Acorns and Owls

Here is the little sampler I blogged about previously, all finished and ready to be finished:

This is Acorns and Owls, a freebie chart from Blue Ribbon Designs.  I must have found it right before it retired, because it is no longer available on the site.  However, there are some very cute designs still available.

I just love that it's a tiny sampler with a complete alphabet!  I don't know why, but I just love stitching alphabets.  I also love the pumpkins, acorns, and leaves that give it that fall theme.

I stitched this on 32ct Lambswool linen and it finished up at 4 3/8" X 4 3/8".  The pattern called for Gentle Art Sampler Threads, which I had in my stash.  The finished sampler is a little "warm" for my taste.  If I stitched it again, I think I'd make some thread substitutions and work in some darker, cooler colors.  The owls, I think, would look nice in a brown/grey.  I absolutely LOVE the Tarnished Gold that was used in the alphabet.  That color is perfect, I think.  I actually had two skeins of it and one was rather dull while the other was a bit brighter with more color variation.  I used the brighter one, of course, and it looks fabulous.  The pumpkins, too, turned out quite nice.  I smile every time I look at them.

This was a quick and easy stitch.  It's all cross stitch- no specialty stitches or backstitches.  Somehow, I didn't get bored, though.  Maybe it was all the lovely hand dyed threads and plenty of color changes.

I have already begun a new stitching project.  It's a little bit different for me, but I'm excited about it.  It's been slow going because I've been working late lately and my evening stitching time has been severely curtailed.  It won't last much longer, though.

I'm also starting to feel the urge to work on something Christmasy!  I have some small ornament projects in mind, and then there's my Victoria Sampler Heirloom Christmas project from last year that needs to be finished.  I should have plenty to keep me busy the rest of the year!