It's finished!

I have just finished this cross stitch piece. I'm ashamed to say i've been working on it at least 7 years, maybe longer.

You'll have to excuse the state of the fabric as I have just taken it off the frame and in my excitement at having finished it wanted to get it shown right away. It needs pulling into shape and framing before it is truly finished but the stitching work is complete.

It is quite large at 16 x 11 inches.
These are close-ups of a few of my favourite squares.

I just love the shading on this copper kettle.

It wasn't until I looked at it through the lens that I could see the pepper in this pot of vegetables.

I need to get it stretched into shape now and look for a mount and frame for it.

In the past all of my cross stitch pieces have been done as gifts for other people but I think this one will be staying with me.
I have several other pieces stashed away unfinished so maybe i'll get round to some of them now.

Crafter's Companion challenge #2

This week on the Crafter's Companion challenge blog we have been given this sketch and asked to make a card with a child/teenager/young person in mind.

My card is for my Nephew's 5th birthday next month and uses 2 background papers from the Cute Companions cd. The stars and checks are both printed onto pale blue card to give extra intensity to the colours. They are layered up with silver mirror board and have peel-offs added for the greeting, name, number and stars at the base of the card.