February 09, 2012

WIP 16: Roses de Mai, and a Continuation

Hi, all! The week is getting away from me, so I thought I'd post WIP 16: Roses de Mai by Reflets de Soie. I love the colors in this--the blues and pinks on Lakeside Magnolia--but I'm on the fence about continuing. I don't remember if it is an historical reproduction, but to my eye it seems a bit too contemporary for my taste.


And I'm not loving the large area of working with thread the same color as the fabric, a small area started here. A lot of it is over-one. Hmmmmm--what to do. The thing is, I've had this piece of Magnolia for quite a while, so it is the more substantial linen, and I can think of a bunch of projects I could do on it instead of this one. Sometimes at Stitch Night, someone will point to the excess fabric hanging over the edge of the q-snap, showing a piece of an abandoned project, and laugh. For now, I'll keep working on it, as it really is a pretty stitch, and when I get a larger section of the cream-on-cream completed, I can re-evaluate.


Here's the chart:


I do not feel any conflict at all about my progress on Dorothy Walpole. I love everything about it. Here's a close-up of the top, which shows the rows of alphabets and dividing lines marching to the right-hand border.


And a view of the entire project as it stands today. I highly recommend it, and I know a number of stitchers are working on this, including Marjo, who just started it. What a nice antidote to all that snow in Alaska!


Here's Elvis, sending a bunny nose bump your way to carry you through the week.


See you in a few days with another WIP (I've got a ways to go on those yet).

24 comments:

Margaret said...

Love Dorothy! I think Roses de Mai is quite pretty too myself. Maybe old French designs were different in style? I don't remember if Roses was a repro either.

Michelle said...

It's very pretty but I can understand your hesitation with the tone on tone stitching. Dorothy is, of course, stunning.

Siobhán said...

Dorothy looks great!! Roses de Mai is beautiful, too, but I'm of the opinion (this is a hard lesson I've learned) that if you don't like something, switch and work on something else, or repurpose the linen. I have a few WIPs that I've gotten too far in to restart but I just don't like the linen or the thread or whatever.

Ruth said...

Oh continue, please continue -- it's lovely. .... drat maybe I need to go shopping again. Sigh.

Dorothy is looking beautiful.... almost as handsome as Elvis :)

Vanessa said...

I love your Roses de Mai. The colors are beautiful. I am really impressed by all your WIPS. Sometimes I wish I was not a OAATer. I have been a blog lurker for years, and have recently started one of my own. It's not nearly as interesting as yours, however. Take a look. www.onexatatime.wordpress.com

Linda said...

Love the sampler. Don't give up.

Linda

nose bump back to Elvis

Laurie in Iowa said...

Your Dorothy looks fabulous... it's at the top of 'my favorite to stitch' samplers. I can't wait to get her back from the framers.
If the Roses de Mai just isn't doing it for you I say it's time to repurpose that wonderful old piece of Magnolia linen. There are so many samplers out there that excite me and I'm anxious to stitch. IMHO... why spend time on something you're unsure of?

barbara said...

Dorothy Walpole stole my heart. What gorgeous colors.

Give Elvis a hug for me. If all went well, he can be a long-distance uncle next month. ;)

Deb said...

As always, coming to your blog makes me itch with all the wonderful projects that you're working on and me wishing that I stitched faster so that I could get to them. Dorothy and Roses are just beautiful. Those colors in both are right up my alley! Love!!!

But if Roses is giving you fits either repurpose the linen or change out the thread for a darker color that might not bother you to work with.

Anonymous said...

I think your roses piece is gorgeous, but if your not feeling the love perhaps it's time to start some of those other projects... Hope you figure it out! Elvis might nudge you in the right direction... ;o)

Catherine said...

Loving Dorothy! I have a project or two like that, that I started and just don't feel right...they've been sitting in the basket for a while. Nosebump back to Elvis!

MarchAnn said...

I like Roses De Mai and yes it is different from what you normally stitch but oooohhh so nice.
Dorothy is really nice and I could sure use Elvis's cuteness tonight.

blue star stitcher said...

I love the flower border on Roses de Mai, but of course I always tend to like more contemporary looking stitches.

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

Love your progress pictures!

Elvis is soooo cute!!

I would love it if you would join my stitching party tomorrow with this post!

marly said...

Roses is perfectly balanced and feminine (not to my taste since I am neither), and very beautiful. If you're not feeling it, save the linen. You could probably find something else to work on, no?

Susan said...

I really like the Roses de Mai, but life is too short to stitch projects you don't like. Dorothy is beautiful.

Melissa said...

A bunny nose bump?! Cool, thanks Elvis!

Dorothy is looking great. Roses de Mai is really pretty too. Who knows, maybe if you put it aside for a bit you might like it better later? On the other hand, if you are feeling twitchy now, cut your losses, and gain a big piece of Magnolia for a new project - hey, a new start! ;-)

Krista said...

I love Dorothy, and your Roses are very pretty too. Sometimes, it just needs to be put aside for a bit? In a few days or weeks it may call out to you again.

Marjo said...

Wow, you have made some progress on Dorothy. I just love that design. Thanks for the honorable mention....I was so surprised when I read it. Thanks. I love the roses, I have a couple of designs from that company that of course I have not stitched. It is different from your others but different is not always bad. If you are not enjoying it though.....
Can't wait to see what is next up on the list from you. Hi to Elvis.

Nancy said...

I think both samplers are very pretty, and I love the unique colors and design on the first one. Elvis is just too cute!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Love Dorothy!

As far as Roses... I have cut a few projects loose in my time and used the linen for something I liked more. No fun wasting time or energy on a project you don't love.

The Inspired Stitcher said...

I like Roses de Mai. I'd happily take if off your hands and stitch it. I think it's really pretty. Your Dorothy is looking really nice too.

Giovanna said...

I have a little direct experience on Roses de Mai: I've seen Isabel Mazarbaud's model up close during a show, and believe me, the whitework band is absolutely fabulous. In fact, is was one of the reasons why I bought the chart instantly (I also loved the border) - of course, it's also a matter of personal taste, but I just loved the texture it added to the sampler. The cover picture doesn't even come close to doing justice to the whitework, you need light slanting on it to appreciate it. Lovely progress!

Nicole said...

Hi Glenna!

How have you been? I just started Dorothy Walpole and I was curious if you changed the lightest pink silk, and if so to which color? My silk is much darker than yours (there's very little contrast) and I love how your's looks!

Thanks in advance!