Tuesday, February 28, 2017

February 28, 2017

The end of the WIPs is near. I have pulled all of them out of my cabinets. I know there are a few more here and there, but I've basically found them all. It's much better than I feared. I was sure that my WIPs would number into triple digits. I'm sure it has helped that I've been stitching mainly from my stash for the last few years. Today marks the 59th project. I did start two projects during this time so there were only 57 existing WIPs. Only. Kind of a funny word choice.

Today's project is another one I love. It's from one of my all time favorite designers. I love the use of color and stitch selection. It makes this a truly fun Sampler to work on. I should be able to work in a band or two every couple of months. In the next week or two I'll have a final WIP count. Then I can come up with a plan to see some of them finished. So here's today's choice:

O Beautiful 
Shepherd's Bush Printworks
96 x 285
32ct French Vanilla German linen
Kitted flosses


So for today, happy stitching everyone!

Laura:)



Monday, February 27, 2017

February 27, 2017

So, today I'm posting about the second egg project I found as a WIP in my stash. This one is very different from yesterday's project. It's more of a traditional Sampler. It has lovely symbols of Easter time, including bunnies, one of my favorite motifs. It has several specialty stitches so it takes more concentration. I'm sure I'll make it back to this project. I will just have to work on it in small doses. 

The Easter Egg Sampler 
The Drawn Thread
74 wide x 98 long
36ct Antique White Edinburgh linen
Floss as kitted




I'm nearly halfway through this one!

Laura :)

Sunday, February 26, 2017

February 26, 2017

I've come to the end of the Fall WIP projects. It's a little surprising to me that there aren't a few more. Maybe there are some projects hiding somewhere I just haven't gotten to yet. I may stumble upon them later. For now I've moved into a couple of Easter projects. They're both egg samplers. Today's is a bit of a break from my usual. It's on 10 ct Tula. It's an 'easy on the eyes' project. One I could work on when I'm a little tired but still want to stitch. So far I've only stitched a little bit but it's so pretty. I like the elements that will make up this fun project. It would be fun to make this and then finish it into an egg-shaped pillow. So, maybe I'll work on it sooner rather than later. It's calling loudly right now. I'd like to finish Ship of Life before I move on to something else. My only worry is that I'll get tired of working on it and stop stitching all together. Maybe I'll work on SOL for an hour or so and then move on to today's project. 

Uber Egg
Bent Creek 
10ct Tula from Picture This Plus
DMC #5 Perle Cottons substituted


Watch for more updates!

Laura :)

Saturday, February 25, 2017

February 25, 2017

It's the weekend! I worked for a little while today at the second job then came home and took a nap. I'm still feeling pretty weak. I have orientation and training tomorrow. It's an all day event so I'll definitely need my strength. It should be fun seeing everyone again. The start of the season is always exciting, full of energy. I need to capture the feeling and remember it in the heat and stress of the summer. 

I've found another Fall project. It's one of the Loose Feathers series from Blackbird Designs. I really enjoyed their club projects. It made a fun surprise every time a new one came in the mail. I've decided to stitch this one without the verse. The verse is one I like, I just decided I didn't need any words on this project. I have stitched more than half of the project. Once again, I JUST NEED TO FINISH IT!! I think I'll have to have a Fall stitching weekend. I should just pull a bunch of these projects and cycle through them so I make a little progress on each one. 

I've been stitching steadily on Ship of Life. I'm hoping to have a finish on it soon. I love how the water turned out. I've finished the lighthouse and am ready to start the ship. Then I'll have the compass rose and stars & moon. Not too much more to go. 

Moonlit Garden
Blackbird Designs
118w x 85h
linen from R & R Reproductions
WDW floss as charted


Love the checkerboard house. I've not finished filling it in and I need to finish filling in the pumpkin and moon. I'm not quite sure why I've started multiple sections without finishing any of them. Even the star border has a few more to go. Silly me!

Laura :)

Friday, February 24, 2017

February 24, 2017

Happy Friday! I'm home today ~ not feeling well, again. I'm so ready to be through feeling yucky off and on. I have a full, busy weekend so I don't have time for this. Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow. 

I've found another great Fall project. This one is a little more primitive than what I normally choose. I just love the crazy grin on the cat and the fun, fat pumpkins. I bought this in 2012 when it came out and started it right away but set it aside when I didn't finish it in time for Fall display. I wanted to move on to Christmas projects, so it got set aside.  I have such a huge stash of Fall/Halloween projects that I didn't get back to this. I don't think it would take a long time to finish it if I just sat down and worked on it!! Are you all tired of hearing this yet? LOL So, here it is:

Jumping Cat
Dames of the Needle/Finger Work
119w x 117h
28ct Solo Cashel linen from Silkweaver Fabrics
miscellaneous floss from stash


Aren't all the expressions great? I may need to have another stitching marathon weekend soon!

