Just in time finish

Last night I put the finishing touches on the finishing for my niece's stitched gift.  Do you ever know instantly how you're going to finish a piece as you start stitching it?  That was how it went for me with this piece.  I had a picture of what I wanted the finished piece to look like in my head almost immediately and I'm happy to say, it came out perfectly.

When I started this piece, I wasn't jazzed about the DMC colors called for but as it got closer to being fully stitched, I was very happy with how it turned out.  I think stitching it over one was the key to making me fall in love with it.  I love the little owl!

I took a series of photos to show the finishing stages:

Gathering the materials

Ready for trimming

Ready to make cording - 3 colors!

Boarder trim complete

Cording close up.  The three DMC colors were used in the project and I'm really happy with how the colors blended in the cording.

With the hanger attached

 

I debated whether or not to sew or glue on the cording and decided to go with glue. Usually glue + me = disaster but this time, I took the finishing in stages to minimize accidents and my own frustration and everything turned out happy.  I hope my niece likes it!

That is my last handmade gift so I can turn my thoughts to 2015 projects and boy, do I have a lot in mind!