Tuesday, February 4, 2014

A GIVEAWAY, a Small SAL finish, and stitching By the Bay

Well here it is February, and I'm already slacking off on my promise to keep this blog updated more often.

First up, I've reached 200 followers, and I believe I promised A GIVEAWAY when I had ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE join up as followers!   Since I've somewhat named 2014 as "The Year of the Sampler" I thought it would be appropriate to give away a beautiful sampler chart (plus a hand dyed linen and the flosses needed).


THE GIVEAWAY! WINNER ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, FEB 7th

This is C Street Samplerworks "I Sigh Not For Beauty" which was designed by Ruth Ann Russell and "inspired by late 18th Century samplers from the Boston, Massachusetts area."  It has all the things I love in a sampler design - a grand house, trees, floral border, and several birds perched here and there -- I think I even spy two butterflies.   (I apologize for this lousy photo.)

WHAT YOU'LL WIN:  the complete, brand-spanking-new chart; a 1/4 yard cut of 32 count Apple Brown Bindy hand dyed linen by R&R Reproductions; and the DMC flosses needed to stitch this.  I must confess (before I have a disgruntled giveaway winner on my hands) I didn't have three of the colors of DMC used in the model, BUT I dug my way through the boxes of STASH and was able to find some pretty close matches and all are full, unused skeins.  Yippee!  All you'll need to supply are a needle and scissors, and some lucky soul will be on their way to happy sampler stitchin' ! 

HOW TO ENTER - leave a response to this blog post BEFORE 1:00 AM Friday morning, (EST). 
Tell me YOUR plans for your 2014 stitching. You don't need to list specific goals, but tell me about a project(s) you hope to finish or start this year, or maybe a new technique you'd like to learn, or maybe a retreat you plan to attend - anything goes, really, AS LONG AS IT'S RELATED TO STITCHING. 
 I'll give each valid entry/response a number and pick one at random from a Shaker Box, and announce the winner on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7th. 

As for me and my stitching, I did finish a "small" for the "2014 Small SAL" I signed up for (tap logo on left side for link.) I'm posting the pic several days late, but I did actually get the stitching on this finished before January ended. This is "A Colonial Candle Pouch" - the first project sent to those stitchers participating in the Colonial Gatherings Club via Dyeing to Stitch, the R&R Reproductions' blog. It was designed by Plum Street Samplers.  I haven't done the "finishing" on it yet -- I don't own a sewing machine - but I'll figure out something.  (Those Colonial stitchers didn't have sewing machines anyway, right?)

 Col. Gatherings "Candle Pouch" by Plum Street Samplers

Keeping true to my Sampler of the Year theme, I've been working on Cornelia Vanderveer by Scarlet Letter as well as Snooty Parrots by Barbara Ana.  (I'll post pics of them next time.)  I'm having a little By the Bay SAL with my friend Kathy, which we started a couple of weeks ago.  This is where I left off on By the Bay's "Tidal River."  It's a fun project filled with the blues and greens I love plus lots of little details to bring the bayside scene to life.  The fabric is 32 count Blue Dynasty and DMC threads. 
 I'm working on this between other projects, cuz that's just the way I roll! Ha ha ha.   Until next time - good luck on the giveaway, and happy stitching! 


DON'T you wish you were HERE - hanging in a hammock, and sipping a Margarita? 









48 comments:

  1. Hammock and margaritas would be really welcomed now for sure!!! I adore your small finish, the colours are great :) I'll pass on your over generous giveaway, I know I wouldn't have the patience to work on a sampler :( It really is a beautiful chart and I'm sure it'll find a new home soon!!

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  2. Your finish and WIP are looking toward spring. Aren't we ALL? Congrats on your 200 followers, and thank you for the chance to win this lovely sampler and goodies!

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  3. Hi Kevin, love your small finish -- wishing I had joined that group...but the SL samplers are so big (and there are so many of them - lol). Since we are having more snow than normal, a hammock and margarita would be perfect just about now. Thanks for the chance in your very generous give-away.

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  4. Love your finish and your WIP is looking good. You are having an awesome giveaway!
    I've joined the smalls sal and also stitch from stash sal, so hoping to weed through some of the things I have. Would also like to do a sampler since I haven't stitched one as yet.
    Thanks for visiting !!

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  5. It is snowing like cA-razy here right now! I have started on #1 of my 11 WIPs for this year. A year in the life of by The Historical Sampler Company. Love your candle pouch - may be time for a sewing machine in your life.

