Guest Post - Michele's Mom

Hi, everyone. I'm Michele's mom, and she invited me to guest post on her blog. (Don't worry, I, Michele, will be nearby to keep her honest!) Many years ago, I picked up my first x-stitch pattern and have been "hooked" ever since. Michele and her siblings learned to x-stitch as children (to keep us quiet while she stitched), but she has become the star stitcher in the family, and I am very proud of her accomplishments. (She is also the "star stash raider.") (I come by that honestly. I recognized more than one of my patterns as I was rummaging through hers this weekend.) It's always fun to see what she's working on and to share links to new patterns we find. We are pretty much out of control when we get to go to a x-stitch shop together which, unfortunately, is rare (I am available this weekend if you are buying.).

Samplers were my favorites from the beginning and still are. As you can see from the photo, patriotic themes are also a favorite. This Alma Lynn Uncle Sam has been a work in progress forever. I put aside x-stitch for several years after it was started and have worked on it off and on since my stitching resumed a few years ago. My new goal is to finish it before July 4th. Keep your fingers crossed! (Mom loves Uncles Sam and Santa Claus. In fact, I don't think she can always tell them apart, at least she tries to tell me the Santas that she forgot to put away at Christmas are actually Uncle Sams!)

Below is the Quaker Sampler WIP, worked on lambswool in 930, 931, 932, and a darker blue for the letters. As you can see, I'm fond of big projects, but am making an effort to choose smaller ones that I might actually finish.

The Santa Bell Pull below is a joint venture with Michele. After years of collecting the Prairie Schooler Santa patterns, Michele decided we should probably do something with them. What a novel idea! I was pretty happy just to have them. So, she got the project started with Santa #1, then passed it on to me for Santas 2 & 3, then she will finish with Santa #4. Christmas is the goal for this one (notice I didn't designate a year, Michele). (Actually, I think we had designated 2007.)

And finally, the Noah's Ark Sampler. This one has been a WIP for so long, I can't remember when it was started. I do remember working on it while traveling to and from one of our family vacations when my children were still young enough to fight over who sat in what seat and who got to sit with the dog.

So, thank you, Michele, for inviting me to post on your blog and for sharing my love of x-stitch. That more than makes up for you not wanting to play basketball (I had a stomach ache, Mom!) or to play with paper dolls. And, thanks, to all of you who share your beautiful work and glimpses of your lives through your blogs.