Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Story of Two Anns, and A Tease of Things to Come

I have confirmed my suspicions that I'm not a very good rotation stitcher.  I've tried it several times, but I've found I do best when I'm working on one sampler at a time.

Earlier this week I completed stitching Anne Maria Clarke.  Even though Anne is a 2013 SAL on my With My Needle and Pen newsletter, I decided to go ahead and complete her now.  Here she is before framing....




I like to "sign" my reproduction samplers.  This writing won't show once the sampler is framed.
I'm participating in Nicola's Scarlet Letter challenge.  While some of the participants are "knocking out" sampler after sampler, my goal dream is simply to complete Ann Hair this year.  I'm afraid that my progress has been very slow because of other distractions.




As much as I hated to do so, I temporarily put Ann Hair aside so I can work on a new reproduction, Elizabeth Wood, that Tom and I recently charted.  I hope you'll love Elizabeth as much as I do.  She has so many wonderful motifs--a house, birds, flowers, and more--and she has an octagon-shaped border.  I was especially drawn to this unusual border.  Would you believe that the antique was in an octagon shaped-frame?  How cool is that?  I don't know if I'll try to find a new octagon frame for my model or do something else to highlight the unusual shaped border.

This week I stitched the border (and it met) minus the leaves and berries, and I started work on the house.  I typically don't stitch the border first, but I did this time because I thought having it in place would it make it easier for me to correctly place the motifs on the inside.  I'll post some photos once I have more to show.

16 comments:

Melissa said...

Ellen, congratulations of AMC! She is a stunning beauty. And Ann Hair will be wonderful, I can tell!

Looking forward to seeing your new reproduction.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

ooooh, Ellen! Anne Marie is gorgeous - congratulations on a wonderful finish! Your other Ann is looking gorgeous as well. I can't wait to see your "new" sampler, it sounds fabulous!

Annette-California said...

Congratulations on finishing Anne Marie Clarke! What a beauty! Love her border. Ann Hair is another remarkable Beauty. Oh well done & great progress. Looking forward to when you introduce Elizabeth Wood to us:)
love Annette

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Way to go, Ellen! I can't wait to see this mysterious sampler you describe. I bet it will be fun!

PegC said...

Love, Love the way you "signed" you piece. I'm going to copy that -- and beautiful work.

Margaret said...

Your Ann Maria Clarke is wonderful! Hooray for finishing it! Love your Ann Hair too. I'm not a rotation stitcher either -- total failure at it. Can't wait to see your new piece!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Anne Maria Clarke is beautiful! Congrats on finishing her. I'm really looking forward to seeing glimpses of Elizabeth Wood!

Barb said...

Ellen, The samplers are beautiful!!Anne Maria Clarke is an amazing finish. It looks like there was a lot of over one. I can't wait to see your new sampler. I , too, prefer to work on one thing at a time.

llknbillburg said...

Both of you samplers are just beautiful!! Can't wait to see the new reproduction! Laura

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

c'est merveilleux ! bisous bisous

Patti-Rocky Mtn Stitcher said...

Applause Applause your Anne Maria Clarke sampler is gorgeous!!! I'm like you I have to focus on one or two the most or I get overwhelmed and don't accomplish anything LOL

Kathy Ellen said...

Your needlework on Anne Maria Clarke is just magnificent and your progress on Anne Hair is just as beautiful. What excitement to anticipate your newest project, 'Elizabeth Wood'! You are always an inspiration to all of us!

Blessings!

Grit said...

Your stitching is so fantastic.
Love it.
Greetings Grit

Jan Gartlan said...

Wow, amazing stitching!

Jo Ann said...

Ellen,

Congrats on getting your Richmond done. Jo Ann H. and I picked our framed pieces up today and they are awesome-just like yours. I will have my sweetie help me send you some pictures. Jo Ann R.

P.S. isn't it great to have it finished ? :)

Kevin said...

Anne Maria Clarke looks amazing! Congratulations on your finish. I'm not very successful with rotation stitching either, but I have a terrible habit of starting new projects before others are completed.
Love Ann Hair as well. Beautiful sampler and stitching.