One of the number one things on my list of to do's in this new year is cleaning out the clutter! We live in a rather big house with a big barn which makes it easy to lose track of just how much stuff there is. As the kids have grown older and some have moved out, this is the year that I am determined to unload.
I told Ken the other day, I was going to start with our huge closet which has become a catch all for stuff we don't know if we want to keep or not. As I was hoeing, I came upon my old needlework. There was a time in my life that my passion for counted cross stitch could rival my now passion for fiber.
Just the other day, Marcia and I were comparing notes in our similarities with the things we had managed not to get finished. We both had a pretty good list going and I had not even thought of my needlepoint…sigh. Now that they are out, they are getting pressed and going to a framer to be framed!
Here are a few of my favorites…
The little bunny above was meant for Hannah's baby room, you can see how that went….maybe Hannah's baby?
I so enjoyed working on Johnny Appleseed. If you look closely you can see that I completed this sampler in 1987….22 years ago! YIKES! My sister in law had worked on this piece and I loved her framed version so much that I did one myself. Framed? Sheesh…of course not.
The ABC sampler that I made for Ashley's room when she was just a little one……….another present I will have for a future grandchild 🙂
This basket was also finished in 1987…I think I was on an apple kick that year. Actually I love that brick red color. It was my favorite back then and still is today. Good thing….once framed they will fit in nicely here. 🙂
Now you all know that pink is not my color, but at the time I stitched this, I had a lot of pink in my kitchen and this would have fit in perfectly. The pink is gone….but I love this little sampler enough that somehow I will find a place for it. It's such a happy little picture, don't you think?
…and finally….this one is my favorite. I started this sampler back in 1988 and did not finish it until 1993. This was another sampler that my then sister in law had done and I just loved it. Worked on a very very fine linen, it survived my divorce, a death and finally a remarriage before it was finished. This will be the first one that will be framed! Sadly this is the one sampler that has a few stains. I think that I will overdye the sampler with a tea stain to blend in with what appears to be either a water stain or coffee stain. I'm sure it will be ok…it will just looked a bit aged…like me :).
I am not sure how I forgot about these little treasures. I guess it is a good thing to clean out the corners of one's closets now and then. 🙂
The Woolen Rabbit 
Your needlework is lovely!
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Hi,
Very nice samples. I really like this. And I want that ABC Sampler. Good work.
Thank you
Kate.
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I love both watermelon ones. The watermelon boat is my favorite as it’s full of texture. But the sampler one is interesting and amusing- the watermelon slice gets nibbled on from left to right complete with spat out seeds! Thanks for sharing all of them. I too have a few cross-stitch things I did when my kids were wee things- some incomplete also buried in the back of my closet behind my yarn stash- lol.
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So pretty and needing to be given life out of the closet!
I have been doing the same thing lately. I have some cross stitch ornaments that I am trying to attend to for a few minutes at least three or four times a week. I have so.much.stuff!
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What great finds! If I cleaned out my cupboards all year long I wouldn’t find anything as lovely as these tucked away!
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What a lovely post; all I find is lots of socks and dishcloths I’ve knitted that are still looking for a home!
I like teh Johnny Appleseed one, might make one for myself, feeling inspired.
MrsL
xx
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I used to be a needleworker too — lots of cxs, but Hardanger was my favorite. Some examples if you scroll down here (best pieces at the bottom on this search): http://livnletlrn.blogspot.com/search?q=hardanger
I have a few xs UFOs tucked away, but even w/ my bifocals (and at only age 42 :::sigh:::), I now need to be in very good light to do any stitching. Still, I know I’d enjoy getting back to it one of these days.
If you’d like, at Spa next mo., I could teach you how to frame your work. I took a series of classes at a local high end needlework shop yrs ago and learned the way professionals do it (lacing), which is easy, although time-consuming, and saves a lot of money.
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Such pretty pieces! I’m glad you dug them out and will frame them and enjoy them. I used to love counted cross stitch, too, but the framing was so expensive that I had a hard time justifying the expense.
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I’m so glad you found all those little treasures and are going to frame them. Each piece is so lovely…but the little watermelon boat is my favorite. 🙂
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Last time I had a rummage through a box of odds and ends I came accross a sampler commemorating Charles and Diana’s wedding which I haven’t even started and I’m sure there were another one or two that are nowhere near finished. Oh dear I won’t even mention the two knitting projects that have waited since November to be sewn up – oh rats I just did!!!
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We stitch our histories into our needlework. They are all beautiful, full of memories and need to be shown.
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I did the ABC sampler too! In fact, it is framed and on display!!
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I went through a similar counted cross-stitch phase in about the same time period! Now you’ve got me wanting to dig through my sewing room to see what might be buried back there.
Love the samplers!
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Kim- I went through that too about 10 years ago- and I still love my wall of stitching. I have the most amazing Bumble Bee one with a big fat bee on the frame-
You are a woman of many talents, Kim.
I’ll send you a pic-
(we all have closets like yours)
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What great handmade treasures and memories. Aren’t we so fortunate that you took us on this splendid trip down memory lane.
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Amazing. Yes, you do fine fine work. I’m shuddering to think of all that is forgotten in my boxes and attic.
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You are such a talented lady! Thanks for the MWV pics…always warms my heart! Those mountains are good for spirit and soul aren’t they?
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Lovely! I had a bit of a cross-stitch period myself. Mine live in the bottom of my cedar chest. ;o)
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Pretty needlework!
This is my year to not acquire “stuff!” I want to purge and clean and use up what I have.
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I really do love the Johnny Appleseed sampler. I know I have a few unfinished or unframed cross-stitch projects hiding in my closet, too.
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