I have been busy for the past few months  stitching a model for Hands Across The Seas.  Since the sampler was released today I can now share the photos.

It was a joy to stitch Elizabeth Furniss.  To be honest, when I was asked if I wanted to model sttich, I wasn't sure since I didn't think my stitching was that great.  But I agreed to do it anyway and am pleased with the result.

If you are a member of stitchy Face Book groups you might have already seen these photos.

This is not a stitchy post.  Instead I am going to show off a plant I received from My son and daughter-in-law for Mother's Day!  I love the pink Azalea!

I have been waiting for my Voodoo Hibiscus to bloom.  As the bud formed and got bigger, I waited anxiously for the bud to open.  Finally it did open yesterday and immediately I snapped a picture :)

Jim Wurth Dodecagon

I stitched this several years ago.  Last week, when I was searching for a WIP, I came across the first Dodecagon I stitched.  The moment I saw this, I knew I had to have it.  I have the rest of the series too but haven't stitched the rest. The second one is a WIP, not sure when it will be finished.

 Dodecagon series is designed by Jim Wurth.

Here is a picture of Coronation by Jim Wurth.

Permin Adam and Eve

I finished this a while ago today.  Started this on 1/13/16 and finsihed today, 2/28/16.

1 x 2 on 52 ct linen with HDF Rubbed Dark Red.  I am glad I had enough of this color to complete the sampler.

I am holding a draw in the Sampler World group on Face Book  and will pass the chart on to who ever wins the draw/

For the past month  I have been working on Permin's Adam and Eve.  This is an OOP kit.  After her monther stitched this, Bethany Gallant held a draw in the Sampler World FB group and passed on the chart to Abi  Bellastitch..  After she  finished stitching Abi held a draw in the FB group and, to my delight,  I won the chart!  Since I need to pass this on to the next  stitcher, I have been concentrating on stitching just this.

 1x2 on 52 ct linen with HDF Rubbed dark red
I have almost completed 2 out of 4 pages.

Not a great picture but it is what it is :)

First finish of 2016

I  started Bagatelle from Long Dog Designs in  May 2015.  I started on 32 ct over two but didn't like the look of it and restarted it on 32 ct over one.  Since the design included back stitching for the lacey backgound, I had to imrpovise and make it work for over one stiching.  After some trials, I decided to use HDF  fiber SSF.  I thought one micro would be enough but soon realized that I needed more.  Since HDF clkosed its doors, I had no way of ordering more.  I was about to give up but thought I would try  HDF face book group and see if any one had an extra mini.  And, to my delight, Rebecca Pardue Bonsor, was willing to send me one of her SSF mini's. Thanks to Rebecca I was able to finish this beautiful design.  Eventhough back stitching was tedious at times, it is very effective and is  worth all the effort.    I was able to put in the last stitch today and have my first finish of 2016

1 x 1 on 32  count Belfast Ruby Red with HDF 5200 SSR and SSF Rubbed cream.

This is not a sampler but I got as much, if  not more, satisfaction in stitching this as any BAP.

While visiting me earlier this year, my oldest grandson Avik was looking through Joan Elliott's Cross Stitch Treasures for Children and asked me make this chart for him.  I stitched his name at the bottom but took the photo without his name.

I wanted to finish this while he was still young enough to enjoy this.  That prodded me to keep on stitching this instead of switich on to something else.