Elizabeth Sheffield Version 2.0

Some of you may remember that I started Elizabeth Sheffield awhile ago...

I was fairly happy with it, until I saw Jen's finished sampler. I loved the bright colors and the linen she stitched it on. I couldn't believe she stitched it with only one strand of DMC on 35 ct. linen. I thought it was just gorgeous! I couldn't resist... I put Elizabeth 1.0 away and started 2.0. :)

35 ct. Straw Linen by Weeks Dye Works, DMC (1 over 2)

I'm loving it! Thanks for letting me be a copy-cat, Jen! :)

Spring's Song Finished!

I just finished it today. I love how it turned out!

Blackbird Designs "Spring's Song"

Fabric: 40 ct. Lt. Examplar

Threads: Crescent Colours and Gentle Art

Started: 4/17/12 - Finished: 4/24/12

Now, I'm going to get back to Elizabeth Mears and hopefully get her finished up soon!

Back from Florida!

We had a great time in Florida. It really flew by. Now, I'm just trying to get used to getting up at 6 am every morning again. :)

I worked on Elizabeth Mears a little bit while down there. I finished up the eyelet and rice stitch borders...

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, NPI silks (1 over 2)

I decided to go to the cross stitch shop (Nantz Needlework and Framing) nearest my in-law's last Friday. I walked into the shop and there were a few people in there, but I didn't pay too much attention. I was walking around, looking at patterns, when I hear one of the ladies mention Swan Sampler Guild. I look over and wonder if it's Cari from Simply Fabulous Cari. I know her sister Cathy is in the guild and I know that Cari lives in the area. Sure enough it was her and we recognized each other at almost the exact same time. It was just too funny!! It was so great to finally meet her and two of her friends that were with her. They invited me to lunch with them and then to stitch at Starbucks. It was a wonderful day! I hope to meet up with Cari and her friends again in the summer.

Waiting for me when I got home was the newest Blackbird Loose Feathers. I just love the design "Spring's Song" inside the booklet...

Check out Brenda's beautiful progress!! I'm ready to drop everything and start! :)

Works in Progress

I went up to Amy's for a day of stitching and chatting yesterday. It was so nice to get away! I worked on Christmas Garden while I was there.

40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar, CC & GAST (1 over 2)

Earlier in the week I worked on Elizabeth Mears.

I'm now working on the eyelet alphabet row...

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, NPI (1 over 2)

And last, but not least, I got a little bit of stash while at Amys. I couldn't resist getting another fat 1/4 of the pretty dye-lot of Vintage Lt. Examplar that I'm using for Christmas Garden.

I can't wait to stitch this sweet little Adam & Eve design by Little House...

Well, next week is going to be very busy. The kids have field trips, egg hunts and dentist appointments. We are also going to be heading down to Florida on Thursday for spring break. We'll be down there for over a week, so I'll post when I can. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter with your families and friends.

Elizabeth Mears Progress

Here is a little progress on Elizabeth...

Progress as of 3/24/12

I finally finished the castle! After I finished the bottom half, I put the sampler on a scroll frame in order to do the specialty stitches a little easier.

Progress as of 3/26/12

The queen stitch band seemed to take forever. Mainly because I had to rip out parts of it twice and it still isn't quite right (it's up a stitch), but I wasn't going to take out again.

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, NPI silks (1 over 2)

Thank you for all your kind comments about my framed Sarah. I haven't hung it up yet - I have it setting on a small dresser near my stitching spot for now. I can't stop admiring it! :)

Sarah Elizabeth Brooke Framed!

I finally got something framed! I'm so proud of myself! I think it turned out beautiful...

Almost there....

I'm almost finished with the castle on Elizabeth Mears. I just have to add a chimney and a few other things on top. I'm sure those things have names, but I'm too tired to think of or search for what they might be. :)

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, NPI silks (1 over 2)

I also got a new pattern in the mail the other day...

It's "Jane Pattison 1806" by Shakespeare's Peddler. I have decided to use the cottons instead of the wools on 40 ct. linen. I think I'm going to go with Lakeside Linens Lentil.

Elizabeth Mears

I decided to get Elizabeth Mears back out yesterday. I really would love to get it finished up sometime this year. The castle is what made me put it away. It's huge! This is where I left off last year...

And this is where I'm at now...

40 ct. Vintage Meadow Rue, NPI silks (1 over 2)

I also worked on Christmas Garden a little bit...

40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar, CC and GAST (1 over 2)

I'm almost finished with the border. It really is such a fun sampler to stitch.

Another sampler I've wanted to stitch for a long time is Shakespeare's Peddler's "Spanish Mystery Sampler." I decided to kit it up after seeing Natalia's beautiful finish!

Not sure when I'll get to it, but I love it! Well, I'd better get going - I have a date with the copier at my son's school. :)

Christmas Garden Start

I started Blackbird Designs "Christmas Garden" last week. I wasn't sure if I was liking the colors, but I think they're growing on me now. :)

40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar, CC and GAST (1 over 2)

This sampler is so much fun to stitch. I have a little bit more stitched now and will share another picture soon. I asked Katrina for her permission to copy her idea of using the alphabet on the bottom instead of the words "Christmas Garden."

Another sampler I really want to start is "Mary Roe 1808" by The Scarlett House. Check out Margaret's beautiful finish!!

I was thinking of using the same linen for Mary Roe that I'm using for Christmas Garden - 40 ct. Vintage Lt. Examplar. It's a beautiful dye-lot.

Ann Grant Finished!

I just put the last stitch in Ann Grant. Wow, I can't believe I got it finished!! I love how it turned out. See my Flickr album for more pictures of Ann.

Shakespeare's Peddler "Ann Grant 1829"

Fabric: 40 ct. Summer Khaki over-dyed with Tan Rit Dye

Threads: Belle Soie, Thread Gatherer, Gloriana, AVAS and NPI

Started: 3/9/2011 - Finished: 3/6/2012