Laura :)

Thursday, February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017

Happy Thursday! It has been a pretty good week. I'm looking forward to a quick work day Friday so I can enjoy the parts of the weekend that I'm not working. I have to work at the second job both Saturday and Sunday this week.  No rest for the wicked and all that. 

Today's project is another Halloween project. It is all stitched in one floss color on a pretty fabric. I don't do a lot of single color projects. I'm just not drawn to them. I need to finish this project because I've already been planning the finishing. I'll have to collect supplies and be ready to finish it as soon as the stitching is completed. 

Hallowe'en Jack Sewing Roll
Stacy Nash Primitive Designs
266 x 96
35 ct Tin Roof linen from R & R Reproductions
Onyx floss from Weeks Dye Works


I already have all that border done. Just loads of lettering to go!

Laura :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

February 22, 2017

I just got home after meeting up with an old friend. It has been years since we've been together and yet we talked like we've always been together. It was so fun to reminisce. Then, she gave me the good news that she and her family may be moving back to the area. That would be spectacular!!

Today's project is another Halloween-ish project. I started working on one color and then just stalled out. I'm sure it just needs to be revisited and the urge to finish it will hit. It's one of those quirky patterns that I enjoy. 

Witchy
The Primitive Needle
82w x 68h
28ct natural linen
floss as charted


Just for fun. When I got home today, I noticed how nice Jeff and I looked together. What do you think?


Happy Stitching!

Laura :)




Tuesday, February 21, 2017

February 21, 2017

I'm still posting WIPs! That's 52 projects I already had started. Well, okay, I started 2 so it's really 50 projects already started and still counting. The good news is, I'm getting close to the end of my stash so my number of WIPs is probably not as high as I had imagined it was. We'll see when I get through all of this. 

So, I'm still in Fall projects. Today's project is one I can't remember why I put down. It's a subject matter I like. It has interesting stitches. I like the fabric. It's all overdyed flosses. For some reason I had put away all the floss. Of course, when I opened the project, I had put away all the floss or pulled it for some other project. So, I just spent a few minutes and tried to find the floss and could only come up with 4 out of 10. ::sigh:: They'll turn up or I'll buy more. Did I mention I stopped stitching in the middle of a pumpkin so there's a good chance I won't match the floss I started with? This WILL be finished this year. I like it that much that I'll guarantee it's completion this year. 

Perfect Pumpkin
Heart in Hand Needleart
154w x 63h
32ct Abecedarian linen from R & R Reproductions
overdyed floss as charted


Cute, right? I've got to get back to this!!

Laura :)

Monday, February 20, 2017

February 20, 2017

Another late post. I have a great reason, though! I've been working on multiple projects all weekend. I worked on 5 for about an hour each. Then, I got to project 6 and just didn't want to stop until I achieved a mini goal. I finally did that tonight a little after 10. Here's my update on Ship Of Life:



I love how the colors play in the water. And the little whale on the left is pretty sweet, too!

So, tonight's project is another Fall/Halloween project. It's odd and quirky. Just what I like! It's on dark fabric and it's small count so it has been slow going but I do pull it out from time to time and work on it a little bit at a time. 

Ichabod Seabury Needful Things
The Primitive Needle
36 ct Swamp linen from Picture This Plus
Floss as charted


I'll have to go back and add in the black floss around the lettering. I've almost finished the lettering. Probably one or two more stitching sessions and I could be finished with it. 

I'm really on a stitching high tonight. It's always great to make progress. 

Have a great week!
Laura :)


Sunday, February 19, 2017

February 19, 2017

Another beautiful day here in Missouri! I'm still fighting the sick bug so I've been inside all day, stitching. I'm spending the weekend with a group of projects putting in about an hour on each one. It's similar to last weekend, but I'm using projects I've blogged about from the first half of the month. Since I eliminated one and another will be stitched by other stitchers, I have 12 projects to work with this weekend. I've stitched on 4 so far. I'm having success with this method. I feel like I get to work on some projects that might not otherwise get any time. I also spend time on projects that frustrate me and at least they get some attention, too. 

