Fall Sampler--Birds of a Feather

The fall sampler is framed and has arrived just in time for the seasonal festivities.  Over the next several weeks and months, family and friends will be coming to Thistle Manor.  The colors just scream fall.

The swirls in the frame are similar to the swirls in the border.

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes on our 25th anniversary.  AppleJack is not in the hubby dog house--he was just being AppleJack with his response.  There are some plans in the works!  

Fall Sampler 2012

My fall sampler for 2012 is finally stitched!  My goal was to have it completed by the official day of fall, but am only four days past my self imposed deadline.

This was a fun stitch!  The Weeks Dye Works Putty  adds some bling and I love the wonky border.  

Tomorrow this sampler is off to the framer!

. . . and then the doorbell rang

I was feverishly stitching on the fall sampler, when the doorbell rang.  It was a dear friend.  The visit began, non stop talking, and the stitching came to a grinding halt.  Suffice to say I did not meet my self imposed deadline of officially fall.  Tonight?????

Now I've said my A B C's tell me

Finally, I have the alphabet stitched.  As I was stitching the letters, I kept humming the A B C nursery rhyme song.  You know the one:  "Now I've said my A B C's, tell me what you think of me."

Now for the borders, two days until fall.  Will I make it?

Counting the Days--Birds of a Feather Alphabet Sampler

Eleven days and counting until the official start of Fall 2012.  I was hoping to have the Birds of a Feather Alphabet Sampler finished over the weekend but. . .

A few more letters and then the border.  I have a counting error on the letter P, so I have some damage control to correct.

The weather in Music City has been glorious!  Fall is definitely on its way, beautiful clear blue skies, a cool breeze and temps dipping down into the fifties.  The windows at Thistle Manor have been thrown open to allow fresh air to blow inside.  Ahhh, there is nothing like sleeping under a quilt.

Counting the Days

The official date for Fall 2012 is September 22.  That means I have eighteen days to get my fall sampler stitched.  I better find my turbo speed!

This design by Birds of a Feather was released several years ago, don't know why it has taken me so long to stitch.

Rain is forecast for the weekend--should be great stitching weather!

Fall is coming

Fall is one of my favorite seasons!  Life has had me distracted from my fall sampler--Birds of a Feather, Alphabet Sampler.

I am making s l o w progress.  A few letters have been added and to break up the monotony of the letters, I stitched one of the birds and started the border.

The bird is most interesting, I think it looks like a hummingbird!

Am still loving the sampler--its simplicity, the color of the linen, the size and shape of the letters and the quirky border.  Am confident my framer will help me choose "just the right frame," when it is time for framing.  It is still my goal to complete this piece (including framing) for Fall 2012.

Memories

Have you ever fell in love with a product and then read an announcement that it was not going to be produced any more?  I have a growing list:

1. Birds of a Feather linen.  
2. Treasures Magazine
3. Needlework designs by Anne Brown and Kathy Barrick
4. Spirit of CrossStitch Festival
5. The closing of my favorite needlework shop--Homespun Corner

Okay I'm going to stop-I'm depressing myself.  Gosh, I miss all these!  The Birds of a Feather linen was /is just the nicest linen.  I loved stitching samplers using this linen.  (I have a couple of pieces of this linen in my stash waiting for that extra special sampler).  I believe there were only six publications of the Treasures magazine--the samplers in this magazine were awesome.  

Anne and Kathy I know you are out there--you can start designing anytime--your stalkers followers still love your designs!

The Spirit of CrossStitch Festivals were so much fun.  Great projects, great designers, great time to meet friends.  

When Homespun Corner closed I went into withdrawal.  I miss everything about this shop--Anne, the owner, the incredible inventory, the models, the Gathering on the first Saturday of the month, and the list goes on and on.

Because fall is on its way and is one of my favorite seasons, I have started stitching the Birds of a Feather Alphabet Sampler--I am calling it my fall sampler because of the colors.  The original sampler was stitched on 32 count Birds of a Feather Sparrow.  My sampler is being stitched on 30 count linen (I bought a kit and I think the linen I am using is a Weeks linen).  I am using Weeks Dye Works fibers Caper, Onyx and Putty.  

My stitching time has been limited the past couple of weeks, I do hope to have the sampler completed and framed in time to enjoy this fall.

Your time to share--what products, designs, shops, magazines, festivals do you miss?