Saturday, January 14, 2012

A Decision Is Finally Made!

Hello lovelies!!

I am happy to announce that I have made a DECISION about Jane!!! Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.  I really appreciated it! I think that after all is said and done, if I'm not completely over joyed with a colour or whatever, go and change it because I will stitching this for awhile!!

After scrutinizing the photo in my pattern and finding the original Jane Philpott's sampler, that pale green that I have is far too light.  I also searched for a picture of the green AVAS silk for it and found that it is much darker than the HDF silk.  Sooooo, I am going to do the DMC equivalent because I'm not going to wait a month for 1 silk to arrive.  I think that I will use the pale green silk in other parts of the sampler, just not the border, and I think little Jane would have no problem with me doing that!! I have also decided to keep on going with the 1 over 2 because I think the coverage is fine, plus I'm too lazy to frog!!
I have to say that while stitching this sampler, I've given a lot of thought to that little girl and how I am amazed at her subtle colour choices.  It also got me wondering about how she plotted out her sampler.  Did she sketch it before she stitched it? Or did she use a guide, like we do? I would love to research the methods of how these girls created their samplers.  I know that they were practicing their stitches, but was there a standard book from what they learned from? Or was it people's imaginations were so much greater back then because they didn't have TV's or movies to watch?!  I really love stitching samplers because I feel they tell a story of the past, and being a major history buff with a history degree, I can't help but want to do research!!

I'm making this a quick post because I have to take off fairly quickly. I remembered that I should be posting more than once a week, but hey I do what I can do!!

Almost finished my mom's ornie!! Just need to find really tiny beads now and actually make it into an ornament!
I started another wedding heart, from the Needleprint site, for a dear friend who got married in Hawaii on my birthday! I told her now she will have to chose between me and her husband!! I was kidding of course, it will obviously be me!! I should have started this in November, but I didn't so now I am! I'm using Dinky Dyes silk in Madi's Rose. This is one of the loveliest silks I have used.  Maybe it's because I'm using two strands of silk instead of one like I usually do, but it truly glides like butter through the fabric!!

I also won a small pack giveaway from Victorian Sampler Motto Shop!! Nancy is so generous and sent me a lovely selection of the prettiest of gauzy laces in a dusty rose colour! I will have to peruse her shop when I have more time (and funds!!).
I really love her black crow spice bags and am thinking it would be a perfect gift for a friend of mine.  Too bad her birthday is in two weeks and there's no way to get it and stitch it in time.  I may reserve it for next Christmas!!
Speaking of that friend, I forgot to post her gift tags in the last post!! Must be loosing my mind now that I'm older!! She really is quite talented!
I know I haven't responded back to everyone's comments from last post, so I will say thank you here!! My Christmas was lovely, minus the cold I got that I am still trying to shake.  The neck and shoulder situation is still an issue, and I've been putting off going to the doctor's (I really hate waiting for hours at the clinic).  But I will muster up the courage to go this week and see what needs to be done.

Take care and happy stitching!!

Hugs for all!!

22 comments:

Cristina said...

I'm crazy about samplers as well, even though if there are any Portuguese ones I don't know about them. It must have come through my liking of the British culture (husband included) I love your pieces and you see you will be pleased by changing the colours - it will look wonderful.

Gabi said...

That's a good decision. And one that will make you happy :)
Love that sampler btw.
The ornie is looking good too, so is your wedding heart.

Margaret said...

Sounds like you made the right decision on Jane. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Jane is so pretty! I so need to stitch her.... Nice lace prize! And I love your mom's ornie -- so cute!

Ewa said...

Your stitching looks wonderful and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that middle lace - so delicate and beautiful :)

Teresa said...

Never thought much about samplers, you have me thinking now.
Cute ornament for your mom. Can't wait to see more of the heart piece.
You recieved some nice new stash.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Kaisievic said...

I love samplers. Lovely post, Anne, really interesting.

I hope that your shoulder and neck gets better soon.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

sana said...

Beautiful sampler. The choice of color is splendid. Lovely gift tags! Ilike these too!

Mouse said...

so glad you have made a decision that you are happy with on the sampler and I like you often wonder how they managed with the big ones plotting them out etc .... love those tags and your start for your friends wedding piece and GOOOOOO to the dr's and get sorted !!!! love mouse xxxxx

Carol said...

I think you've made a wise decision on the sampler colors, Anne! Better to make the change now than decide you aren't happy with it in the end!!

Your mom's ornament is so sweet--nothing like a snowman to make you smile :)

Rhona said...

I think your research into how the girls did their sampler would be very interesting indeed! I would love to know how they did it.
Your Mum's ornament is lovely, hope you can find the tiny beads you need.
Love your wedding heart...can't wait to see more of it!

cucki said...

hello deary, your stitching is looking so lovely..
yup..i think you made a nice decision on the sampler colors..
i hope you feel better soon..
sending you hugs xxx

Chris said...

The stitching is beautiful. I am glad that you found a solution.
Good luck at the Dr.s I hope the shoulder is better soon.

Minnie said...

The wedding heart is lovely and I love the threads you are using. That lace looks like it could be used with this design.

valerie said...

Sounds like you made a good decision on the color change. You have to be happy esp. with those BAPs. The snowman ornie is so cute! Can't wait to see it all blinged out. Good start on the heart too. And those dusty rose laces are awesome! Will be great for finishing. I'm glad to hear you had a nice Orthodox Christmas. :)

Dani - tkdchick said...

Glad to hear you changed your green to something you're more happy with!

Great start on your friends wedding gift.

Topcho said...

That sounds like a good decision for Jane. After all what is the most important id for you to be happy with it! The ornie looks really cute and a great new start too!

♥ Nia said...

I love that blue snowman, he's so cute =)))
Lovely laces!! so pretty :) Lucky you :D

Veronica said...

Beautiful stitching as usual. The snowman will make such a cute ornament.

Love both the pink lace and the pink floss you're using for the heart design.

Wow! What a gorgeous collection of gift tags. Your friend sure is talented.

Hugs,
Veronica.

Siobhán said...

I love reading about the history of samplers! Your stitching is wonderful--sounds like you came to a good decision on Jane!

Beautiful gift tags!

Lynn said...

I think you made a wise choice in regards to the floss. I've been running into some of the same issues with my Paradis Perdu and have swapped out some of the colours. Of course I'm doing a silk conversion which may be part of the problem.

I have always been fascinated by the stitching of these young girls on their samplers. Their stitching never ceases to amaze me!

Your friend has done some beautiful work on the gift tags!

Sally said...

I'm glad you made a decision about your sampler that you feel happy about. It is looking gorgeous too.

Love your ornament! So cute but then again I'm biased as I love snowmen!

Beautiful start on the heart for your friend.

Congratulations on your win. Those laces are beautiful.

Wow your friend did an amazing job on the gift tags!

Joysze said...

Annie!!! You have my favorite pic up! :D

Great decision on the JP. I'm sure she won't mind at all about the color change and really... no frogging is a winnah!! :D

AHAHAHAHAHA, of course she'd choose you! You'd choose her over Lee too, I'm sure. *cackle, cackle*

Can't wait to see ornie all done and YUMMMMMMY colors on the wedding heart. You gonna use some of those pretty lace to in there? :)

Oooh, I see what you mean about those tags. Stunning!!!

Shoulder doing ok?