My project today came from my sister, Nancy. She originally bought the charts for this mystery sampler and then decided it just wasn't for her. So, she gifted me with them! Of course, I really like the piece. I've completed one of three charts. I absolutely want to stitch the rest of it. It also has really cute companion pieces. I'd like to stitch those at some point also. 

Very Scary
Lizzie Kate
95w x 238h
32ct Wexford linen Solo from Silkweaver
Threads as charted


Adorable, right? Definitely more to come on this one!!

Laura :)

Saturday, February 18, 2017

February 18, 2017

I've found the stash of Fall/Halloween themed projects. Be prepared. I really enjoy stitching for this season so there are a lot of WIPs. Today I found a lovely project designed by Nora Corbett. It's from the Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine from September, 2008. I like this project so much. So did Nancy and Katie so we all three started it with the idea of having a SAL to make sure we all finished it. I don't think any of us did. It's too bad because it's such a cool project and we all chose very different, very gorgeous fabrics. Mine may present a challenge when I come to the pumpkins. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. 

Halloween Fairy
Nora Corbett
122w x 187h
36ct Edinburgh Solo linen from Silkweaver
DMC floss as charted


So, what do you think? Isn't it a gorgeous project? I'll have to pull her out during the next Holiday/Seasonal stitching weekend and make some progress. 

Have a stitchy weekend!

Laura :)

Friday, February 17, 2017

February 17, 2017

Hi all! It's nearly dinner time so I'm just going to cut to the chase. My project today is gorgeous. I love it. It's fabulous!! AND, I got to work with the fabulous Carrie of Carrie's Threads to choose the perfect silk floss for this one. It's a limited edition color and I think it works perfectly with the nice green linen. So, without further ado, here are the details.

Green on Green
Rosewood Manor
300 x 158
Mystery green linen
Limited edition silk floss from Carrie's Threads


Love, love, love this one. It will definitely get stitched!

Laura :)

Thursday, February 16, 2017

February 16, 2017

Another beautiful day here. It's very windy, but warm. We're supposed to have warm temperatures for about the next week. It makes me worry about summer temps, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the break. 

I LOVE today's project. It's one I fully intended to work from beginning to end. I started from the lower right hand corner, which is my preference. I've already added the date. It shows 2013. I don't think I'll change it. Maybe I'll find some way to add the finish year. Either way, I will try to finish this project this year. It's quite a large sampler so it will take some work to ensure a finish. I've converted all the DMC colors to GAST and Carrie's Threads. If you haven't tried Carrie's Threads, you can check her out here:  http://carriesthreads.com/index.html 
She's lovely to work with and has beautiful flosses. I've been very happy with everything I've purchased from her. 

So, here's the project. Hope you all like it as much as I do!

The Celtic Band Sampler
Homespun Samplar
129 x 338
32ct Chalice linen from Picture This Plus
GAST & Carrie's Threads as converted


I also have another little Happy Dance. I've finished Celebrate Life. As I thought, it didn't really take that much time to complete. I also realized that I had stopped simply because I ran out of one floss color. I did eventually replace it, but by then I must've been on to something else. I'm not sure how I'll finish it. This is my 3rd finish of the year. 


I'm not finishing a lot of projects but I am seeing a lot of progress. My WIPs are coming out to play!

Laura :)


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

February 15, 2017

It's a beautiful afternoon here in Missouri. Today is my 10th anniversary with the school district. It's amazing how much things have changed in that time. It made me a little nostalgic. Today's project also invokes nostalgia. I got this chart at a stitch group and it was kitted up by the leader. It's a free pattern and she chose it because she was celebrating a milestone being cancer free. It was such a wonderful, happy time for her. Unfortunately, she did not stay cancer free and left us all too soon. 

This is really just a small project. If I tried, I could probably finish it up tonight. It's probably still hanging around because it's on evenweave. You do all know how much I dislike evenweave, right? UGH! Anyway, I think it will be my evening project for the next few nights until I finish it. 

Celebrate Life
4 My Boys
51h x 49w
mystery evenweave
floss as charted
in honor of Marva Owen
and others lost along the way


Since it's a free chart, I've posted the whole thing. Feel free to stitch this in honor of someone you care about. 

Laura :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

February 14, 2017

Happy Valentines Day! I've had a lovely day. The kiddos at school were fun and bouncing off the walls! It was expected so no problem. Then, Jeff and I went to our nutrition class. There's always so much good information given at the classes. Now, Jeff is fixing dinner and then I'll probably stitch. 