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  6. I'm stitching the Mystery Sampler by Blue Ribbon - Blue Jeans and Daisies, I'm planning a Designer Stitching Day for my local cross stitch group and I must finish the wedding sampler before my daughter's July Wedding!

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  7. OMG!! I have wanted to stitch this chart for EVER! I would LOVE to be entered. My stitching goals this year.... I want to TRY and stitch an ornament a month. And I am trying to only stitch from the stash I have on hand, but I have a small monthly budget to use on things I will need like floss and such.

    Thank you for such a wonderful giveaway :)

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  8. Kevin, I just have to track down Tidal River for myself now, It's great! As for goals this year, I don't have any other than to finish my 3 big girls, Ann Grimshaw, Frances Eden and Hannah Pepper. I'll be doing veryw ell if they all see the end ahead of 2015l, or I'll die working on them! Such a great giveaway opportunity - thanks for officing it.

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  9. Fabulous! I am a big fan of your "The Year of the Sampler". I am a sampler fan & hope to finish one or two this year. Thanks so much for the chance to win such a wonderful chart & all all the fixins'!

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  10. I love the border on I Sigh Not for Beauty. Please enter my name in your giveaway.
    This year I hope to complete more class projects, complete The Attic's 2014 SAL and work on my panels for my CoC.

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  11. Your By The Bay design does indeed look very inviting.
    My plans for this year are to hopefully finish off two CHS WIPS, "Sarah Spurr" and "Alphablocks" and my SAL Sorpresa 3.
    I would love to be entered for the sampler chart, thanks for the opportunity.

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  13. Congrats on the small finish Kevin. I love the Tidal River. I do believe I have that in my stash. I would love to be entered in your giveaway. I just finished starting 31 projects and my goal is to finish many of my WIP's/UFO's this year. Stop by my blog for a giveaway that I'm having. http://www.bengalcatlover10.blogspot.com/

    Linda

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  14. Congratulations on your finish. All your work is stunning. My goals for 2014 are to finish And They Sinned, I am getting really close to that sea of green fill in stitching, and A Yuletide Welcome to Thee by Plum Street Samplers. I was doing well on it before Christmas, but a broken bone spur in my semi-arthritic stitching hand rendered it useless for close to two weeks. I am going to start something a bit smaller in the next day or two to fill in between these two BAPs. The giveaway sampler is gorgeous and I would love to be entered for a chance to win.

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  15. Hi Kevin - I always look forward to reading your blog posts. You stitch interesting projects and you write very well. I'm currently stitching the Snooty Parrot SAL, a Scarlet Letter sampler for Nicola's blog, and the Attic Needlework's "Por Luciana Delgado" SAl. Busy but fun time for me!

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  16. Great finish on the Colonial Gatherings piece! Love the By the Bay piece too. As for my goals for 2014, well, besides doing some knitting and quilting, I also want to stitch up A Parrot, A Leopard, A Lion for my casket, plus hopefully get more of my pieces framed this year. I know there will be more that I want to stitch too. Even some pieces that I need to buy. lol! Thanks for the giveaway -- and happy 200 followers!

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  17. What a generous giveaway! I'm plugging away at my UFOs and my goal is to have one less at the end of the year. My current focus project is the Sarah Boone sampler from Berks Co., PA. All your projects look great!

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  18. beauitful stitching ♥

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  19. I'd like to be sitting on a beach chair, stitching the sampler and drinking a pina colda. Instead I will be housebound by another round of many inches of snow, but at least stitching.
    FOr 2014 I have plenty ofstitching to keep me busy (not many samplers though). I wold love to add this sampler. My turtle trot list os on my blog, it has a definite 10 with another 4 optional items (that have been WIPs far too long), a couple of things that never made the list are Lizzie Kate's list (starting with Dream, I have 4 items done right now), and I need to work on ornaments. ONly did one for a giveawy last year. I need some for my home this year.

    JHM
    http://needleworkerssamplings.blogspot.com/

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  20. Congratulations on 200 followers. I love the little finish. My stitching goal is to finish some of the UFOs I've got scattered over my desk!

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  21. Congrats on the 200 mark :) I've joined the Smalls SAL too....that way I KNOW that if all else fails that I'll get 12 small finishes out of 2014! Margharitas and Tequila shots.....hmmmmm :) Stitching goals? Well...there are 3 pieces I'd really love to get done this year...over and above the odds and bobs that I'll stitch throught the year. They are "Alphabet Learner" by Chris Davenport, "Woodland Enchantress" (which is a Dimensions Gold kit I had started a good few years ago), and "Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden". I'm also hoping that this will be the year that I FINALLY learn how to use the sewing machine I got from the hubby a few years ago! Thanks for the opportunity to enter!

