Chinese Garden Mandala FRAMED!

[meerkat]

I absolutely love these mandalas and this is looking lovely already

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Thanks for all your comments guys - it is really great that we have this forum to share our love of cross stitch and the excitement of stitching something new which only fellow stitchers can really appreciate! Well I had to wait in for an engineer to come and look at my washing machine - so I sat and did the speciality stitches for part 1 - I told you this was addictive!:

Now for the backstitch - can't remember the last time I actually backstitched a design! Part 2 looks quick - however it is made up mostly of the stitch I have been dreading - The Jessica!!!

[rcperryls]

WOW. Better with each update. This is lovely. I can't wait to see part 2. I don't know what a Jessica stitch is, but i bet it will be beautiful.

Carole

[nachosmiley]

LOL!! Sorry to laugh but my little tyke is called Jessica....I'm gonna have to go off and look up the stitch that is her namesake, she'll love that!!

Loving how this is coming along I especially like the foliage at the front of the palace and the little stitches in the clouds that are so sweet yet so subtley make them look 3d <sigh>

[mechie]

Wow! Very pretty!

mechie

[Ryukai]

This one looks lovely already! I can't wait to see it grow!

[koko]

Oh wow, great update! The specialty stitches look fantastic and really give it that extra oomph! These designs are so intricate, I just love them!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Looking lovely, I like the different textures of the stitches.

Uhm, what's a Jessica ?

Edited:
found a great description here -- looks fun!

[Rose]

Wow that has made it look quite different. Very nice!!!!!!

[Lessa54]

Wow, it looks lovely. I've put any of the mandala designs from Chatelaine on my Christmas list and now keeping fingers very crossed that I get one from Santa seeing your one develop.

[Wandatoo]

I had a look at the large photo - really shows how lovely this is. How big is the entire design -- and can we see it somewhere?

EDIT Found it on the Chatelaine website! It's stunning! As are all the other mandalas . . .
Goes off to remind self I do NOT need more stash . . . .

[Parksfarm]

It looks great Amanda!

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

I hope you're not bored with my updates - I am sure they will calm down at some point! Here is Part 1 of CGM complete except for beads and crystals (all the spaces in the border are for beads and the blank squares in the temple and gaps in the rice field are for crystals):

The details that Martina puts in these designs are what makes them really special - I just don't know how she keeps coming up with them all! Fair to say I will be stitching more of these, probably using the DMC conversion as I have seen so many WIPs that use this and the finished pieces look just as good (if not better when you think of the £££ saved!).

Thank you for your patience with my latest obsession!!

[rcperryls]

never never never bored with your updates. and these are really fantastic. Since I am not likely to do one (don't do beads and crystals etc) I love seeing the progress. The specialty stitches look like lots of fun and you are doing a wonderful job. KEEP THE UPDATES COMING. I clicked on the photo and it takes you to photobucket and you can get a very good picture of the stitches. Lots of fractionals. I used to do a ton, especially on angels and fairies, but am getting out of the habit with HAEDs. You did them very well. You are really making fast progress on this one too. I bet you are studying the website to see which one you want to do next. Isn't there a SAL coming up with them or do I have my websites/designers mixed up?

Carole

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Thanks Carole! The fractionals were a shock to the system after so long stitching full cross designs!!! Martina always has new designs being released via her online classes, the latest being the Butterfly Lace Mandala which I already have in my possession! For that one I will be using the silk threads as charted as I should do at least 1 chatelaine as Martina intended! Thanks to Dana I now love Konstantinople too so that's gone on the list......the Internet and especially this forum are dangerous places!!!

[rcperryls]

Don't I know it. 6 months ago I hadn't heard of HAED and now I have 5 going on and probably 20 in my wish list, the SAL next year and am hoping to also do one of those Papillon
SALs also. So, I'm glad the rest of you love to add beads and doodads to your stitching so I can enjoy watching these develop.

Carole

[meerkat]

This is gorgeous.Lovely stitching

[Parksfarm]

Thanks Carole! The fractionals were a shock to the system after so long stitching full cross designs!!! Martina always has new designs being released via her online classes, the latest being the Butterfly Lace Mandala which I already have in my possession! For that one I will be using the silk threads as charted as I should do at least 1 chatelaine as Martina intended! Thanks to Dana I now love Konstantinople too so that's gone on the list......the Internet and especially this forum are dangerous places!!!

Glad I could help

It really looks great, this one may go on my wish list now!

[Rose]

Beautiful work!!!!!!! And you know we love pictures!!!!!!

[karen4bells]

How beautiful!!! Great update!!