Ann Hill Sampler - Just Cross Stitch - Cathy Livingston

Wow!  My intentions were to post updates on this sampler last week,  but ran into some real obstacles with this articular sampler.  Mostly due to my own stupidity and lack of foresight!  Mostly because I was so excited about being at the bottom of the chart.  (Stitched on 36 ct., Dirty Linen)

First, I had tacked on the last part of the reduced chart, in the border area.  Big Mistake, since the outside blue border was not completed.  I realized that the flowers might not "fit" within the two blue borders on this sampler.  So......I had to tear out all the running (outline stitches), remove the paper and complete the outside border.

This I did, till I realized my border was not going to match up.  UGG!  After ripping out the entire right side and top, more then once, I realized it was not going to match up, unless I ripped out the entire outside border.  Yea, not doing it, already ready to have this sampler in the done pile.  So, I fudged it.  I found one particular place on the linen that the threads of linen were so thin, I could go over 3 threads, and it didn't even show.

Once the outside border was completed, I could reattach my reduced copy of the border.  I will say, that copy is looking a bit raggedy, but made it so much easier to stitch through!  By the way, one thing I did learn, was once you pin the copy on your fabric, it is easier to poke holes with a sharp needle/pin where you want the running stitches.  It makes it much easier to stitch the outline,  I also used different color hand quilting thread, which can be purchased at JoAnns.  I already had several spools, so it wasn't necessary for me to purchase additional supplies.

I will advise, you need the courser, thicker thread to stitch the outline, only so it can withstand the
cutting out the paper later on, so that the only thing left is your outline stitching.

Love Never Fails - Barbara Ana Designs

Wow I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since my last post.  I apologize to those that were follow my blog.

Sometimes life just manages to get in the way of the things one really want to do, and those luxuries get put on the back burner.  Sometimes our path, comes to a fork and we have to take a temporary alternate route to get us back on the path!

Last year in July, my family celebrated the birth of my first grandchild.  Andersen.  Although I wasn’t too thrilled at the thought of becoming a grandparent, I can tell you that little one has changed the world.  Making my kids, Aunts and Uncles, my hubbie a grandpa.  We are so “in love” with that boy. At Christmas time he was passed from one set of loving arms to another, like a football.  Recently he turned one.  Just started walking, but so far no talking.  Not too worried as my youngest son didn’t really talk to almost three.  His sister did all his talking for him.  But when the day came, it was full sentences and we figured out he was already reading.

My mom who will be turning 97 in October, is still doing as well as can be expected at her age.  Just before Christmas she had a heart attack. The physicians still talk about her, as she walked into have an EKG on her own, while actually having the heart attack.  Guess there’s something to be said about good old fashion German farmer peasant blood.  Many weeks of cardiac rehab , which abruptly came to a screeching halt when she fell into one of the foundation pillars in the basement and broke her collarbone.  She’s a little more forget, a little more easily confused then before the heart attack.  So I’ve taken over bill paying and doctor appointment schedules for her.

After our annual family vacation in the Outer Banks, the stitching bug has returned.  So I finally managed to finish Love Never Fails, plus started  again working on the Ann Hill sampler.