Whew!!

Very, very difficult to get the pictures I really wanted for this one.  Big -  humongous Happy Dance time!

The Reindeer Quilt Is Done!!  WooHoo!! A few shots...and yes, some of them are a little bit weird angles.....there are still a few crystals I want to attach, but they probably would not show in any of the photos any way.

Mind you, this quilt takes up the entire top of my kitchen table!



Above you can see the connecting ribbons and crystals I attached to each reindeer.

You can see one of the reindeer names that I quilted into the border on this one.   And ...my little verse for Rudolph.

I must say - cross stitching and quilting were not the easiest thing to combine...but overall, I am pretty happy with the end result.

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Empty

Funny word to start, isn't it? On my reindeer quilt I have two "empty" boxes. These were created by trying to make everything fit together with all the different size reindeer and the sleigh. There is one next to Rundolph and one at the upper left. I decided to add a few words in those boxes. Here are the ones next to Rudolph.

Lots of backstitching, but I like it. I was originally going to use a reddish thread, but thought that there was so much going on already in this quilt to make it a bit more simple and (not quite) blend in with the overall quilt. (I did try to erase the pencil lines with a fabric eraser....looks like I have to try a bit harder!)


**Just a note - If you want to leave an "anonymous" post....at least have the courtesy to sign your name. If not, I will probably delete it. I really do not want to have to resort to restricting who gets to comment. Thank you.**

Glimpses

I have been working on my reindeer quilt. I thought it would be a lot more difficult than it has been (so far...knock on wood...don't want to jinx things now!)....That linen color (twilight blue) is a sort of gray blue...there's no green in it and it is not a true blue....finding something to match was not going to happen. So, I decided to try and focus on "similar" colors instead. The bottom is a bit darker, with the middle getting a bit lighter and some bits of "snow." After that it lightens just a bit, but becomes dark, once again. The red border actually looks great! I thought at first I must be crazy for even considering red. But I found just the shade of fabric in my stash. Now the only problem is the final outer border. I think I am going to strip piece some of the fabrics that I have already used for that one. But here are a few peeks at it so far....remember, most of it was done without a pattern, just a concept in my head.The bottom darker fabric has sort of an "aurora borealis" look to it...

**(edited for Missy Ann) Ok...I have finally picked myself up off the floor from laughing (at myself, mind you). I knew someone was going to ask me about a "pattern". Unfortunately, "by the seat of my pants" was literally how I did this one. Lined up the reindeer...put a border on the top...tried to line them up evenly...you get the idea, here. But there were a few measurements...basically the strips of fabric...cut into two inch strips out of the sections of McKenna Ryan's fabrics that I thought would work. I really only used two different fabrics for the blues. There are actual "sections" in her fabrics that allow you to sort of pick and choose which part you want to use. The outer borders were five inch strips...and the red one..another two inch strip. That's pretty much as exact as it got. I trimmed and cut until I could get everything to sort of fit. Now remember, too, I did not stitch the borders on my reindeer. Sorry for the rambling...but it was pretty much how it happened. Cut the fabrics, stretch them out with the blocks on the back of my sofa. If I liked it, I sewed it. It just sort of all fell into place by itself. I also know that I will probably never be able to do this again...although I am kind of hoping for my Nora Corbett Letter Fairies....I have had the fabric for that one since my older son was in his last year of college (going on two years now) ;o)

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

Are you singing it??? Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw it...(which you can see here)....you would even say it glows. (I ran out of DMC 839, so there are just a few little stitches missing until I get another skein.)

Yep, the last one....all nine reindeer are done! Woohoo! Now Santa is another story....

The sleigh and the reindeer are ready....now what to do with them, what to do? I was planning on combining everyone into one quilt....Just have to figure out how I want that quilt to look first!

At least Rudolph is ready to lead the sleigh for this Christmas in all his sparkling splendor.

Rudolph & Madeline

Two new starts...Rudolph...the last of the reindeer and Madeline, my Letter M Fairy. I love Nora's version of Rudolph. Not too much different than the other reindeer really. But -- I do like how she did his red nose, subtle and nice, but still Rudolph! (the background within the gold gets filled in with some white and beads).

