I'd love to exchange a Prairie Schooler spring/easter piece with someone, or two someones, or three someones... thinking of a deadline date of February 15 to make sure we get it in time for Easter, but could be later, just a spring piece...
That could be any form of nice finishing with that theme.
Anyone? :)
I made this little ornie for myself before Christmas. I bought several PS freebies on ebay in December, those I didn't have yet and wanted to have. I'd always had eyes on the ABC Santa, and I had enormous pleasure to stitch it and finish it before the holidays. I'm pretty sure I'll stitch it again several times for friends, because I find it incredibly cute.
Okay, I admit. I changed colors again :) I picked bright overdyes to achieve a joyful, attractive effect.
I also changed the Santa's smile to an obvious happy one! There's something about the PS Santas' smile that make me perceive them as sad or upset, so I tend to adapt them :)
One of the many, many reasons why I like Prairie Schooler designs is how easy it is to play with them: change colors, adapt patterns, play with different floss types.
Here is my version of one of the Prairie Schooler Blackwork angels done in color. I used WDW overdyes and silks plus gold Kreinik braid on a piece of Lakeside Linens. I also added gold Kreinik beads. Didn't have time to finish it into an ornament before Christmas, though. But I love the result.
Sometimes I feel for ripping my digital camera into pieces. It just won't take a good shot in bad light - or maybe I should be more awake at mornings LOL! I usually take pictures of my cross stitch in the evening and then it is very difficult if not impossible to get an acceptable one.
Anyway, just for the record then, here is LHN's Capuccino I stitched some weeks ago.
Ela sent me a true gem by Blackbird Designs, a designer I especially like. I awwwed and aaaahed and danced around this beauty... This must be one of the most gorgeous pieces I have received from stitching friends. The photos simply don't do it justice. The finishing is a masterpiece. I wish I could let you touch and sense how soft it is, how flawless. Each element is so well matched - the color of the banding and of the back fabric (oh, how I love this sampler fabric!) play so well with the floss and the cream linen. It's one of those pieces you leave out in the room so you can see it all day long and have others drool over it. I love it, love it, love it. As you can, Ela put her name and the year in the bottom part. I usually am not so fond of having initials and such on a cross stitch piece unless it's done in a very nice way, and this has been done so. It will always remind me of her!
Ela also sent me a pattern from my wishlist and a big pack of delicious sweets... they disappeared... immediately!
Now I can only hope we can meet the next time I visit my brother in Switzerland. Lyon is not so far accross the border and I have family in the region. I'm thinking of a time where there will be a cross stitch fair... It's been some time since I've been thinking of attending one in France.
