Rhode Island

I like Rhode Island. I fly into TF Green Airport (so much easier than Logan in Boston) when I go to the Cape. Or I drive up 95 through Rhode Island. I always know I'm home when I see the VW-sized New England Pest Control bug perched on a rooftop from the highway near Providence.

(Photo borrowed from NE Pest Control.)

How can you fault a state that has a craggy, gorgeous coastline, the "cottages" of Newport, Narragansett Beer, the Rhode Island Reds (quick, tell me what sport, plus I think it was HAD the Rhode Island Reds) and the beautiful, classic Rhode Island samplers? (Also, for some reason, a large number of drivers who zoom along in the left lane and then cut across four lanes of traffic to take an exit. Really, I see it every time I drive through Providence. Why is that, RI readers, if there are any of you?) Here's a reproduction Rhode Island sampler, recently released by The Scarlet Letter. I dropped by In Stitches on Saturday, on the way back from taking our old-lady cat, Yazziebear, to the vet (a wonderful vet recommended by none other than Sampler Girl) (Thank you so much, Tanya--we love our new vet). I dropped by In Stitches since I had drive right by practically. Before I had even spun the "new charts" rack, Patricia said, "Have you seen the new Scarlet Letter?" I had, on SL's website. But I hadn't seen the large photo, so when I got it in my hands, I was sunk. (Thanks, Patricia--I get into so much more trouble with your help!) After kitting it up, I rushed home and started it. Behold, Elizabeth Sheffield:


Here's the interesting thing about stitching Elizabeth. You know that feeling you get when you want to see how the design's going to turn out, so you stitch "just one more color before bed" and before you know it, it's 3:00 a.m.? And that's WITH a photo of the project. This project's photo is of the original, antique sampler, with all its uneven-ness, some fading of the colors, and the slightly less than perfection that marks the original historic sampler. So it's extra enjoyable to stitch this and see the sampler emerge. I'm working on it on 40 count Lakeside Meadow Rue, which is a good bit darker than most of the linen I work with. I'm using AVAS, although it's also charted for DMC. The colors are a little off in this photo, because I shot it late in the afternoon as the light was going.


The "strawberry row" (the blue flower blob) is done over one, as is one of the alphabets and the people (but not the house) and some of the flowers that make up the border. The colors are incredibly vivid. I can't wait to get to the people--they should be fun to stitch.


Liz Sheffield is not my first Rhode Island sampler. Remember this? It's a reproduction by Vermillion Stitchery (now closed). I'm stalled on it because I was doing the conversion from cotton to silk on the fly, and ran into some difficulties coordinating and matching colors, so I set it aside. They share some design elements and characteristics, but I'd be pleased to hang them both.


And for the bunny folks, I wanted to share this photo to commemorate Tocktoberfest. Says Pink, "Trick or treat. Smell my feet!"


Happy week ahead, and happy Halloween!