I’ve had my Anniversaries of the Heart back from the framer for quite a while now. I planned on telling you all about it sooner but then I decided I wanted to get everything hung before I shared about it.
Before I tell you about it, I want you to know that by the time I went to pick this up, there was a stack of gift certificates for me at The Stitchery Nook. Several of you had called or stopped in and left gift certificates there for me to use towards my framing of this. It had me all teary-eyed. You all are so sweet. I ended up not having to pay anything towards the framing…and even had one gift certificate to use towards my next framing. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I appreciate it more than words can say and sadly, I have no addresses to send thank yous to. So, this is your GIANT THANK YOU!!
Here is the piece all framed…
I am so glad I made the commitment to stitching this and followed through. This will forever be right at the top of the list of favorite things I stitched.
I was such a good girl…Look what I did. I printed off my blog post all about the piece. I put it in a three-ring binder plastic sleeve and used packaging tape to tape it to the back. All of the information is there as to why I stitched what in each individual square. If you missed that, you can read all about it in THIS blog post.
For anyone new here, this is Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird Designs. I stitched one block, plus the bonus blocks, over the course of last year. It’s the history of our family…
I will always be impressed with myself that I figured out the coloring and put a beagle dog in my piece.
I picked a frame that had a reddish tone. I thought it might be nice as the piece has quite a bit of red in it.
I really liked the details on the frame too.
Here is how things are hanging on my sampler wall right now. It’s not… symmetrical but I don’t want to wait until I have everything perfect before I hang things.
Kalissa insisted that I pose with everything…so I obliged. Can you believe I have two more things finished and hopefully will be hanging here soon??
I have some plans for some of the spots that are empty…Â See that spot bottom left below my Anniversaries?
This one…
I plan on stitching this…
I was thrifting and already found a frame for it. I am thrilled with finding the frame. It’s small so I can easily finish it myself and for $3, the frame was a great buy.
This piece is high in the queue to be starting soon.
There is this little space below Seeking Refuge…
I just ordered this chart…
I think it will fit in there perfectly and be appropriate.
During my thrifting, I also found this little case. I think I am going to finish my Sheep Virtues that I stitched in 2019 and attach them to this little case. I’ll keep the case on its side like it is and store the other months inside the case.
I’ve been doing other things to spruce up the area. You might remember I bought this grungy bowl at the thrift store. I liked it as the flowers reminded me of cross stitch. It was really gross though.
I ended up scrubbing it up and it looks so much better.
Being I’m trying to take it easy I decided that it might be a good idea if I went through and put labels on all of my framed pieces. That was something simple I wanted done but isn’t
I told you all in a previous post that I bought THESE Plastic Label Holders from Amazon and planned to put index cards in the holder to record the info about the pieces I have completed.
Isn’t it funny that I rarely label my quilts (no preaching about that please it’s a personal choice) but I label all of my cross stitch pieces?? I think it all has to do with destination vs journey. I wrote about that back in 2020. You might enjoy going back and reading that post. You can find it HERE.
After I got everything hanging on my sampler wall Kalissa asked me, “Mom, what are you going to do when you fill this wall?” I said, “Start on another!”
I’m here to say with cross-stitching…well, I will do it as long as my eyes and hands let me!! There will not be another point where I don’t stitch for years and years like my break from the mid 90s to 2015. Nope…not again. I’m here to stay with cross stitch.
just read your blog on destination or journey, very thought provoking. Brilliant comments got me deep in thought and i am definitely a journey girl, love love the planning. One question I hope someone can give me an answer, Do you wash the finish quilt before gifting? I always feel nervous , Yes I know the quilt will be washed , I think I just worry over my stitching coming apart! Many thanks for brilliant blogs Judy and your sampler is Beautiful, such a work of art.
I don’t wash before I gift…unless I spot some dog hair on it. HA!!
I wash mine before I give them. I worry about stitches coming apart and the fabric bleeding. So I wash it with a color catcher.
Your Anniversaries of the Heart is truly a master piece. Congratulations on such a wonderful finish!
Jo, your Anniversaries of the Heart looks absolutely stunning in its frame. You do such beautiful work. What a good idea to put the details of your stitching on the back. Such special heirlooms.
You are discovering how much you are loved Jo! And thank you to all those blog readers who gifted you! They are special too! Yes, another wall Or maybe after you fill this wall you will be stitching gifts for others.
With five kids and nine grandkids, I’ll likely keep stitching big pieces that will get passed down after I’m gone. I really like stitching family pieces and on my list is a family piece honoring my kids’ grandparents that originally came to America. I’m super excited to work on it.
You are such an inspiration Jo! And an enabler!!! I love the small wooden drawer unit you have on the right side top of your cabinet, is it a vintage piece for found or something you have purchased new?
Everything on the cabinet below the sampler wall is vintage. The old file cabinet is a favorite of mine. I walked into the store and immediately bought it. I use it for my cross stitch to keep charts and things in that I’m stitching.
