Done (Dah Duh Duh DAAAHHHHUunnnn) BBD 2008 Mystery Sampler

I finished fixing my BBD 2008 Mystery Sampler piece that wasn't going together right.  Those of you who have done this before may notice I changed the design a little on the 4th panel.  I skipped the 5th panel altogether because honestly, I just didn't like it and didn't think it went with the rest of the design.  Also, another stitcher on the web mentioned that she had trouble linking the ring on the second panel her first time around and had to frog it and restitch.  I had the same problem.  I think that the ring has some sort of hypnotic power.  I paid a lot closer attention to what I was doing the second time around and managed to resist the power of the Black Birds! 

Oh, it's probably already been mentioned a zillion times since 2008, but the chart calls for Gentle Art "Basil" and I looked and looked through my collection and went to the nearest to me shop (Needlewoman East in Falls Church, VA - Liz is a wonder) and couldn't find it there and then one day I said, gee, I wonder if . . . and looked through my WDW collection and found it there.  So, it's a Weeks floss, not Gentle Art.  Also, funny story.  I read the color "basil" and was thinking green.  Went through all the greens, many times.  Then, went through all the colors.  When I finally did find it in the Weeks floss, I looked at it and it was mostly purple with greenish color too and I went OH - duh!  PURPLE Basil !!!  And then I looked at the chart again and said to myself, well, what color did you think those GRAPES were supposed to be?  Sometimes I'm just really, really s-l-o-w. 

I just sewed it up and said the heck with it!  Wasn't going to unstitch it, wasn't going to stitch on it so'more; was just done!  Although I love the vintage-y "look I found these four different pieces - stitched by four different people - at four different times in my life - and put them together - and look what I got - look", I don't think I'll try this at home again.  It was frustrating working on the small pieces of linen and I definitely didn't like the surprise of them not going together right when I was all done.  My husband and son have been asking me all along - why are you doing that again?  They just don't get the concept - MEN!  But I have to say, I agree with them this time.

On the other hand, I have loved this sampler since I started seeing people's completed projects on the web in late 2008.  I love the turquoise and I love that shade of green and I think that BBD did a wonderful job designing it - especially the hypnotic ring.  It sings to me.  AND, one benefit is that I've decided that one of these designs will make a pretty cute, small wedding sampler for someone I know.  Yeah, I know - means I have to work with a small piece of linen again.  Oh well.  In the stitching world, sometimes all the stars align and sometimes they don't.

I have ordered some new charts to keep me busy into the fall and winter.  A tripwitch from Brooks Books (yes, I typed that right - you'll see) and also three of BBD's Anniversaries of the Heart.  Siobhan is responsible for that.  She's been stitching them and personalizing them and just making me love them.  In the meantime, I'm stitching some Prairie Schooler Santas into ornaments. 

So, there's this little shop on the web called Welcome Stitchery and I just loved the way they treated me the last time I ordered from them - like I was a long, lost friend (although any shop owner in their right mind these days probably should treat all paying customers like long, lost friends since so few people are spending money on fripperies - says my husband).  Anyway, I got the BBDs from them and ordered directly from Brook.  My DIL likes her stuff and I may do these and send them on.  I also spotted some Pirate-ty stuff in the Nordic Needle Catalog, made by Mill Hill.  But, right now, my spending limit has been reached.  By the way, did you know that today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day?  Hmmm?  Or, should I say ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!