Monday, May 7, 2012

Almost there

Ann Rayner is almost there.  Sort of.


Just the grass to finish.  But the grass is going to take time.  Especially with those over one sheep.  As Deb told me, they are a pain.


Please ignore the lumpy stitching.  What the heck, am I that bad?!  Anyway, see the tiny sheep?  Ugh.


Love the couple though.  Funny how Deb and I each did our own thing with their hair and ignored instructions.

Over the weekend, we went to the big craft fair.  We used to go all the time when the kids were younger. The girl child loved the face painting.  The boy child tagged along.  That was quite a few years ago.  Well a few days ago, the boy child saw a post card for the fair in the mail and said we should go, so we did.  I didn't take any pictures at the fair of course.  I never remember to do things like that.  But I'll show you what treasures I found there.


Cool, huh?  The pumpkin reminded me of the pumpkins Valerie found and showed once on her blog.  The cool round thing that's painted is a gourd -- isn't that cool?!  And the pear is made out of brass and is veeeerrrry heavy.  I love it!  Happy Mother's Day to me!

We also got the father type a man purse for an early Father's Day present.  He's always carrying his iPad around -- now he has something to carry it in.


Blurry picture -- sorry.  But you get the idea.

The boy child just enjoyed walking around and looking at all the pretty things.  He kept saying he couldn't get anything since he was going to college soon and wouldn't have anywhere to put things.  :D  (He's very, extremely, enormously excited about going to this college of his.  I think he's a bit obsessed about it.  lol!)

Now of course, for Mia.  Here she is with the boy child in one of her least favorite positions.  The boy child loves to grab her and hold her against her will.  She will only tolerate it from him.  And only for short snatches.  lol!


And here's Mia perching on the boy child's school backpack.  It has a nice mesh pocket in front that she's very fond of.  (Cat lovers will understand why.)


Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week!


67 comments:

Nancy said...

Such a gorgeous sampler! The colors in this are beautiful.

You found some wonderful treasures - I love the glass pumpkin.

As always Mia looks so pretty!

Keeper of the Crowes said...

I think Mia is really going to miss your son when he goes away to college! Ann is unbelievably beautiful. What an accomplisment!!! Such wonderful "finds" from the craft show.
Linda

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Margaret, your Ann is looking good. Deb gave good advice about the stitching over one with the sheep in the grass.

Isn't it wonderful the BC suggested going to the fair--shows me he treasures time with his family. Mia is going to miss him very much and am so happy for him he is excited about college.

Good finds at the fair, love the FT purse--I think I need one of those for our Mac.

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Oh quelle merveille !!!

Very beautiful .... I love your stitches ...

bisous de FRANCE my friend

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Oh quelle merveille !!!

Very beautiful .... I love your stitches ...

bisous de FRANCE my friend

Anonymous said...

stunning sampler, love it

Vickie said...

I think Mia is going to miss your son too! I love the little sheep. But I love the dog even more. :)

marly said...

I just love viewing your gorgeous samplers with their wonderful colors that I will never stitch. Afer seeing the small online chart photos, being able to study the photo of the actual stitched sampler is so nice. Thank you for sharing your work with us! Great items from the fair.

Laurie in Iowa said...

You are so close to finishing. Your Ann looks fabulous. Great craft fair finds.

BeckySC said...

She's looking just gorgeous :) I love the colors :)
Have a lovely week my friend!

Miss Pants said...

Hah..I too would save the grass for last. The compensation for the over one sheep cannot be fun. But it look so pretty! You're almost there!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I agree the grass will not be fun on your piece! Nice finds too my dear. Of course you know I love the pictures of Mia and her boy child!

Mugwump Woolies said...

Ann is so wonderful...that is one handsome couple.
Great goodies you found at the craft show...love the pumpkin! Have a good week!
Robyn

BrendaS said...

Great progress on Ann! You got some very unique iems at the craft fair -- way cool:)

Nice pics of your son and Mia, especially the last one!

Annie said...

I love those cute little over-one sheep .. they are well worth the effort.

Cute finds at the fair!

Giovanna said...

The sampler is just lovely!

Karoline said...

Ann is looking gorgeous, great progress

You got some lovely things at the craft fair

The Inspired Stitcher said...

You can do it, you can do it! (Said in my best cheerleader voice) Ann is looking great! You'll have her done in no time. Lovely finds at the fair too! Love that last pic of Boy child and Mia!

Rita said...

What a beautiful sampler! You're so close to finishing!

Loraine said...

Oh Ann is wonderful! Great finds at the craft fair. I love the pumpkin too!
Hope you have a great week! Happy stitching on the grass!

Penny said...