Today's project is one I really love. I chose it for today to fit the theme of the day. I've had the pattern for a long time. My family adopted the orphan fabric for me. Isn't she lovely? I decided she was just perfect for this project. Interestingly enough, the stitch count is incorrect on the pattern. It was listed as 190w x 70h and it's actually 192w x 46h. Thankfully it looked a little odd to me so I counted it before starting. I've substituted Vikki Clayton's Hand Dyed Fibers for the solid silk flosses but have the other flosses as charted. So, here it is!

The Language of Love
The Drawn Thread
192w x 46h
28ct Lauren Cashel from Picture This Plus
HDF substitutes/other flosses as charted


Have a heart. Stitch and relax!

Laura :)

Monday, February 13, 2017

February 13, 2017

Monday, Monday. The start of a new week. I'm working on a different project at work in the morning and I'll have to choose something to work on here at home as well. Yesterday I pulled 8 Seasonal/Holiday projects and worked for an hour on each one. I made a little progress on all of them except the one I've decided not to stitch. It was really enjoyable to put in some stitches on these projects. I'm feeling pretty good about the projects. I'm definitely feeling like I'll get back to each of them and finish them eventually. 

Today's project is from one of the Heartland Stitchers retreat weekends. It's from 2005 when The Workbasket was the designer for camp. I like the idea of the pattern but I didn't get very far and haven't ever gone back to it. Hopefully it will find it's way back into the active pile. 

Heartland Tribute
The Workbasket
165h x 129w
32 ct Examplar linen from Lakeside Linens
GAST floss


Here's to a great week!

Laura :)

Sunday, February 12, 2017

February 12, 2017

I'll start today with an update. I've been stitching today on various seasonal/holiday themed projects. I just put down In A Twinkling that I blogged about yesterday. My fabric was actually 25 ct Floba. I HATE IT!! It's itchy, I don't like the red floss I was using and I was just annoyed the whole time I tried working on it. So, I've decided to stop. I'll officially pull this one out of the WIP pile. I won't restart it until I have some other projects finished, especially since I already have a few Santa projects in the works. 

Speaking of Santa, today's project is another one. I don't have much done on it, though. It's a Teresa Wentzler pattern. I love the look of her designs. I just don't enjoy all the blended stitches. I spent a lot of time setting it up. I bagged all my floss and put the symbol for the color on the bag. I even have bags that have the two blended colors in them and their symbols. I was trying to make it as easy as possible. I still haven't managed to get very far on the project. Maybe I'll pull it out next month during the Seasonal/Holiday SAL weekend and see how it goes. I just know that if I don't enjoy stitching on a project, I don't want to waste my time forcing myself to work on it. I wouldn't enjoy the end product even if I somehow managed to finish it. So, this one needs some thought. Otherwise I may be offering it up as a giveaway. Stay tuned for another update!

Father Winter
Teresa Wentzler
237 x 178
28ct white linen
DMC floss as charted


Back to more stitching!

Laura :)

Saturday, February 11, 2017

February 11, 2017

What a gorgeous day! I went out today with my husband for a little while, tried the new Molten Chocolate Latte at Starbucks (YUM!) then got a call from Nancy asking if I wanted to go hang out with her. We went to the cross stitch shop and chose a frame for a finished project of Nancy's. Lunch at Olive Garden (Yum again!) and then shopping. I bought some new clothes and totally enjoyed myself. It was great to spend some sister time. 

My project today is another old one. It's from the January 1994 issue of For the Love of Cross Stitch magazine. It's also another Santa. I know why I've started all of these Santas. They're each unique and I love them all. Add in a reindeer on this project and a little verse and it's near perfect. I chose a gorgeous overdyed floss and started Santa's coat. Then I stalled and that was it. It got set aside for something else. Another one that needs to be added to the monthly rotation. 

In a Twinkling
Original artwork by Susan Winget
Needlework adaptation by Nancy Dockter
Natural linen
DMC and overdyed flosses 


Hope you all have a great weekend!

Laura :)

February 10, 2017

TGIF!! What a week. I have just been frazzled this week. I've come home most days after school and taken a nap only to wake in a fog and then finally relax for the evening. I think I'm still fighting whatever bugs are floating around the school so my resistance is being sorely tested. 

