Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A new start

Ann Rayner has been set aside. I enjoy stitching her, but recently we updated the guest bathroom, and I've decided that Sarah Woodham needs to hang in there. Her colors are very similar, and since I've wanted to stitch her since first sight, it didn't take much to persuade me. I'm using 40ct. vintage pearled barley from Lakeside, with my own conversion based on the called for fibers. It is my first time using Belle Soie silk. I had to give it a try when I saw that it used "Sister Scarlet". While I think the color is pretty, I am not a fan of the silk. In my own opinion, it fuzzes and shreds way too much. Don't be booing and hissing at me, Laurie. That just means that there will be more for those of you who love it. I'll stick with NPI. As I went outside to photograph Sarah, my blooming geraniums caught my eye. I couldn't help snapping a photo. It always amazes me that there can be blizzards in other parts of the country, while we are immune to all that fun in the snow. Now don't be leaving me nasty comments, ha-ha. You can wait and rub it in July, when our gooses are being cooked out here.

Just a word about Henry Blue. He has settled in just fine. Ruby loves him, but little Scarlett still has a bit of an attitude. She's coming around a little more everyday.

27 comments:

MyLifesAStitch said...

Sara looks great - Can't wait to see her hung up in the redone bathroom (if you post a pic... translation: please post a pic!)!! Thanks for the pics of the geraniums! It is something nice to look at and look forward to! Glad Henry is settling in well!

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you are enjoying your new family member.

I know what you mean about the Belle Soie silk. I am not a fan either. I also don't like the way the dye lot changes every time you get a new skein. I decided I am sticking with NPI as well.

Margie said...

Flowers! I had forgotten what they looked like. :-) Love your WIP.

Unknown said...

Oh no, I have been collecting Belle Soie for upcoming projects, I'm sad to hear that there are issues with it, boohiss.

So glad to hear that Mr. Blue is settling in with his new family - feel free to post more pics of the handsome boy.

Love Sara - she is such a beautiful piece.

Enjoy your afternoon.

Deb said...

You always have the best samplers in process. I'm holding you accountable for my Ann Rayner purchase a couple months ago (well, you have to blame someone). I'm in total agreement about the Belle Soie silks. While they look very pretty stitched, they are a pain to work with. I'll take the NPIs any day!

And I won't be jealous of your warm weather pictures (well, maybe just a little!) :)

Melissa said...

Oh I love hearing about the 'puppies' and how they are getting along! Good to hear one of the girls is warming up to the boy!

I love Sarah! I can't comment on Belle Soie as I haven't stitched with it. I will though and see who will win the contest! ;-)

Yes, there are some tetchy people out there with the weather! We have snowdrops blooming and camellias... better be quiet! ;-)

Margaret said...

Oh, I'm so glad you and I start in different corners of our samplers! lol! Your Sarah is soo pretty! Love her! I totally agree about the Belle Soie. As a matter of fact, the Gloriana and the Threadgatherer are just as bad! So you can imagine me cursing over shredding threads while stitching my Sarah. :D

Hope Scarlett starts loving Henry Blue soon! I know she'll come round eventually!

(Geraniums. You're so lucky!)

Nicole said...

Beautiful progress on Sarah, Tanya. I really want to start this one soon! Beautiful geraniums too! We don't get snow here, but it is cold and there's nothing blooming!

Catherine said...

So glad the pups are learning to get along!

Your progress is wonderful on Sara!

I appreciate your pics of the geraniums, even though we are way snowed under! It gives me hope that spring is out there somewhere, and eventually I'll get to play in my gardens!

Tanya said...

I love geraniums! They are such a pretty flower. And Sarah - she is looking good.

Glenna said...

I love the colors in SW, but I'm missing all that nice red in Ann. I love the geraniums, and also that thought that someday, even here, things will grow outside again! I pulled in my geraniums a few months ago and they're thriving in my family room. And I'm glad your new baby is settling in so well.

I don't enjoy Belle Soie either. Also, the color isn't as rich as the NPI.

Laurie in Iowa said...

I'm looking forward to following your progress on Sarah Woodham.
Give Scarlett an extra hug from me... and whisper in her ear "Be Kind to Your Little Brother, Henry Blue". She'll fall for his charms soon.
More Belle Soie for Laurie...yippee! Beautiful flowers... and yes you are a brat for posting that snap while most of your sisters are surrounded by snow drifts and celebrating the fact that it was 18 sunny degrees here today.

Sherry said...

I can't wait to watch your progress on Sarah! Hopefully I can start stitching her in the near future.

Nancy in WI said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, I'm really, REALLY liking that Sarah Woodham!
Nancy in WI

Siobhán said...

Tanya, Sarah looks great! I just love the little hands on the hips gals. ;)

Brigitte said...

What a great new start. I love Sarah as much as Ann. And I think it's interesting to alternate between them as the colour schemes are so different.
So nice to see that there are places in the world where flowers bloom.

staci said...

LOVELY! Another gorgeous sampler...and the colors are so pretty!

Michelle said...

Wow! You've gotten a lot done on her. Love her!! And your geraniums are pretty too. We're actually getting snow in Texas today - weird. This is the third time this winter. I hope Scarlett comes around soon - Henry's a cutie pie!

Michelle said...

What a beautiful new start ~ love the colors.. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one whose not a fan of Belle Soie silk. I have the same problem with fraying. Love your happy geraniums! They are one of my favorites and I can grow them..

Joy said...

I love watching the progress of your samplers. Do you always start in the lower right hand corner...is there a particular reason for this? Using a short strand of the Belle Soie does help some. After I finish the fuss with silk, I often question if one can even tell it was silk.

Sandra said...

I've only used Belle Soie once and it shredded something awful, but I persevered and the end project is lovely. You need to cut shorter lengths and use a size bigger needle than you would normally to make a bigger hole for the thread to go through.

Melissa said...

I love your progress on Sarah Woodham and feel the exact same way you do about the Belle Soie. I used them on a recent project and was unimpressed. They shred way too much IMHO.

I love your geraniums. I was just reading this morning about whether or not I could attempt doing a geranium or two as a houseplant. I plant them outside but I wanted to try them inside too.

Alice said...

We are under a blanket of snow here and its freezing cold!!! Do keep rubbing in your lovely weather. : ))) Naughty girl!!! Its a lovely new project.
Alice

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Sarah looks great, Tanya! i love the colors in it. Glad to hear that Henry is fitting in - how fun!

Oh my gosh, green and red already blooming! I am so jealous. It'll be a long while for us yet.

Katrina said...

Love Sarah Woodham and your geraniums are so pretty.

I am with you on the Belle Soie, I do have a couple projects that are kitted with it and I will use it, but it's not my favorite.

woolwoman said...

Love Sarah! It's a beautiful sampler and her new one Jane Philpot - OOH LA LA - another must have. I for one LOVE Belle Soie however I do use about a 12" strand and never have any problems. geraniums and most everything else in my yard is dead as a door nail - Florida has had an abnormally hard winter and we've lost so much - I do have beautiful camellias in bloom and some minature azaleas are starting to pop out. So there is a little color in the otherwise dead waste land that was once my lush tropical yard. Melody

Dona said...

Your Sarah is beautiful! I do love the colors, but I agree with you on the silks. They fuzz when use them, too, although are gorgeous colors.

Glad to hear Henry is slowly making is way into the hearts of the girls, or at least Ruby's heart. Scarlet will give in eventually. He's too cute not for her not to!