Well, back when I started my second stitching life in around 2005 or 2006, -- I'll explain that one another time -- I fell in love with this and ran out to kit it up with my good friend (and next door neighbor) Kathy. Started working on it, loved it. Then I started doubting my color choice.
See, back then I didn't like red samplers. Didn't like red, couldn't stand red, hated to wear red, didn't want anything to do with red. What was my favorite color? Can you guess? Yup, green! (But only certain kinds of green.) So I went with a 36ct mystery R&R fabric (can't remember what it was) since this was before I fell in love with 40ct, and GAST Shutter Green. But I just wasn't sure about all those eerie sort of light places in the green that were coming out. Soooo, it got put aside and I picked something else up to stitch.
But I still wanted to do Mouline Rouge! So eventually I decided to try again. By this time, I'd discovered 40ct fabric. And I'd also started to think that despite not liking red, since the piece is called Mouline Rouge, it was silly not to stitch it in red. It's called Mouline ROUGE after all! So I came up with this.
This is what I think is 40ct Antique White and a Vikki Clayton silk, I think it's Garnet. But no, I wasn't satisfied. The Garnet was just too dark for me. I just wasn't into it. I could only deal with certain reds and this most definitely wasn't it. So once again, it fell by the wayside.
Now we're getting to more recent times. Another online friend finished her Mouline Rouge and kindly sold me her leftover skein of NPI 148 -- we're talking the 45 meter skein here. Now you have to realize that by now, I'm loving red -- can't get enough of it, have to do lots of red samplers, red just keeps me going! (If you want evidence of this, note the background wallpaper I chose and the sampler pic in the title.) With the proviso that it's that perfect red -- I still don't like certain reds, you know. So anyway, I pick out a 40ct Palomino to go with that NPI 148. And this is what I came up with.
Unfortunately, it's hard to tell from the picture that the fabric is quite dark. I loved the way the color of the red skein looked on the fabric, but once it was stitched, I just wasn't sure. So how many times was this? Three? And I wasn't satisfied with any of them!
So even more recently I tried one more time. I was stitching another project that uses NPI 636 on 40ct Meadow Rue -- and oh, that combination just hit the "this is the perfect red" button for me! So I ordered a big skein of the NPI 636 during a sale and a piece of 40ct Antique White. I decided I really want the conservative look -- red on a nice, crisp white -- despite having fallen in love with this particular red on a piece of Meadow Rue. So here is what it looks like.
Nope, I haven't started it yet. But I'm hoping against hope that this is the one, the magic red, the red I've always wanted -- and that I won't go back to the drawing board for a 5th time! Of course, I also don't know when I'm going to restart Mouline Rouge. I have way too much going on right now to pick it up. Oh well.
Here's the sick thing. Now that I've dug all of my Mouline Rouge starts out? I think I like the first one best..........
18 comments:
I'm still dancing around, psyched that you have a blog. :D All the better to stalk you with, my dear! ;)
I think ALL of your MR choices are wonderful, but that 636 is looking pretty sweet! You should put the other bits you stitched to good use and make some pin keeps or cover some boxed and that sort of thing--it'd be a shame not to use them!
Nice to see that you have a blog Margaret! :)
I like the red on the Palomino best, but then I love deep, rich fabrics like that. I agree with Siobhan, whatever combination you decide to stick with, you need to make the other starts into smalls or something as they're all lovely
LOL I totally understand the quest to find the "perfect" color because I'm one of those gals who can't just go with the charted colors either. Even though green is my favorite color too, I sure do like the NPI 148 on Palomino. It will be interesting to see what your final decision is.
I am very particular about my reds as well. I love the 636 you chose - I may even rethink my Pointsettia for that one. Wonderful! Definitely do something with those other starts - they're too pretty to waste!
I'm working a smallish red design also. Not sure I love it, but I take it out from time to time and fuss with it. I love the Amy Mitten design and hope to see more of it!
