Fiesta Creche by DeDe

 I love Facebook.  If you haven't joined, you need to get on over there and join Needlepoint Nation.  This was a mystery canvas until I posted it for the over 5,000 members to help identify...and guess what?  THE DeDe Ogden identified her own canvas.  It's debut was in 1975 and she says due to the popularity she is bringing it back-refreshed!  I absolutely love this canvas and I am having a great time stitching it.

 The baby Jesus looks very peaceful in his manger...the animals are keeping watch...well, the sheep is sleeping...but I am certain she is aware of His presence.  I love the cactus stitch...I got it out of the Stitch Landscape book by Little Shoppe...great book!

 Joseph looks a bit oriental...but perhaps he is just sleeping standing up...so tired from his travels.

 Close up of the cactus.

 Lots of french knots for the lamb.

Mary.

Melissa Shirley's Wild Bill

 Here is Wild Bill.  I have finished him and he is off to Funda Scully with Calamity Jane for finishing.  He wasn't done here but I loved the stitch for the pink wallpaper border.  I used beads for his six shooter's handle to make it a true pearl handled gun.

 I used this stitch for his coat by the lapels and I added fringe. The stitch is from a fabulous book called Stitch In's and Out's by Little Shoppe Canvas Company, Inc.  I suggest you get this book!!!  So fabulous.

I used the buttonhole stitch for his hair.  Hair always gives me fits!  Here he is finished below.

Melissa Shirley Noah Santa Stocking

 This is my finished Melissa Shirley Noah Santa stocking.  I went with a totally different background stitch than the pictures below.  It's been sent off for finishing and I will post a picture when he returns.

I used this stitch.  It's from a wonderful book that if you do not own, you must get...Stitch Landscape by Little Shoppe Canvas Company, Inc.

 I really like how his beard turned out.  I used Silk and Ivory in various shades for the stitch.