I knew she had to be somewhere amongst my things. And while it took two times through the bins (such a painful job digging through stash bins...), I did find her. I've got quite a lot crammed into some of those bins and she had sunk down into it and I just missed her. I was certain I had finished her, but I see I never did get around to sewing on the beads (hence the reason she wasn't in my "finished" bin). She's a little wrinkled, but the worst of the wrinkles are at least on the sides. The little saying reads: "There where the weeping willow weeps, a dainty housewren sweetly cheeps".
Here she is a little closer. The color of the linen is very off (I took the photo at night with the use of a lamp), but the floss colors aren't too bad. I stitched her on 40 count Ink Spot Black by R&R Reproductions using Needlepoint Silks. I plan on finishing her as a cushion. On the chart Kathy of Carriage House Samplings mentions she used olive brown velvet, so I may look for that as well. She somehow seems like she deserves velvet over regular cotton fabric. And I've never added beads around the edges (they'll be slightly raised in half circles), so that will be an adventure. First I'll need to order my velvet, though.
It's impossible (for me anyway) to look through my stash bins without pulling something out that I want to stitch. I came across this "Sampler Heart" by The Needle's Content. I've had the chart and floss for a long time but have never gotten around to getting the linen. It calls for 36 count Navy Bean. I'm trying hard to work from my stash and not accumulate too much new stuff, so I was thinking I might just stitch this on 40 count Lambswool. It seems like it would be quick to stitch up (said the world's slowest stitcher), and it would be another perfect February design. So it stays by by bedside.
When I saw Terri's beautiful Elizabeth Savilles sampler in all its pink glory, all I could think is 'I must get this one, too', but then I started thinking of all the designs I have kitted up and ready to go. So I am trying to distract myself and pulled out an entirely different sampler. Not so pink, but still very pretty. Now I'm not sure I'll start stitching this, since I need to finish this and will soon be starting this (hopefully this weekend) but it's nice to look at and think about. I have my Quaker Heart to finish in the interim--maybe in time for Valentine's Day?