Slow soggy Sunday stitching...

It is a slow soggy Sunday here in southwest Ohio...I know my lawn and my flowers appreciate the rain but it is gray and dreary and not very 4th of July-ish... I feel sorry for those who had outdoor activities on their agenda...and tomorrow is supposedly more of the same. I am happy at home and dinner is in the crockpot. Life is good!

On the stitching front there was a finish this week... cue the brass band!!!

My Fragments in Time by Summer House Stitche Workes in complete and I think it looks very nice. The last square had tulips in it... my favorite...and a chance for me to personalize this sampler...

Do you see my change? Upper right corner of this square... it was charted with a cat and I replaced it with a chicken... I'm happy that I can leave my mark on this piece.

And what does a finish lead to??? A brand new start!

In keeping with current U.S. Department of Commerce statistics we have a housing start (betcha didn't know that in a former life I got a degree in Economics and even worked as a Economic Analyst... I still have a thing for statistics even though my basic math skills are somewhat woeful...LOL) I chose Sampler Hill by With Thy Needle and Thread... you can see it here.

Now I've already changed several colors of floss on this piece and I picked a different linen.  I purchased the called for  30 count Cornsilk linen from Week Dye Works but after 3 stitches I knew it wasn't going to work for me. First off, the linen is soft and I prefer to stitch on a crisp, stiff fabric. Since I don't use a hoop and hold my linen in my hand it gets softer as time goes on. It is easier for me to stitch on the crisp fabric. Second, I remembered on the 3rd stitch why I don't like 30 count... I don't like the thread coverage you get with only 2 ply of floss and 3 ply of floss is just too much. It is a lovely piece of linen but not for me. I found some 32 count creamy color linen in my stash... and it is stiff and I like it sooooo much better.

Then I changed the color of the house. In the stitched sample the house is almost the same color as the linen... beige and pale... not for me... I changed the house to Crescent Colors Queen Bee... I think my favorite gold-y yellow floss. Since I changed the color of the house that lead to a change in the color of the front door. I thought about using the Weeks Dove that is used elsewhere in the chart, but upon examination of my skein of this color, mine is too gray and not turquoise-y enough. I rummaged around in my stash and found an Anchor 850... a very nice turquoise... I think I'll use it instead of the Dove in the whole piece.

I debated whether to start with the house or with the border... it has a lovely border with tulips... but I just couldn't wait to see what the house would look like. I have ideas for some personalization for this sampler too...stay tuned.

Okay I'm off to stitch some more... I'm watching my beloved Cincinnati Reds go down in flames again. Last night they pulled one out in the 10th inning but I don't see that happening today as they are behind 9 to nothing in the 6th inning... poor poor team.

I'll link up with Kathy's Quilts today and Super Mom - No Cape on Monday...
happy stitching-
carol fun