Monday, July 16, 2012

July WIPocolypse...and the British are coming!

Seems like I just did a WIPocolypse post but I was pretty late with June's so they've sort of run together.  

You ever get stalled on a big project?  I don't think I've touched my Pride & Prejudice sampler in about a year now.  I just got to where I had to do more planning and things weren't turning out as well as I'd hoped so I was avoiding working on it.  I was inspired to do this sampler when the "neighborhood" samplers were popular a couple years ago.  And as usual, I went a bit overboard because this sampler is pretty big..it's 18" x 16".   Without having charting software it's kind of tiresome to work out what goes where, converting patterns from DMC to silk, reversing patterns I needed to go a different direction, etc.   I had more motifs that I wanted to use than I can fit in, even as big as this piece is. If I had to do it over, I would maybe do it over-1 on 25-count or something like that, and pick a different linen.  But at the time, I was all enthused to start it and the LNS didn't have much in stock that was a big enough piece so I ended up with cream 36-ct Edinburough linen.

(P.S. I always get a few questions about this sampler...it's a composite of motifs pulled from lots of other patterns, I did not draw and design all of it myself.  I do have a separate tab on my blog that lists all the patterns I've used so far, I think all of them are still in print.)

Anyway...I got it out about 2 weeks ago and forced myself to get it going again.  I seem to have gotten past my mental roadblocks and I was able to make some good progress.  Woohoo!!  When last we visited this project, this is how it looked...........



I've added a vignette of Lizzy & Darcy in the lower right corner.  I will be adding a tree next to them soon I hope.  


Then I added the military regiment in the upper right corner of the sampler.  Remember all the women were swooning over the handsome soldiers and of course we must have the infamous Mr. Wickham you know!   I was so thrilled when I found this pattern came out a couple of years ago  - it was perfect timing for me.  It's by Brenda Keyes' The Sampler Company  - it's called the "Over the Hills" sampler.  Before I found it I was trying to figure out how I could chart some soldiers and believe me I hate charting anything - I can't draw and find it extremely tedious.   Don't my British soldiers look great marching with the flag bearer and his Union Jack?   Sometimes, a plan does come together! (oops I just realized I forgot to finish the 2 little trees next to the tents...just the stumps are showing LOL)


And now here is a snap of the total sampler...you can see there's still a lot of blank space where I have to fit in Pemberley and Rosings Park and a few things, but I'll get there eventually.


 
Now I've decided to start a new project...a couple of Christmas stockings for my dogs.  They've had some cheap ones we bought of course but I always intended to stitch stockings for them that would match the ones I did for my husband and myself.  These are the old ones from the Cross Stitch & Country Crafts magazines..I still think they are lovely patterns even though published so long ago.


In my opinion, the designer never got the credit she deserves as the magazine never published her name. I'm pretty sure these were designed by Donna Kooler.   I know if I decided to stitch complete versions for the dogs that it would take forever and the poor dogs are already 8 years old so I better hurry up!  I'm going to stitch the abbreviated patterns where you stitch a nice cuff and just do a wallpaper pattern on the rest of the stockings.  I should be able to get these done easily by Christmas and I bought enough of the finishing materials that I can make them match the other 2 stockings.



 
I've got my mushroom Lugana cloth sitting out in the sun trying to fade it a bit...I noticed the new piece I bought is darker than the cloth I used to make the other two.   It doesn't really matter but I'm giving it a try anyway.

I've overdue celebrating another blogiversary (they come around so fast!) so hope to plan a giveaway over the next few weeks.  Stay tuned to this space..and thanks for spending a few moments visiting me!  

