Thursday, January 21, 2010

Ok, so I'm easily distracted.......

I put it down to the fact that it's a new year and I feel the need for a finish.  Yes, you guessed it.  I got distracted again.  I just couldn't deal with all that expanse of fabric that needed to be stitched.  I needed something small, something quick.  Or at least quickER.  Sooooo I picked up Margaret Pence by the Goode Huswife.  (Yes, she's OOP.)  And I just put the last stitches in her.  Yay!!  First finish of 2010!    I stitched her on 40ct vintage Pearled Barley with DMC threads.



It's obvious I needed to stitch her.  After all, I'm Margaret too.



And besides, I'm running out of wall space so a smaller piece is just what I needed!



In the midst of stitching Margaret, Tanya over at the Scarlett House distracted me some more.   She mentioned that she was placing an order with the Scarlet Letter, one of my favorite designers.  And one of the pieces she ordered was the first piece I'd ever ordered from SL.  It was also the first piece I'd ever worked on linen, and the first piece I'd ever worked in silk.  It's also a UFO.  My oldest.  From I would guess the late 1980's or early 1990's, but I don't actually know.  Well, Tanya made me go dig it up.  So I did.  After a bit of closet spelunking, I found my Lucy Maria Wiggin Sampler.



She's obviously not done.  And she's on some amazingly low count fabric -- something like 26 or 28ct over two.  Ugh!  I need to sit down with her and finish her. 



I actually did sit down with her for a while, but I couldn't take it for long. 

The good thing is that the reason I originally stopped working on her (back in those dark days of former stitching life history) isn't really a problem, or so I've been told.  See the problem?



I'm going to have like 1 inch of border at the bottom.  But this isn't a problem.  So I've been told.  :D 

Lucy is from my former stitching life.  Which I still haven't told you about.  But I will say this much -- I had to rescue Lucy from the clutches of some scroll rods.  I used to use things like that in my former stitching life.

In other news, the neighborhood college kids are slowly draining from the neighborhood back to college again.  Just in time for the girl child to come home for her week off between semesters.  Yes, her college is the lone one that has exams after Christmas and then a week off at the end of January when everyone else is back to classes.  Although I'm told that the University of Delaware or some such has a break from before Christmas to sometime in the middle of February.  Wow!  Better not mention that to the boy child.  :D   So anyway, the girl child will be home sometime this weekend for a week.  Time to stock up on groceries and the like!

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.  Tomorrow is TGIF!

38 comments:

Faye said...

Oh my!! All your works are stunning!! Faye

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

I love Margaret Pence and she turned out great! A very quick project for you but a really sweet one! I also love the other one from SL - how do you like working on that color fabric or is it no different. i am sure you don't like working on that count of fabric but gosh, you're almost done! You should finish it. Have fun with your DD while she's home; I know she deserves the break!

Bertie said...

Ohhh Margaret Pence is just gorgeous and I love the colours,to stitch a namesake is very special.

Great fun it must have been to dig out your UFO, and the colours are great.I know the feeling stitching samplers on a low count :-))

Jackie's Stitches said...

I love Margaret Pence! But I love so many of the GH's designs.

How do you like stitching on the darker fabric? I've often wondered if it would drive me crazy!

Unknown said...

Oh oh oh I have not seen this A&E and I must have it! It's a lovely little piece and congrats on your first 2010 finish - way to go Margaret!

Your new header is fabulous - I just love all those finishes pictured together.

It's hard to go back to the lower count, isn't it? I have quite a bit in my stash and decided to use them for ornaments.

How wonderful to have your daughter home - I'm sure she is looking forward to some down time.

Have a great weekend! I'm off in search of Margaret Pence

sylvia shenk said...

Margaret,
You do beautiful work. I am starting on an Adam and Eve wall.
Would you be interested in selling your chart? Just e-mail me and let me know. My e-mail address is sylviashenk@yahoo.com

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

It turned out beautifully Margaret! Absolutely beautifully!

valerie said...

Margaret Pence looks wonderful! Congrats on a great finish! I love your Lucy. That linen color is fabulous despite the count it is. I just love that teal.

Hope you enjoy your time with the girl child! :) One more day to the weekend. Yippie!

doris said...

Love, love Margaret Pence! And that one-inch border will work out ok, so don't worry.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Congrats on your Margaret Pence finish... she's gorgeous. Looking forward to you finishing Lucy.

Deb said...

Oh goodness, how I love Margaret Pence. I might have to stitch her. I could use a quick project. Now, the other piece is stunning on that green fabric, but isn't it funny how stitching on that count fabric now feels like we're stitching through burlap! LOL. But it looks wonderful and you should not have a problem getting that framed. If worse comes to worse, you can sew a strip of muslin to the bottom. It will work out fine. I can't wait to see that finished!!

Melissa said...

Oh I love that Margaret too! I hope Anne re-release that one.

The SL one is looking good!

And it is the weekend approaching, and you'll have your girl home. I'm sure that'll be fun.

Love to Stitch said...