I love the different motifs in this sampler, especially the flowering vines over the houses. So pretty! Love your treasures too. Mia and your son make quite the cute couple. :) Does she like to sharpen her claws on the mesh pocket?

Melissa said...

That last photo is funny. It's like your boy is telling Mia a good joke and she says "oh it's not that funny!" Cute photo.

Love Ann R, so very very pretty! if you and Deb say those over one sheep are a pain, they must be really really bad!

Nice stash you acquired for Mother's Day! I think that's a seriously wonderful man-bag too!

Faye said...

Oh Margret!!! The sampler is nearly done!!!! And it is simply breath taking.... A true heirloom !!!

Nice finds and your son has every right to be excited! Nothing like moving out of the house gaining independence .....

What in the world will you stitch next???? hmmm.,.


Take care, Faye

Bertie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bertie said...

Wow you've stitched that one in record time!! A stunning sampler and the little sheep are adorable!!
Great finds at the fair too.
Mia and son look very happy, lovely pictures, I am amazed they are not sleeping!! LOL.
Have a fabulous week:)

Karen said...

Looking good Margaret... as always! As fast as you stitch, you will most likely be done by the end of the day!!!

happy stitching....

Beth said...

Boy Child is going to miss miss miss his Mia when he goes away to college (and she him)!

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Ah - you are SO almost there! Pretty fair finds.

Michelle said...

Ann is looking fabulous, but I don't envy you having to stitch that grass!! Glad you all had fun at the craft fair. The photos of those two buddies together just make me laugh - they are a pair!

Zlata said...

The sampler is so bright! I love these pastoral motives! And just one step away from completing!Keep it up!

doris said...

Love that Ann, especially how you and Deb did whatever you wanted to the couple's hair. I had to laugh when you wrote about the over-one sheep. Compensating around them is a big fat butt pain, but with your speediness, it'll be over in no time.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Ann is almost done! Beautiful! Shucks, that grass is full of sheep - it won't take you long at all to fill in!

Fun finds at the fair!

I completely understand why the BC is thrilled and he should be! Cute pics!

Catherine said...

Stunning piece! I love the sheep of course ~ even those that are over one! Of course, I'm not that one that had to stitch them! ;)
Mia sure is going to miss your son when he leaves for college! Love that pic of him smiling!!

woolwoman said...

Ann is looking beautiful and edging really close to completion. YGG - Boy I just keep thinking how much Mia and Mom ( and dad of course) are going to miss the boy child. Enjoy your week
Mel

ricketyjo said...

Ann is looking so great, I really love the piece.

I hope your son enjoys his move to college...I still remember the day my mom took me shopping for my first set of 'things' for when I moved out.

Merry Wind Farm said...

Margaret,
Ann is just beautiful, congratulations on a great finish (almost). Love the man purse :), and the beautiful quilt underneath Mia and your son. Can you wash that with the ric-rac on it? What is your next project going to be?Melinda

Daffycat said...

*gasp* That pear is awesome!!!

Mia is as cute as they come!

valerie said...

Ooooo, glass pumpkin! I love them...but then you know that already! :) Love yours...that stem is awesome! And Ann...wow! You are so close to the finish line!

Dona said...

lol! I love the way Mia is ignoring your son! Funny.

How pretty your Ann R. I like what you did with her hair! Such a beautiful sampler but I don't know anyone who likes stitching those sheep!

Great treasures you found, too!

Laura said...

First of all....and isn't this so important??? We both have the same color iPad cover!! Great minds and all that!

Your sampler is mind boggling in its greatness!!! Wow!

Love the pics of dear Mia!!! She and your son seem to have such a loving bond!

Elizabeth said...

You're putting my snail pace to shame but at the same time you make me want to go grab Ms Rayner from the WIP stack and give her another go tonight. Those sheep are so tedious! I'm glad you did something else with the hair because I was worried about doing it correctly. Now I'll just worry about doing it at all :) Congrats on how far you've gone!

Sherry :o) said...

Love your pic of Mia and son at the end - smile is great!!

Ann is coming along very nicely. Not much longer now.

Veronica said...

Oh, I feel you on over one stitching. But they look so nice when done. Ann is lovely.

I remember those glass pumpkins Valerie posted. I thought they were really pretty. Yours is too :)

Mia makes me wanna give her a cuddle everytime I see her.

Hugs,
Veronica.

mdgtjulie said...

Mia and the boy child are lovely in their pics. And grats on the almost finish. I love the colors in that. And it's HUGE!!! Wow, color me impressed.

Annette-California said...

Wow wow wow! Love your sampler. It's so beautiful. I am impressed how much stitching you are able to accomplish. Love your treasures you found - especially the pumpkin:))

Myriam said...

Poor Mia..when your son goes away to college!!!
Your sampler looks beautiful! Bravo

Isabelle said...

