Autumn Inspiration

Fall colors and specialty stitches

Cutwork borders and shiny beads

Beautiful shading

A masterpiece in miniature (about 6 ½" by 4 ½")

Miniature Autumn Sampler by TW Designworks (Teresa Wentzler)
28ct ivory Jobelin by Zweigart
DMC cotton floss, Gloriana Silk
Mill Hill Beads

It took me a year to finally sit down and stitch this and I’m not disappointed. But I’ve delayed the finishing because I want to do it justice and am just not sure what to do -frame it or hemstitch the borders. Maybe I’ll stitch the Miniature Winter Sampler and then decide. Hmmmmm, I’m thinkin’ . . .

More Mini Samplers

May, June, and July Mini Samplers. I know, I know. I’m w-a-a-a-a-y behind! Some things just can’t be helped since life does have a way of making demands. I’m frantically playing catch-up now that things have quieted somewhat.

We’re into Fall but here’s a glimpse of summer past.

MAY - yummy red ripe strawberries . . .

May Flowers by Periwinkle Promises
28ct antique white Glasgow linen
Soie d’Alger silk floss

JUNE - flying kites and ice cream cones . . .

Kites & Cones by Periwinkle Promises
28ct raw Cashel linen
Soie d’Alger silk floss

JULY . . . get ready for a picnic. Burgers, baskets, & watermelons and, yes, those are ants running around the border!

Picnic Feast by Periwinkle Promises
28ct antique white Glasgow linen
Soie d’Alger slk floss

Mini Sampler: April

Another mini sampler has joined the bunch. Here's what I've done so far -

The group picture shows April in front. While doing these I've noticed something interesting happening. At first I was very stingy with the polyester stuffing and then became very generous. January is slim, February isn't quite as thin as January, March is rounded, and April is chubby. By the time I get to December, it'll be rotund! I'm going to have to go easy on the stuffing or they're going to split their seams!

Here's April, with tiny blue raindrops falling on umbrellas.

Spring Showers by Periwinkle Promises

28 count linen, silk floss

The top flower vine is scattered with spider web rosettes, a new stitch introduced this month, and the vine below it is done in Queen's stitch with French knot flowers.

Not related but a quick-to-stitch project - a free chart that I got with an order.

First Robin of Spring
designed by Elizabeth Foster

I think I like the red frame better.

Petites Lettres Rouges

Blackbird Designs has offered a free chart of a wonderful little red sampler to be stitched for a contest. I don't think I've ever stitched so fast so that I could complete it in time.



This was stitched in loving memory of my grandmother whose name is stitched into the sampler. Unfortunately, I don't know her age at the time this photo of her was taken.
I was raised miles away from her in another state, but the same warmth and beauty that surrounded my father as he grew up was felt the first time I entered her house. Multi-colored quilts, embroidered linens, and crochet-edged pillowcases adorned every room. I believe my love of needlework began the moment I stepped within these walls and saw these beautiful ‘labors of love’. While stitching Petites Lettres Rouges, I added the motif of the crown over the heart which symbolizes love – her love of needle and thread. This love of handwork now encompasses another generation since my daughter has found the great satisfaction of creating with her hands through knitting and quilting.

Petites Lettres Rouges by Blackbird Designs
32 count off-white linen

DMC cotton floss - 814, 815, 498

Gentle Art Sampler Threads - Onyx

I backed the sampler with the same linen and stitched "In Loving Memory", the year, and my name. The front and back were then sewn together using the backstitch/whipstitch method as for a biscornu and added a red floss hanger. Around the red border on the front I did a running stitch with white floss to create a raised effect on the edge as a 'self-frame' which you can see
here.



I plan to frame the photograph of my grandmother and display her photo and the sampler together. I might even mount the sampler onto linen and frame. I will then write memories I have of her and a brief history of this sampler and place this in a pocket attached to the back of the frame.

Mini Sampler - March

The March mini sampler from Periwinkle Promises has been finished - shamrocks, lucky horseshoes, a rainbow, and a pot of gold.

Mini Sampler - March

Pot of Gold by Praiseworthy Stitches

(28 ct raw Cashel linen & silk)

GOLD?

(I wish)

oooooooooh

I could buy more stuff to stitch!

Mini Sampler - February

Mini Sampler – February
Cupid’s Delight (silk & 28 count linen kit) from Periwinkle Promises

Mini Sampler - January

Quick project. This is small about the size of a 3x5 index card. Instant gratification. I plan (we know what happens to plans, don't we?) on doing one a month until I have the whole calendar year. Only 11 more to go and I've already started on February's. Make that 10 1/2 to go. I'm on a roll now!

Winter Fun (silk & 28 count linen kit) from Periwinkle Promises

Little bit of cross stitch, mostly specialty stitches - sew the back on, stuff it, add tassels and it becomes a mini pillow. I think I'll had a little floss hanger to the back & hang it. Of course, it doesn't have to be made into a pillow - it could be the front of a needlebook or it could even be framed.