November 25, 2012

Hopping on the Bandwagon--And Falling off the Wagon Again

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was satisfying! I spent a bit more than a week running around, so there wasn't a lot of time to stitch, which some days got on my last nerve. I got a lot accomplished though, with my butt not parked on the sofa. But I see some butt-parking in my future, with Nicola's Scarlet Letter challenge, which I've emailed to sign up for. The challenge for me will be figuring out exactly which SLs to stitch in 2013. Here are some of my SL WIPs. Ann Smith. I love the colors and the Magnolia fabric I used, but goodness, there's so much over-one.
Ruthy Rogers. Hardly any cross-stitching here, and doing all the fill in pieces, using stem stitch is very challenging. Yes, it will be pretty in the end, but I just don't know if I have the patience.
Elizabeth Sheffield. How I love the Rhode Island samplers, but I got stuck on the idea that my fabric seemed awfully dark, never mind that it is probably the perfect shade, especially considering the cover photo. I need to just get on with it and stop obsessing.
Product of My Needle. I love it, but I started it back in the day (10 years ago?) on 32 count fabric and the fabric showed through the silk crosses. So I restarted it on 40 count but got distracted by other things, other samplers.
Catharine Metcalf. Love this, but got sick of stitching yellow border flowers and the tree.

Dorothy Walpole. I will plan to finish this in 2013, and probably Mary Ann MacDonald too (not shown). And that doesn't even count the SLs lined up in the wings, although predictably, the one sampler I really truly want to stitch is no longer available: the stamped "Richmond Fire." (If anyone has it, I'd be happy to purchase it from you for a nice premium!) Richmond Fire is long out of print, which Marsha at SL confirmed, and that is why we stash even when we don't have immediate plans to stitch something.
Here's a pizza in case you're hungry. I bought it on the Cape and this photo is to show my sister (Papa Gino's). It was delicious. Why oh why can't they make decent pizza in Northern Virginia?
Almost finished! I have to finish before the SL challenge, and also before the deadline for framing so I can enter it in Woodlawn. Entering it in the Woodlawn show (where there are something like 600+ needleworks is not about winning, but more of a show and tell to me.
The fish store on the Cape that I visited was selling lobster heads when I stopped by (they make excellent broth for lobster newburg or lobster bisque. Sigh--there was no time to make soup on this visit.) Something about the way they were displayed made me think of commuters riding the Metro.
This is the part where I fell off the wagon. I was at In Stitches and someone had brought this completed sampler in to have it framed. It's by Stacy Nash Primitives. The stitcher had used pale linen--a little different than mine--I'm using Picture This Plus in Fog, on 40 count. I am also converting the DMC to NPI silks. It's a little different for me--I don't generally stitch prims, but I'm loving it. It's beautifully charted.

Here's our little guy, whose name so far is "Kitten-Kitten." We can't seem to think of an adult name for him. He's a darling--very active though and into everything, which means I have to zip up the project bags very tightly and put them out of reach.
Fell off the wagon here too (I had said I wouldn't start a bunch of stuff...). I've wanted this for quite a while: Green Apple's "Beatrix Potter Christmas"; it was an ebay win. I saw it stitched up at the Woodlawn show two years ago and haven't forgotten it. The stitcher chose three of the designs and stitched them one below the other and had them framed. Hers was tiny (over one I think), but mine will be larger--stitched on a cream colored plain linen, two over two (DMC).
What appeals to me about Beatrix Potter is that she got the eyes of little animals just right. Peaches wishes you all a pleasant week ahead.

29 comments:

Melody said...

You have such a beautiful variety of samplers in progress!

I know what you mean about purchasing something you really like even though you know you aren't going to get to it for awhile.

I hate seeing something I love after it's no longer available.

The lobster heads were interesting. I guess I didn't realize they sold them like that for soups/chowders, etc. but it makes sense. ha. You can tell I'm a midwestern girl at heart. ha!

MarchAnn said...

Goodness how do you keep it all straight and ready to stitch.
Hum lobster heads that is a new one on me that is for sure but I can see them on the Metro too.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Your SL's are all beautiful! The Scarlet Letter project is going to be so fun to follow

Margaret said...

