2014 Challenge: A Red Letter Year:

In celebration of Nicola's birthday, Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year, needlework challenge will continue!   Check out all the 2013 finished projects - Link HERE.  

If you are interested in participation, see the blogs [link HERE] and the Challenge Rules [Link HERE] .    

The needlework samplers are by The Scarlet Letter - Website Link HERE, seems to me a wide variety of samplers to choose from.        

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Enjoying alphabets, I finished Polly Miner, 1822 

earlier this month.

This is a sampler from the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, Vermont.

Photo of the front of the chart:

Photographs from the Scarlet Letter Kit:

The Polly Miner, 1822 sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC cotton floss

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

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I have not decided on my next SL project.   These are the Scarlet Letter samplers in my stash - Link HERE.

randoms ...

Polly Miner

Almost finished ... have a few letters to add.

Yesterday, I visited the AIC and really enjoyed their new exhibit

which opens to the public on Weds June 26th.

If you get the chance - GO.   The paintings are stunning.   The mens clothing, womens dresses, lace parasols, shoes, gloves, hats are wonderful to see near the paintings and illustrations.

I saw this charming oval box in the gift shop

and when open - there are notecards

with fashion illustrations.   And, the little button ... they were free

at the beginning of the exhibit next to the brochures.

I am enjoying the exhibit catalog.    This is more than

a showcase of the exhibit - many more photos and items of interest.

I gave this bag away ... and, made three

more using the same material.   I have more fabric cut out + partially sewn.

I'm planning to mail them off next week.

Incredible.   Excellent.    

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

I looked over my 'to do' list and see that I have crossed off one thing for this month.    Argh!!!   Too much stuff going on.    

A few letters to go ....

Polly Miner 1822

This is a progress picture of Polly Miner, 1822, which is a sampler from the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, Vermont.

Photographs from the  Scarlet Letter kit:

The sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC cotton floss

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

cover of the pattern:

Polly Miner (update)

This is a progress pic of

Polly Miner, 1822

A sampler from the Sheldon Museum in

Middlebury, Vermont

The sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC cotton floss

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

Past our bedtime ....

A couple nights ago, I met up with some GFs and brought the Polly Miner sampler with me.   It is a nice project to have in the bag as the alphabets are easier to stitch while chatting w/friends. 

For Nicola's Scarlet Letter year (challenge), I try to get an updated photo on the challenge blog by the 14th.   I had a (sorta awful) photo taken while out with the GFs, came home + wanted to continue stitching and finish the last line on the sampler.

My little supervisor, Honey Bunny, dozed off ....

When I got the alphabet letters stitched, I turned on my camera, flipped the thing over, the kitty woke up, and .... gasp ...

I thought my needlework was a goner ---

I inspected --- nope, no kitty claw damage.    Whew.

and, she inspected with me .... was she thinking

"just kidding"

Last night, I added some border on the side and a few numbers.   Still didn't find any kitty damage.  When you stitch a repro, don't you wonder about the stitcher - here a child of 7 years.   Do you think she enjoyed her needlework?   Wonder if she fretted over the last line going beyond her border?   

Will have to get more needlework into this piece (even tho I had set it aside to work on with friends).

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This is a progress pic of

Polly Miner, 1822

A sampler from the Sheldon Museum in

Middlebury, Vermont

A Scarlet Letter kit.

The sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC cotton floss

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

alphabets ....

Red Letter Year

2013 challenge

Polly Miner, 1822

I added some rows of cross stitching

in between the alphabets.

The sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC cotton floss

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

Here is Jasper, peeking around the chair to watch

me stitch.   He is a curious cat.

(taken w/o flash)

Polly Miner 1822

Not much progress on this lovely SL Sampler.

The sampler is on 35-ct linen using DMC floss 

(4 colors:  Ecru, 372, 932, + 898).

The stitch count is 168 x 76.

I signed up for the SLChallenge + seems free time

was difficult to come by this past month.

I need to spend quality time with

my stitchy pals - - - 

Now, if you want to see REAL progress,

check out the two blogs at

Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year.

Stitch well.

Polly Miner, 1822

This is a progress pic of

Polly Miner, 1822

A sampler from the Sheldon Museum in

Middlebury, Vermont

A Scarlet Letter kit.

35-ct linen, DMC cotton floss

Have you been following the 

Scarlet Letter Challenge?

It has expanded into a second group

blog.   Check it out!   Link HERE.

(edited:   improved photo --- no flash + taken during the day)

cover of the pattern:

2013 Challenge ---- A Red Letter Year

Edited 12/03 (camera working again ...)

Have you visited

Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year

Blog?

I thought about 2013 + decided it was time to dig thru the wardrobe and pull out the Scarlet Letter projects I have tucked away.   I think this is all of them.     Each of these listed would be new starts - except for Ann Scutt (WIP).

Seven Possible projects for the challenge:

Polly Miner 1822   (which I really really like - worried about the crease in the linen tho)    This is a lovely alphabet sampler.   And, we all know how I enjoy alphabets!   I didn't see this on the web site - is available thru Hidden Staircase.      According to this pattern, the original sampler is at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, VT

Ann Scutt circa 1675 (WIP - I like this band sampler.   It is a challenge)

(Is back on the Scarlet Letter web site)

A Pastoral (surface embroidery sampler)   I don't see this one on line.   Possibly out of print?

Side by Side Band sampler circa 1650      This would be quite a needlework challenge.   It is like 2 samplers with an alphabet in between.   But pretty interesting.

Sibmacher Band Sampler of 1763   
From the German Sampler Museum in Celle, Germany

Ann L Brown (I had stitched some of the spot motifs in this charming sampler, had intended to stitch the whole thing one day.)

Now that I pulled this out of the closet - I realize how BIG this sampler would be as it is 25 count linen.   I did enjoy stitching the little spot motifs.    Not sure about this one - maybe on a 32 count linen!     Might be out of print.   I cannot locate it on line.

Joanna Warren 1655   Probably way over my head .... maybe some day.   It is a difficult sampler!

Two Scarlet Letter projects --- already framed:

N. Hinde 1778

Which I have already stitched - and thought I'd like to try it again on a different linen.

Circling Alphabets

I had more fun stitching this sampler.   And, I changed the inside rectangle to stitch my name.   Also, changed up a bit of the alphabets and numbers to include the date (2003).    I have had it hanging up since it was framed.    

Looking at the list of participants - (list growing daily) - this should be a fantastic year for samplers!

As part of the rules .... each of the posts on Nicola's group blog are to have the following labels:

Your Name,

Name of the Sampler,

Status of Sampler ie New Start, WIP, Finish or Framed

(use “Framed” if you include a new post showing a photo of a framed piece you have previously posted as a “Finish”).