Last Update of 2012

Just a quick update to end 2012. I've blogged so little this year, but hopefully 2013 will be different in so many ways.

I have two New Year's Day starts for 2013. The first is Jane Pattison, and I am very excited to start this one. I love the border of boughs and little motifs scattered outside of the border. 

Jane Pattison, 1806, Shakespeare's Peddler
Vintage Light Examplar, 40 Count, Lakeside Linen
Conversion to silks by  Attic Needlework 

My second start will be IAMEK dated 1801. This sampler feels very joyful to me even though the motifs depict serious topics.  It looks like Adam and Even are waving hello instead of getting ready to pull apples off the tree.  I am stitching this as part of Nicola's Scarlet Letter Challenge. 

IAMEK Dated 1801, Scarlet Letter

Vintage Sand Dune, 40 count, Lakeside Linens

Recommended AVAS threads

I've also been working on Sara Elizabeth Brooke by The Scarlett House, and am about done with the top third of the brick house. I should have a picture of that progress in my next blog post. 

I wish each of you a very happy and blessed New Year!

Catching up

December again and time to reflect and plan in between all of the holiday activities! This year found me in a round of stitching and blogging slumps that I hope to leave behind me as I look forward to 2013. I have so many wonderful samplers and small pieces in line to stitch that I need to leave those slumps in 2012.

Although I planned not to commit to any stitching deadlines or commitments, when I heard about Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year challenge, I decided to join.  I love the spirit of the challenge and that there are no regularly scheduled requirements to meet.  It sounded like just the thing for 2013. What a great way for Nicola to celebrate turning 50!

Here is a sweet little Christmas ornament I stitched. It is the first design of three in the collection, which I hope to finish in 2013.

Christmas is Coming, Plum Street Samplers

Vintage Light Examplar, 40 count LL

NPI conversion

Just a little bit left to finish on this Halloween/fall design.

Crows in the Pumpkin Patch, With Thy Needle and Thread

Almond Creme,  40 count Tree of Life Samplings

Recommended threads with some substitutions

Here is my progress on Mary Gibson. I love this sampler even though I've frogged too much of it! It's also my first A&E.

Mary Gibson's 1824 Sampler, Haslemere Educational Museum

Vintage Pecan Butter,  40 count, LL

NPI conversion with one color change

When I need a break from Mary Gibson, I pick up Sarah Elizabeth. The colors and whimsy of this sampler always make me smile when I pull it out of the WIP basket.  What an imagination Sara E. must have had.  I love the little lady with her hands on her hips, although I'm not quite sure what is going on with her hair and mouth!  You can't tell, but I did iron this piece - very stubborn wrinkles! The colors are much prettier in real life, too. 

  Sarah Elizabeth Brooke, The Scarlett House

Vintage Light Examplar, 40 count LL

Recommended Crescent threads

That is pretty much everything for now.  I hope you have a great weekend!

A New Year, New Starts and WIPocalypse

Hopefully everyone had a safe and fun holiday season. I think it went by breathlessly fast, but I am excited the new year is here and underway. I look forward to the opportunities, blessings and challenges I know are on their way.

New Year's Day was thankfully a quiet one here. Friends from New Mexico visited. We enjoyed watching movies, eating our traditional black-eyed pea soup, collards and cornbread, and, of course, stitching! I had two New Year's Day starts this year, Sarah Elizabeth Brooke and Mary Gibson.

I love the colors in Miss Brooke's sampler! I think it will be beautiful hanging in my dining room. This picture really doesn't do it justice.

 Sarah Elizabeth Brooke, The Scarlett House

40 count Vintage Light Examplar, Lakeside Linen

Recommended Crescent Colours

Next is a beautiful sampler from the Haslemere Museum in England.  The colors are so pretty and lively! I did a conversion to Needlepoint Silks, so my colors are a little different than as charted. Of course you can't tell that yet as I'm still on the black border.

Mary Gibson's 1824 Sampler, Haslemere Educational Museum

40 count Vintage Pecan Butter, Lakeside Linen

Conversion to Needlepoint Silks

Here is my progress on Isabella Johnstone. Really, this is fun to stitch and I love the colors with this fabric.

 Isabella Johnstone, Summer 2010 SANQ

40 count Almond Creme, Tree of Life Samplings

 DMC

I apologize for picture quality. I would blame it on the lack of sunlight, but I think it really has something to do with the photographer's skills ...

I signed up for the 2012 WIPocalypse. I liked the flexibility of the challenge and think (hope!) it will help me finish more projects this year.  There are a lot of projects I would love to finish this year, as well as several new ones I would like to add. I'm sure this list will be revised more than once! My list is here.

I look forward to seeing your stitching and reading your blogs this year!

Thank you for stopping by!