Finish or Fling? - Hearts of Joy No 2

This little sampler by Charland has seen more frogging than stitching. First of all, the ribbon embroidery wasn't making me happy - it just wasn't neat enough. I suppose I was expecting too much for a first attempt ... and then I ran out of the gold metallic, and coldn't get more, so that got frogged and is being reworked in new gold ... and don't get me started on the Queen Stitches ...

So, let's sit in judgement:

Pros:

• It's a Christmas design but doesn't look overly Christmassy.
• Love the fabric
• Will learn a new technique

Cons:

• Frustrating to work some of the stitches
• Won't fit in with my general Christmas style
  

So - Finish or Fling?


Verdict: Finish. Even if it kills me. It will be character forming.

Works in Progress

I frogged all the gold metallic out of Coeur ... gosh, it looks pathetic now! I will take a picture before I start again on this. The frogging took a while, as I'd anchored the threads down well in the first place! I think it will stitch back quite quickly, or at least I hope so!

After all that destruction, I was glad to get to work on another UFO that had been put aside merely because ... actually, I don't know why I laid this aside, although I suspect it was because I'd run out of one of the DMC colours it uses a lot of!




This is O Christmas Tree from the Christmas Samplers leaflet by Prairie Schooler - it's an old out of print one I got in a sale somewhere. I'm nearly half way through now, and I'm enjoying every stitch. The colours are muted and work very well together. The cardinals need their beaks on this shot!

Now You See It...

And shortly you won't.

This is a Charland design and I'm not very happy with how the metallic thread lies - it's Kreinik cord, and the stitches look horrible! Also, there wasn't enough included in the kit, and my LNS is having trouble getting hold of Kreinik since the UK distributor changed. So, today's task - when I've done some finishing - is to frog it all! Oh joy! I will restitch it in either Kreinik braid (which I have several spools of in my stash) or a DMC metallic,using plenty of Thread Heaven.

Where I've started the ribbon embroidery on the right hand side is also coming out.

Is it any wonder this was a UFO? :o)

Beehive Sampler - Charland Designs

This kit was a birthday gift several years ago from my good friend Marci, and I finally finished it! I brought it out at a sad time for Marci, and I hope she could feel my thoughts with her as I stitched on this sampler.

The chart for this kit is particularly clear, with excellent instructions for the speciality stitches, so even though some were unfamiliar to me, I could approach them with confidence.

I loved using the differently textured threads, although at some places, I felt the Wildflowers was a little chunky - there also wasn't enough included in the kit (grrrr...) which held up completion - I had to order them from the USA, as Caron threads are very expensive in the UK! Fortunately, there was more than enough silk included- which is very nice to work with, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra expense to use silk on a regular basis.

I haven't used the silver charm on this yet (it's gone AWOL) but I think - when I find it - I'm actually going to attach it to my charm bracelet, and use another charm for the sampler!

Design Details

Fabric: 28 count linen, natural
Threads: Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Soie Cristale, Caron Wildflowers, Perle 8 Cotton
Designer: Charland Designs
Chart Details: Bee Hive Sampler - Charland Designs (c) 2000
Stitch Count: 45H x 155V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Satin Stitch, Diamond Smyrna Stitch, Upright Cross Stitch, Long Arm Cross Stitch, Pulled Thread, Modified Rice Stitch, Algerian Eye Stitch, Smyrna Stitch, Cable Stitch, Pattern Darning, Mosaic Stitch, Oblong Cross Stitch.
Threads Used: GAST Soot, DMC blanc Perle 8, Soie Cristale 0057, 0079, 4003, 5004, 6043, 7061, 7063, Caron Wildflowers Moss, Golden Grain, Periwinkle
Embellishments: Sterling Silver Beehive Charm (not used)
Modifications Made: Omitted black beads - substituted Soot cross stitch. Substituted GAST Soot for WDW Charcoal. Omitted some backstitch, and changed colours on others.