Nice job on Margaret Pence!! I have never seen her before this week, and it is so fun to be enlightened on new patterns--even if they are OOP!! I love the 'old' new WIP, what a great color, even if it is on burlap :)

I know I am way behind on reading blogs, but I love the new picture you chose for your header!!

Cari said...

I love your Margaret Pence Margaret...just beautiful ... as usual. And, of course, I love your new blog sampler header...love it, love it, love it. And your old SL piece...isn't it fun to go back and look at the fabric, count and color? Shows just how much we've grown and changed.
Have a fun week with your girl child. Hugs and happy stitching!!!

Sweet Sue said...

Great blog header and congrats on your first finish 2010. Closet spelunking - LOL!a

Sherry said...

I love MS! You did a beautiful job on her! I wish I could say I was running out of wall space for samplers! I love your SL UFO. I hope to see more of it.

Michelle said...

Love your new blog header!! Fabulous!! And congrats on finishing Margaret Pence...I think I might have to stitch up the Clooney version soon. ;) You definitely need to finish up Lucy, she's too pretty not too!!

Kim said...

Love the new blog header Margaret!!! Margaret Pence...LOVELY! And wow! fast! You know I'm taking my cue from you and going with any bouts of startitis that happen to crop up! :o)

Brigitte said...

First thing that caught my eye was your new header. Just let me say that I *love* it. What a picture!
Congratulations on your A&E finish, it looks gorgeous. Like all the Goode Huswifes.
Digging out that UFO was a reat idea. There's not a lot to stitch and it looks great on the dark fabric.

Sylvia said...

What a lovely finish! Sometimes a little project is just what we need. Your UFO is very pretty as well - I do hope you finish it.

Your header is amazing - what a testimony to your stitching accomplishments.

KarenV said...

Your new blog header is wonderful! Margaret Pence looks lovely, congratulations on your finish! :)

Giovanna said...

Congrats on the year's first finish - a lovely one! And good for you on pulling out the old WIP, I bet you'll have it done in no time.

Nancy said...

Congratulations on finishing Margaret Pence! Such a fun design and your work is always beautiful. Lucy Maria will be a very pretty sampler when she is finished too. You could always sew some muslin to the edge for more fabric to lace on the back - if that's what you are going for. Have a good Friday!

Siobhán said...

Margaret, you rock!! Margaret Clooney... erm, Pence... looks great. I need to remember to not have any food or liquid in my mouth when I open up your blog, because that blog header pic makes me gasp with awe everytime I see it!

Siobhán said...

Oh, and PS--your oldie but goodie sampler is indeed a good one! At least your former stitching life didn't feature smiling scarecrows, like mine did!! LOL

Valerie said...

I just love reading your posts and seeing your projects. You have beautiful stitching and I love the new picture at the top of your blog! Margaret Pence is the perfect sampler for you to finish at the beginning of this year and good luck on UFO. The colors are really pretty but I know how hard it is to finish those UFO's! When you pick it up you are reminded why you put it down and that is not always good! Don't worry about the border, just think of how good it will feel to get her out of the closet and up on you wall. Happy Stitching!

Catherine said...

Your stitching, as always, is inspirational!

woolwoman said...

LOVE your new front page Margaret - so impressive. I love the little A&E design - I think I am going to start a cute little LHN design this weekend just for some instant gratification. Have fun with your daughter being home. The SL UFO is pretty - dont' worry about the 1" margin they can sew on a muslin strip for framing purposes. Thanks for your comments about my new crewel rug - The colors my teacher dyed are quite stunning. Mel

Littlebit said...

Margaret! I am in need of a cup of coffee to get through reading your wonderful blog. How have I missed so much? Did you say you are running out of wall space? Well let me offer my assistance, my friend. :-) I have TONS, and I promise to return anything you need help with..honest! :-) As always, your stitching is beautiful.

Littlebit said...

PS...I LOVE your banner!!

mainely stitching said...

What a fabulous first finish of the new year! Congratulations! :D

Lois said...

What a lovely first finish for 2010! I just love the Goode Husewife designs. I think we all have projects from 'back in the day' but your Lucy is lovely!

Enjoy your daughter being home.

Nicole said...

Beautiful finish Margaret!! You sure did stitch that fast! :) I love your old UFO - I hope you do get back to it. It's so pretty! :)

Dona said...

Love your Margaret Pence! The colors are so warm and pretty. I'm glad you're going to finish Lucy. I really the fabric color - it's different and I like the contrast of the colors.

Tanya said...

Congratulations on finishing Margaret! I can't wait to see Lucy finished.

Alma Allen said...

Margaret Pence is wonderful! I would look at her more, but I couldn't take my eyes off your blog header. Oh my goodness! It's wonderful Margaret.

Katrina said...

Woohoo, congrats on the Margaret Pence finish :-). She's very pretty.

Susan said...

Your header is wonderful!
Your Margaret is beautiful!
Finish the WIP - it too will be a great beauty.
You say you no longer use scroll frames so what do you use?