Magpie finished (probably!)

 I say it's finished but I keep picking it up and adding a few stitches here a few stitches there. If I'm honest I wonder if it is a bit overworked but then I keep seeing little tweaks I could make. I was feeling quite disappointed with it but then I looked at it from across the room and thought it looked nice so I think maybe the really detailed wing is a bit distracting up close. I was enjoying all those blues whilst stitching and I got a bit carried away.

 The magpies body is a padded slip. My favourite thing is the tree stump- it is couched silk strings and wool and is very tactile!!

 I painted the background with fabric paints. This was an experiment and I will make it lighter next time I do this but I like the overall effect.
I have started something else, an urban threads pattern (I don't often use patterns but Urban Threads has some great ones I couldn't resist). It was nice to not have to plan for a change just choose a pattern... transfer.. go! As you can see I have stitched the outlines and I quite like how it looks left plain but I am going to start filling it in using some muted colours.

I should really be thinking about Christmas crafts but am still at the planning stage- have you started your Christmas crafting yet?

in the hoop

This is what I'm working on right now. It's an embroidered slip for a stumpwork piece. Am loving trying to capture all the colours that gleam on a magpies black feathers.
I've been doing lots of embroidery lately but it's for swaps so I can't show you yet but I can share the gorgeous goodies I received in the Craftster 'anything goes needlework swap' ;

 better photos and more info
here and here!
I was so lucky to get such a great partner for that swap and as a bonus I am getting to swap twice as someone dropped out so I volunteered to be a replacement partner. I'll be posting my swap package this week so can share what I made very soon...

magpie

one for sorrow, two for joy

Magpies are my favourite bird, superstition says that singular magpies are unlucky and should be greeted with a salute and 'good morning Mr Magpie, How's your wife and children?' but I just give them a big grin and they seem happy enough with that. This fella is blackwork and is my own design - there will definitely be more magpies to come.