Hi Margaret, your Ann is looking just gorgeous, love her colors:)
The photos of your son with Mia are adorable :-)

Chris said...

Ann is so beautiful!! I love the little sheep.
It sounds like you had a great time at the craft show. You found some lovely things.
What an exciting time for your son. I hope Mia doesn't pine too much when he leaves for school.
Have a great week!

Siobhán said...

Ann looks great, Margaret! You'll be happy dancing in no time on such a happy sampler. :)

Love the craft fair treasures! Man, I miss going to craft shows.

Nicole said...

Wow Margaret! You'll be done in no time!! Great pictures of your ds and Mia! She's such a cutie!

Krista said...

Oh Margaret, your sampler is gorgeous! You really got so far! Love the little sheep and the couple are very sweet. I love the lady with the shawl. Lovely pics of DS with Mia. :)

robindefender said...

Ugh. Grass. You know how I feel about stitching grass. But your sampler is looking great!

Cari said...

Your stitching, as expected my dear friend, is stunning. I so love this Ann Rayner...beautiful, just beautiful.

Cute pics of your son and Mia!! Once he gone away to school we be looking forward to his 'home vacations' so we can see pics again!!

Hugs

Anne said...

Ann's looking fantastic and I don't think those sheep are lumpy. But even if they are...aren't they supposed to be? That's their wool!!! I think they're cute!! OOOH! Love that pumpkin! I totally thought of Valerie's pumpkins when I saw it! Great gourd too!!! Your hubby has a very nice satchel. Wow, that's crafted beautifully. I love craft fairs!! Oooh that Mia! I love how she "puts" up with the love :D

Hugs

Anne

Melanie said...

Wooooooooooooo!!! LOVE ANN SO MUCH!!!!

That messenger bag is drool worthy. Seriously.

Patty C. said...

Your sampler is gorgeous! !!!! It will be such a wonderful finish. Your sheep is not lumpy -it's wooly ;) that adds value to little sheep!

Congrats on some wonderful finds!

Nicola said...

Mia and your son will miss each other when he goes to college. I adore the colours in your sampler.

Natalia said...

Beautiful Ann, Margaret !!!! I love it. Nice finds at the craft fair too!!

Lanie said...

Margaret, Margaret!! As always, what lovely stitching you do! "Ann" and all her bright colors is beautiful. Love how you personalized her hair! My "Ann" is about 2/3 finished, but I put her away because I thought the colors were too bright for me. But after seeing yours and a couple others, maybe my sampler collection needs a little boost! There is something about this sampler that draws me in!

Ranae said...

Beautiful stitching! as always
Nice finds!
Is the boy child wanting to leave room to have Mia with him at college?? lol

Deb said...

You're definitely on the home stretch Margaret, but isn't that grass area and those sheep killers!!! You're a brave one to stitch those sheep first. I could barely see my thread on the linen so I had to stitch up to where they started! But you're almost finished and that's what matters.

You found some great treasures. Those places are always so much fun because you don't know what you will find.

Jean said...

Love Ann and her sheep. The carry all for your DH is great, very "Indiana Jones". As always Mia is precious, she is going to be so lonely without her boy, he wil have to leave lots of clothes behind for her to sleep on.

jean said...

oooh Margaret your sampler is amaaaazing, I love it. I will need to put this on my bucket list to stitch. I tell you this bucket list grows by the day,I will be extremely old if I get to achieve everything on this list before I die lol. I just love that Ann Rayner sampler and your stitching looks pretty perfect to me. Thanks for sharing

Dawn said...

LOVE the sampler - arghhh, sheep over one but to worth it. Love that you did your own thing with the hair.
Art fair looks like a good one - the Murse is a great gift idea.
Congrats to your college bound

Margaret said...

Hi, Not an arduous task to read and scroll, it was all worthwhile. I was thinking how blessed you must be as you work on the samplers, though frustration may sometimes creep in.
Lovely work.

Jenny said...

Oh, that cabinet is wonderful - what a great investment! I will have to pop over and check out Richard's work. I love cherry too and it only gets more beautiful over time.

And I agree with you 100%, your girl is so beautiful - the poster is breathtaking. What a great honor!

And your framed samplers are fantastic, as always. Even though you need to stop teasing us!!! I want to see how your sampler wall looks right this minute! LOL

Unknown said...

I have so enjoyed admiring all your beautiful handwork. I am in awe of your gorgeous knitted items as I've never tried more than a basic scarf. I keep coming back to this Ann Rayner. I know it's OOP but can't find on ebay or anywhere else I've searched - desperate to buy it. Have you sold your copy or have any knowledge where I might find? Many thanks for all of your lovely inspirations! Rion @ rionhs@gmail.com.