31 comments:

  1. Pride and Prejudice Sampler! Wow! You should be very, very proud and happy with it. Hooray! I am cheering you on. :)

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  2. oh how can you not love to do Over the Hill sampler,,I must go and look for it now..I am a lover of Jane Austen,,it is looking so beautiful..keep going I am rooting for you..and those stocking are going to be beauiful..
    Devon

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  3. I just re-read your post,,I thought that was a pattern already designed wow you are awesome,,I would sure buy that pattern if you ever sold it,,cant wait to see what you fill it in with..
    devon

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  4. Your P and P sampler is magnificent Jeanne! Absolutely amazing. I love the regiment!
    Margaret

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  5. Jeanne - I am SOOO thrilled you were inspired to get your P&P sampler out - I am awe-struck by the amount you've gotten done on it. LOVE LOVE LOVE all the enhancements and yes that pattern with the British soldiers was perfect - I passed up on buying it last year because I could not see a need I had for it but it's beyond perfect for this purpose. I believe I started one of the same Christmas stocking you showed or maybe mine was a toy shop and yes they are very detailed and wonderful patterns. the ones for the doggies are precious too. the sun will definitely fade your linen - I left a knitting WIP in the car one time and it faded part of it to the point it was ruined - Hope you have a great week ! Mel

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  6. Ok, I'm bowled over by your P&P piece. Wow!! The Brenda Keyes piece was perfect for the soldiers! Wow wow! Love it! Those stockings will be wonderful too!

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  7. Wow! That Sampler is something! Fantastic job!

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  8. I'm a HUGE fan of Donna Kooler's stockings. Got every pattern in those CCSC mags. Even started one for Katie...The Music Room.

    Your WIP is stunning, par usual of all your lovely projects!

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  9. My goodness, your P&P sampler is lovely and the soldiers really set the whole piece off. I also have all of those Christmas Stockings. I have done 3 of them for my Sons. One of them is the one that you have done for your DH. Each one of them is really beautiful and you are right the designer never got the credit for them.

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  10. The stockings and P&P sampler are all gorgeous!!!!

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  11. OMG! Your P&P sampler is gorgeous! A real work of art and your new additions are just perfect.
    Love the stookings you're going to do for your doggies and they will too! Or at the very least, they'll like what you fill them with! :-)

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  12. Your P&P sampler is amazing!

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  13. I am totally in love with your P&P design. I would buy it in a minute if it was a chart or kit. Very creative. My favourite Jane Austen in x-stitch.

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  14. Wow! Your Jane Austen sampler is amazing! love it!!!
    I think the stockings will be pretty too. I like the wallpaper patterns :)
    Have a great week!

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  15. The sampler will be just wonderful - great going.

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  16. I love your P&P sampler! The stockings will be lovely :)

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  17. I love how your P & P sampler is coming along. The recent additions are wonderful! I'm also glad to know I'm not the only one who has a stocking for their dog too. LOL! They are part of the family dontcha know!

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  18. Your P n P sampler is stunning! Love the stockings too. I am yet to make one. x

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  19. Wow! I love your pride and Prejudice Sampler. It can be really tough to place things togehter from bits and pieces of other charts, but you're doing a fabulous job.

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  20. I love your sampler, Jeanne! I would never be able to do my own plotting/arranging like you have--it really does look great. Love your 4th finish, too!

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  21. Your P&P sampler is wonderful. I'm glad you are working on it again. It's very special.

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  22. I love your Pride and Prejudice sampler! What a neat idea! Looking forward to seeing the stockings for you dogs. :)

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  23. Oh my, oh my, what a great sampler this is. I can only admire you how you place the pieces of patterns on it so that it looks like designed by a designer. Great work!
    I always find wonderful designs in old magazines, too. That's why I don't throw them out, lol.

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  24. Oh my word! Your Pride and Prejudice sampler is amazing. WOW WOW WOW!

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  25. Wow, das wird wunderschön. Ein toller Sampler wird das.
    Liebe Grüße Grit from Germany

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  26. I love your P&P sampler - its gorgeous and I can't wait to see the future progress you will be making on it! And those BH&G stockings are lovely.

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  27. Your Pride and Prejudice Sampler looks amazing!

    Your stockings are beautiful.

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  28. Your Pride & Prejudice Sampler is looking lovely.

    I like your idea for the stockings

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  29. Your sampler is going to be just stunning!!!! Look at all the hard work and thought that's gone into it!

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  30. wow - I am so impressed with your sampler - how creative!

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  31. Wow, your P & P sampler is stunning. Great arranging!
    Carolyn

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