Great idea! I have plastic file cabinets for my bits and pieces of sewing equipment. Keeps thing neater.
Oh that cross stitch piece is so super special. What a lovely idea to keep it personal to the family and put the records of it on the back. Your wall is beautiful as is it will be balanced when it’s full. Can hardly wait to order the blessed charts.
Your sampler wall is wonderful! Anniversaries of the Heart is a true masterpiece and the other pieces compliment it so nicely. I’m so happy you showed us a picture of your sampler wall! I’ve been wanting to see how it was coming along . I’m so glad you provided the links to previous posts . I’m glad you are putting labels on the samplers because these will be heritage pieces and its important for people to have the information.
The finished piece is stunning, and I love how you are labeling your pieces. It was nice to see you in the picture with your wall of stitchery. What a fabulous idea to label your pieces and how simple to do, love that idea.
Beautiful stitching as always
Your wall is wonderful! I hope you do get to start on another wall – finish the whole room!
I like the labeling – your descendants will love knowing about each piece of needle art. As one who has several pieces of “passed along” linens, etc., I wish I had info on a lot of them. My only addition to your labels would be to add your name in place of “me”… :)
How delightful that so many gift certificates were given to you – you are indeed loved and blessed!
Love your “wall of joy”, since cross stitch brings you so much.
Happy Saturday Jo :-)
The Anniversaries of the Heart is beautiful! It looks great all framed and hanging on the wall. I like the way your stitchings are hung – I’m not a symmetrical kind of gal, especially in a grouping of such. Beautiful work!
I love walls decorated like that, whether it is all crosstitch, framed art, or a mix. I had a mix of pictures and crosstitch that was in boxes. I got them all out, painted the frames to match and arranged them on the kinda funky shaped stairwell wall. I love it! Your sampler wall is what I’d like to do with any big heirloom pieces I finish. Everything looks so artfully placed!
Lovely cross stitch finish! It’s a beauty. Love your sampler wall. Go ahead and fill it up.
I like the randomness of how things are hung on your wall— perfect. Such beautiful stitching! That bowl–interesting– have never seen one with that name on it… nor have I seen 1 with that design. And your large cabinet –wow!! What was its purpose in the beginning?? Fabulous–I love lots of drawers!
My large cabinet was originally in a hardware store in Canada. Here is the story of how it came to be at my house. https://www.joscountryjunction.com/friday-night-fun/
Have some ??? regarding your x-stitch:
1) 40 count fabric: 1 thread over 1 or 2 over 2 or 1 over 2?
2) Do you wash your finished work before framing, or do you just press it and then frame?
3) What size needle do you use on the 40 count?
On 40 count I stitch one thread of floss over two linen threads
I NEVER wash my finished work…I don’t think it’s dirty.
I use 26 or 28…whatever I have. I kind of prefer 26 but 28 is okay too.
Your Anniversaries of the Heart came out Beautiful! And love your cross stitch wall! Can’t wait to start my first project with you and Judy!
Your sampler wall is wonderful! I really like all the little accessories below in that area too. My sister used to collect that cross stitch line of dinner ware. I found some abandoned in a box after an auction one time and took the pieces and gave to her. Keep inspiring us Jo! Have a blessed day!
Hi! I found your blog about a month ago and enjoy it. I cross stitch also, but haven’t made it past 16 count cloth. I also quilt but haven’t done that for a while. I never labeled my quilts either, until I found some iron-on labels on Etsy. I have it made by me and then with a Sharpie Permanent Ultra Fine Tip marker, I right the month & year I finished. My thoughts and prayers to you and your grandsons for healing and feeling better. Your wall of cross stitches is gorgeous! Liz Boise, ID
Welcome to the blog Liz!! Thanks for the tip.
What cross stitch was in one of the pictures….in this world you will have trouble. That one. Can you let me know what it’s called so I can order it? Thanks.
That is a Heartstring Samplery project called, Take Heart. Here is a link for it. https://heartstringsamplery.com/shop/ols/products/take-heart
Your finished sampler is awesome – a wonderful heirloom!
What a TREASURE that piece is with every member of your family included! The frame is perfect. Definitely something I don’t think I ever would’ve stuck with long enough to finish. At least you label something; I don’t label anything (save for maybe a very few quilts). And I LOVE that little bowl..so cute!
Your work is beautiful and so it is wonderful to have a wall of samplers that you love. In Anniversaries of the Heart, the beagle with the GRR, equals Gracie, Ruby, Rosie, if I’m correct. Shows love for your dogs, your family, your whole life. I am so happy you have a hobby you love so much.
Yes you are right. Gracie, Ruby and Rosie.
Beautiful finished project and wall! So nice to receive so many gift cards! The frame is a wonderful match for the sampler. I suggest you sign the card on the back with the information. Someday the grands and great-grands will wonder who made the wall art.
Great idea!
Great choice of frame! I love all the detail in it.