tying up loose ends

i think "is it a bird" is finished - i stitched the eye, inspired by a cormorant's eye seen on a programme about he galapagos islands, the turquoise colour was so startling and the  black and white ring around the outside really grabbed my attention - i knew i would use it one day

the 'collar' show up well on this shot too - i think it must be a ring necked firewing     

here it is with no eye,  

i'm not sure about the beak/mouth - it might need a bit more deffinition .....hmmm

















meanwhile i also got my chairman's challenge square finished , but it needs stretching as it's a bit wonky due to the dense stitching

viewed from a distance it is quite stained-glass-like, even if i say so myself and the hands and hearts stand out well - and i used stitches we practised at a recent meeting as well as the 'hilary hollingworth weave'