Susan Rambo Sampler - WIP

Here's my latest obsession...the Susan Rambo Sampler, the cover girl from the current issue of SANQ.  I'm using a single strand of DMC on 32 ct linen (whose origin I cannot recall at the moment).  Based on another blogger's comments about the NPI colors, I'm glad I decided to stick with DMC.

This is my very first reproduction sampler so it's been interesting to recreate the well, not mistakes...the originality of the motifs.  Not all are symmetrical, not all punctuation is correct, but those things make it endearing.  However, my OCD tendencies have been challenged haha.

For the last 2 weeks I have forsaken all knitting to work on this sampler...that's almost unimaginable to me!  Also took the plunge & boldly started in the "ULHC" (upper left hand corner)....hard to break a lifetime habit of starting in the middle.   Hope to post major progress in a few weeks.

First Finish!

Hey, it's small, but it's a finish!! I present Squirrel Fob by Heart's Content:

Well, it's not a fob yet. But I'm calling it a finish. I do have a whole stack of things I need to finish...mostly ornaments, but also some needlework accessories.

In my absence, I have also made progress on some of my other challenge pieces. I've been keeping up with my goals for Random Thoughts:

That blackwork border was fun! I thought it would be a pain, but it was so clever, I marveled at it the whole time I was stitching it.

I managed to get one of the corner gardens done on Chatelaine's Mystery II...but it's not looking good for me finishing this in 2011! This one corner took me so long, and there are 3 more to go...not to mention the rest of the thing!

That's a LOT of Jessica stitches!!

Another AotH block complete

The goal was to finish one block a month on my Anniversaries of the Heart sampler. I'm not quite doing that, but I did manage to finish February's block, even if it did take until almost mid March!

This block was dedicated to my mother's sister, Nora. She's been a huge part of my life and if you want to know more about how head on over to the post on my blog. I won't bore the rest of you that have already read it there here. But I will repeat myself and say that the "J" above her name is for her husband, Uncle Jim; the "S" is for her granddaughter Sara; and the other "J" (which is hard to see I know) is for my paternal aunt Joann. All four of these folks have birthdays in February.  Somehow I realized I didn't put my DF Heather on this and her birthday is in February, so when I pick it back up I'll put the H in for her, probably across from the S.

That's all for now. Stitching continues on Alphabets, and I've been slowly knitting on some shawls and a scarf that are on my needles. Hopefully I'll finish one of them soon.

Anniversary and Finishes

First the anniversary was my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. It was March 3rd,  I didn't quite finish their sampler in time, but since it's a surprise I'm not too worried. I finished the stitching on the 7th I believe and got it over to the framers where I'd already decided on the frame and they had it in ready to be put together. It should be all ready later this week. My pictures aren't great since I had to take them on the sly and was using my Dazor lamp for lighting.

An Emblem of Love, Designed by With My Needle

And a bit of a close up of the bottom, right hand corner.

It was stitched on 36ct Lakeside, V. Lt. Examplar with a single strand of Belle Soie in Eggplant and Florimell Silk Floss from Gloriana Threads in Old Gold. I couldn't have done this without two very special friends. First Melody (Woolwoman) who not only had the pattern in her stash and was willing to let me purchase it from her, but had the perfect fabric and the Belle Soie in her stash as well. "Shopping at Melody's" was wonderful and so helpful and allowed me to get started on it that much quicker. I knew I wanted to add some gold in, since this was for their Golden Anniversary. I tried two different silk fibers from my own stash and neither was right. Lucky for me Jackie (Jackie's Stitches) bought the perfect Gloriana silk while we were at The Attic in January and since I didn't need much and she doesn't need much for her project loaned me her skein so I could "get'r done". It's wonderful how great stitching friends are!

Speaking of Jackie, she's not the only one to finish Stacy Nash's Schoolgirl Linen Sewing Book.

Mine is a stained a little darker than Jackies as you can see, and the inside is probably different since I didn't like the pocket and decided to use some mother of pearl thread holders I had in my stash.

