A Festive New Pattern

 The holiday season is upon us..... are you ready?

I'm not sure I am, but I was able to sneak in a new holiday design that makes me happy every time I look at it.  It's called "WINTER POINSETTIAS" (which is sort of a companion piece to my earlier "SUMMER MAGNOLIAS") and it such a holly jolly piece, I couldn't wait to get it finished and share it with you:

 

 

This piece is 9.5" x 9.5" on 18 ct. canvas and I chose sandstone canvas so the ecru borders would "pop" a bit with the reds and greens and golds.   It's done with mostly #5 pearl cotton threads, with a gold metallic ribbon and a variegated green thread used for the "pine tree" outer border.  There are lots of different types of stitches and borders, and things move pretty fast so you don't get bored.  The stitches aren't at all difficult and really, I enjoyed stitching every part of this piece!

The challenge I set for myself in designing this piece was seeing if I could create a geometric version of a poinsettia flower, and I am truly pleased with the large center flower, shown below in an up-close photo:

 

 

Amidst all those jolly reds and greens and golds, those big poinsettia petals are fun to stitch... and when you're all done you have the fun of adding red and gold beads in the center, so it REALLY looks a lot like the poinsettias we see this time of year.

So if you'd like to work on a festive holiday project that is equally appropriate and totally pleasing for those dark gloomy days AFTER the holidays, here's a fun one for you!  Please put on your skis and ski on over to my website and see the WINTER POINSETTIAS ordering information -- you'll find it on the main page, as well as under the "Secret Garden Collection" page!