 I've found a bag of Christmas projects so I may have several Winter/Christmas themed projects for the next few days. I absolutely adore today's project. I wanted this one so badly. My family bought it for me as a birthday gift several years ago. I don't think they understand that if I don't stitch it immediately, it doesn't mean I don't love it. I just keep putting other things in front of it. Then it gets forgotten, at least for a short while. Also, when I have several projects with the same theme or central figure, especially if they're larger projects, I don't want to work on them all at the same time. Santa is the central figure in today's project. I've recently finished Rocky Mountain Christmas, no Santa but lots of stitches in a winter theme. I also finished Santa of the Forest with the help of my round robin group. Definitely Santa and several animals along with filling the whole large project. This one, unfortunately, got pushed to the side. Several years ago, my friend, Debbie, and I decided to stitch this one as a SAL. She was very successful and finished and framed hers. It's gorgeous! When I got to see hers all finished, I was inspired and put a nice chunk into mine but that's as far as it has progressed. Hopefully I'll pull this one out for some quality time this year. 

The Toy Gatherer
Shepherd's Bush
no dimensions given
32ct Ivory Belfast linen
kitted materials


I did have a finish today! We are currently working with only one vehicle so I have been getting to school about an hour and a half early. I've been stitching each morning and I'm seeing progress. I finished Butterflies from the Arts and Crafts folio by Ginger & Spice. I think it came out lovely!


This weekend is for Seasonal/Holiday stitching. I plan to pull out several projects and work on what calls to me. Hope you all have a stitchy weekend as well!

Laura :)


Thursday, February 9, 2017

February 9, 2017

Thursday. One more day to go in the workweek. I think I might survive!

Today's project is an old one. It's very pretty but, for me, it has been tedious nearly every time I've worked on it. I chose 32ct linen and it might be that it's a little tight to work with. It's all beautiful silks and sparkly beads. What's not to love? I'm currently on band 7 of 15. I think I just need to put on my big patience hat and work on this. Maybe it needs to make it into a once a month rotation. Maybe one weekend a month? I do have a weekend in my RMC/BAP SAL Weekend group on Facebook that we use to stitch Holiday or Seasonal projects. I know I have so many choices for that weekend but MAYBE it could at least get a few hours on that one weekend each month. I'm trying really hard to talk myself into it. 

Snowfire Christmas
Just Nan
148h x 83w
32ct Antique white Belfast linen
Silk flosses and beads as charted


I think I need to get stitching! I've nearly finished a project so hopefully I'll finish up and have another project to mark off the list and show you soon!

Laura :)

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

February 8, 2017

Hump Day! Halfway through the work week. Thank goodness. With all the illness going around at school, I've been drained and exhausted. I'm trying to make sure I don't get sick again. I'm getting ready to start my second job in just a little over a week. My stitching time will definitely be limited at that point. 

I must confess. Today's project is one I haven't even thought about in a very long time. Initially it was to be a piece for Brendan's room. Since he's now 17, I don't think it's something that would interest him any longer. I had intended it to be a companion to the Oak Island Mystery that I stitched for him years ago, complete with glow-in-the-dark floss to outline the pirate's head. 

This project has a very different feel to it. Such a simple design and still so beautiful. It would actually come out very different from the picture. I have chosen leftover bits of floss from my stash that will be enough to stitch the project. I substituted in an overdyed floss for the rocks instead of individual flosses. I like how that came out. Now, I just need to get back to the project and get it stitched!!

Ship Of Life
The Need'l Love Company
110h x 333w
32ct linen from Picture This Plus
various bits of floss from my stash


Pretty, right? ::sigh:: I guess I'll have to live to be 500!

Laura :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

February 7, 2017 - A Limited Edition

Good Morning! Both of the boys (my husband and our son) are staying home so I have a little extra time this morning. I thought I'd use it to blog and I won't be trying to write at ten o'clock tonight.  

It's amazing where you can pick up charts. This one is from about 1997. I used to chat online on a bulletin board. There were loads of people on there and some of them were wonderful. Let's leave it at that! Among them was Lesa Steele. Lesa was trying to start her own design label. It was fun to read her posts about getting things ready to go. Since she was so active on the boards, she offered us the opportunity to buy her first design. With it came a bonus chart. This is that limited edition bonus chart. Mine is 51/250. I really love it and had every intention of getting this thing stitched. Heavens knows why I didn't just send it in my round robin. It would have made the perfect piece for that. I've made a few color tweaks and love the fabric I've selected. Each section represents a season of the year. 

Sadly, Lesa is no longer publishing designs. Too much piracy and not enough buying have definitely had their way with the smaller designers. But, here is my project!

Quatrefoil
Lesa Steele
133 x 133
30ct Salt Marsh Green linen ~ R & R Reproductions
Threadworx & DMC flosses


So many glorious projects to work on!!

Have a stitchy day.

