#TBT - March Sampler

My last #TBT post, I featured my April sampler, from a 1994 Just Cross Stitch issue.   I mentioned that I had done a February and a March sampler for two very good friends (high school friend & college roommate), but I did not have pictures.

Well, I spent last weekend in MD/DC for the birthday hootenanny of the March recipient, and since she has it hanging in her craft room/polish palace, I thought I'd grab a quick shot.   Nothing Earth shatteringly good about the photo.  The lighting was bad (thanks, snow), and I was supposed to be getting ready for said party.

But, again, apparently, from 1998, I bring you a sampler, this time March's (which was finished with beads 'n stuff).

#TBT - April Sampler

 I really enjoy TBT blogging because it's a chance to show off pieces one didn't necessarily have the capability to do "back in the day" and because when I got back into stitching I used prior entries to figure out a few things, and I'd like to think that I can  keep this online so I can use it as reference again in the future, if needed.

Today is April Sampler, which is from the Just Cross Stitch March/April 1994 issue. I remember working on this, February, and March.   I know I worked on one in 1996, because it was before I went to UT-Austin, because it was the first time I had worked with linen and/or silk.  Boy did that spoil me!

There was a small cross stitch store within walking distance of my grandmother's house in Houston, Idle Hands, and that's where she got me the silks.    I know Carons were part of the design, but I'm not sure what other fibers were used.

I did three from the series - February, for a good friend from college, and March for a good friend from high school.  I still see the March one on display (I framed them myself, no glass, no mat) at my friend's house - I should snap a pic.

The only one I still have is April.    Between the 9 and 8, there's supposed to be a jasper heart, but I didn't like the idea of that one.   There is also supposed to be a small margarita bead on each set of stems, but I didn't like that either ;)  

Basically, I just haven't found the perfect beads that I want to put in there yet, but when I do, I'd like to get it framed for myself.

This one was stitched entirely in 1998, and I use all of the recommended threads.

Here's the whole thing (if I recall correctly, it's only 2 x 5 or so):

The top - I loved learning all of those specialty stitches.

And the bottom, with my "weeds" and empty spot.

One of these days I'll run across what I want for this piece, or I'll actively search out what I want, but until then, I just love it.  I'm thinking of finding the old magazines on Ebay and keeping a set of these, because they are sweet and fun and I think they'd make good gifts.

Framing Part 3 - Tywyn Sampler

I cannot, for the life of me, remember when I bought Tywyn Sampler.   I do know I was living in Austin, so sometime between 1996 and 1999, most likely.   I picked it up from Gingers, which at the time was a fantastic cross stitch shop, but has sadly closed.   They were on the bus route from UT, so I could visit without any problems.     I actually bought the chart with the threadpack, so it came with all of the fibres and silver dragon charm in it.

It was my first major silk piece, and it was also my very first cut work.  

I stitched it in 2001 and this piece was an utter joy to stitch from beginning to end.  I love the variegated silks and all of the fun specialty stitches, and the alphabet was fun, too (I used the Welsh instead of the English - though both were charted so you could choose).

I'm also thrilled that I could include my name in the piece as part of a band, rather than having to find some unobtrusive corner to stick my initials in.

Please excuse the overload, this is one of my favorite pieces of all time, and the frame job on it is even better than I thought it would be (not that I wasn't there when everything was picked out, but seeing it all together is just jaw droppingly gorgeous in my opinion)

The whole piece, on the wall... that paint shifts from that tan to a grey in the light and I love the piece on it.