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for the year.  Can you believe it?   I think we all say the same thing, each and every year.  Well, too bad it hasn't slowed down for any of us!
I havent stitched much the later part of the year, I just havent felt like it.  In the last couple of weeks, I did manage to take time and I made 2 quilts.   I am excited about them and looking forward to making more.  In fact, I just pulled out 3 I have 'kitted' up.  Do you say that for quilting-- kitted?  Either way, I am looking forward to those.
First up, I know that alot of you have had posted a year in review and I think that is so wonderful to go back and look at the amazing progress that was accomplished this year.  I have completed several beautiful samplers-- coming to mind of course is Dutch Beauty and Elizabeth Mears.

 

 

Those among other fillers are 2 favorites I think I have done in all time, but then I look back at last year, and see a few others.

 

As promised in the last post, I took pics of the last 2 pieces I picked up from the framer.  Above is Plum Street Samplers- Love Thy Neighbor, stitched on 40ct with called for cotton, framed in a burl frame-I actually picked this frame out, before I stitched this piece.  I think it is similar to the one on the cover of the pattern-- but not the same.  Burl wood has such a great texture and depth to it, it is its own work of art next to the sampler! 
Below, is La D Da- Peace House.  I LOVE this frame on this sampler.  It is 2 3/4" wide on this super cute I think 5 x 7-- 40ct piece.  Where oh where to hang them?!!!!

This coming year, I am not sure what will be accomplished on the stitching front, I have a start picked out for tomorrow, but I don't know if I will start it tomorrow, or in the next little bit.   I am still plugging away on Jane Tindall, and finally starting the animals on the bottom.  It seems like I have been stitching on her for years.  But slow and steady right?  Maybe she will be my first finish?  I have to pull out my stash and play with it for a bit, perhaps I will get the bug back.
Until then, my desire for beautiful fabrics for gorgeous quilts continues :)  There are sooo many options and I want to quilt them all!!  LOL.
In the beginning of November you might remember I had made a quilt with my mom.  We both used the same fabric grouping and each made something different.  I had mine quilted over Thanksgiving and I finished the binding last week.  It is amazing the difference of when you finish it.  It is the equal to framing your sampler right?

 

 I decided that a navy stitching on the back would be nice and the top is a neutral.

Above, is the 1st of 2 quilts I have made in the last couple of weeks.  This one is made of flannel, a request by my husband, for my husband.  It feels so nice, I cant wait to get it back from the quilter and snuggle under it!  I bought this kit over the summer and needed some cold days to work on it, well, cold is here!!!  LOL.
The 2nd quilt I bought also as a kit from a shop that was having an end of year inventory sale and I was thrilled to be able to participate.  I bought this of course among other things-- kitted up a few other quilts.  I am trying to be brave and piece the fabrics together.  I have no issue changing the colors on my cross stitch, so quilting shouldnt be that hard right?  It really has to do with how much fabric, like I mentioned before in a previous post.

A Christmas quilt, using 3 sisters Wintergreen fabric.  I am crazy about the black in this quilt too :)  It was a nice easy one to sew while watching some great Christmas movies!!!  In a few weeks I will have them back from the quilter and hopefully will have more to bring.  I am going to help my niece make a quilt for her room this week, we went to the quilt shop, she chose the colors she likes and we are going to make the same pattern as the above flannel one.  Nice and easy for both of us, and also so we get it done before she goes back to school next week.  I will take pics and share those with you next year :)

Until next time, enjoy the rest of 2013, and Happy New Year to all of you!!!!!!

Frames to share

I seem to remember the comment I made in the last post or so (or perhaps it was just in my head) was to share a few pieces I had framed a few months ago.
Without wasting anymore time, and leaving you all in suspense since last time, here we go!

Primitive Betties- With My Needle.  I will have to do my best in remembering the linen, but I know it was 40ct Lakeside linen, perhaps maritime white?  With the called for cotton overdyed threads.  I finished this in 2010.

Also Primitive Betties- Live, Laugh, Love.  Vintage Pearled Barley 40ct Lakeside Linens with the called for overdyed cottons.  Yes, you have read correct on both, cotton.  Sometimes its just easy with these small ones.  But then again............ LOL.  Also 2010.

Carriage House Samplings- Maria P. Oliver.  Stitched on 40ct R & R something with my conversion to Belle Soie silks.  Completed in 2009.

Willow Hill Samplings- Eleanor Jaegler.  This is one of my favorite pieces.  I stitched this on 48ct Lt Examplar from Lakeside.  Yes, 48ct.  The size is fantastic and I know exactly the silk overdyed thread I used-- I see it in my mind, but I cant remember the name.  Japanese something, comes on a card similar to splendor cards.  If you know what it is, just let me know too :)  It is such fine silk, very comparable to the Tudor Silk from Gloriana.  But at that time, Tudor didn't exist.  This was also done in 2009.