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  22. Please do include me for a chance to win your very generous giveaway, my friend! Of course you know my stitching plans this year ... ornaments, ornaments, & more ornaments : ) I also want to do a "large" piece or two ... pictures or samplers. I love this one : ) I also love that candle pouch design! I didn't join the group though. Will email soon!

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  23. I really like 'Tidal River' - the shapes of the trees are lovely :)

    Please enter me for the giveaway :) This year I'm taking part in a Just Nan SAL, so I aim to finish one design (a band sampler). There are a lot of new stitches to learn so I'm looking forward to the challenge. I had also decided that I would try and finish a project before starting something new...so far I am failing spectacularly! :D

    I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on Snooty Parrots, it's one of my favourite designs I've seen this year.

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  24. Your stitching looks great, and congrats on reaching 200 followers! I would love to be entered in your giveaway...thanks!

    As for my stitching, I have 4 HAEDs in various states of progress, one of which I could and would like to finish this year. I would like to make significant progress on the others (and refrain from starting any new ones!) as well as get some smaller projects done.

    Mostly I would like to stop buying new projects and make a dent in my stash, but we all know that's not gonna happen;)

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  25. Hello Kevin
    Lovely Finish!!
    I'd like to finish two portraits with blackwork this year and continue with the kit of "The Lady and the Unicorn". They are first  but I have a lot of works in progress to continue... The giveaway sampler is gorgeous, thank you!

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  26. Beautiful work, as always. Love seeing By the Bay WIPs. : ) Also, congratulations on reaching 200 followers. Well deserved and not really of much surprise. ; )

    For me, I really want to get going on my first Chatelaine. Ever since I first saw Martina's designs, I've been in love. I'm in the process of kitting up "Frosty Knotgarden" now and hope to start early-mid March. I also want to finish up my first HAED "Mini Pearl" by Rachel Anderson. Those are the only solid goals I have currently.

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  27. I love seeing all of your beautiful stitching. In 2014, I hope to return to stitching the Celtic sampler, as well as work on Spider Moon.

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  28. Love your blog and your work. My main goal is just to enjoy my stitching without feeling pressured by it. In years past, I've allowed myself to be stressed by the number of projects that I've had going and self imposed guidelines. This year is stress free stitching. Im currently working on the Once Upon A Time Sampler by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. Tomorrow I plan to go back to my WIP of One Nation. It will be the project I work on while enjoying the Winter Olympics this year. Thank you for the chance to be in your giveaway. I have admired this sampler since it first came out.

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  29. What a generous soul you are~ Please include my name in the mix. I have selected the SL sampler I will do this year for Nicola's challenge...I continue to work the Slatter sampler and dread the moment it is completed
    and the faces have to be "glued" on the figures. My red binder for 2014 is
    already filled with the Christmas samplers and ornaments I would like to have ready for gift-giving come December. A woman's work is never done!
    Many thanks for the opportunity to win this wonderful giveaway.

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  30. What a super Gift-a-way, please throw my name into the drawing. Your Tidal WIP looks great!!

    Now, goals fro 2014, start and finish a Scarlet Letter piece, I'm thinking Quaker, continue a bit on Autumn at HRH, finish up my Winter Band Sampler..... and complete the Prim pieces as they come in.... I do admire your fortitude in that you are doing your own finish on the first piece, I'm way to chicken to try it on my own.

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  31. Hola Kevin, es dificil encontrar a un hombre bordando punto cruz, lo cual te hace una persona muy especial. Tus trabajos preciosos y, ya vez, ya pasaste los 200 seguidores.
    Un saludo desde Chile
    Maru
    http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com

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  32. Kevin,
    I love your finish! Great job.
    What a generous offering! I would love to be included in your giveaway!

    Ah that Margarita sounds good! I usually don't mind winter, but this year with a faulty furnace and muscles sore from shovelling, I am ready for Spring!

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    Replies
    1. What a nice giveaway and how,kind. Right now want to finish Peacock Purse bu Guilia Manfredini,and then I have silks for Flowers of Rose Hall by Rosewood Manor. I have Spring Quakers by RM as well. Is there a pattern here? I think so.

