I was holding off posting here until I had finished my Prairie Schooler "February Sampler", but as I am still working on it, I thought I had better just share my progress before January slips away entirely. I still want to try and finish this before next month, and I am getting close. I only need to finish filling in the snow/white under the houses and add a bit of backstitching. Almost done!
All that white fill in was getting tedious, so I pulled out my poor "Mystery Sampler" by Blackbird Designs. It has been untouched for months and months. I wasn't looking forward to those eyelet stitches for the grapes, but I need to just knuckle down and do them. I don't like how my eyelets look, but I think once they are done they'll be okay. There was no explanation on the chart about how the eyelets are to be done or how many plies of floss, so I have been using two--not sure that is right, but the smyrnas called for two plies, so I decided to keep it all uniform. I'm ready to move on to section three, so I am stitching away on this one now.
And after seeing Susan's gorgeous finish, I was thinking Hillside Sampling's "Strawberry Fields" might be my 2012 project. My long term project that is. I accomplished very little last year and hope to do better this year. We'll see, so it's best not to make too many plans or assume I'll whip this design out quickly, since I expect it will take me months to finish.
Here's my little start. It looks like a challenging project, so I hope I can stick it out and do it on my own!
February sampler looks great! Nice finish!
Posted by: Dianne | January 22, 2012 at 04:34 PM
Dianne--Almost there, but mostly done! Just that white fill-in. Thanks for the kind words! :)
Posted by: Danielle | January 22, 2012 at 04:51 PM
Your February sampler is so sweet and you are so close to a finish! I know what you mean about white being tedious. I love snowmen designs, but hesitate to stitch them because of all that white. I have the Hillside Samplings Strawberry set all stitched and ready to finish. It was a fun stitch and the linen color is to die for! Enjoy!
Posted by: Robin | January 22, 2012 at 05:20 PM
Robin--I'm looking forward to the Strawberry bag--it's such a pretty design and the linen is really a lovely color and just the right stiffness--I like working on stiffer linen. I need to study the chart and make sure I am working everything correctly--and hopefully the finishing won't be too hard. As for February--I'll just keep chipping away at that white--winter designs are nice, but yes, that white puts me off, too.
Posted by: Danielle | January 22, 2012 at 05:25 PM
Beautiful stitching! You are so close on February. I know how it is to be stitching with white though. It gets boring. A little at a time and you'll be done in no time. SO glad to see the Mystery Sampler again. This is one of my favorites!
Posted by: Valerie | January 22, 2012 at 06:11 PM
I have been watching you stitch February and love it. I had to add it to my Feb. starts.
Linda
Posted by: Linda | January 22, 2012 at 06:13 PM
They're all great WIPs! Love the fabric for Strawberry Fields.
Posted by: Giovanna | January 22, 2012 at 06:23 PM
Valerie--Thanks. I thought I would zip through that bottom part, but it seems to be dragging--must just keep at it. I love the Mystery design, too, and am really happy to be working on it again. I do love Blackbird Designs, and I am determined to finish it this year!
Linda--Watching all year! :) I think I must have started it Last February--but I'll be finishing it soon and I think I have another PS design lined up for after at! Aside from the white, I've really enjoyed stitching it.
Giovanna--Thanks. Isn't the color for the linen lovely. It seems a nice project to work on now--something bright and pretty when it is gloomy outside.
Posted by: Danielle | January 22, 2012 at 09:11 PM
Yay for starting your Strawberry Fields set! I found it easy to finish, so you should have no troubles!
February looks great!
Posted by: Susan | January 23, 2012 at 06:42 AM
Beautiful stitching
Posted by: Deanne | January 23, 2012 at 04:03 PM
Hi Dani, I am generally a lurker on your blogs but I would like to ask you something - can you email me on stedman.margaret@gmail.com
Posted by: Margaret Stedman | January 25, 2012 at 06:55 PM
Great projects, they're all looking lovely.
I have the Strawberry bag in my stash for far to long too. I really must get to stitching soon.
Posted by: Karoline | February 01, 2012 at 08:29 AM
Your projects are looking lovely. I haven't touched my mystery sampler for so long either, I think I have too many WIP's and can't concentrate on any one for long enough.
Posted by: Suzanne | February 02, 2012 at 05:35 AM
Oh my, this PS piece is looking so great. But I can hear you on the filling in of the white snow. Such things are just boring, lol. But I'm sure you can soon show the finished piece.
Great WIPs!
Posted by: Brigitte | February 04, 2012 at 09:43 AM