Wednesday 6 May 2009

My Petites Lettres Rouges

Here's my first finish for May! I was one of many who caved and started the Blackbird Designs free chart Petites Lettres Rouges when it was offered on Alma's blog. I have seen so many beautiful finishes of this design and without further ado here's mine.

Blackbird Designs Petites Lettres Rouges

40 count white linen

Victorian Motto Threads in Faded Cranberry, Faded Berries & Mixed Berries.

Started 25th April 2009

Finished 1st May 2009.

Mine is dedicated to my paternal grandma Ethel who was born in 1898. She was my favourite grandma and I loved her to bits. I visited her most days on my way home from school ( in those days you walked to and from school on your own at an early age- no worries about being taken etc) then one day when I arrived my Mum was there. She had gone as something was unsettling her and she found my grandma seriously ill. She'd had a brain hemorrhage and she passed away several days later. I was only 7 but I have never forgotten her. She was such a sweet, gentle person. I'm not sure how I will finish this but I am thinking about stitching it again with my paternal grandad's name on and making it a double sided pinkeep. I may age it too.

I stitched on Drawn Thread My Favourite Things and I was so tempted to carry on with it on Monday evening but decided not to or I'll never get BP stitched! I am really enjoying stitching MFT as I love all the different stitches.
Monday evening Bea came out for all I wasn't sure I wanted to stitch on her. I don't know what it is about this piece as I was so excited about stitching it but now the enthusiasm seems to have gone. Anyway after Monday's session I got a motif stitched and I felt better about it. I certainly don't want it to end up a UFO. As you can see I haven't added any initials in the motif I did. I need to think carefully about what I'm going to put where so these will be added once the whole design is done:)

We had a quiet day Sunday so I decided to have a new start in the afternoon. It's just a small one and it's Country Stitches Love Letters which Barb ( no blog) passed on to me when she'd finished with it. I'm stitching this on 28 count Vintage Country Cream linen and I didn't read the instructions first so started stitching two over two then I realised that I should be stitching it one over one! Thankfully I'd only got a couple of stitches in!

I think that's all for now. Tonight and tomorrow night are my evenings on HAED QS Girly Gothic which I'm looking forward to. I'd really like to get this finished by the end of May:)

Hope everyone had a nice bank holiday weekend. It was very dull and chilly here and it remains so. Well it is British weather!! Lol! Take care everyone!

Hugs




35 comments:

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Sally, what a pretty Petites Lettres Rouges, and your story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I'm sure your Grandma is smiling down on you from heaven. Your DT is beautiful as is Bea :)

Diane (di) said...

It is so good to see that you are stitching away again! Petites Lettres Rouges is beautiful and stitching it a second time with your Grandpa's name is a wonderful idea. Your DT piece and Love Letters are great, too. Beautiful stitching, Sally!

Stitchabilities said...

I have printed out Petites Lettres Rouges as well to do, but when I have no idea!! Yours looks lovely.
I can relate to not being as enthusiastic(sp) in stitching on BP, I will have to force myself although I may add another colour to mine to liven it up a touch!
MFT looks great!!

Kajsa said...

Your PLR is so pretty! I miss my grandma too, it's so sad that your past away so early.

All your WIP's are so pretty. I'm wanting to start my Sarah Moon, is it the way the pattern is that is bugging you with BP? The same designer did both those pieces I think?

Ginnie said...

Lots of great WIPs and your petit lettres rouges is so nice.

Deb said...

Your Petite Lettres Rouge is beautiful! And I love your WIPs, especially Love Letters. I've done the Bird Pinkeep and the Bunny. Her designs are really nice and your stitching is great!

Angela said...

Some great progress there.

Love the idea of the double-sided finish for the BBD piece.

Nice to see the Beatrix Potter piece out agian.

Kim B said...

Beautiful finish! And it sounds like your grandmother made a wonderful impression on you in the 7 years you knew her.

Your other projects are lovely. I hope you feel more energized to BP soon.

Dawn T. said...

