Sunday, January 16, 2011

15 years in the making....

When I began stitching this sampler 15 years ago, (gulp), I knew there were several specialty stitches I had to learn....

Just as the schoolgirls from the 18th Century used their samplers as their teaching pieces, I too, learned several new stitches on this journey....And, they are by no means perfect or mastered...


There was the rice stitch and the Algerian eye stitch....




The alternating wave stitch....

 T


 a few satin stitches...


 and a couple types of long arm stitches...





Honestly, I have no idea why I kept pushing this sampler to back of my basket...sitting there for so long unfinished was a shame... But since this is the year of completing our WIP's...

I have now completed my second piece that is part of my "up for a challenge" in 2011....


1738 Scottish Sampler
Threads of Gold
32 ct Belfast linen
DMC threads
design size: 16 x 9


So, what will I be pulling out of that WIP basket next???  And, oldie but goodie, I am sure....2 down 13 to go~~

Happy stitching,

Faye

57 comments:

Teresa S. said...

Congratulations, Faye! Finishing is still sweet 15 years later!

Lesleyanne said...

Congratulations on your finish.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Now THAT'S perseverance! Well done, Faye; your sampler is gorgeous!!!

Christine said...

Wow ~ Not only do you already have finishes for 2011 but they're beauties to boot! Congratulations!

Nan ~ Threadwork Primitives said...

Just awesome. What a great one to get finished.
CONGRATS!!!

Theresa said...

This is gorgeous!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

Tricia said...

Faye, I am so proud of you! That is a wonderful finish and what a great accomplishment!!! Yay for you!

Bonnie said...

Congratulations! A beautiful finish, Faye.
I have actually done some of those fancy stitches long ago but I am sure I don't remember how.

Meadows08 said...

Great job Faye! I love all the specialty stitches.

creative carrie said...

It is beautiful!

Margaret said...

Wow, just wonderful! Congratulations! At this rate you'll be finished with the 15 in no time! This is beautiful!

Barb said...

The sampler is lovely and your special stitches look great!

Carol R said...

Congratulations Faye on a lovely finish! 12 years ago I started to stitch the Loara Standish sampler - I completed roughly 2/3rds of it and it has been an UFO since that time. I think it's about time she came out of the basket don't you?

Unknown said...

Wow, am I impressed!! All those really cool speciality stitches that I have no idea how to do - congratulations!! I can't wait to see what you pull out next!

Maggee said...

Congratulations Faye! Lovely, lovely piece! I look forward to your next one! Hugs.

Karen said...

You are moving right along! Another great finish...can't wait to see what other goodies come out of your basket!!!

Stay warm....happy stitching...

Robin said...

Congrats on a lovely finish. Your stitching is perfection! Can't wait to see what you work on next.

Denise said...

Ohh, saw this on the challenge blog. Yippee for you - another finish! Looks great! Congrats on learning on the new stitches! ;0)

Lynn said...

Congratulations, it's a beauty!!

Jan said...

So beautiful! Wow, this has to feel so good, to have two of your wips finished already and only halfway into the month of January! Whoopie for you, Faye!!

BrendaS said...

Beautiful finish. Congratulations to you for 2 finishes already this year! YEAH:))))

Myra said...

Wow! 15 years old and still a beauty. :o) Congratulations on another fabulous finish.

Loraine said...

Such a lovely sampler! I love it, and I'm so glad to see someone else has WIP's that are that old! Congrats on finishing it. It has a timeless beauty to it! do you know if the pattern still in print?

Deb said...

Wow Faye - that is such a fantastic sampler! I'm so glad that you pulled it out of the WIP pile. Congratulations on #2 - it's a beautiful piece.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

So much progress in such a short time! I wouldn't have a clue what I had done back then or remember what to do next now! Great job! The 'stash diet' thought goes through my mind, but then right back out when something pretty shows up! Are you making up snow tomorrow?

valerie said...

Congratulations! It's a beautiful sampler. Good luck on the next 13.

Carol said...

The specialty stitches add so much to this beautiful piece, Faye--congratulations on bringing it out of hiding and finishing it off! Can't wait to see what you'll finish off next :)

Jan said...

OMG Faye that is beautiful! Congratulations on the finish. Can't wait to see your next WIP.

Deborah said...

Wonderful finish! What's up next?

Giovanna said...

Congratulations, it's a lovely sampler!

Kellie said...

Beautiful, Faye! Two finishes already this year. That's wonderful! Looking forward to seeing what you start next. :)

Susan in SC said...

This is truly a work of art! I love all the stitches that you used.

Nicole said...

It's beautiful Faye!! Congrats on the finish!!

Kimmie said...

YAY!!!!! It's beautiful! Congrats!!!

Patty C. said...

Looks great Faye
Way to go !!!!

Anna van Schurman said...

Two--wow! Looks like you could finish 24 WIPs this year...if you have that many. ;)

Lelia said...

beautiful sampler!

the striped rose said...

That is a beautiful sampler! Scottish samplers are my favorites! I am always daunted by new stitches, but I appreciate the beauty they add to a piece.

Terri said...

This is a gorgeous finish! Aren't specialty stitches fun?!?

Congrats!

Mary H said...

Congratulations, Faye! You are on a roll--2 WIPs finished and it's only the middle of January. You need a few more snow days to keep up the pace!

Mary H

Bekca said...

Congratulations on finishing this oldie! It looks fab, can't wait to see the next one :) Happy stitching to you.

Shelleen said...

You did a great job with the specialty stitches.

Jennifer said...

Woo-Hoo!!! It is a beautiful sampler. CONGRATS!

Valerie said...

Many congrats on a beautiful finish! It is a gorgeous piece! Looking forward to your next project!

Michelle said...

Congratulations!!! What a huge accomplishment! It's beautiful!!

Nan said...

WOW!
You never cease to amaze me. Your needle must be smoking. How do you find time to work? LOL!

Sue said...

What a gorgoeus sampler, I agree, I dont' know why you kept pushing this to the back of your stitching basket. Nice job!!

Cindy's Stitching said...

How pretty. I am sure it brings you great joy in seeing it finished. Wow all kinds of stitches you learned. Enjoy your piece Faye.

Tracey said...

Beautiful work! And all those different stitches, you should be proud. What a treasure!

Carolyn NC said...

Awesome, Faye - wonderful finish!

Mary said...

A stunning sampler and such pretty colors! Congratulations!

carolm said...

YOU INSPIRE ME...I decided to dig out my UFO"S and WIP'S and finish some of them off...Some I have actually had to reorder the pattern and some are so old that I can only hope to find the pattern . I still want to complete all of them but we moved 5 years ago and some things have yet to be found... Sincerely Carol M

Karen said...

It is beautiful! i love the specialty stitches, i really like doing pieces with them in it. Look at you go girl! 2 finishes so far!! woohoo!!

Fiona said...

Your finish looks great Faye. Well done on getting two finishes done in 2011, you really are up for a challenge. Look forward to seeing your other finishes this year. I thought I had commented already, must be floating in cyberspace somewhere.

Fiona

Jackie's Stitches said...

I think those finishes that take us the longest give us an extra sense of satisfaction. Congratulations on finish #2 - it's a beautiful one.

Blu said...

Congrats! It looks amazing! Kudos to wrapping it up.

Siobhán said...

Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations on the finish!! You go girl! It looks great.