SAL Update: Backstitching

A busy 3 weeks has passed with lots of projects both inside and outside with spring knocking at the door. I have cleaned out a few flower beds, added a new black iron arbor at the back gate and finished the baby quilt for my granddaughter. 

But what I am most excited about is the simple progress I have made with my cross-stitch project since the last posting. I tried my hand at back stitching which was the major question in my very first post. 

To backstitch as I go or at the end? That was the question. I am definitely a backstitch as I go girl now! 

Here is where I was before 

And now 

 

What I think was the decision clincher for backstitching as I go was, I can catch my mistakes and missed stitches sooner than later, fix them, and be done with it. The excitement of a finished project could get lost with too many ‘fixes’

I still have quite a bit to learn about technique but so far …… so much cross stitch fun!

Please take a moment to visit the pages of these wonderful creative people and see what they have been working on. 

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Catherine, Deborah, Connie, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon

This SAL posting takes place every third Sunday. The next update will be posted on the 7th of April 2019. If you would like to join please contact Avis at the link above and she will walk you through the painless process. 

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SAL: First Posting

Delighted to be a part of the SAL ~ I had almost joined along back in August of this past year and if I had I might have completed this beauty for Christmas gift giving to my daughter living in Alaska. But stitching halted sometime in Sept., dead in the water, abandoned, frozen in time like it’s setting.

This cross stitch project is by Barbara LaVallee, one of my favorite artists. I picked her up at my local Goodwill many, many years ago. And for many, many years she has sat untouched, actually forgotten, that is until my daughter and husband made their move from Virginia to Alaska in February 2018.

Their move reminded me that I had the perfect gift to work on for them. I was gung ho in the beginning but by August I was running out of steam and she was taking a back seat to quilting project. I had actually written to Avis to join in and then ….. well, decided I had too much on my plate. Just think, if I had joined in this may have been done.

 

Here is where I am at as I start with the SAL

 

This is what it should look like when finished. I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this project.

This is a true challenge for me as I have not done many cross stitch projects. Printed patterned yes, counted no. Curious if you do the outline stitching as you go or at the end? or is this simply a matter of preference?

 

 

This stitch-a-long is organized by Avis, we share our progress every three weeks, it’s a great motivator to keep going. Please follow the links to see what everyone else has been working on. If you would like to join us just send a message to Avis.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy,Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Catherine, Deborah,Connie, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon

 

 

To be or not to be; an 1862 sampler. Couldn’t be or could it? That is the question.

A trip to our local Goodwill always finds me checking in to three sections, bedding for vintage quilts, linens for anything embroidered and funky fun, and the picture frame section for old lost photo’s, interesting pictures  and handcrafted picture items.

Yesterday did not let me down with a find I am questioning and asking for help from all my blogging stitching friends ~

I found this beautiful sampler. I was first attracted to the muted colors of olive green or gray and black stitching on the brown background. The frame is not that old and the backing has been done professionally. It is in heavy black paper. Not that flimsey brown wrapping paper. The wiring seems to be quite new, redone?

I must admit it wasn’t until I got her home that I noticed the date ‘1862’

There are no other markings. This close up is interesting. The aida fabric almost looks like ratan fibers to me. Is that even possible? More and most importantly could this possibly be from 1862? That just doesn’t seem possible. It is in pristine condition.

I was wondering if there could be clues with the stitching style or color pallate with this piece. Looking for help and direction with identifying this sampler.

There Is No Place Like Home

Starting a new year is usually steeped in anticipation and excitement for what is in store, what lies ahead. This year was no exception. I am excited to continue with the T Block quilt along, improving my flying geese skills, possibly finishing Wishing You Good Will and starting the tulip quilt top along with continuing with a few other started projects but…

On January 1st I was determined to find my parents wedding album for that one certain picture I wanted to frame.

Instead of finding the wedding picture, at the bottom of the huge steamer trunk I found three cross stitch samplers I didn’t remember seeing before, but I must have. Only one had the makers initials and date.

Eighty three years old, done by C.L., 1935 ~ who was C.L. ? I had an idea. I have quite a few things in our home that belonged to my husbands first wife who passed quite young (may her memory be a blessing) Questioning him on her parents names, I learned her mother was Kathleen Loen. I had the L and a little digging with Ancestry I discovered Kathleen’s mother was Clara Loen born 1904 in Washington. This had to be hers. She was thirty one when she did this and I can imagine how proud she must have felt to have this hanging in her home.

Mystery easily solved and I have started the new year with a priceless memory from the past. She is no longer at the bottom of the trunk!

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.

 

©, 2019, copyright, Sharon Haimowitz-Civitano. All rights reserved.