OOP HTF

Last Sunday I confidently stated that with the purchase of Sarah McPhail I would not buy any more projects before the end of the year. Heck, it's just five months; how hard could that be? Five days later I received a newsletter from Attic Needlework showing not one, but three gorgeous samplers of the month--15% off supplies--which had me nearly breaking my resolve. Two are Scarlet Letter samplers--Betsy Manchester and Betsy Davis from the Mary Balch School. One is an OOP HTF sampler from Treasures in Needlework magazine's spring 1993 issue which pops up from time to time on ebay. Attic Needlework can only sell the supplies for this, and not the chart, so you have to own it or get hold of it. This is the one I mean; I know you've seen it before:

[As an aside, am I remembering that Donna Giampa of Vermillion Stitchery did a rendition of it also? Seems likely--I'll have to check.] Answer: sort of--the design is sort of similar. And of course, I already own this design.

So Friday found me scouring ebay. Just for FUN! Sure enough, I found it, but with a day left on the bidding (and 12 bidders), it was already at $30.77. I have seen that particular issue sell for lots less than that. And in contrast, the first issue of that short-lived magazine (there were only 6 issues) is currently selling for about $3. I wonder if the frenzy was driven by the Attic's newsletter? (The newsletter is not available on their website yet, so if you don't subscribe and want to see it, send me your email address, and I'll forward it along.) Also, The Sampler Lover's Blog features Betsy Davis, and she's doing a beautiful job as always.

It reminds me of what I suspect was the buying frenzy of Le Marquoir de Justine, after Siobhan posted her picture and story of that beautiful sampler on Anna's site. I went to Violarium, which sells the European Cross Stitch projects, and one minute it was in stock, and now it isn't, although you can sign up to be notified when it comes in (I'm not telling whether I signed up or not). I won't mention the 4 skeins of Gloriana Silk that I am awaiting so that I can finish kitting up Drawn Thread's "The Riddle." I have had it in my stash for a while, but I didn't feel a pressing need to stitch it until I saw Nicole's progress and beautiful finish.

And as Siobhan commented, perhaps I should wait to make any resolution until AFTER market next month.... Then there's the brand-new 1/2 yard of beautiful Lakeside Linen I received in the mail yesterday from Jan at Only One Ewe Needleworks. It's 40 ct. maritime white--just perfect for some future project. Hmmm. I wonder how le Marquoir de Justine would look on it. Or one of the Betsyes.

Anyway, here's some progress this week on "Christinia." Not a lot, since I'm working on a paper that I'm finishing up today. I'm itching to stitch, but I can't. And no cocktail of the day today either, since I can't afford to be muzzy-headed while I try to put a bunch of thoughts together in a coherent way.


And in my new approach to WIPs, I've taken this out of the WIP tub to stitch on a little: Praisworthy Stitches' "Lemon Tree Sampler."


This photo is for Diana, who is working through integrating a new bun into her household. Pink and Elvis weren't always friends. Elvis desperately wanted to be buddies--he wears his little heart on his sleeve, Elvis does--but Pink wasn't having it, and there was all kinds of strife including upending the smaller bunny, tearing his fur out in clumps and then peeing on him.

Look at them now. A three-pack, stuffed into a single sleep/cat litter box.

Happy week ahead, and remember that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!