It’s a good thing that I had a sick day or I would have gotten NOTHING in the crafty department done with week. I was gone for Scotty’s adoption. I had Georgia late and I had some visiting to do.
I told you I accomplished a lot of cross stitch stuff on Wednesday when I sat in the chair the entire day being sick.
First off, I finished this….
I didn’t have a lot of finish so it wasn’t a huge accomplishment.
This is #8 of the Sheep Virtues by Little House Needleworks. That one was supposed to be done in August…but I had to finish it up in September. That’s okay.
I had a bugger of time with the sheep body.
I looked and looked at the body but saw no rhyme or reason to the stitches. So, I ended up frustrated and didn’t really follow the chart. I just put in alternating colors here or there. (For those of you who don’t cross stitch, every symbol in a box represents a color.) I didn’t really follow the chart.
When Kelli came home I showed her what I did. She looked at me funny and said, “Mom, can’t you see the design in the sheep? It’s like a quilt block. There are two see?”
UGH. There is. I didn’t see it when I stitched it and honestly, I can’t really see it on the finished example either.
Can you? I don’t think there is a big enough contrast in the colors.
So Kelli asked it I was going to rip it out.
My “WISEDOM” is telling me no. Just leave it….and I’m going with that. If I hadn’t told you, you likely wouldn’t have noticed it….right??
So when I was sick on Wednesday I decided to get a start on the next Sheep Virtue. That one is “Friendship”….see?? I was a little frustrated that I was behind with month eight so thought to get going right away on month #9. I’m so afraid I’ll not finish these and I so want to.
Right away I knew I was going to change a few things. First…I’m not a purple girl. Second…I don’t like the spot where is says “1 + 1 = 2”. It’s under the pot in the middle. I’m also not a “button” girl.
I stitched and stitched that day tackling my changes one at a time. The button was easy. The “no purple” was easy. But once I didn’t put in the “1 + 1 = 2”, it looks empty.
I took a picture of it and sent it to Kelli.
My suggestion was to hook up the grass from sheep to sheep….Then I tried to stitch another heart there. UGH. That didn’t look right so I ripped it out.
I ended up with this.
I extended the pot in the middle down making it a bigger pot. I ended up liking the solution.
When I started stitching it on Wednesday morning, I didn’t imagine that by bedtime on Wednesday night, I’d have the entire thing finished!!
This is the VERY first one that I stitched that the entire border went together on my first try. I remember the first one I stitched. I was in the waiting room stitching while Kramer was having a biopsy done. That one was “Hope”. The border wouldn’t like up for me. I tried and tried…but I wouldn’t give up. I felt like if I did, I’d give up “Hope” for him to get better. I hated the linen….I hated everything about it but finally, it came together. Each one I stitch gets a little easier and things go a little more smoothly. I’m so glad as the first one I did was a real struggle.
So..now I am a few weeks ahead. I can stitch something else, or I can start the next Sheep Virtue and get started so I stay on time. The next one is “Kindness”.
This is one of my favorites of the bunch..in fact the last three are.
I can say this…cross stitch came back into my life just when I needed it most.
Georgia’s quilt didn’t get any attention this week. Oh well. Good thing I’m making it big so she can use it as a one year old!!!
So that’s what I’ve been up to. My niece Jody is back in the hospital. Her metastasized cancer has been creating a lot of problems for her. If I don’t blog a day…no worries about me, I’m with her.
As for the sheep in number 8, I wouldn’t change how you made it. To me, when there is so little contrast, if you don’t catch all the changes, it’s no big deal. I’m not one to tear out if you really can’t see it in the first place. You’re doing a great job. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com did a tutorial for finishing these. Can’t remember if I sent this to you before.
I like the changes you made to ‘friendship”. To me it seems a stronger design now. As for ‘wisdom’, you demonstrated that by not ripping out!
I have so enjoyed this virtues stitching project. Knowing that they are small enough to stitch one in a day is even better.
They look great to me! And your design! I’ve put cross stitch away for a while as I’m trying to tidy the house which is a real stretch for me. Did you finally get your sofa?
Your cross stitch is beautiful! I have often changed the design for lots of reasons. I hear that designers don’t mind as it makes it our own. Just make sure we give credit where credit is due.
Love and prayers
I would definitely leave the sheep the way it is. And, I LOVE what you did with the vase for the flowers – that is perfect. Will keep Jody in my prayers.
I love how you extended the lot. However, if it was me, I’d be taking out the sheep now that I was ahead & doing it properly, since I am such a perfectionist! But that is just me!
I love your little cross-stitching crafts.
Keeping Jody in our prayers for some positive news and some relief from feeling so poorly. I think your changes to the needlework is just fine, not everyone has to love the original design and yours turned out quite nice also.
I think the sheep in Wisdom looks great! Can’t see the difference from the one in the photo that came with the kit. Also, I love the way you changed up the design in Friendship! The pot was a brilliant idea and looks better than the original design! Will pray for Jody.
Love the sheep on Wisdom – recognized it immediately!! No change necessary. Love how you changed the block to make it the way you wanted – looks great! Yay for the border going in right the first time!!!!!
I can’t tell much difference from the picture on the package and your sheep. If you like them the way you did them, don’t redo it. (I think they look fine the way they are.) I don’t think any stitching police are going to come and get you.