It took a lot of time to put together, but they look great.

I also finished a needlepoint ornament. I adore how it turned out and can't wait to see it on the tree next year.

And of course the back because...isn't this fabric just too adorable?

I was very lucky to be in just the right place at just the right time when I purchased this canvas. DF Jean and I were at In Stitches in Atlanta looking for a little something for me to work on while I was up there one time since I hadn't brought any stitching with me and we were going to stitch group that evening. I found this adorable snow bunny and of course had to have it but was having trouble deciding on fibers. As luck would have it Julia Snyder was in the shop just hanging around having gotten into town early for classes she was teaching at the shop that weekend. Since everyone else was busy she helped me put together a stitch guide and pick fibers. Of course that meant Jean and I had to sign up for her class the next time she was going to be in Atlanta, but that's a whole other post and picture.

That's all the finishes. I have been able to mark 2 more items off my list, the bunny was stitched last year. I'm slowly getting February's block of AotH finished. I did finish February's goal for Alphabets.

And with January's goal:

I'm not sure I'll attempt to take it off the scroll again any time soon. Maybe wait a few months. I'm hoping I can get March's goal complete, hint it fits in the blank spot you can see, fairly quickly. But first to finish up with Valentine Rose (AotH - February).

Hope everyone else if having a wonderful spring and enjoying time spent with needle and fiber!

Updates!

I finished this the end of February and didn't get a picture until last weekend. This is #9 on my goal list - Prairie Basket for Jo's Little Women Club. The enter is hand appliqued using the back basted method. I'm honestly not sure if hand applique is "my thing" but I'll give it another go at some point.

I also did the finishing on Stacy Nash's Schoolgirl Linen Sewing Book. This was about a 8-10 hour finishing process. I couldn't believe it took that long! I can now check off goal #11!

This next project wasn't on my goal list. It was started and finished last weekend. It's small, measuring at approximately 15x18". The quilting didn't take long because it's very light. I didn't want the finished project to be stiff as it's going to be sitting on a table at the holidays.

I've been able to cross a few things off my goal list. I'm not fooling myself, however, as I know I tacked the easy ones first. I just looked over my list and I can find one that probably isn't going to happen at all. The goal was "progress" and the project is currently in deep freeze. Where it just might stay! Which won't be the end of the world!

Maizie & Friends

I purchased Olga by Plum Street Samplers because the expression on the cat's face is almost identical to my little Maizie cat.  The sampler's now finished & ready for framing - you can compare the 2 and see for yourself.

Even their marking are the same! She is a beautiful tortoise shell kitty.
There is a saga to go with this sock; you can read more about it on my blog but here is the FO:

Another little FO (LHN sheep ornament;  not sure how I want to finally finish it):

I set Villages of Hawk Run Hollow aside for a spell, and started on the Rambo Sampler from the newest issue of SANQ, but until camera batteries are recharged I have no photo.  Wishing you a week of happy stitching!

MEET MISS MERRIE

I'm sure glad Merrie Halloween was on my 11 in 2011 Challenge list - I am very pleased to say she is finished.  Well - the binding has to be done but since I hire out my binding - my work is done !  This rug is 28" X 38" - Gosh I did not realize she was this big - It has taken me a little over 3 years to finish her - of course like everyone - I work on a lot of other things in between and for about a year after we moved - I did not hook much at all.   Here is a close up of the upper part of the rug - I just love the vining.  It is really full of color which you probably can't see from this tiny photo. I am having trouble uploading photos in the normal method - for some reason the select button at the bottom is just not alive when I try to add photos from my PC like I usually do.  So I had to get back into webshots and post from there which I have not done in years and have not kept my webshots on line album current.  So much trouble to post to the blog - to the album and to any groups I might belong to. So here is a shot of the entire rug. Hope you are all enjoying your handwork -

Red House In Winter Finish!

Only with Teresa's patience and tutelage this past weekend while we were at the Old Green Cupboard retreat was I able to finish my very first ornament. Thank you so much Teresa! I could never have done this without your help!