This design came out in 2000, and I've had it since shortly after it was released. I bought it because of the frog charm that came with it. See him in the garden?
I stitched it on 32 count Antique Lace linen instead of the recommended 28 ct so my sampler turned out a little bit smaller than the model- 3.25" X 8" or 8.25" if you count the initials and date at the bottom.
It was a pretty good stitch. I love the little back-stitched animals/figures that are so often a part of Just Nan designs. This one has turtles and butterflies. However, sometimes the designs tend to get a little tedious as they are heavy on the cross stitch, with lots of color changes and one or two stitches of a particular color here and there, and not enough specialty stitches to keep my attention. I think that's part of the reason this took me so long to complete. (I started this in February 2011!)
But like I said, it is fall, and I'm yearning to stitch something up in some gorgeous fall colors. So I went through my stash and picked out a few possible projects and then I ordered some delicious hand dyed fibers to get started:
My "local" needlework store was kind enough to include a free pattern using some of the colors I'd ordered.
What a coincidence, I thought, until I realized that the cute little pumpkin chart by Jeanette Douglas matches the pumpkin at the bottom of the sampler (also by Jeanette Douglas) that I put on my to-stitch list.
This is Pumpkin Sampler from the September/October issue of Just Cross Stitch. It looks like a quick stitch with lots of specialty stitches, beads, and of course, gorgeous colors! And pumpkins! I love pumpkins- I even have a collection of them!
How about you? Does the change in seasons prompt you to want to stitch or sew something special? Does it make you turn to a different craft or hobby? What are your creative outlets for fall?
