Oh Oh!

Ooops!

Okay maybe it's not a disaster but I made a mistake when I calculated the amount of fabric I would need for my Prairie Schoolers and it means a complete change in plans.  I think I mentioned that I was going to stitch all 4 of the designs on the same piece of fabric.  I had discussed it with my framer and we decided it would be easier to frame that way.  Well, I forgot to take that into account when I was figuring out how much fabric I need to cut.  I only measured it as though I had one design going across and top to bottom instead of two.  I was getting ready to start stitching and realized the fabric looked really small for what I wanted.  I do have enough of the same fabric for all 4 pieces.  I'll just have to stitch all the pieces separately.  That's not a big problem but it will make it harder on the framer.  Oh well, what's the old saying, measure twice cut once.  I should remember that for next time.

A Little Progress

August 19, 2015

I've managed to make some progress on my daughter's wedding sampler.  Now that I'm not frogging every other letter, I'm quickly making my way across the top.  I am going to work on the page to the right so I can roll the scroll frame up a bit.  It's getting a little difficult working at the bottom of the frame now.  If I keep at this, I can actually see myself being able to finish this in plenty of time.  Knock on wood!  Hope I haven't jinxed myself now. 

Prairie Schooler Fabric Choice

Well, I came to a decision about the fabric I'm going to use in my Prairie Schooler, I'm stitching for the SAL.  Here were my choices:

Floss Toss 26 count Heatherfield

Floss Toss 14 count Linaida

I've decided to go with the Linaida.  I really like the Heatherfield but I'm afraid the darker browns won't show up as well on it.  So the Linaida it is.  Of course, I do reserve the right to change my mind before I start.

Oh and just a heads up.  Nancy over at the Victorian Motto is having a give-away on her blog, Victorian Mottos Sampler Shoppe.  Hop on over and see what she is offering.

Prairie Schooler SAL

I was so disappointed when I heard the designers of Prairie Schooler had decided to retire.  They have been some of my favorite designs since I began cross stitching.  That being said, I have never actually stitched any of their designs.  I don't know why, there has always been other things that have taken priority over them.  I do have many of their older patterns in my stash though.  So when I saw that Kaye (Kaisievic is her blog title) was hosting a SAL, I knew I had to join in.  This is the pattern I have chosen to stitch to honor the ladies of Prairie Schooler.

It's called The Four Seasons and I think it's my favorite design of theirs.  I found it years ago in a Ben Franklin's (that tells you just how long ago it was!) and for some reason, as much as I liked it, didn't buy it at the time.  Of course, when I went back to get it, it was gone and OOP so I gave up on the idea of stitching it.  Then several years later, I was browsing in a used bookstore and found it lurking in a magazine rack just waiting for me to get it into my hot little hands.  This time, I snatched it up.  I wasn't going to let it go a second time.  I stuffed it into my filing cabinet and just never got around to stitching it.  But I have decided that this will be the perfect chart to use for the SAL.  I have pulled all the threads but am still undecided about the fabric.  It's between a 14 count Linaida or a 26 count (over 2) Hickory Heatherfield.  I'll probably decide this week and get to work on it soon.  I am going to have it framed just like it shows on the cover.  I love the idea of a window pane mat.  It will be stitched in one piece since my framer thinks it will be easier to frame that way.  I'm really looking forward to starting this one.

A Wedding Sampler

Well, here we are another month has gone by and I've neglected my poor blog.  I really need to schedule a time every week and just make it a priority.  Maybe that will allow me to post more often.

I have started another project.  This one is a wedding sampler for my daughter.  I let her choose from a number of different samplers and she chose this one.

1st Corinthians 13 by My Big Toe

This is 1st Corinthians 13 by My Big Toes Design.   It is so special to me because this was the Bible reading Dave & I had at our wedding 36 years ago.  My plan is to lengthen the border on the bottom and add their names and date of their wedding.  I'm working the border as I go so as to not have a disaster at the end if they don't meet.  I am stitching it over 1 on 28 count ivory lugana with Gentle Arts threads.  Hate these threads for stitching over one.  Should have tried to find an equivalent color in Threadworx.  They are much easier to use than the sampler threads.  But this is what she wanted and like a good mom, I'm going to make it her way even if it kills me.  I have already frogged it several times.  Oh, the things we do for our kids.  Here is my progress as of yesterday.

8/7/2015

I promised her I would have it done by their wedding which is June 11, 2016.  I should make it as long as I don't have to frog too often.