Moving right along

  I seem to be getting better at the rotation thing.  I managed to finish this month's Ann Bowers assignment,

Ann Bowers
45 ct linen w/DMC

although I did notice after I inserted the picture that I didn't finish off the top of one of the strawberries.
  Frances Pool also saw the light of day this past week.  I would have been farther along with her but my old friend the color conflict came to visit, again.  This is where I got this time around.

Frances Pool
WDW  40 ct Parchment
w/most of the specified colors

The next motif, which should go where my needle is, is a Quaker style bird and berry design.  The bird is supposed to be stitched in WDW Sage but the skein I have is WAY too striped to work birds in!!  I went to my LNS this afternoon and found one that more suits my taste so hopefully I can get some more work done on this one this coming week.
  Of course, the piece that has been taking up most of my stitching time is one I can't show on the blog.  It is the birthday piece for my good friend Tommye and since she reads my blog, it will have to remain a no-show until I give it to her the end of March.  Hopefully I'll have it finished by then!  I guess I better get off this computer and get to it!!
  Later,  Laura

From Reproduction to Adaptation

  I have spent the majority of the past week and a half working on Ann Bowers.  This is a SAL hosted by the Attic and since I've had this sampler in my stash for a really long time I thought this would be a good opportunity to get to work on it.  Then I started it...
  I know that when a sampler is reproduced, the designer must choose to use either the front, which is usually faded, or the back of the sampler to make the color selections. I also know that when colors fade over time, you can wind up with some pretty funky colors a hundred or so years down the road.  But I just could not bring myself to stitch BROWN strawberries!!! There are some really lovely colors in this sampler and it never occurred to me that the strawberries would be brown, so in an effort to save my sanity,  I changed them.
  I pulled out my DMC card and the other colors that would be stitched in the strawberries and I did a family match for a darker color.  It is still a brown but has a lot more red in it and is one I can live with!
Now, I guess we have an adaptation instead of a reproduction but at least I will be able to stand to work on it and later hang it on my wall!

Ann Bowers

  I had hoped to get this months work done and move on to something else since I am supposed to be working a rotation.  The 45 ct. is a lot slower to work on than I thought it would be.  I have worked on it before but a much smaller piece and it was a motif sampler with less densely packed stitching. I do love the way this looks, with the minor color adjustment, so I've kept plugging away but now the next assignment for this piece is out and I am behind again!! I've decided to  work on it until I get the next part finished and then move on.  This is where I am right now:

Ann Bowers
45 ct. Florence Linen w/ DMC

I have the carnation band to finish (hopefully today) and then 2 rows of alphabet and I will be caught up.
   I have totally neglected all my other stitching with the exception of the piece I am carrying to stitch group now.  I needed something easy to carry around to my various groups so I started this one.

Little House
Winter Plaid
34 ct Plantation Linen w/ colors listed

  I had to adjust the white in this piece since I am stitching with one thread but other than that, all is going well. (Except for that mishap I had with reading the chart and stitching the roof in the wrong color and having to rip it out and do it again!!)  This one should be stress free stitch for a while.
  The rotation thing doesn't seem to be working for me so I'm not sure how I will deal with that. I am supposed to be picking up another WIP for Nicola's challenge as well as working on Ellen Chester's SAL of the Maryland Inspiration Sampler, not the mention 272 Words that I am stitching for the Hubs and that March birthday piece that is starting to scream in my ear.  I keep hearing 'stitch faster, stitch faster' and 'pick me!'  in my dreams!!
  Wish me luck,  Laura

Finish Ann Grimshaw...Check

  I put the last stitches into Ann Grimshaw last night.  I can't believe she is finally finished!!!  This sampler has been on my lap frame for about 3 years now and I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to call it done.  But it is!

Ann Grimshaw 1818
40 ct. Lakeside Navy Bean
w/ Splendor silk

   So now I'm doing the happy dance big time and trying to figure out what to work on next.  Ann Bowers sure could use some attention...

Saved by my framer

   I was starting to get anxious about the amount of time it has been since my last post.  I am working ever diligently on Ann Grimshaw and see an end fast approaching but I didn't want to post another picture of her until I had her finished.  Since that is the only sampler I have worked on for nearly 2 weeks, I didn't have anything else to post about!
  Then, this morning the call came from my framer.  It had been a while since I dropped off those pieces and I expected her to call any day so I was really excited to hear that she finally had them ready.  You may remember that I had finished Christmas Rules early in January. I just love the way this turned out!

Christmas Rules

The frame is cherry and the outer bevel is black.  Hard to see I know but should be clickable.  Then I also picked up this one that my friend Tommye stitched for me for my birthday.  I love this one too!

  The frame on this one is actually a dark green and although not my usual style, I really like it.  (Also clickable to be able to see color.) I was having a hard time deciding what to do since my stand-by cherry really didn't work with this one and the Larson-Juhl rep, who just happened to be in the shop at the time, put this one on it and it was just perfect!
  I am working as fast as I can on Ann and should have a finish this weekend and shortly after, a new post.  Until then, keep on stitching!  Laura