright scatter cushion cover in cross stitch for later on.  I've actually got several projects planned over the next couple of months (a few cards needed for a start), so there should be a decent amount of variety to look forward to, from cross stitch and blackwork, through freestyle/thread painting to stumpwork.

You can see what the rest of the WIPW-ers have been up to over on Pintangle.  Do take a look as there are some great projects being worked!

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 23 July 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 9 July 2014

Hi!  It's Work in Progress Wednesday's update time again and I've been adding a few more details and trimmings on my Tudor Lady since last week.  As you can see above, the first job was the rich purple of the ornaments and the photo is at this angle to show the different textures and 'heights' so far.  The purple was to be stitched in the whole six strands of cotton!

The next photo shows the top half almost completed.  I just need to make a final decision on the bead colours for the shoulder trims and the sleeve ones.  I don't think I'm going to do those in gold after all and I have a blue shade in mind.  Having said that, I don't own a great number of blue beads, so I may use a white or cream shade instead.  I haven't actually got around to investigating the bead box just yet.=)

It's been a while since I posted a photo of the whole piece, (I think), so here's how the whole thing is looking just now.  Thanks to Mary Corbet's 'ad' yesterday afternoon, I have at least 60 new subscribers (on the four services I can keep track of numbers on, that is), so this may help to orientate new readers.  Welcome to each and all of you.  I hope you'll enjoy my blog for years to come.  Feel free to comment and introduce yourselves.

On the subject of e-mail subscriptions:  When you type your address into the box, then complete the CAPTCHA code, you're then sent an e-mail to verify your address.  According to my list stats, over 60 subscribers haven't yet done this and aren't considered subbed!  I don't know if you actually get the e-mails (I'm about to find out as I've subbed myself and not yet verified), but it would be a shame not to when you've expressed an interest.=)

Plans for the rest of the month are:
* Finish the wedding ring cushion.
* Finish this Tudor Lady piece.
When those two are complete, then:
* Do the blackwork pottery sample for the Needlequest.
* Complete, or at least substantially progress, the feather.
* Make up the Hanako scatter cushion (and do my trouser alterations) whilst I have the machine out for making up the ring cushion.

If all goes according to plan (oh look!  There goes another flying pig!!!), then this should be a productive month and see my decks completely cleared.  Now that would be something, wouldn't it?  Stay tuned and see if I achieve it all!

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 9 July 2014

0 Not exactly Needlequest....

 

...because I'm sorry, but not in the least surprised, to say that I haven't done a stitch on my feather yet!  To be honest, I fully expected not to do any of it, although I did/do intend to try.  Actually, I haven't been able to get to any stitching of late. I have done some related things though.

When Sir got home today, he found this waiting in his room.  This is a piece that I finished almost 9 years ago and is featured WIP in the first extant post on this blog!  (I say 'extant' as the very first post has long since been deleted.)  I finished and posted a photo back in early September 2005.  That post tells me it was WIP for just shy of 2½ years!  (You can also see how awful my blog was in those days....)

That's nothing when you know that it had been waiting to be framed ever since then and was just completed this afternoon!  So, it's nothing to do with the Needlequest (leave any NQ links you have on this post anyway, do!), but it is the completion of a long-term project and one more item to cross off my current goal list.=)

He's already hung it on his room wall (where it screams at the magnolia painted wall.  Sigh!).

The other stitching related thing I've done is to put in an order from Sew and So, which is on its way, will necessitate a thread storage overhaul (planned for tomorrow) and which I'll post about later in the week.=)

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Not exactly Needlequest....

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 28 May 2014

I've been filling in many of the 'gaps' on the skirt section over the past few days and here are the results, showing one element at a time.

Here's a shot across the work showing the texture more clearly.  This was one very rich brocade that was being represented here!

She looks like this at the moment all together.  Not too much further to go now and I've decided to go with the gold beads I already own for the dress trims and then source some matching 'sets' for the dangling jewel parts.  Not only do I want to get on with it, but I think that will work well and there's nothing wrong with having them very slightly different, esp. as that will make it more clear that the skirts and trims are separate parts.

You'll be able to see the other participants' Work in Progress Wednesday posting over on Pintangle.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 28 May 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - on Thursday 22 May 2014!!

Yup, I'm late with my WIPW update again today.  However, there's a good reason this time.  I took this first photo a couple of days ago after having done some more on the right hand section of the shawl, but then Sir borrowed my camera on Monday for his research trip and only got back after dark last night (Wednesday).  He needed a reliable camera and his both drains batteries at an unacceptable speed for someone who needed to take a lot of shots and the on switch is dodgy.  I tried to use it myself to get this second shot yesterday, but I couldn't persuade it to work at all, so I gave it up as a bad job and decided to wait until this morning instead.=)  I too need a reliable camera...  As you can see, I added in quite a bit more since the previous photo stage and I really wanted to share that progress, so that's the why of being late this week!

As you can see, I've now totally finished the shawl and also added in the rear, veil-like section of the headdress, so that means the cross stitch is complete.

