Love

Stitched this sampler for my nephew's wedding in March. I changed the pattern slightly by adding seed beads for the heart instead of using french knots, eliminating the border, and personalizing it, of course, for the happy couple.

Bent Creek "Love Sampler"

Quartet of Santas

Back when I used to collect Santa figures (which I don't anymore, as I have around 200 of them and that's more than enough!) I also used to collect the annual Prairie Schooler Santa charts. These four fellows made a nice grouping, I thought. :-) Click on the image for a larger view.

My sister and I both love craft shops and when I visited her we used to frequent The Primitive Sampler, a needlework store in Frederick, MD now long since closed. Sis still sends me patterns she picks up from time to time on her travels, the sweetie. I lost the pattern for the Sunflower Santa in my last move eight years ago though, which is sad as he's out of print now and I've always wanted to stitch another one of him.

Left to right:
1989 Prairie Schooler Santa - Lantern & Wreath Santa
1988 Prairie Schooler Santa - Toys & Gifts Santa
1994 Prairie Schooler Santa - Sunflower & Birdhouse Santa
1993 Prairie Schooler Santa - Poinsettia Gardener Santa

The kiss of the sun

This cheery sun and sunflower piece on 14-count white Aida cloth hangs in my kitchen. I did another one for my sister on 18-count, which I think turned out even more nicely on the smaller weave. I revised the saying slightly more to my liking around the border and removed the french knots (I hate french knots!) from the chart, so it differs from the chart. :-) This was stitched back in the early 1990s as well. (Sunflowers are another favorite motif of mine.)

American School of Needlework "Sun, Moon, Stars" by Linda Gillum
7.5" x 10" stitching / 11.5" x 14" frame

Garden-themed samplers

These two samplers hang one above the other on a wall in my dining room. I stitched them in the early 1990's and they are my favorite of all the projects I have ever done! Clicking on the image gives a closer view.

Prairie Schooler Book No. 45 "Garden Samplers"
Birdhouse Sampler & Garden Gate Sampler