A few things finished and un-finished

This morning I thought I'd share some photos of the cross-stitch projects I've either just finished, very nearly finished, and ones that are only part way through.

Firstly, a finished project:

As you can see, this is a chart based on a Renoir painting - it was great fun to stitch.  It just needs ironing and framing now.

Here are a few close-up photos so you can see the little stitches:

 

Next, a project that's very nearly finished - all it needs are some cute buttons sewing on:

Once this is finished and framed, I'll be giving it to a couple of friends as a gift for their 1st Wedding Anniversary.

Next up, a project that's only just been started:

 

You can't make out what it is?  Well, here's a picture of the what the finished article should look like.

 There's no rush for this one - I have until the end of November - this is destined for Violet and will be something for her to get out every Christmas.  It may turn out to be a family heirloom, who knows!

And lastly, one of the most beautiful cross-stitch patterns I have ever seen:

I won't lie to you, this is a very difficult chart - there are a million and one colours (this may be a slight exaggeration) and more often than not you have to mix one strand of a colour with one strand of another colour, and you may only use this new colour you've created for only a few stitches - so it's very time consuming, but as you can see, very rewarding.  Perhaps I'll actually finish it one day!