PLR looks great!

Julie said...

A wonderful way to remember Granny, how lovely, i think a double sided one would be super - clever you.

Nice WIP progress too.

Christine said...

Great finish on Petite Lettres, I think its a lovely idea to make a double sided pinkeep.
Love the DT piece too

WendyCarole said...

Petites Lettres Rouges looks lovely

missy said...

Beautiful stitching all the way around!!

Carol said...

Petites Lettres Rouges is lovely Sally! A double sided pinkeep sounds like a great idea.

WIP's are looking great too!

staci said...

Your Lettres is beautiful...what a lovely remembrance piece.

Lovely stitching progress!

Michele said...

Love your finish and what a sweet story!

Your wips are looking great too! Love that you started something new :)

rainy and dreary here too!

Anonymous said...

Petite Lettres Rouges looks great and what a great reminder of your Dear Grandmother
I do love DT my favourite things, I need to look this one up, your doing a super job!
Love Letters is looking great, I love this one!
BP is coming along nicely
fantastic stitching Sally!

Ranae said...

Wonderful version of BBD Sampler.
Love Letters is looking good. I am going now to look it up. I've never seen it before. You know Sally you are keeping me on my toes here, lol.
((hugs))

Mylene said...

Petites Lettres Rouges finished looks lovely and great progress on all your WIP's.

Carol R said...

I love your PLR - I put my grandmother's name on mine too and her name was Ethel too!

I have also stitch My Favorite Things - three times - once for myself and one each for my son and daughter. Mine has 4 grand-children's names at the bottom, My son's has his name, his wife (now his ex)'s name and each of their 2 children. My daughter's has her name, her hubby's name and their 2 children. It's one of my favourite patterns!

My BP has come to a halt - after stitching PLR on 50ct fabric, BP on 36ct seems enormous!

lena-lou said...

Very pretty PLR thanks for introducing us to your story about your dear grandma, I think your idea to do another side by side is wonderful :-)

Take care and enjoy your stitching !

Michele B. said...

The double-sided pinkeep is a great idea - what a lovely remembrance. Grandparents are special and they stay in our hearts forever. It's so hard to stitch on something you aren't keen on at the moment. I'm sending Peter Rabbit over you to dig up some renewed interest in it.

Unknown said...

Sally...congrats on the finish. Your WIPs look lovely! It's raining and cold here too...can't wait for more spring like weather.

Gillie said...

Sally, I love the idea of a double pinkeep! Some beautiful stitching there - don't give up on Bea!

jane said...

Lovely stitching Sally, PLR is beautiful and such a nice way to remember your grandmother. I havn't sttiched mine yet as I can't decide how I want to personalise it. The Drawn Thread piece is lovely too and good for you for keeping on with Bea. Enjoy your stitching on Girly Gothic!

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

I love the idea of the two sided pinkeep. Thanks god sharing the story of your grandmother.

Your other pieces look great, too.

Karan said...

PLR looks great Sally - a lovely memento. Love MFT, it's such a pretty piece - can't blame you for wanting to keep on going. BP is another lovely piece, good on you for persevering. LL is so cute. Have a good weekend Sally. :0)

Tracy Dixon said...

Lovely finish Sally, your WIP's look great lovely progress xx

Olga said...

Sally,
This is such a sweet way to commemorate your grandma. Your stitching is gorgeous!

doris said...

Your little sampler for your grandmother is beautiful.

It's great seeing your WIPs. Looks like you've been a busy girl.

Hazel said...

I love your PLR and thank you for the story too. Love your new wip and don't give up on BP. I think we are all getting to the "bit in the middle where it gets boring" bit but don'y give up. xx

Anonymous said...

As always, beautiful stitching Sally! Cheers on your latest HD, simply lovely.

Kit said...

PLR is wonderful and how sweet to dedicate it to your Grandma. I hope you stick with PB, it looks so good and I like the color.

jojo said...

Beautiful work Sally :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful keepsake Sally, I love the colours you used.