Love the blog, Margaret! Gosh, I had forgotten about that shopping trip to pick out that fiber - I do like that green! But I'm thinking that maybe you just need to keep the green for something else. I think you are feeling like Mouline Rouge is calling you to be done in red so you should do it in red! Out of the three reds you've pictured, I think I like the last one best. But ask me again tomorrow and you could get an entirely different answer! :D Hmmm, maybe you need to stitch it twice - once in green and once in red! I'm such a help, aren't I?? :D
I love the bright red on the white. I think that's what I would choose if I were to stitch it. Can't wait to see your new start! :)
Margaret, I happen to know that this isn't something new for you. I am the proud owner of two of your start over pieces! I have two of your houses (from your Houses of HRH start over) that Kathy Barrick-Dieter turned into beautifully, glass encased hanging frames. I bought one on line 'cause when I saw it, I loved it. My mom saw it when she came for a visit and loved it so the next time I saw Kathy at our guild, she had another one so I got that one for mom. Unfortunately for mom, it looked so cute in my craft room, I never gave it to her. I'm sure you'll make the right decision but be sure to do something lovely with all your "starts".
Peace,
Terri
Terri, I forgot about that restart! lol! You're absolutely right! I did restart HoHRH -- it was because I wasn't happy with the fabric count or the fibers. I'm glad Kathy put them to good use -- and that you got a hold of them! It's nice to think of bits of my abandoned HoHRH in your craft room!
OMG, I can't believe that you started Mouline Rouge several times. But I can understand it so well. When I stitch such a BAP I wan tto be sure that my fabric and thread choices are excactly what I like best.
I love the Palomino version so much, it looks wonderful. And I agree with the others - you should use the version that you don't continue for something else. I love Siobhan's ideas.
Oh Margaret, I think they are all lovely. And like Siobhan said, I do think you should fabricate something for those other lovely starts. Sorry, butting into your blog here, just an admirer from afar! You do lovely work, and so glad that you bit and started a blog. I was having the same fears as you, guess it is a universal feeling. But fun, huh?
Margaret -- you are such a nut!! I can't believe you have started this piece so many times. Actually - I'm probably jealous. I love this piece and purchased R&R Park City Blend, 32 count, and a cone of Weeks Eggplant -- so in my eye/brain I'm seeing two of my favorite colors...yellow and purple. However...it's still in my mind..haven't put in one stitch. Good luck. Looking forward to your choice which I am sure will be PERFECT!! Happy Stitching
LOL LOL! Isn't this maddening??? I had such a difficult time choosing the colors for this one, too, as I like it in so many colorways. I like them all, but I am definitely partial to red, on Antique White or some darker color. I know whatever you do will be drop-dead gorgeous! ~ Joy
You are very brave to continue your quest for the perfect Mouline Rouge. My favourite color is green as well but I stitched my MR with VC Turkish Red on Antique White and love it. I like the NPI 636 as well as the 148 but I see your point with the darker fabric. Can not wait to see your progress :-)
Karin in NJ
Welcome to blogging! I often go through such things while I'm picking out a linen and silk for my mono samplers. And always second guess myself. But rarely do I give four attempts! LOL! I like them all. :-)
I just love your blog page . . . beautiful! I noticed it is heavy in red. Hmmm . . . Mouline Rouge! Whatever the color it will be splendid.
I have to say that 636 is my very favorite NPI red. It's got that touch of brown (instead of blue) that I love and it will look great!
Oh, I've done the same thing Margaret... well not with Mouline Rouge as I've yet to stitch this beauty... but with other projects and oh, my but the decisions... I won't even go there! lol In the last few years I've grown to LOVE red! At first it was my hair... redheads run in the family, but I was blonde with a hint of strawberry until 11 or 12 years ago when I went red... well, now I'm blonde again, but I want everything else to be red! I'm thinking it may be the fact I'm nearing the red hat age... anyway, my fave colours used to be shades of pink, rose and burgundy and I do still love them along with greens and earth tones... Red just didn't seem right for me... I didn't even wear red! But now... that's a different story... I'm decorating in red, wearing red... there is red everywhere! lol
Anyway, my entire point with all of this rambling is... Have you tried Belle Soie's Red Fox? Oh, it's a Gorgeous Red! I LOVE it and it's one of my faves! And I won't even start listing all the others! I do LOVE NPI 636 also and I can't wait to see your progress!
You have a Lovely blog and gorgeous stitching and I've so enjoyed my visit... :-)
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