Do you like to start at the top? I do...and it's usually because I like to see the heads rather quickly. In the Mirabilia's the heads have so much going on - lots of color changes for hair, crystals, beads and braids. The reindeer does have a bit of bling, but not so much on the actual head. The little fairies, however, usually have a lot of little beads surrounding the head. What's my point? I guess I like to see the sparkle right away, since I tend to attach the beads as I go, if at all possible.

Bling!

....Athough it is a bit wrinkled (sorry), here is an update on my Mirabilia Sleigh. I'd say it's about 2/3 done at this point.



Working on the Sleigh may see like it came out of nowhere...but I have an ulterior motive....it's still related to quilting! I had planned on making a quilt out of my reindeer, my Winter White Santa and the Sleigh. Original plan - maybe for this Christmas....at the rate I am going, it might happen by next Christmas! :)

But that won't stop me from looking at fabrics, you think? ;)

The Sleigh

The front of my sleigh is done! Lots of sparklies and beads that just do not shine as prettily in the pictures as they do in person:

Sparklies

Some of the pretty beads on my sleigh:



and a little close-up:

It is a sleigh....

I think it is finally starting to look like the front of the sleigh. Those ribbons take a bit longer than you might think....lots of color changes going on.

The Sleigh....and (long time no see)...

Oriental Harem Garden.

MyWIP on the Sleigh still does not look like a sleigh, yet. Maybe after today, when I will start to work on the scroll portions of the front of the sleigh.



Oriental Harem Garden saw a little bit of sunlight yesterday. I worked on one of the corners which has a lantern and fountain.

The Sleigh

Really - that's what it is! I know it looks a bit strange right now. I wanted to get all the parts at the points where the chart goes onto the next page done. Now I don't have to keep flipping between my charts to see what I am stitching next (and I don't have to cut and paste my working copies all together).

>

What in the World...

is this?



A new start...yep, another one. But it was just too pretty to resist once I saw the photo up close and personal and the braids and the beads....well, you know how that goes.

This is my very small start on "The Sleigh" by Nora Corbett. This is for all my eight reindeer that I have stitched so far. And Rudolph is absolutely wonderful. This sleigh is actually a lot bigger than I thought.

Long Time -

with no real stitching posts! I think this is the longest I have gone without any stitching updates. I have been stitching, but with so little progress to show on anything, that it was not worth posting any pictures. But - today I finally finished my last reindeer - Comet - boy, does this little guy have a lot of beads! Look at all his snowflakes!



Rumor has it that there is to be a Rudolph to go along with the rest of the flying crew! And that there also might be a sleigh in the works, too! If the sleigh is anywhere near as sparkly as these reindeer have been - it should be gorgeous!

Comet

Well, with all the sorting and cleaning going on, I have not stitched that much lately. I did work on Comet for a little while last night:



Thanks to everyone for stopping by and visiting! I always enjoy reading all your comments!:)

Gonna try...

and post a few pictures. I haven't worked on very much stitching this week, since I have been cleaning and reorganizing the entire basement. My goal was to eventually get to my ...hmmm...how shall I say it....humongous pile of stash and get it organized. The basement itself is now done and I have begun the project of working on organizing my stash. I have all the drawers, bins and containers...now I just need to sort everything....

Anyway, here's the little bits of stitching I did manage:

Comet (Nora Corbett)

and a very small start on the newest Alphabet Fairy- G:

VIXEN

These reindeer by Nora Corbett are just too pretty and bright when finished. Vixen is finished for now (no border). One more of the original eight reindeer to go!

Vixen

Vixen has such pretty antlers!
I am going to work on the greens/wreath around Vixen's neck tonight. After that, the snow around the feet and the rest of the beads.

Vixen

I know...I know...another start. But I am trying to get all eight reindeer finished, and, they are pretty quick to stitch. Anyway...all uh, hmm...all "justifications" aside....here's my start on Vixen.



A bow and a wreath are all the adornments for this one. Usually once that portion is done, the reindeer itself is pretty quick. So - onto the wreath around Vixen's neck!

* * PRANCER * *

In all his sparkling glory! Just finished up the last little bits of snow under his feet. :)

Thanks to all for stopping by!

A little "behind"

:)) Prancer's. (Not what you thought, eh?)


I finished up the two missing colors on the stocking as well as Prancer's back end, tail and a start on the greeenery.