Bead stash, new starts, and an almost finished!

I've been busy! First off, I've been working like crazy to finish a 2008 SAL by Ellen Maurer-Stroh called The Rose Sampler. I'm on page 11 of 12. Almost done!














Sorry about the not so good pictures. I'm going to try to get this finished this week!
And I've started 2 new projects. One is the cover project from the September issue of The Gift of Stitching, by Chatelaine Designs. I've been wanting to do one of her mandalas, but wasn't sure which one I wanted. This one is perfect and not as big! Of course, it's got roses :-)














The gate is done with midnight blue and gold petite treasure braid by Rainbow Gallery and backstitched with DMC 310. The pic doesn't capture the sparkle at all.

This design uses silks, metallics, beads, crystals, specialty stitches, and pulled work. And I'm doing it on white Belfast linen.


I don't have any of the beads or crystals yet, but I have all the rest. This is SO much fun to stitch! I've only done a couple of her freebie biscornu designs, but I love this! And I want to do more!




I also started a small piece. Woodland Sampling by Little House Needleworks. I'm doing it on 32 count lambswool linen with DMC. So far, it's a fun stitch.














I ordered some fire polish beads, glass pearls, and wire guardians in August and they finally arrived a few days ago.














The pearls are pastel colored. The fire polish beads are 4mm and I got topaz, jet, ruby, cobalt blue, crystal ab, light pink, amethyst, champagne, lilac, purple gold, emerald, vitrail, copper, and peridot. I plan on making some more of the beaded hearts with these. And the wire guardians are in silver and gold plate.
I also bought these filligrees a while back at Hobby Lobby. They are antique gold finish.

I may use these for brooches - wire or sew on some beaded flowers and glue pin backs on. There are 4 of each shape. I may have to go back and get some more!






Only 4 more sleepies! I am leaving Thursday for a stitching retreat with the Hoosier Stitchers group I belong to. Can't wait! I am SO looking forward to this! Stitching, sleeping, eating, stitching, eating, and stitching!

That's all for now!