May Stitch from Stash... and a Finish

Hey Blog Buddies,

Mel from Epic Stitching is hosting the Stitch From Stash SAL this year wherein the goal is to keep to a budget of $25/month or less for all your stitching purchases.  I'm happy to report that, for the first time this year, I spent nothing during the month on stitching supplies!  I worked on several WIPs, one of which was Needle Delights Originals' Winter Logs, which is now finished (woo hoo!):

 

 I stitched the optional border in Watercolours Quicksilver.

I knew that I wanted to use a gray for the border,

and this had the subtlest variegation.

Since there's a lot going on in the piece,

I didn't want the border to look too stripey.

Kreinik metallic braid was used in several spots,

including in the backstitching separating the four quadrants,

to give the piece a subtle glimmer.

It's hard to see in a photograph.

Here are some close-ups,

to give you a better idea of the texture of the piece:

And now for something completely different,

I also had a new start from stash.

I've had this little chart kitted up for a couple of years now.

I just love that funky bird!

DH says he's a ham radio bird

because he has what appears to be an antenna on his head.

Here is my start.

I'm using 35-count WDW Straw linen and almost all of the

recommended NPI silks, 1 over 2.

It's quite a shock to the eyeballs going from

18-count canvas to 35-count linen! 

Well, that's it from here.
Hope you all are enjoying your spring
(or autumn, as the case may be).

Thanks for visiting!