August 02, 2009

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!

26 comments:

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I love that pic of all three of them scrunched into the litterbox! So sweet!

Deb Cushman said...

Beautiful samplers. I understand your difficulty in wanted to break your resolve. (With me it's books -- all books, any kind of books!)

Oh, my bonding didn't go so well at first for Pink and Elvis! But they look happy now! We love happy endings!

Caroline said...

Those are very, very beautiful samplers.... If I hadn't just blown the bank on 2 Sampler Cove designs + VK silks I'd be doing some more shopping....

You have a lovely blog - I always love to see your bunnies!

Siobhán said...

Ah yes, the peeing on a new sibling thing. I wonder if I could convince my brothers that the older one did that to the younger one? Hmm.... ;) ROFLOL. I am kidding!! Love the pics of the fluff balls!

Your WIPs... GORGEOUS!! I always figure that if I already own the chart(s), then buying supplies for it don't count. But then, eating while standing up doesn't count either, and look at the size of me. Ahem. For Ebay buying, I might have said this already, but I used to do a lot of bidding last year and I used www.auctionsniper.com. I know some people frown on it, but it worked out great for me. Happy hunting!

Jennifer said...

I was just admiring the bunnies on your blog, then wandered over to the By the Bay Needleart blog, and looky what I found...

Free Chart for the Bunny Lovers

Have you seen this yet?

Margaret said...

Isn't the Attic newsletter tortuous sometimes? lol! I'm not going for the Betsy's cause I don't do surface embroidery, but I do love how they look! Your bunnies are always so cute! And I LOVE your WIPs!

Margaret said...

PS shoot me an email, ok? I may be able to help you out with that HTF OOP. :D But only sort of.

Melissa said...

Oh Glenna! You're torturing me with all these beautiful samplers! And some out of reach!

Thank you for showing them though. I will investigate. I thought the same of "Justine" but didn't realize there was a stampede on after Siobhan's article.

Cindy F. said...

I think the 5 days you stayed on the wagon was awesome!! With all the temptations shown to you, who could blame you for breaking your deal with yourself?
Gorgeouse samplers! and beautiful progress on your wips!

Pretty bunnies:)

Kellie said...

Yes, blogland and The Attic newsletter cause me to want to buy and stitch everything that I see everyone else stitching. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery as you said.

I love the three pack. So cute! I didn't realize that whole peeing thing. Interesting. Really. Glad to see they all get along so well together now.

I think Siobhan is right....you should definitely wait until after September to go on a stash diet. And then only until February at the latest. :)

That 40 ct. Maritime White...check out Nicole's BBD Berry Time. :)

samplerlover said...

Hi Glenna,
Thank you for mentioning me on your blog.
Aren't they the most beautiful samplers that you have ever seen. I have them all including The Wisdom sampler. I seem to be collecting Rhode Island Samplers lol. My Betsy is looking more beautiful every day. - Sandra.

samplerlover said...

Hi me again,
Send me an email. My email address in a couple of posts down on my blog. - Sandra.

michelle said...

Those bunny babies are a mess I tell you! Love them guys.

Nancy said...

I love your Lemon Tree Sampler! The house has such beautiful colors, and I really do like the lemon tree! Your bunnies are adorable!

LivnLaf said...

I knew you would like those...they had your name all over them!

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

Thanks for the pix! The Pinkster looks so mean, my goodness! And, of course, love the Peaches sandwich. It does take time, the next meeting of minds will be soon and I'm more ready (heh, heh, heh....)

RG said...

I like that 3-bunn picture too! Proof that patience pays!

Good to see the Lemon Tree work again ...

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

What gorgeous samplers! I think your blog will cause a run on a couple of them - that first one is amazing. I can't imagine doing all that fill-in.

The bunnies, as always, are so darn cute. Your wips are pretty fabulous, too!

Please email me - I need your mailing address so that I can send you a little something to start our SAL with.

Get ready to set sail!

T~

Juels said...

Love the sampler pictured. If anyone has a copy of the spring 1993 issue of Treasures in Needlework magazine that they are not using, I'd be happy to purchase it from you.
Your rabbits are so sweet!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Please don't get me started...PLEASE...
I've already read the Attic's newsletter about 6 times since Friday. . . I am resisting at present....
your blog post is NOT helping matters....Betty Davis is calling me and then I'm having this urge to go to ebay...but I shall resist...hopefully....

Unknown said...

well, I just found your blog and unfortunately I cannot return.

After looking at your last two posts, I am now in debt as I MUST have the four samplers you listed. I can't afford to continue visiting :-)

Really, I am very excited to know about these beautiful treasures and I can't wait to have them in my possession, and stitched, and framed!

Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Me again...

Will you also send the newsletter to me

cari.smith@live.com

p.s. your bunnies are adorable!

Jeanne said...

Glenna, we have the same taste in samplers! I took the class at Attic Needlework for the American Sampler some years back but it's still in my UFO basket. I hope to concentrate on it next year. I love that Midsummer Night's Dream design you're working on too - have it in stash. It is on display done on 40-ct at the Attic shop - absolutely gorgeous! You are right on the mortality comment too, I figure at my speed of finishing I need about 40 more years of stitching!

Theresa said...

Such wonderful finds!!! I totally understand your trying in not breaking your resolve..... It is so hard to resist when seeing a good sale!!!

The bunnies are sooo cute~~~

Anonymous said...

Pink used to pee on Elvis? Poor Elvis!

I love the photo of all 3 of them in the litter box, so cosy :)

Tammy said...

Glenna I have that issue and the sampler if you'd like to borrow it for a while! Just email me and let me know, OK? Not like I'm going to be using it anytime soon!