A Finish And A New Start

I have finished my Scarlet Letter sampler. This sampler was originally done by Mary Ann Hutton in 1801. I made so many changes to it I really can not call it a reproduction. It is stitched on 25 count homespun linen with silk threads.

This was a relearning experience for me that I really enjoyed. It was fun to share my progress on Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year blog. I am looking forward to doing another Scarlet Letter reproduction sampler and learning some other stitches.

My next project, however, is a sampler I have admired for a couple years. And They Sinned, by Examplar Dames Pattern Designs.

This is a large sampler, 9 by 45 inches, that depicts the story of Adam and Eve. I am stitching it on 18 count Zweigart Vintage Mocha Aida.

I want to work on perfecting my basic cross stitch (Mary Ann Hutton is full of errors and tension issues). The threads I am using are the suggested Gentle Arts Sampler Threads. They are beautiful hand dyed variegated cotton threads.

I have been surrounded by inspiring beauty the last couple days while we have been traveling through the Rocky Mountain National Park. I have to share these pictures taken at the Estes Park, Colorado golf coarse. I am not a golfer but I think elk on the golf coarse is a rather unique golf hazard.

The golfers did not seem to concerned and just played on through.

Happy Stitching All,

Cheri

 

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Mostly Cross Stitching

I am taking my time machine quilting Ladies of the Sea so I don't really have any different pictures of the progress there. Because that quilt is currently at the sewing machine I have only been prepping Sally Post blocks but not actually appliquéing them, so no new pictures there...

But, I have been doing a lot of stitching on my reproduction sampler from the Scarlet Letter blog stitch along.



I am stitching this on linen which continues to be a challenge, my mind just takes in all the holes not the counting over two threads. I think it would also be a little easier if the threads were even size but on this homespun linen some are thick and some are thin.


None the less I am keeping at it and it is daily growing into a beautiful piece. The linen count is 25 threads per inch and I am using silk embroidery floss, soie d'alger, that has a wonderful sheen to it.



Happy stitching all and have a good weekend.
Cheri

PS - Look at the little surprise these yellow tulips had when they opened. Red stripes, and no they are not from my yard they are from Walmart : )

Quilt Group Retreat

I have gone from quilting and stitching at the beach to quilting and stitching at the local state park on a retreat with my small quilt group.
We did a group project of making portable ironing mats that fold up and carry your hot iron home from class or retreat.





I have had this cute countryside fabric with windmills on it for over 15 years and it FINALLY got used. The finished totes looked so cute side by side.


I also worked on some pear appliqué blocks made with Kaffee Fassett fabric called "pear" adise (pattern by pixiegirlquilts.com).





They were turning out pretty cute and have black and white fabric for sash and borders, but, there was not enough fabric for the inner border in the kit I bought.


Arrrgh, don't you just hate when that happens! I bought the kit from a shop when I was traveling last fall so it is not even a local shop. I have written them to see if they have more fabric....I only need 2 one inch X WOF to finish this, otherwise I need to remove the 2 inner borders I have done and find a new fabric locally.
So "pear" adise went back in the tote and I finished the weekend working on my Scarlet Letter sampler.


I have really gotten a good start on this sampler and cross stitching on linen is starting to become more natural, I need to remember count threads not holes.


The members of my small quilt group were interested in the sampler and Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year blog, a couple gals even thought they had Scarlet Letter reproduction sampler charts somewhere in their sewing rooms and were going to go home and look for them.
Well after 3 weeks traveling and getting lots of stitching done I have returned home and gone back to the work at the hospital (I am an ultrasound technologist). I truly love my job and patients and have not once ever dreaded or not wanted to get up and go to work, but as I turn 60 this year I know I am really going to be good at retirement in a couple years.

Happy Stitching All,
Cheri

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