Sorry in advance for the quality of most of these photos! I took them in a hurry as I want to post this quickly and then get to work on finishing my "Sampler Farm". Even though those last stitches seem to be taking me forever, I promise I am going to finish it before I start anything new. That doesn't mean of course that I can't think ahead. I want to work on something small--wanting a bit more instant gratification. I was thinking along the lines of something by Prairie Schooler, but when I went looking I found loads more UFOs I might work on rather than starting an entirely new project (though that may happen, too). Here's what I found (and I do love looking through my stash!). A warning--some of the photos I am about to share with you were started years (and I do mean Years ago).
I started this one last summer (or maybe even the summer before?). I love Just Nan, but she does use a lot of color changes for very small motifs and I think I tired of this one too quickly.
I had this idea in mind when I pulled out these charts. I would stitch one small design for each month of the year choosing the design I liked most from each chart and then finish them into little accessories. I finished January through March and then stumbled with April and didn't quite finish the year. Though I do love bee skeps, so July (not sure which month that is actually) just needs to be finished. A pinkeep maybe? Any ideas?
I was zipping right along with this one and loving it, but then I decided I didn't like the look of her face and set it aside. Silly, I know. Maybe I should reconsider. I do love Little House Needleworks and I don't think I've finished one of her charts...though I have started several!
This is one of my oldest UFOs. It's actually one of the very first charts I ever stitched when I started working on linen. I think I set it aside as it is riddled with errors. Who would know, of course. I really should finish this.
I've stitched some of these gloves before, but gave them all away. I was thinking I could do one or two for me and then stitch that little rabbit that's in the corner of the far left chart and make it into a fob and have a little set. I also want to stitch the little "Rain Rain, Go Away" design. I also stitched that one and gave it away, but I'd like it for myself. I might finish it as mattress cushion (what is the proper name for those?).
I love these tiny designs. I stitched these years ago, too, and never got around to finishing them--I have the little frames. I didn't stitch the sunflower, though, as it is all french knots, which I find extremely hard to do. I have another chart with small designs and wonder if I can kit them up and start stitching?
This is only missing three star buttons. It's fairly small and I was thinking of making it into a cushion (whipstitching the front and back together), but I don't really want tassles on the corner (I like tassles, but I am lazy about making them). Is there anything else that looks cool that could go on the corners? Maybe I should just look for nice fabric and make it into a pillow/pin cushion?
Last one. Another bee skep, that I was probably going to make into a fob. My enthusiasm just fizzled away on this one. And the red, white and blue strawberry--most likely I didn't get it done by the Fourth and just set it aside. I've also made strawberries and given them away, too. I'm being greedy these days and wanting to keep everything for myself.
The sad thing is, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to UFOs or projects that are stitched but not yet finished. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this. I also have far too many books started as well!
Oh, and I've not forgotten about my Mystery Sampler (or my Houses of Hawk Run Hollow either), but that is a long term project that I will pick up again as soon as my "Sampler Farm" is done!