WIP: added more stitches

TGIF! Everyone, enjoy the week-end!

Starting to look like a sampler!!!

Added more numbers and alphabet letters over the week-end. I enjoy stitching alphabets. There is a verse stitched over one thread on one side -- and I may try that later in the day.

This is Old Saybrooke Sampler; Reproduction of a Child's Early ABC Sampler Makeit / Sewing Chest Designs: Project Sewing Case with Needleroll & Scissor Fob

WIPs: just a few more stitches added

I've added a few more letters into the Old Saybrook Sampler. I am following the DMC colors provided & trying my best at the letter placement. The graph I have isn't the greatest; however, this really is a fab repro once stitched.

I FINALLY finished ALL of the vines on this tabletopper. I was worried that I would run out of perle cotton -- did have a small piece left over [used 2 skeins of pc#5 for the vines]. I started the first of four beehives.

This is a small place card stitched by my Mother. She made 50+ for a Lenten Breakfast program at her church. The inside of the card has a small paper inserted with some info re. their program. I hope the program participants appreciated them!

I have been reading two books: Angela's Ashes [Memoir by Frank McCourt] and The Mercy Seller [Historical Fiction by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. Seems I've enjoyed my books more than stitching these past few days : )

Hard to believe it is 31 degrees, 45mph winds, wind chill reading of 12 degrees. I'd like to have that 60 degree stuff back. Our flowers are blown to the ground. We are expecting snow flurries. Time to run a few errands. Blek.

wandering thru my WIPs

Thank you for all the comments & e-mails. I have not been on-line much. My husband's cousin will be coming to town sometime & we are trying to keep our telephone line open. I pulled out "Old Saybrooke Sampler" from the closet. [Reproduction of a Child's Early ABC Sampler]

I took this class in April of 2002. How many years has this been in the closet??? Yikes. Maybe time for some stitching.
I had a difficult time with the graph/pattern. The lines were not very clear, thus, put it aside after stitching the needle/pin roll & fob designs.
This is stitched with DMC floss on 25 count linen. I purchased some rings to sew inside the case.
I enjoyed the fob & NR stitching. I decided to just 'stitch' away at the letters [first photo] & figure they will be close enough to the pattern. Good thing I enjoy stitching letters!

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Manged to add more 'vines' to my tabletopper. Did put more stitching IN, than ripping OUT : ) My mind doesn't want to cooperate with the graph!


My plaid, with white as the final color. Ta Da. I got the reversible technique to work out.

progress pics

Is this kewl, or what? These were given to the workshop participants. They are 3" square measuring rulers. Luv it : )








I appreciate all the kind e-mails & comments re. Hillside Samplings group project. I think the workshop (on Saturday) went well. I did not get much stitching accomplished during the workshop; however, did enjoy needlechat + meeting new stitchers.

Per request, I have posted a close-up picture of the needlebook cover (above)
and a close-up picture of the alphabet. There are four different stitches in the alphabets: rice stitch, palestrina knot, smyrna cross, 4-sided stitch.

(Note to non-bloggers, if you click on a photo - they will enlarge on your computer screen.)
Progress picture. I worked on this piece of linen before & during the workshop. I wanted to be sure to have the pocket edges counted out correctly -- and the fob outline counted out correctly. I'm thinking there might be enough linen to make a small pinkeep [with mat board]. I was lucky to find pins on 50% off sale. I do need some sort of cardboard or mat board for the pinkeeps -- see, I've never made one.
Progress picture. This is the bottom piece - and the pockets & tufted pincushion will be sewn on. I will put the flowers on before adding the lining.

As for the question re. the thread winder in my previous post: The thread winder & ruler are extra - not part of the stitching kit. I ordered the thread winder separately from the kit. I did not purchase the ruler. I don't know if they are still available.

During the workshop - stitching time - my GF, Mel, pulled out her instructions for Chottie's Plaid. It was a class from a previous EGA chapter meeting. Lucky for us, the woman who taught the group was at the next table -- and gave us hands-on instruction & stitched up a sample. It is so awesome to watch them progress. Thank you Marge G for the hands-on lesson!

After the EGA class, I went home & I tried this technique - I made a mess of it!! After getting a step-by-step from Marge G -- I know how to create these reversible plaids. There is a nice web site here with photos, freebies, info, etc. I came home, unearthed my directions - pulled out the threads & plan to start a new plaid w/spring colors.

"oops, I forgot ...."

I was reminded by my GF, Mel, of the workshop being held on Saturday! oops ... how could I have forgotten? NANI is sponsoring a workshop on a project I started ... back in 2001. Yikes! I pulled out my kit to see if I still had everything together. I have gone thru all the directions & practiced some of the stitches. When I took the class a few years ago, we stitched the front of the needlebook during Stitcher's Day Out (4/2001) ... and after that, I managed some stitching on the longish piece ...
I would like to finish the alphabet this week ... and possibly add some of the beautiful flowers. I doubt I have enough of the green DMC floss & will have to pick some up before Saturday.

This is what it is supposed to look like once finished ... this picture is from the Hillside Samplings web site.

Did you notice the small shamrock in the first photo? It is a gift graph from Linn on her 3/17 blog post.
The Embroideress was the first blog I ever read! I heard about blogging from EGA, surfed around looking at the stitching blogs & decided to start one of my own.

Another interesting find, from SharonB's Blog was a link to John Taylor's book, The Needles Excellency (1631). If you are interested ... check it out!!! post is here.

This week-end is the SAL for holiday ornaments, keep an eye on the Ornamant SAL blog. I was surprised to see Adana's pictures -- because she stitched the EXACT ornament I had planned to work on this week-end!! Like minds : )