Sampler Week?

That floral motif I was working on last Sunday ended up taking a good bit of my stitching time this week.

I didn't think it would take more than a day or two, but I forgot about that 1,225 stitches per square inch thing that happens when you're working over one on 35 count linen. Apparently it takes me awhile to do 1, 225 stitches per square inch, and I believe there was more than one square inch in the part I was doing.

But that motif is finished and I started the outlining on the next flower.

There would be more outlining but I got off by one thread and really needed to fix it because if would take way too much fudging to leave it alone. I know Jean Lea always said always forward, never backwards--but this is one time I will have to agree to disagree, even with Jean.

Actually, I just told a story. The blue motif isn't quite finished. The center of the flower is supposed to have a multitude of tiny bullion stitches. However, I'm working on a scroll frame and I don't want the bullions to either be smushed or to stretch out later sections of the linen as the scroll frame is turned. I have tried using a pad of batting to cushion highly textured stitches but that hasn't always been successful.

Consequently, I have a little notebook in which I am recording which motifs will need extra work after their bases are done. There are a number of motifs that have raised petals, and I definitely do not want them smushed. I'll be happy if I can do a decent job on the needlelace so I really don't want create my own problems.

Other than that, I have been organizing and reorganizing the stash. I have a pile of projects I want to touch and another pile that I want to finish--they've been hanging around way too long.

And then there's always the new stuff that tempts and teases. . . Tricia Nguyen has been showing the beginning of a new casket design . . . and Betsy Morgan has a new book coming out that is a stitched casket with loads of goodies that will live inside it . . . and there are new online classes coming up which make me want to finish some of the old online classes that I've taken but haven't quite completed.

And I'm not even going to talk about the books I want to read and the recipes I want to try. 

How did I ever find time to work? Retirement is busy!

Monday rolls around again

 I know when you're retired that every day is Saturday, but this weekend seemed to zoom past me faster than the speed of light. And that's probably because I had one stitch-in, two EGA Special Interest Group meetings, and a lecture from Relics in Situ to attend, all from the comfort of my armchair.

It also meant that I was able to get a lot of stitching done.

During the SIG for surface embroidery, I stitched leaves and managed to get all the ones in the medium shade of green finished. In case you missed it, this is the vintage Elsa Williams kit of Paul Revere's ride. I've decided that it will be my travel piece since I don't need extra light or magnification, perfect for hotel room stitching.

And then there's my Sampler Sunday project:

It took a minute to fill in those humongous green leaves. I will not lie, it was boring, SO boring. I was glad to have the online conversations while I stitched. However, I am sorely tempted to go ahead and finish the flower today, and then I'll be ready to go to the next motif next Sunday.

And why not? I am the boss of me.

And I'm retired, so every day can be Sampler Sunday if I want it to be.

Finished, Done, All Over!

 Liberty for All is finally finished!!!

I kept thinking that just one more day of stitching and I'd have it done. 

I was wrong.

For a little bitty sampler with only a few colors, there are a lot of stitches.

But now it is done, done, DONE!

Now I have to figure out which of my WIPs will be the next to do--but right now, I am enjoying having a finish.

Architecture and a Rabbit Hole

 The house in the middle of the Liberty sampler has been built. It just needs to have the front door hung and the landscaping finished, and I'll be ready to stitch the bottom third.

I was stitching merrily along, thinking I just have a bit more of this to stitch and then Clara's skirt and I would have my planned Fourth of July projects done . . . until, that is, I remembered something buried deep in the stash. And then I fell down the rabbit hole.

A vintage Elsa Williams kit--I wonder if it was originally designed for the Becentennial fifty years ago. I can't remember if I found this at an estate sale or a stash destash or what, but if there was ever an appropriate time to stitch it, I guess this is it.

Plus, assembling the stool part and painting it will give Dearly Beloved something to do. Lately he's really needed something to do.

And if you've been married a certain amount of time and are retired, you'll know exactly what I mean by that.

Can't Put It Down

 If you've followed me for any length of time, you may have noticed I don't tend to be a monogamous stitcher.

But I can't seem to put Liberty for All down so I can work on what I'd originally planned to stitch this week.

I have passed the halfway mark as of tonight, and something tells me that one of two things will happen:

• I will continue to work on this and this alone until it's done, or . . .
• Tomorrow morning I will hop out of bed and decide I can't stand to do another stitch on it.

I guess we'll both find out what the answer is tomorrow morning.

A Tisket, A Tasket, a Patriotic Basket

The first motif for the center part of Liberty for All is now complete!

I have to admit, it was the berry border that drew me to the design, but I do love this basket.

 Just a little more and I'll be to the center of the project. This may actually be a finish before the Fourth.

(And just to let my nerd flag fly, I did watch part of Star Wars today so I can say "May the Fourth be with you" and move on. )

Robin was kind enough to fill me in on what people are currently doing for Maynia now. (See the comments on yesterday's post.) If I get five projects finished, I could finally say that I have participated. However, as I have once again decided that I am not going to work to a deadline on anything and stitch on whatever strikes my fancy, I am not going to declare any goals.

Although, after the way the first third of the year has gone, I'll be happy if I manage to thread a needle on a daily basis.

Stems and Veins

 I got a very late start on Sampler Sunday today, and this is all I have to show thus far.

I had hoped that I would get all the outlined areas filled in today but, unless I stay up all night--and that would run into Sampler Monday, which isn't a thing (yet)--I don't think that will happen.

However, I did spend a delightful hour with a lecture sponsored by the Great Lakes Region of EGA. The people behind Relics in Situ talked about raised or dimensional embroidery of the 16th and 17th centuries. OMG, the close-up pictures they showed were phenomenal! The things the embroiderers of that time could accomplish--simply amazing! And, yes, I know there are people who do the same sort of work now, but what really amazes me is the tiny scale of some of the artifacts. It all makes me want to get back to that sort of work, if only to see if I can get my arthritic fingers to produce something resembling it.

Stay tuned for that.

That may have been written with tongue in cheek.

And on to another topic that rose to the top of my brain in the middle of the night:

What has happened to Maynia?

Do you remember when people started a new project on every day in May? Is anybody still doing that?

Or is that the reason there are now so many WIPGO programs to help people finish their started projects?

Inquiring minds want to know. I'd love to hear what you have to say.