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Monday, September 2, 2013

....and I Really Should Be Back at School

Hello everyone, and welcome to September!  It seems all week the words of that old Rod Stewart song "Maggie May" have been floating in and out of my head, though I really can't keep many of them straight.  Still though, that part about "I suppose I should collect my books and head on back to school"  seems to suit my stitching as well.  After lolling the summer away on my Hemingway version of"Once Upon an Island, I've gathered my thoughts and returned to my school girls, namely Ann Grimshaw and Frances Eden  Here's a report on Ann:


She's not so very different from the previous time I posted about her, though I'm excited to see the last motif in the 3rd row coming up very soon.  One more row of big motifs and I'll be on to the alphabets! 


  Ann is such a big girl that I keep her tightly scrolled on the rods most of the time and don't often take a look at her from the top down.  It was great fun to unwind her this morning for photos and see how nicely the two different skeins of Finnegan's Fog were contrasting with each other.  It was also fun to stitch the eyelet M.

My other schoolgirl is Frances Eden, who's also been a very pleasant traveling companion over the summer..


Again, she's not a great deal different than the last time I posted a pic of her, though the lettering of the verse to this point was added during my week in Little Rock.  So far, Frances has been such easy straightforward stitching that I know I could get her finished fairly soon if I could just show her a little love.  Why is it the finicky, high-strung , high maintenance pieces are always the ones that draw all my attention?  Speaking of which, as I was serenely plucking along on Frances, this little she-devil crossed my mind and I had to at least have a flirtation with her.


This is Hands to Work, one of Tricia Nguyen's exquisite little pieces.  Yes, it's 40 count, and yes, it's over one...am I crazy?


Part of the thrill is how perfectly the silk fabric I found suits the stitching.  But still, I don't feel very certainly that I'll have enough eyesight, much less sanity, to get it done.

So that's how things are looking for me as of Labor Day.  I've loved seeing every one's thoughts shift to autumn on their blogs and in their stitching!  If you blink your eyes it will be Christmas.  Thanks as always for stopping!

11 comments:

Melissa said...

We'd better not blink then! How did the summer go by so fast?

Ann is looking so pretty. That floss you are using is perfect. Frances E is looking good - she must be a fun stitch with all those motifs and various colours. Your last piece looks great and over one on 40 ct? Good for you! Looking forward to seeing your finish on the bag.

marly said...

I just saw Cathy's over one on 32 and yours is 40!! So beautiful.

Margaret said...

Oh wow! Wow wow! Everything is so gorgeous! And over one on 40ct -- wow!!!!!

Krista said...

Beautiful projects! Amazing over one work!!

Catherine said...

Love your projects!! Kudos to you for over one on fourty count!

Marsha said...

I love your projects. Ann's blues are gorgeous and Frances Eden is one of my favorites.

Brigitte said...

Both your school girls are looking great. The thread colour you use on Ann is just fantastic.

Merry Wind Farm said...

Hi, Mary, How did I manage to miss your blog until now?? I am even a member of Nicola's SL year, and I didn't know you!! Your Ann Grimshaw is beautiful, I think I saw a picture of her on Nicola's blog, I absolutely love the threads you are using. Frances Eden is also a lovely sampler, I stitched her a few years ago. Look forward to following you.
Melinda

Carol said...

Oh, Mary--Ann is so, so beautiful (of course, I love it--it's done in blues!!). Nice progress on Frances, too, and I'm so impressed with your over one on 40 ct. Do I dare try that? I do love over one stitching, but have never attempted it on anything higher than 32 ct. I love how tiny and delicate the stitches look...

Happy September to you--enjoy your cooler fall weather.

Penny said...

Beautiful blues in Ann! The colors in Frances are beautiful as well! You are doing a lovely job on the over one on the 40ct - I don't know if I could do that. :)

Lois said...

It's been too long since I dropped by Mary, so much to catch up on. You've had a busy summer with lots of fun things going on. Lovely to see the girls make an appearance now that September is here. Like you, once September rolls around I feel as though I'm settling down and getting on with things. Way to go on 40ct over one - I am in awe!!