colliemommie | Needlework finishes, February 08 (Reply)

I realized that, of the twelve or fourteen needlework projects I finished last year, none of them are still in my possession. It's a hereditary complaint, actually. Dad's the same way, makes all kinds of things from stained glass to furniture and then gives them away.

So this year I am trying to remember to take pictures of things before I gift them. January was a dead month for accomplishing anything, but I have two for February.

This is the first of a set of four cross stitch Santas from Prairie Schooner. 5" by 7" on R&R Reproductions 30-count Sea Fog Linen.

This is a pattern from Laura Perin's American Quilt Collection, Odd Fellows' Cross. It's about 9.25" by 9.25" on 18 count mono canvas. I love the pattern, this is actually the third time I've worked it, though I don't think these colors really do the pattern justice. Michelle wanted one to match her purple and teal bedroom, which is not a palette I'd ever pick.

Detail, to show how nice the stitches look...satin-stitched perle cotton looks almost too nice for something that easy. I love how the design minics white-on-white quilting. If you look at the "blank" blocks between the crosses, the pattern is either the same as the purple or a reverse of it. The teal is all one thread--a vareigated cotton from Caron Watercolors called Caribbean.

I plan on finishing my current project this week. It's a gorgeous sampler; I'm awful proud of it!