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Thursday, February 3, 2011

TUSAL and Preparing for a HS Happy Dance

Time for the February TUSAL check-in. I'm using a small jelly jar to collect my orts. Once the little jelly jar is full, I'll dump it into the large Ball jar setting beside it. Most of the orts are from the little sampler that the jar is sitting on. 

A "Berry" Nice Sampler by Hillside Samplings
Stitched on 30 ct. Northern Cross Natural linen with DMC floss.
Changes: Switched to a slightly deeper yellow for the strawberry blossom centers and replaced the stitched center strawberry with the porcelain strawberry button that was intended for the pin pillow. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a funk and needed something colorful to stitch. Went stash diving and pulled out "A "Berry" Nice Sampler" from Hillside Samplings. This has been on my "want to stitch" list since I first laid eyes on it. I loved stitching this little sampler! With such a pretty palette of colors and an interesting variety of stitches, it was hard to put it down! Finished the stitching last night, ironed it today, and I'll be adding the the porcelain strawberry button to it this evening. Then I'll be happy dancing!   


This is a picture from the leaflet cover. Notice the center strawberry is stitched. When I bought the pattern, I also bought the linen and the porcelain button. Imagine my disappointment when I set down to really look over the pattern and discovered that the button wasn't used for the sampler. Probably one of the reasons that it has been waiting for 10 years to be stitched!  

Here's another view of "A "Berry" Nice Sampler". Sorry about the bad lighting. The actual colors show up much nicer in the first photo. 

A few of the orts in my TUSAL jar are from Carriage House Samplings "Alphabet Sampler". I'm stitching it from the cards that I collected before the full sampler chart pack was released.

"Alphabet Sampler" -  Carriage House Samplings
Stitched on 40 ct. Sandstone linen using overdyed threads. (Again, the lighting does not do the colors in this sampler justice.)

I have this by my stitching chair and whenever I am between projects or need to take a breather from what I am stitching on, I pull it out and stitch awhile. 

I'll leave you with a picture that I came across when I was browsing through some of my pictures. This is why I no longer leave my laptop on the floor if I have to step away.     

 
Megan, the queen of warm and cozy places.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world today. And sincere thanks to all that left comments to my last post. It means so much to me. 

Hope you are staying warm and finding time to do something you love!

16 comments:

Catherine said...

Oh my gosh! I love that sampler - it's lovely! Great finish and I love how you used the button for the sampler!

There certainly are a lot of stitches in that Alphabet Sampler - it's comin' along!

Perhaps your cat was trying to catch your mouse - oh that was bad wasn't it?

gracie said...

What a lovely sampler...and I like the alphabet sampler also...

Jan said...

What a lovely little sampler. I like it and I love the button.

Myra said...

Oh I love the Berry Sampler, wonderful colors. Your cat is gorgeous!

valerie said...

Beautiful finish! Very cheery considering the weather in most parts. Great progress on your alpha sampler too!

Karen said...

Robin, I've seen the leaflet for the Berry Sampler, but didn't realize how beautiful it would be until I saw your stitched version, it's gorgeous! And I love the picture of Megan, she's precious!

Carol said...

Oh, dear--I'm afraid you've enabled me once again, Robin. I just love your Berry Sampler! I'm working on a Hillside Samplings chart myself now and can't remember when I've enjoyed a piece so much--I love all the specialty stitches, too.

And your Alphabet Sampler is gorgeous--are you stitching that over one?? It looks so tiny...

Megan looks so comfortable--I'll bet it was hard to move her :)

Julianne said...

Robin,

I really love your Berry Sampler! What a breath of springtime. I can see how it would be uplifting to stitch that when it's cold and snowing outside.

I just love the picture of your kitty. She seems to radiate an air of royalty! LOL

Enjoy your weekend.

Lynn said...

That is one gorgeous sampler! I'll bet it was a fun stitch.
Love the pic of your kitty. She's a real beauty.

Lisa V said...

I also have the CHS Alphablocks to do, one day I will get around to it. I shall watch your progress with great interest.
LISA V

Berit said...

Lookin' good! This is a lot of good stitchy progress!

Marc calls me "Miss Cozy" when I hog the electric blanket and look really happy. :)

Sally said...

Your Berry Sampler is beautiful. Love those colours.

The CHS is looking lovely too.

BrendaS said...

Love your Berry Sampler. The colors are so refreshing and boy do we need that with all this snow!

Your cat looks so comfortable. I can see why you don't leave your laptop open anymore.

Have a good evening

Daffycat said...

A berry pretty TU update.! Lots of ORTs in your jelly jar!

ROFL silly cat! I have to close the lid on mine bacause my Taco does the same thing. They sure are heat hogs.

Siobhán said...

LOL at the picture of your cat!! Maybe it's a message that you need to be stitching and not on the net?! ;)

I love your HS WIP! Oh my gosh, how gorgeous. I love the CHS alphabet piece, too! Great progress.

JAF said...

What do you do with your "orts"?