A sampler for Sunday and where did last week go???

Remember last Monday when I said it was a busy day, I lied. It was an easy day compared to the rest of the week. Tuesday was crazy running around trying to get my car back from repairs, Wednesday I was out of the house all day with a trip to Columbus for a clinic visit to OSU for my brother, Thursday I did a ton of errands that didn't get done earlier in the week, Friday, heck I don't remember what happened Friday, and Saturday, after I dragged my sleepy butt to sock club in the morning I came home and took a looooooong afternoon nap. Notice no where in that week was there any productive craftiness - sigh -- so sad. ( I know your heart goes out to me - LOL! As if your lives aren't even busier!) But I do have a sampler to show for Sunday.



I know this is another Ewe & Eye & Friend but I haven't a clue what it is called. Sometimes I can go to this site, Twisted Threads, and figure out what the name of the piece is by the verse but this one doesn't have one. I do remember that this chart and flosses was a Mother's Day present one year from my boys.
I also remember that while it looks symmetrical it isn't and I had to do a bunch of frogging to put things right. The alphabet on this one is so pretty.



See how the capital letters are all done in giant smyrna cross stitches? Great texture and I love the soft gold color. Any shade of yellow makes me happy! I have had a bunch of comments and emails about how I get a sampler done every week and the answer is "I don't". If you look at lots of my samplers you'll see dates that stretch back to the 1980's. I have been cross stitching since 1985 when my first son was born and from the beginning I was entranced with samplers. I think I have been lucky that I've chosen to stitch pieces that have held up style-wise and don't look too dated. I do know that they still make me happy when I look at them and I have them ALL over my home.

Also, back when I was stitching A LOT, during the years my boys were in school, I frequented a great cross stitch shop called Twisted Threads which was owned by Ruth Sparrow. I would visit almost every week and they always had the latest graphs, fabrics and flosses and they had framing samples right in the shop. You could bring in your finished piece, select a frame and whatever else you wanted and they would have it picked up and taken to the framers and it would return in about a week. Back then I don't remember framing being as pricey as it is today. Now I take my pieces to my local Joann's which had a framer who's done needlework for years and I always use a coupon. However I do think framing prices have gotten out of hand.

Well here's hoping that this coming week I will have less running around and more time at home to be crafty. Happy stitching!

carol fun