Last but not least, is Queenstown Samplers- Elizabeth J Mears.  The minute I saw this sampler, it was a must stitch.  With a silk conversion to overdyes, and the need to start it NOW, the shop didnt have any 45ct and I wasnt able to get my hands on a piece of Vintage pecan butter that minute, I decided to start it on a piece of Vintage Pecan 40ct with the silks.  Finishing this sampler this year, I couldnt wait to choose a frame and see it in all its glory.  I LOVE the house, the alphabet, the flowers--- well I just love it all!! 
I am so pleased as usual with my pieces and just have to find the perfect place to hang them now. 

I have a couple more just picked up but I dont have pics of those just yet.  I will share them with you shortly.  Hopefully I can get my stitching bug back and share some beautiful WIPs I have going.  But in the mean time..... thank you for visiting my blog.

I hope each and everyone of you has a Merry Christmas!  It is such a wonderful time of year, of course after you get past all of the hustle and bustle.  Relaxing, enjoying your families and remembering the real reason for the season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Few more to share with you!!

What another fast summer we are having! Why do they go so fast, and winters so slow?  The weather has been great and I have been enjoying each and every day.  All sorts of fun activities have been going on.
I have a few more framed pieces to share with you that I havent had time to post.
First is Sarah Brown from Milady's Needle:

and her sister Margaret Brown:

Close up of the frame, which has a similar feel to the sampler border

I chose to stitch both samplers of Vintage Pear with silk threads, choosing similar colors to the originals.  I just love the subtle differences and no, I didn't find it tedious stitching both of them.  I found them relaxing to stitch on and was a bit sad when they were complete.   Don't you just love how delicate they are? 

Next up is a classic Goode Huswife piece- The Flowers of Lebanon (OOP):

 I chose the same frame for flowers as The Black Forest (OOP) piece I did of hers a few years back.  I added the below pic for a refresher, but I didnt have the framed one handy.

The colors on the black!!!!  LOVE!!!  Both stitched on 32ct burlap linen with NPI.  Both funky in their own ways :)

Last but not least- the piece de resistance:

Stitching my Dutch Beauty in record time on 45ct lakeside Maritime White with overdyed silks I am OVER THE MOON WITH EXCITEMENT.  Looking at it, its hard to believe its even mine!!!  It is by far the largest sampler I have ever stitched and each and every time I look at it, I find something else I just love.   Countless hours were spent on choosing the color placement just perfectly.  WOW, what a piece of work!!!! 

 A close up of the frame I chose to use a dark teal blue fillet to offset the color in the sampler.  Just a hint of color, but nothing too bright.  I cant wait to find the perfect place to hang it.  An accomplishment like no other for me.  I love the larger samplers, I might complain a bit in the middle, but this one is a masterpiece.

I finished Peace House from La D Da, which I will share with you later this week.  What is next to pick up and work on?  I have to get BBD Wild Berries done, I started it with such a bang, but got distracted.  HaHa!  That is not something new is it?!!  Speaking of new, anyone see some must haves for St. Charles market?  I love the new BBD and the Plum Street pieces shown so far, I have been soooo excited for Yuletide since she teased showed us last year from the retreat at Shepherds Bush.  But I cant wait to see the others!  Of course the With thy Needle and Thread Ltd. Kit.  What else so far am I missing?!!!!!  LOL.

Looking forward to a great week, and I hope all of you have one as well!!  Happy stitching :)

They're Baaack!

Super exciting---- yesterday I picked up my framed beauties!!!!  A few weeks back I decided to have 3 of my Quaker pieces done.  I chose simple frames for all three, yet each one complements each piece just beautifully and I am THRILLED with them (as usual!!)  So first up is Mary Wigham.

She was stitched on 40ct Pearled Barley Lakeside Linen with a variety of NPI silks-- close to the original colors, but different :)  I started and finished Mary in 2009.

Beatrix Potter is next stitched on 40ct Vintage Porcelain Lakeside Linen with Coffee Bean Gloriana with a hint of Quartz Belle Soie. (I started and finished her in 2009 as well). Since the fabric was so pale, a suggestion was made to use a darker liner and the color pops and the hint of quartz is exquisite. I can't be more pleased.

Last but not least, is Moulin Rouge by Long Dog Samplers.  CAN YOU EVEN????  This beauty is by far the largest piece I have ever had framed, and I will tell you now, it will be the last-- finished frame size is almost 30" x 30"!!!!!!!!!  Unbelievable right?  Stitched this gal on 35ct R & R Linen-- I forget the name along with a combo of WDW threads.  It is STUNNING.  Along with the classic look that I know I achieved with this piece, along with the frame, I am sooooo excited!! She was worth the wait-- started in 2007 and finished in 2009.

So a few things learned in this post are: that from now on-- the large pieces of course (and of course the small pieces) must be stitched on 40 or 45ct linen.  And, FYI on the blank spots on my samplers-- they are not really blank-- but names have been removed to protect the innocent :)

I look forward to hanging these gals up in the near future-- when I have the most perfect spot for them.  I did drop off a few more to be framed, so in a few more weeks, I will have more to share with all of you.  I wish all of you could see them in person!