SYOA - Chapter 5 - Potion Bottles - Update #1

I have been working on the potion bottles.  It is taking me forever to get them the way I like them. I’m backstitching as I go, but not sure if I like the outline colour.  I tried DMC 762, but I couldn’t see the lines very well, so I frogged all the backstitching.  This is them now with DMC 168 (it is a darker grey), not sure if I like it either. Still can’t see the shapes very well. I was hoping to get away from using black/3371 like I have in all of the other chapters.  Also not sure if I should fill in the empty space at the tops of each bottle with a light grey (762 or 168), then I can outline the bottle with a darker grey or black etc.  Let me know what you think.  I don’t mind frogging to make it perfect.

The whole project.

I spend yesterday colouring, it was so relaxing.  This is the page I coloured because it is now cold and the leaves are all starting to change colours.

Publisher:  Creative Haven 

Book:  Autumn Scenes

Artist:  Teresa Goodridge

Supplies:  Prismacolor Pencil Crayons

SYOA - Chapter 5 - potion bottles

I finished stitching the cauldron, floating hearts and the bubbling poition.  I started the potion bottles on the shelves.  I plan on using solid colours for the liquid in the bottles.  I liked the fluorescent yellow and green so far.  I did start backstitching the bottles in DMC 762, but not sure if it shows up enough. I am using 746 (cream colour) for all of the labels.

SYOA - Chapter 5 - cauldron - update #1

I continued working on the cauldron, but didn’t finish it because I got sidetracked with the pink swirls floating above.  It takes me longer to stitch the pink because I am blending 1 strand of metallic with 1 regular strand of DMC floss.  This is all of my progress from the weekend.  I didn’t stitch at all yesterday. I’m just getting ready to stitch today.and thought I should show some photos.

Here is a photo of the whole thing.  

Now that we only have 1 more chapter, I have been trying to decide on the top and bottom of the project.  I’m designing copies of the 7 books based on the Canadian versions (like the image below).  These are the same Hardcover books I have in my own collection.  I love all of the bright colours on the covers. These will be centred across the bottom under my wand (which I haven’t stitched yet.  I will show am image once I have finalized the designs for top and bottom.  It definitely won’t be finished by the end of the year with all of the extra things I am adding, but I’m looking forward to seeing it finished sometime in 2021.

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SYOA - Chapter 5 - floating hearts

I stitched the floating hearts on Thursday night. This is my starting point for this weekend. I will continue filling in the grey for the cauldron. Then stitch some more pink swirls or finish the light pink drips of potion coming out of the cauldron.

SYOA - Chapter 5 - Design Layout

 Here is my progress after last night.  I filled in the bubbling potions in the cauldron and started on the smoke rising.  I finished the outline of the shelf on the right and almost done with the one on the left.

For anyone who is interested in seeing the 2 original choices here they are, but I had to blur the images because the designer wants us to.  All of the patterns are free and he would like the traffic to go to his website http://cunningcrossstitch.blogspot.com/p/syoa-letters-from-hogwarts.html .

This is the Slughorn's Club background.

This is the potion's classroom.

Here is my layout reworked and modified. I had to blur mine too because I'm using the chapter frame, cauldron and hearts from Stewart's designs.

SYOA - Chapter 5 - Cauldron

I started stitching the cauldron last Thursday night, but didn’t post a photo because my husband was on holidays last week and we were busy doing things around the house.

Here is the progress from Thursday night.

I worked on the cauldron, here is the progress I made over the weekend.

My youngest son Jordyn and my daughter-in-law Sarah came over yesterday for a short visit. I asked them to help me decide on the floss colours for the bubbling potion, smoke rising and hearts floating above the cauldron.  We chose all DMC floss in different shades of pink. Bubbles in the cauldron and the centre of the smoke rising will be the new variegated 4180.  The sparkly metallic floss E818 will be used for the drips on the outside of cauldron, the bubbles inside and magic sparkles in the air.  Floating hearts will be a blend of E3685/normal 3685.  Jordyn thought the pinks in this chapter will balance well with the pinks in the teacup for Chapter 3.  I started stitching the potions last night, here is my progress so far.

SYOA - Chapter 5 - parchment edge

Chapter 5 is all about Potions Class, Slughorn’s Club and Amortentia potion smells.

There were 2 background choices, both included a cauldron full of a love potion called Amortentia..  The choices will be the room where Slughorn’s Club meets or Potions Class. I didn’t like the background for Slughorn’s Club, so I chose the Potions Classroom.  The cauldron has hearts floating above it and you choose 3 smells that you like.  I’m keeping the cauldron and hearts, but I’m leaving out the smells.  I am keeping the potion shelves, but I created my own potion bottles (back stitched bottles).  I created bubbling potions inside and steam flying out of the cauldron.

Here is my progress from today.  I started with the parchment edges at the bottom under the cauldron.

Peppermint Purple (Green) - week34

I finally got around to doing week 34.  I didn’t stitch it like the original pattern was charted.  I only did the main part of the motif because I wanted to have more space along the edges of the block, so it doesn’t look too busy.