What's left now is the beading, the filling in of the skirt and jewel gaps with satin stitch and the petit point for the skin areas.  I deliberately worked around the face and neck in a certain way so as to make the petit point work well, but I now can't remember how, so I need to do a few trials on a scrap of 14ct Aida or something like that.  I also need to trial the number of strands as I'm really not sure.  Ah, no, I can't use Aida - you can't work petit point on Aida, (pity, 'cos I've a few scrap ends that would have been perfect otherwise).  Right, so an off-cut of some type of evenweave then.  So, that's to do soon.

I'll be glad to get this piece finished very soon as I'm ready to move on now and, when I do my occasional blog reviews (that is, I look at my blog as if I were a new reader to see how it looks and so on), I'm tired of seeing more or less the same photo all the time!!!  So, time to move this forward ASAP and get something new going, methinks.  That's why I got quite a bit done.  That and that I did stitch in bed again.  In case that sounds odd, I have to go to bed about 8.30pm, so it's not late.  I can't sleep straight away, but am more rested reading or stitching in bed than I would be sitting up etc.  So, I sometimes do some counted thread work - the light isn't good enough for freestyle.

So, that's my progress for the last week.  If you want to see how others in the current Work in Progress Wednesdays cohort are getting along, hop on over to Pintangle!

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - on Thursday 22 May 2014!!

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 14 May 2014

Here she is, with one part of her shawl complete. Looks a lot better on that side, doesn't she?=)  For some reason, she looks warmer!!

I haven't got a lot done this past week, but at least some progress has been made.  I hope I can complete the shawl at least before the next update as part of Sharon B's Work in Progress Wednesdays group.  The unworked side is somewhat larger than the worked side, so we'll have to see....  This piece isn't moving as fast as it did in the earlier stages as I haven't been working on it in bed for a while!!!

Here's the full piece at the moment as well.  I'm glad I chose to change the shawl colour from the original fur shades to this deep, pinkish red as it really adds more warmth and colour balance to the piece, I think.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 14 May 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 7 May 2014

Here's my Work in Progress Wednesday report and the latest on my cross stitch piece.  I've now finished all the Marlitt cross stitch on both the sleeves and the headdress - that layer of gold coloured stitches is rayon.  I still need that shade for some of the satin stitch squares filling in the gaps in the yellow skirt section.

Next job is to get back to the shawl, which I'm not looking forward to - probably as I found it rather hard the first time.  It should be a smoother process now that the green sleeve sections are done and I don't have to work around a gap.  I just need to get on with it and see it working out OK!!

I hope this month to complete the shawl and also to insert the face and hands.  That will be a challenge as some of the abutting fractional stitches may not allow for the petit point stitches to fit in smoothly.  So, there may be some alterations to make there.  We shall see soon enough...

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 7 May 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 30 April 2014

Here we are again for the Wednesday update and whilst the lightening is flashing and the thunder is rumbling around and sounding like something rolling across the roof at times (good thing I don't mind storms too much, huh?), I can show you my latest WIP photos for my Tudor Lady piece.

After the last update, I got the final row of gold crosses put in on the skirt stripes and then moved on to filling in those on the under skirt design.  I filled them all in except for a couple near the hanging pendant gap, which I wasn't sure about (and, to confess, I was doing this easy bit sitting up in bed without the chart....), and then I discovered that I actually had two pairs of yellow stitches missing!  The arrow marks the spot.  So, I need to get that shade back out and do some filling in!!

Once that bit was done (bar the missing bits), I moved on to the green sleeve sections and have completed one and a half of them.  Getting there, bit by slow bit.
  

This Work in Progress Wednesday posting is part of the weekly check-in event on Pintangle.  Feel free to join in!

PS: I've almost completed the first butterfly on my other piece.  I'm doing it really quite badly - nothing like well enough to make a gift or a card of, so I'll be mounting the finished piece as a little decoration for my own study wall.=)  Anyway, just thought some readers might like to know that I'm getting on with it now....  I've been doing a little on each project for most of the last few days.  Is life normalising?  Well, it's crazy enough to be normal, I suppose!!LOL!

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 30 April 2014

0 Work in Progress Wednesday - 23 April 2014

It Wednesday again and time for a Tudor Lady update as part of the Pintangle Work in Progress Wednesdays weigh in.

As you can see here, I've finished the green stripes on the skirt and was thankful to lay aside the Marlitt for the time being.  Having said that, I did get a bit more used to it and found it less bothersome as time went by.  Still, the concensus seems to be that Marlitt is an acquired taste that many readers have not acquired, nor wish to!!!

I thought I'd complete the cross stitches on the skirt area whilst I was working down there, so I've done seven of the eight rows of gold crosses.  These are being worked with Coats Reflecta, which is somewhat like regular Kreinik braids, only rather thinner.  It's not too slippery, so isn't too much more difficult to use than stranded cotton.=)

Here is the whole piece as she stands right now:

This is a photo for fun.  I thought I'd share my work table!  As you can see, it's just a folding occasional table (£5 from Morrisons a few years ago, lots of people seem to have them) on which I've put my two current projects.  The materials for the Lady are on the classy orange tray you can see (the grey cord thing is my camera cable) and the other project, as yet unstarted, is at the back.

Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2014

Detail: Work in Progress Wednesday - 23 April 2014