Second Place, Professional Non-Original with Instructions

I wanted to stitch something different from the needlepoint and Hardanger projects I had been working on, and I happened upon this kit while browsing on Etsy. The designer is Estelle Hivernet, and her shop on Etsy is Fileusedetoiles.
The kit contained a black ground with the design applied in white, and several shades of cotton embroidery floss. I used the threads provided, except on the star. I changed to a Kreinik metallic to bring the star into greater emphasis with a simple shimmer.

Overall, I was drawn to the simplicity of the design. The curved lines in the trees and people as well as the muted shades on black provide a calm, tranquil quality to the viewer’s eye. I intentionally changed the direction of my stem stitch (outline stitch) to keep the lines as smooth as possible. The straight lines on the star also provide focus on the Bethlehem Star within the design.

This piece was a delight to stitch. I had forgotten how enjoyable surface stitching can be, and doing this piece reminded me of the delight experienced in needlework.