When last I posted, I was stalled on JP’s Orchid and Bamboo canvas. That’s an understatement. I was up against 2 brick walls. Nothing was working for the orange or green areas of the Orchid.
The Silk Lamé Braid for 13 count was way too heavy so I switched threads to a reddish orange, orange, and light orange Impressions using a packed stem stitch. It follows the colors of the canvas nicely. I did skip adding the little green spots that were painted on two of the petals. It took quite some time to finish all 5 petals and got kind of boring packing stem stitches in such a large area but I am very happy.
The center green areas of the orchid really appealed to me. Silk was too flat compared to the surrounding orange petals. I couldn’t get shading with Neon Rays although the padding which Cynthia Thomas had suggested would have been good. Otherwise, I really liked her stitch guide. An overdyed thread had been suggested (thanks Patrick) but then I couldn’t find a stitch to create the shading. Eventually, I opened up Judith Baker Montano’s Elegant Stitches right to the Flat Stitch which is “wonderful for filling in leaves and petals”. It was meant to be. I decided to cut up Watercolours (211 Cucumber) into dark and light shades and alternate them from side to side. For a very little padding, I added a perpendicular stitch on the dark side first. The Flat stitch solved my problem.
I filled the center with beads and was done! What a relief to be done.
Hopefully, with Linda’s help, I will find fabric for the finisher and enough to make both pillows. She knows fabric and the area fabric stores.
At least for a day or two, they (the companion piece is Bird of Paradise with Bamboo) will sit on the living room couch like this! I want to enjoy these now. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
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Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
These are beautiful
Comment by stitchlady November 24, 2022 @ 10:46 amThanks so much!
Comment by melitastitches4fun November 24, 2022 @ 10:53 amMrlita-Both r looking great-most certainly a relief to have them done
Comment by Jan D November 24, 2022 @ 3:35 pmLike a weight being lifted off me! Thanks 😊
Comment by melitastitches4fun November 24, 2022 @ 3:41 pmI love the pair. Both worth the effort you put in to get them to look just right. I hope we all get to see the finished pillows too. A great feeling to have something that size finished.
Comment by lpleyer November 24, 2022 @ 7:16 pmHappy Thanksgiving.
Thanks. It’ll be awhile before they can get “finished” but then I will share again!
Comment by melitastitches4fun November 24, 2022 @ 7:22 pmLooks wonderful! Never would have thought of filling in the petals with stem stitch. Worked very well. Looking forward to seeing how both projects look finished as pillows.
Comment by brendasneedlepointstudioblog November 26, 2022 @ 8:47 am