Finishes and a new start

Finishes, finally! Actually, they've been finished for a little while, but I've been waiting for the rain to stop and clouds to leave so I could take pictures.

A Whistling Girl is finally finshed. Although I liked the design, I wasn't crazy about using just one thread on 36 count, but I do see that it fits the piece.

A Whistling Girl
Hands to work
36 count Examplar
recommended threads, one over two

The Amanson sampler is also finished. Whenever I work on a reproduction piece, I always wonder about the original stitcher. Can you imagine what Erika would think if she knew that her little sampler was being replicated today? Imagine how you would feel if in a hundred plus years someone found a sampler you stitched and reproduced it - that would be amazing! Reproduction stitching always reminds me of something written by Thomas Carlyle:

Past departs not, nothing that was worthy in the past departs; no Truth or Goodness realized by man ever dies, or can die; but is all still here, and recognized or not, lives and works through endless changes. ~"Characteristics" Thomas Carlyle, 1831~

Erika Katrina Amanson (1870)

The Essamplaire
32 count Vintage Examplar
conversion to Weeks, GAST

Since its release, I've wanted to stitch Blackbird Design's Sarah Tobias. I like the neatness and clean design of each motif. I converted the threads to NPI silks using Joy's conversion as a guide, and am in love with the color of this red thread (although the picture doesn't do it justice). It complements the mossy brown and different greens very nicely.

The first motif is missing its left flower and stem and will have to wait til later to add it as I really wanted to be done with it and move on to the next motif.

Sarah Tobias
Blackbird Designs
40 count Vintage Light Examplar
NPI conversion

Hope you have a great weekend!

BabyGirl and BF - fresh peach ice cream!

Dog days

This summer is almost gone and, although there are many hot days left before our fall gets here, we are entering the dog days of summer. And it's time for Georgia Bulldog season as well - stitching and watching the Dawgs on tv = a good thing and one that's on my agenda for today!

BabyGirl is back at college : ( and it's funny how even though she was in and out of the house all summer, the house feels like it's missing something when she's away at school. Miss Kitty, who pretty much ignores me whenever BG and her boyfriend are around, is hanging out with me again.

The Amanson sampler is almost finished. I ran out of a thread and will finish stitching it whenever it gets here. In the meantime I'm going to finish A Whistling Girl. I have so many projects I really want to start but am really trying to focus on finishing a few first ... we'll see how that goes!

Ericka Katrina Amanson, The Essamplaire
32 count Vintage Examplar
Weeks, GAST conversion

My wonderful husband and I celebrated our 27th anniversary this week, which is why I chose all Allman Brothers songs for my playlist this week - so many good memories! It's hard to believe that much time has gone by. As I tell him regularly - he is one lucky man!

Random summer shots from my phone camera. I never seem to have the real camera with me:

Baby Girl and SweetBoyFriend, dinner on the lake

Beautiful morning on the beach

Miss Kitty, my Office Assistant

Have a great weekend!