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  33. Hi, Kevin,
    I would love to enter your generous giveaway. ISNFB is a wonderful sampler, For 2014, I plan to continue on and hopefully finish Manifesto, but that may be too ambitious. I also want to finish Hannah Lancaster, and start a few more. I really love your candle pouch finish...so cute!
    Melinda

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  34. Congrats on your finish and 200 followers! I can only dream of having *that* many people interested in what I babble about. [LOL]

    Oh Kevin, I would love to win the "I Sigh Not For Beauty" sampler; Since I am permanently on "The Wagon" as far as buying new stash; and I've always wanted to stitch me a reproduction sampler. As for my plans for 2014, I've joined Measi's Wipocalypse SAL and hope to finish these 3 projects by the end of the year:

    1) Camelot Sampler - by Teresa Wentzler (TWDesignworks)
    2) The Twelve Days of Christmas - by Teresa Wentzler (TWDesignworks)
    3) Musical Bell Pull - by Donna Vermillion Giampa (Vermillion Stitchery)

    Thank you for generous giveaway!!!!!

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  35. This year I hope to finish several WIPs such as Susan Singleton by The Scarlet Letter. I also hope to work on some of my stash especially The Chase Sampler by Examplarery. Would love to be entered to win this lovely sampler that I have always admired.

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  36. PS:
    I'm stitching PSS Eliza Scattergood right now, and have a couple of WTN&T samplers on the To Do list 2014. Thanks again!

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  37. I've loved By The Bay charts for years, but never stitched any -- and I'm really enjoying how yours is progressing along. Ok, I'll play! This year's stitching plans: Start Chinese Mandala garden (Chatelaine), start Sleeping Beauty (Mirabilia), finish the Name of God (My Big Toe) for Joyce, finish Wisdom (Joan Elliott) ... and that's just from the top of my head.... LOL!

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  38. I love By The Bay designs, wonderful progress on this piece. Your PSS finish is sweet.
    Hmmm...stitching plans for the year...I want to finish a couple of samplers that are WIPs, the Deerfield sampler, Margaret Randolph. I also want to stitch the LK Christmas mystery and Halloween mystery. I want to do some ornaments this year too out of the PS Nordic chart. I am taking a class with Praiseworthy Stitches in June. My other stitching trips are sampler study focused. It is going to be a great stitching year!
    Thanks for the chance in your giveaway. Congratulations on another 100 followers!!

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  39. Oooh, is it too late to join in the giveaway? Not sure what time it is where you are? If it is never mind, good luck to whoever wins, it is such a lovely prize.

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  40. Sorry, forgot to tell you that my plans for this year are to finish Cinderella (amongst many other things).

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  41. Hi Kevin, Your giveaway is so generous! What a wonderful sampler design! My goal for 2014 is to cut my WIP list in half by finishing a lot of them. Then I won't feel guilty when I want to start 31 new ones next January (like I've been doing for the past 3 years). Another goal of mine is to actually make some ornaments out of the small finishes I have. I bought a sewing machine but didn't take it out of the box yet.

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  42. Your Smalls finish is so nice and I love By the Bay designs. It's perfect for someone who lives in Florida!

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  43. Hi Again Kevin...forgot my goals/plans for 2914 when I commented the other day. I just started two more Scarlet Letter pieces and have about 10 others in the wings. Am planning to visit the Scarlet Letter in late May/early June and know I will acquire yet more stash then. And, when recently searching for fabric came upon another dozen or so samplers I uprchase in the last year. I may need to quit my job and just stitch full time - ha-ha. Vera

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  44. Hi XD My goals for this year for stitching are to finish at least ONE cross stitch tehe. I haven't finished anything big in my whole life and really want to so...that is my plan. The project I most want to finish is a Princess Aurora one I am doing for my second cousin who is around 2 (I haven't actually met her yet XD )
    I was sent here by Debbie from http://debbiescrossstitch.blogspot.co.nz/ if that helps her chances :D

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  45. Congratulations to you on having 200plus followers! Love your candle pouch - really a beautiful piece. And I love Needle by the Bay tidal wave your stitching. For my plans for 2014 is to stitch what what ever speaks out to me. Currently its Ann dale and Bothy threads cut Thru - Fairy Hill and I do have some projects that are kitted: Christmas Garden by BBD, Christmas Tree Euti - Victoria Sampler and a few others I plan to start this year. I also work in smalls for the holidays - hearts, and Christmas ornaments from the JCS magazines:) Beautiful chart your giving away.

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