February (no March!) Gifted Gorgeousness

I had prepared this post for February’s Gifted Gorgeousness but got distracted and didn’t post it! Sorry! I think the issue was I had not taken my pictures! I do not have an intermediate picture-just the most current views…oh well. Anyway, I was working on the Victoria Sampler Heirloom Anniversary as a gift for my parents for their 50th anniversary in June. I have made my mom several smaller things over the years but this is probably the best thing I’ve made for her, and the first thing for both my parents. She (and my dad of course!) deserve it! Not only with their gifts to me (you’ve all seen the stockings my mom made for us!) but with their 50 years of faithful witness with their marriage!

Here is how far I’d gotten with it before last weekend. The outer border is done! I loved filling in with the eyelets. The hearts in the corners are beautiful but required careful counting! I was not able to stitch even one perfectly the first time. Not even the one I stitched in the morning. Ay yi yi!

The inner border is almost done but I ran out of Trebizond. I’m doing better with the Trebizond but it’s an annoying fiber because of how quickly it unravels. I must lose 2-3 inches off every cut length. It calls for 2 spools and I think I had 1 and a partial when I started so it truly did need 2 full spools. I think 2 more lengths will finish it.

In the meantime, I worked the “50” in the center and got started on the heart while I am waiting for the Trebizond. I’m trying to decide if I want to do ribbon roses or bullion knots. I will try a bullion knot rose first and then decide. The colors are slightly different so I may just need to do the bullion ones so it looks best. I had to find ribbon in my stash because the included ribbon was for the long sampler on the front cover and I’m just doing the heart. Fortunately I had the perfect thing. I am using Southwest Sand by The Thread Gatherer (the called for is Rose Gold by Petals which I don’t think is made any longer).

Over the weekend I took advantage of a good morning stitching time to start the cutting…

And add the beads:

I’ll get started on the roses this week.

My plan is to have it framed up to take to their anniversary party in June. They are hosting us (their 4 children and families) for a little lake getaway in Indiana where they live. Indiana heat will be a nice break from Arizona heat. It has been several years since I’ve seen my siblings between Covid and us being spread out all over the country so it is a long overdue reunion.

Head back to Jo’s to see more Gifted Gorgeousness this month!