Stitching Stuff

Over the summer, I did get some stitching done -- I didn't do any "finishes", but I have four pieces that are ready for finishing, whenever I get around to them.  (At my current rate of stitching...this will not be for a while.)  All of them are designed by Country Cottage Needleworks.

But here is what I did (pardon the wrinkles and hoop marks):

 "June Cottage"

"July Cottage"

I really enjoyed stitching these patriotic ones!  This next one was a favorite:

"Red, White, and Bloom"

I didn't change any of the thread colors for these first three pieces.  I loved the rich colors for "Red, White and Bloom"!

My husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in August, and I stitched this next one in honor of that.  Bryan affectionately calls this our "love tapestry."  :-)  This verse is engraved on the inside of his wedding band.

"My Beloved"

I used a different fabric than the one called for, but of course I didn't write it down, and I can't remember what it is.  I also changed out a couple of thread colors.  And I did a lot of frogging...I ripped out the verse three times before I was satisfied with the color of thread.  (A true labor of love!)  And I changed the green twice. But I am happy with the outcome.

For those interested, here are the color changes:

Dandelion Stem (Crescent Colours) ----> Shutter Green (Gentle Art)  [except for the words - those were stitched with Weeks Dye Works' Periwinkle]
Blue Beadbord ----> WDW Dutch Iris (we called this our "love thread" - a variegated thread of blue and purple - his favorite color, blue - and my favorite color, purple -- yah, we're nerds like this)

I've been able to do a bit of stitching in recent weeks -- finally, something "normal"!  I finished up a few pieces that I started last year, and will share those later.  Something about kidney failure and chemotherapy made it really difficult to concentrate on small, detailed things...like stitching.  At least I can read again!  That was tough for a while.  And I can be on the computer again.  Just reading the screen was hard at times.  Oh, and I'm alive!  And getting well!  So there's that.   ;)

I'll tell you about my adventures in knitting later.  I took up knitting when I couldn't stitch.  I'm becoming a regular little ol' lady at the ripe ol' age of 36.  Saaa--weeeet.