Laura :)

Monday, February 6, 2017

February 6, 2017

Another late night update. I seem to be posting later and later. Time just slips away and my evening is gone before I know it. 

My project today is from a stitch retreat. I love going to these retreats. It's so fun to see what everyone is working on and renew and establish friendships. I know that not everyone will like the projects each time. I went to the retreat from the same group for several years. For most of those years, our project had a house as the central design element. I don't particularly like houses in my designs. I know I stitch several of them but they're just not what I generally look for in a design. I looked back through my blog entries and I have a house as the central motif in one design and one more project that has tiny houses in it. So, it was hard to go year after year and pick up these designs. That being said, I do like this design and will endeavor to pick it up and get it stitched. 

1890 House Sampler
Chessie & Me
113 x 91
32 ct Dye Pot Blend linen from R & R Reproductions
Anchor floss/Sampler Threads as charted


Sorry for the wrinkles! It has been in the pouch it came in since the retreat weekend ended. Don't you adore the little over one animals?

Laura :)

Sunday, February 5, 2017

February 5, 2017

This has been a good stitching weekend for me. I've finally finished the January section of the Quaker Fantasies 2017 SAL. I've added beads in the centers of the motifs across the middle. The color in the photo isn't very good, but here it is:


I'm happy to have it finished. I'm pretty sure section 2 is out there but I'll be taking a  break and working on some other projects for a little while. Today's project is another long term WIP/UFO. It was started in 2008 as is noted on the project. I sent it around ~ more than once, in round robin groups. The groups have helped me make a lot of progress. When I chose this pattern, I went to a needlepoint shop and sifted through lots of fibers. With Katie's help, I settled on the second set of colors we chose. I really like them. I forget the enormity of this piece. I still have plans to finish stitching it. Then I'll have to decide how I want it finished. It would be huge to frame but I'm not sure what else I'd want to do with it. 

Paradigm Lost
Long Dog Samplers
363 x 355
28 ct Babbling Brook hand dyed linen from Wichelt-Permin
various flosses





Just for a little perspective, this is what happened when I laid it out on the floor to photograph. Pekoe is part Siamese so she's quite a large cat. 


Pekoe is our sweet rescue kitty. She's been with us for a little over a year. She showed up at our back door one day and hasn't left since. She was so malnourished, I'm not sure how much longer she would have survived. She was eating out of the trash wherever she could find something. She's so sweet tempered and affectionate. I just can't fathom how someone threw her out. We named her Pekoe like Orange Pekoe tea because of her coloring. What a little sweetheart. She purrs if you look at her!

Have a great week!

Laura :)


Saturday, February 4, 2017

February 4, 2017

Happy Saturday! I spent several hours today with the Kansas Stitchers. It's always great to see everyone and their wonderful projects. There were some gorgeous projects all around. It was fun stitching and chatting and eating!

Today's project is very special. It's a sampler this is being designed as it's being stitched. I came up with the idea several years ago and my round robin group at the time has done the stitching so far. It's a Jane Austen sampler for my daughter, Katie. Each stitcher added a line from one of the Austen books and then several bands of specialty stitches. There are 9 floss colors and 2 bead colors. Each stitcher has added stitches that she enjoyed working. It's quite the collection so far! I stitched the first section, using a starting letter designed by Katie. It has more of an embroidery feel to it but I think it fits the sampler perfectly. So, here it is!

Jane Austen Sampler
Laura, Betsy, Lisa, Judie
at least 2 more sections to come
28 ct orphan linen from Picture This Plus
Silk floss 


I can hardly wait for the last sections to be added and to get it framed and delivered to Katie. What a lovely surprise it will be!!

Laura :)

Friday, February 3, 2017

February 3, 2017

Happy Friday! We've made it through another work week. I've had some extra stitching time due to vehicle woes. I've been able to spend time several mornings stitching before work. It's not a long time, but every little bit helps. It has been a lovely way to start the day. 

Today's project is a spooky one. I previously blogged that Fall/Halloween is one of my favorite stitching subjects. It should come as no surprise that several of these will pop up throughout the year. What I love about this project is the combination of verse and beautiful sampler bands. It's simply stunning. My problem is dark 40 ct linen. This is a project that will have to be worked on in very good light for short intervals. I think I'd go mad otherwise. I'm still planning to get back to it and see it hanging on my wall one day. 

Thriller
Sampler Cove
229W x 277L
40ct Ink Spot Black linen from R & R Reproductions
overdyed flosses 


Have a great stitchy weekend!

Laura :)