I think I finally have enough stitches put in on part two of my Blackbird Designs "Mystery Sampler" to share a progress photo. This is a slightly narrower section, so it seems to stitch up fairly quickly. And as I have a long weekend this weekend I hope to get in a bit more stitching time than I've had in the past couple of weeks. This is on the stitching agenda, but I also want to work on something else--either try and finish my Prairie Schooler--Rain, Rain design or maybe even start something new. I may have to dig around in my stash bins to see what I'm in the mood for. Actually I think I am in the mood for a proper, traditional sampler, or maybe a Quaker design. Or, who knows, maybe something entirely different. I'll let you know what I decide.
As July 1 has come and gone, Carriage House Samplings is no longer in business. At least no longer producing new designs. Anything that is left is now only to be had from Kathy's Etsy Shop. While I completely understand her wish to move on to something she feels more inspired to do, I am very, very sad to see her designs go out of print. I've been a great fan from the very first and have a nice stack of charts from her earliest days. As I haven't been stitching as much in the last few years, I've also stopped buying new designs, so sadly I probably won't be able to own many of her more recent charts.
I did break down, however, and request "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" and "Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow". I have the other charts in the series, and though I've yet to actually finish stitching any of them, I couldn't bear the thought I might not have the others later on when I do get around to stitching them. The thing is the shop where I tried to order them is sold out as are her distributors. Panic! I lucked out and there were still a few copies through her Etsy shop. I wonder how long before the rest of the designs become scarce? The thing is I am making myself budget in order to pay off my credit card (am determined to finally do it), which means no purchases on whims as this is what keeps me from paying the darn thing off. I made an exception with these (and of course they had to be the more expensive designs) as I'm not sure how easy they will be to get later secondhand, and I don't want to pay twice the cost. Is anyone snapping up her work before it disappears? As for anything else I was tempted by, I will just have to content myself with the charts I already own and have not yet stitched (and there are plenty of those in my stash)!
If you are celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend, have a safe and enjoyable holiday. And if you aren't, have a great weekend, too. Mine will hopefully be spent doing lots of reading and stitching and maybe even watching a movie or two. Happy Stitching everyone.