A Sarah Moon Update

Well, as you can see, Sarah Moon is nearly done. I only have a couple of motifs to do then it will be "Happy Dance" time.

I have been concentrating on just this one as I have found a large frame for her and I don't want the glass to be broken. So hopefully this time next week she will be hanging somewhere in the house. I haven't decided where yet, but I have a few ideas.

I also thought I'd show you one of my china dolls that I made many, many years ago. When I finished working on her I gave her to my Mum as a present. She has lived in my Mum's bedroom for many years and a few months ago I bought her home to live with me.

When I was in my china doll period I made around 6 dolls. It was something that I really enjoyed doing, but I decided that as with all things I had enough so I ceased making them.

She is a German bisque doll called "Hilda" in case you were wondering. Usually she is a baby doll, but when I dressed her, I made a little dress for her, and dressed her as a small girl.

We have been having a lot of hot weather over the last week or so. I think tomorrow and Monday (Australia Day) are going to be very hot. We have had a few small bush fires in the mountains and down at the bottom of the mountains. As with every year, we are just waiting for the " big one". I always have a bag packed with photo's etc. that if something happens I can grab as I grab the dog and rush out the door. I was just sitting thinking if I had to do a exit quick which samplers would I throw into the car. I am still thinking about it, so maybe next time I will show you the ones that I would take. I know for a fact that my Dutch Beauty would be first on the list as there is no way I could do that one again LOL.

Next week is the last week that my son is home on holidays. Yipee she says. No just kidding. But it would be nice to be on my own again during the day. I find that I get more housework done.

Current Stitching Update

Well as you can see I have finished Lois and she now has my Mum's name on her. I just have to find a square frame for her and then she will be finished. I think she is absolutely beautiful and I am sure that my Mum would have been proud to have her name placed on her.

I have now started working on Elizabeth Cox from the Scarlet Letter. Elizabeth is one of those samplers that challenge a person's needlework abilities. Not only is there cross stitch, but long and short stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch, back stitch and I believe there are French nots in there somewhere. In other words, she is quite a challenge.

As you can see, this is my progress so far. Every thing at the moment has to be outlined in stem stitch and then filled in with either long and short, satin and stem stitch. The flower is done in long and short.

In keeping with my naming samplers after family members on the female line I have decided to dedicate this sampler to my grandmother who I unfortunately never knew. She passed away on my Mum's birthday a couple of months before I was born. Elizabeth was one of her middle names and Cox was her maiden name. She was also born in England, so this sampler is perfect for her. My Mum had these amazing tablecloths that she had made when she was younger. They were all done in the most beautiful long and short stitch. Mum used to use them on important family celebrations.

Yesterday, I thought I had better get my Beatrix Potter out and do a couple of motifs for the SAL that I have joined. As you can see I worked on the top 2 motifs of the border. Because I am so far along, I thought that if I only do 1 or 2 motifs a month I should be on target with the other girls.

While looking for a frame yesterday, I came upon a huge square one that my Sarah Moon would it in. That was one of my concerns with doing it over 2. Anyway, I have decided to also work on Sarah Moon during the evenings. Because Elizabeth has so many speciality stitches, I think I am better working on her during the day. My next problem with Sarah is where to hang her.


My dear friend Karen gave me this amazing gift for Christmas. She knows that I love Scarlet Letter samplers and she bought me the beautiful Grazing Sheep sampler. She also bought me the beautiful needle minder. She knows that I love angels.
Well I had better get off and go and investigate something that my son has told me was in the back yard. He was doing some weeding for his Father and a baby tiger snake about 30 cms slithered past him. He is now in panic mode. I wonder why. They are quite venomous. Usually where there is one there are a few others. Oh help.