SAMPLERS

I love samplers of all kinds. I also love to keep my hands busy when I am watching TV. So when I was cleaning out one of my "stitching" bags", I found a few mini samplers that had been stitched and left because I wasn't sure what to do with them. I decided to create a larger sampler using the stitched piece as my starting point. I wanted lots of different textures and yet wanted a simple look as to not overwhelm the cross-stitched piece. The purple background is only for photographing purposes. The base is an uneven weave linen topped with burlap.
The detached button hole flower and the uneven algerian eye are stitched directly onto the burlap. The rest of the fabrics are cottons torn from fat quarters that are in my stash...and of course there are buttons....pearl ones on the pink cotton ribbon and pink ones on the original card.
I have a couple more mini samplers and I think I am going to do something similar with them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR A FEW DAYS LATE!

The New Year has started and this is my first blog of 2010. I have been busy working in the studio finishing up a surprise challenge for my best friend. Last spring we were at the Jersey shore and she challenged me to a beach project gift for each other that we would exchange at Christmas time....mine was completed by Christmas but alas, her's was not due to family visiting and a very busy holiday season. I would LOVE to publish the pictures of this project but must wait until she opens her package. So in the meantime, I have cleaned the studio and organized my threads and started on two new projects. I love the waves of color that are displayed on my thread racks.