February 08, 2009

Stuff

My homework load has become heavy enough that I've restricted myself to stitching on this while it still amuses me. I love it to bits, but I'm finding that it just eats fiber. I'm running out of some of the AVAS colors that I use most frequently--the tan for the house bricks, the most-used green in the border/grass and the medium pink, in particular--and I'm concerned about having enough of some of the other colors as well. My LNS is out of them, so I'll have to go online. AVAS can be difficult to get quickly, so I hope it doesn't hold me up. I'm doing it over two on 32 count with one strand, by the way, Michelle--your over-one commitment would sink me. It's working up to be a big sucker, which I'm thrilled about; I have lots of empty walls in this house.

The big picture:

You stitchers may already have seen this; it's "The Sailor's Wife," by Brenda Keyes of the Sampler Company, her newest design. I ordered it directly from her website, and it came from the UK in about 10 days. I can't say enough nice things about her wonderfully charted designs and the little extra touches that make her stuff so nice to work on: the full-color photo of the completed design instead of a blurry copy, and the extra piece of instructions with a little list you can put in your purse when you go buy fiber, and the large, large charts. This is her picture.

And here's an enlargement of part of the picture, so you can see it more clearly. It is charted for DMC, not my favorite fiber, so I may substitute GAST and Crescent Colours or NPI silks. It's also large; on 32 ct. cream Belfast linen, the design is 26.5 x 8 inches.

I've ordered a couple of traditional sampler charts from ebay, and I'm anxious to see what comes back from the Nashville show as well.

I've been spending a lot of time online at home lately, doing my homework. In order to take a mental break, I'll read your blogs, then when I run out of those, I go to "1stDibs.com," which is my new obsession. In particular, I like to visit on Saturday morning when they have their reduced-price "garage sale" listings. 1st Dibs specializes in the sale of some pretty spectacular mid-century modern furniture (dear to my heart), but it has a fair number of antiques of all types, including folk art, quilts and samplers. The listings are from a group of a large number of very nice antiques dealers. The prices are uniformly high, but the stuff's really nice--once-in-a-lifetime kind of stuff. I love this piece. It's a French silk weaving loom that has been repurposed into a table. Unfortunately, it's not even in the realm of possibility for me; it's $22,000. Do I think it's worth it? Yes, actually I do, in a way that a $22,000 assembly line car is not, whatever the car's utility. To me, it's that perfect object at the intersection of art and history. It's unique. (If you check the site out, use the number "1," not the word "first.") M. Finkel and Daughter is one of the 1st Dibs dealers, although there are not a lot of antique samplers represented there. There are at the M. Finkel site though!

Of course, refreshingly, even in the world of fine art and antiques, we have those pieces you just scratch your head over. This for example. It's "found art." Specifically it's Bud Light bottlecap art. It's $1750. Go figure. I'm not sure if the mouse comes with it or not. Edited to add: It doesn't have a name, this little scupture, so I'll think of it as "This Bun's for You."

Back to my homework, and to take a few minutes to whip the house into shape--gotta dash! Our friend at Houseful of Rabbits is laid up after having his rotater cuff repaired. Get well soon, RG!

17 comments:

Theresa said...

Your Dorothy's garden is looking good!!!!
Love "The Sailor's Wife", it's so colorful and wonderful~
Ok, now you got me hooked on 1stDibs..... It's a wonderful place for day dreaming~

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

That table is amazing! And we have a rather famous "beer can house" here in Houston that would be a perfect place for displaying that bottle-cap bunny.

I'm so jealous you got that great pic of "Teh Peach." My action shots never seem to turn out, darn it.

Anonymous said...

Love, love the stitchy pics. have a great week.

mainely stitching said...

Wow, I am just seriously loving your progress on this project. It is GORGEOUS! And so is the B. Keyes sampler. WOW!

Margaret said...

Dorothy's Garden is a stunning piece and I can well understand that it is a joy to work on.

staci said...

Wonderful progress on Dorothy's Garden...it's such a gorgeous piece!

Erin said...

What a cute little bun in that last picture! :) The stitching looks gorgeous too!

Siobhán said...

Your Dorothy's Garden looks great! No affiliation, but I've always had fast & reliable service from Drema at www.needlecraft-corner.com. If she doesn't have the AVAS in stock, she gets it quickly. Just thought I'd mention it--I always start to panic when I run low on fiber.

I won't even look at 1stDibs because I could so easily be tempted!! Love the pics you shared!

That Brenda Keyes sampler is fabulous, don't think I've seen it before. I am jonesing over her Kind Fond Love. Have you seen Ebeth Talledo's/Finger Work's Whale Hunting? I think that's the name of it. Another cool one, kinda similar.

Annemarie said...

Goodness, Glenna, what a whopper, this sampler you're working on. It's beautiful. I also love "The Sailor's Wife" a lot.
Good luck with that homework!

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love Dorothy's Garden. It is looking wonderful!!!
That new chart from the Sampler Company is gorgeous too. I have been seeing her designs on a lot of people's blogs lately, and I am thinking I am going to have to order one for myself. :)
I will have to check out 1stDibs. That table is really beautiful. Hang in there with your homework. :)

Deb Cushman said...

The samplers are beautiful! Such talent you have. This bun's for you! Talented and clever! Good luck with that homework.

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Nice action shot of Miz Peach.

Twana said...

Thanks for sharing the M. Finkle and Daughter link.

Sherry said...

I must get The Sailor's Wife and The Red House by Brenda Keyes! I am also anxious to see what comes from the Nashville show!

Michelle said...

Loooooove that table! Dot looks beautiful. I can only say that perhaps the reason I went with over one, is because that's what the designer does, and seeing her model in person is what sold me on this design. Of course it was the second piece I'd ever attempted over one, so perhaps that would explain why it's still not done five years later. But, progress is progress...you have a LOT of house done!

The Scarlett House said...

Hi Glenna, "Dorothy, the fiber eating sampler" is looking great. I'm always afraid to run out of silk and not have the dye lots match. I agree with you 100% about Brenda Keyes. No one packages their product as nice as she does. I haven't ordered The Sailor's Wife yet, but you know I will.

Brigitte said...

Dorothy's Garden is such a great piece. And love the latest Brenda Keyes design as well. I will start her House on a Hill in a short time, her designs are so beautiful.