Introducing.....

the lovely:

the pink:

the ultra feminine,

Elizabeth Savilles:


This is officially, the Elizabeth Savilles, 1841 Sampler by Finger Work. She is worked on 32 count linen with one thread over two. I used mostly crescent colors floss and the thread substitutions are listed in the previous post. The only called for thread I did use was the Taupe for the flower vase on the left side (which was a last minute decision). In the picture of the sampler, that vase looked a lot lighter in color than the one on the right, although the pattern called for the same color. I thought the taupe gave the perfect contrast. When I started this sampler, I dyed the fabric in raspberry tea and splotched a bag of it all over the fabric to give it some interest. As you can see from the pics, that has all but faded away, I'm sorry to say. I don't dare do that now as I'm afraid it will run. Oh well, I still love it.

I "fixed" some of the sampler but left a great deal the way it was charted and of course, included a few mistakes of my own. The major changes were to add feet to the bird (in the middle tree on the right), and to connect some of the branches on the tree. I also made all the small little rosebuds, or carnation buds, complete but left the bigger flowers and corners as charted.

I've been working on this a LONG time. I started blogging in February of 2009 (it's almost my 1 year mark) and I think she was in my third post that month. At that time, I'd been working on her for a while - I think I started her in the summer of 2008. I loved this sampler the first time I saw it but I got bored with the colors - even though I absolutely love them. I must give thanks to DEB who said "Why don't you just try putting in one length of thread a night? At least that way, you'll make progress and eventually get her done." Great advice. I took it, for a while but wasn't truly motivated until I saw CARI'S post. She started and had gotten so much beautiful work done that I was re-inspired. I decided to put everything else aside and get this long overdue WIP done. Thank you girls! Now Deb, take your own advice and get to work on AAWFAA (And All Was For An Apple)!!!

I am off in a little while to take Elizabeth to the framer. I have to thank you all so much for all the lovely comments on my Jenny Bean and PS framing in my last post. You are all so kind and I so appreciate your enthusiastic support of my choices. Of course, most of you are terrible enablers; KIM said "eat beans" to pay for it. Uh, no. MARNIE said her mom used to say "I should have been born rich rather than beautiful", I wish I'd been born both! SANDRA was the only one that voiced a differing opinion to the gold frame and for that, I am thankful - she thought a brown/red toned frame might look better so I will definitely have a look at some of those, too. ANDREA, I think we are indeed "soul sisters!". We like so many of the same things, don't we? LORAINE, you asked about the mouldings for the frames: they are both by Larson Juhl. The number for the Prairie Schooler frame is 357593 and the one for the Jenny Bean piece is 457593.

Again, thank you all so much for stopping by, for leaving a comment - boy, they are special, and for being so supportive. Until the 1 year anniversary....

Peace!
Terri