Completely Unauthorized Starting

I don’t know what gets into me sometimes…well, probably the same thing that gets into any of us stitchers. I justified it by saying that I needed something with straight lines to stitch at the pool but the reality is, I’ve had the Red and Green Carnation Sampler by Samplers Remembered kitted for ages and rediscovering it on a cleaning spree, I decided it would be the perfect poolside stitch for the summer.

Here’s my start.

I’m stitching on 40 count something by Weeks, probably Confederate Gray, with my own silks. There are only 4 colors so it was an easy conversion.

The other start is inexcusable. We have the model of Mary Ellen Turner by Fox and Rabbit hanging in the shop. It is understated. It is pale. It almost gets lost on the wall. But the other day the light must have hit is just so and I noticed it. I feel in love with the big yellow castle and the beautiful parrot. It is so soft and elegant. It is all in Belle Soie silks. I had most of them, and filled in the others with new skeins. I also had a beautiful perfect piece of linen for it.

Here’s my start.

This is one of those can’t-put-it-down stitches. The silks are marvelous and lovely and the linen, (which turns out to be 36 count not 40 count as it was marked) Maritime White by Lakeside, is a great combination for pleasure stitching. The bottom border is very straightforward and the ground lawn is going right in…I’m almost ready to start building a castle! I did change the purple berries from a very light violet that was called for to a plum-mauve that stands up better to the cranberry berries. So it’s going a long well! I will be hard pressed to get to Dorcas with this one calling me. But I must! She’s my next priority!