Oh goodie! I'm glad you've joined the Nicola challenge! lol! You have so many good ones started! Love your Catherine McNeal too! Your new little kitten is adorable! Oh my! Falling off the wagon is allowed too, of course. :D Your Cape Cod foodie shots are making me hungry. lol!

Laurie in Iowa said...

I'm glad you've joined in Nicola's challenge. All your SL WIPs are really great choices and I don't envy you deciding which one to focus on. That pizza looks yummy.

RG said...

Whew. So much pretty work to work on!

Cute kitty! (can't believe I said that ...)

Chris said...

Wonderful post. Which SL will you focus on first? I love Ruthy, but they are all great.
Catherine is lovely.
Cute kitty!
I love the bunnie chart.
Have a great week!

Giovanna said...

I so enjoy seeing all your stitching - wonderful!

Nicola said...

good luck with the Scarlet Letter challenge, you've got some great WIP's there.

Annette-California said...

Oh my goodness - such lovley wips you have going. Thank you Thank you. After seeing all your projects I don't feel guilty anymore:) I just have to get more started. Your choices of samplers are beautiful.
love Annette

barbara said...

Oh my gosh, Glenna! My eyes are overwhelmed after all this beauty! You must be queen of the Scarlet Letters. ;) And it's such a surprise to see you stitching a prim!! A nice surprise, though. :) Can't wait to see your Beatrix Potter babies. And speaking of babies, welcome kitten-kitten to the family!

Anna van Schurman said...

I think the Rhode Island sampler fabric is perfect.

Gray Bonnet said...

Elizabeth Sheffield is at the top of my wish list! I hope I can afford to grab it up before it disappears.

I've never even seen Ruthy Rogers! Your work so far is gorgeous!

Catherine said...

Such beautiful projects!!

Linda said...

Wow Glenna. What great samplers. How about naming the kitten Sparky.

Linda

Katrina said...

Everything is so pretty!!!!!! Lots of fun samplers and sweet bunny pic.

Siobhán said...

Lobster heads. Hmmmm. My family would go crazy for them while I am running in the opposite direction to retch. LOL Reason #801 that I prefer to swim in chlorinated water. LOL The pizza, on the other hand, YUM. Don't talk to me of pizza... we've had to accept the best of the worst here in terms of pizza, but it's always preferable to eat that instead of my own cooking!

Your samplers--so much gorgeousness to choose from! Great projects that tempted you enough to fall off the wagon, too.

Natalia said...

So many beautiful samplers !!! I've joined Nicola's challenge too and I was all focused on stitching Dona Dorothea, but after seeing all these samplers, I want to stitch them all !!!!!

carolm said...

My challenge to you is that we both stitch the product of my needle. Try to talk Patricia into doing it also....found that I had two, so I gave one to PE..I am loyonigoing to start mine tonight or tomorrow after I finish Snow Hill....Carol M

Glenna said...

CarolM, what a great idea! Product of my Needle is wonderful!

Melissa said...

Hi Glenna,

I lost your email address ...just want to let you know I've sent you something in the mail. Hope you'll like it!

Melissa

Deb said...

You have so many wonderful samplers in progress Glenna. I just picked Ann Smith as my next SL piece to work on as those colors are so fun. The over one probably won't be fun though!

Can't wait to see our progress on all of them.

Jan said...

OMG! Just a few WIPs going on there. LOL! You have a big job ahead of you. They all look lovely. I look forward to seeing lots of progress.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I really enjoyed that post!

Karen said...

Beautiful samplers, all of them! Catharine is looking great; the colors in that one are so lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Don't know how close you are to Leesburg, but Fireworks Pizza there is pretty good.

Cari said...

Merry Christmas Glenna ! You are such an enabler of The Scarlet Letter designs ! I've started several that you have shown on your blog. Good Girl...I love every one of them.

Hugs to you and your sweet bunnies too !!

Melissa said...

Glenna, I love all the stitching! You do an insane amount of gorgeous samplers! ;-)

Mouse said...

goshhh what a lot of gorgeous samplers ... your needles are going to be rather busy with those ... love the photo of peaches :) love mouse xxxxx

marly said...

No one has as many beautiful starts than you do. Or shellacked puffer fish.