Well, I'm back with one last finish for 2024--and it's probably my biggest! May I present the lovely "Noel Sampler" by With Thy Needle and Thread. Now, I'm not much of a sampler stitcher, but this one really caught my eye with that beautiful red house, the noble looking deer, and the tiny figures. It is stitched on 40 ct. porcelain Newcastle linen with most of the suggested threads. I love that this piece used only DMC threads! I did darken up some of the snowflakes and made a few of the letters either darker or lighter than charted so they would show up better on my chosen linen.
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"Noel Sampler" designed by With Thy Needle and Thread
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Don't you love a nice red house at Christmas time?
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The main change I made to this finish, was to stitch an entire family down at the bottom left instead of just a man and woman. I chose to stitch three little boys instead of the trees that were charted to represent my three sons. No, they're not triplets--I just made them the same size because it was easier :) Today, as young men of 42, 39, and 36, they are all about the same height with my middle son being just a bit taller than his brothers. I did give them hair color to represent each, though--the oldest has the darkest hair, the middle the lightest, and the youngest has hair in a nice shade of brown. I also chose to stitch our dear all black cat, Shadow, instead of the dog that was charted. Shadow was my sons' steadfast companion for 14 years and such an integral part of our daily lives and holidays. He was a huge guy weighing in at 20 pounds--not overweight, just giant! The veterinarian once told me he could double as a black panther if anyone was making a movie.
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My little family. I was the only girl--even the cat was male!
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Below is a collage of three photos from the early 1990s of my three boys with their beloved Shadow cat.
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Such wonderful memories of Christmas in the early '90s!
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I truly love how this sampler turned out and hope to have it professionally framed. It may actually stay up on my wall year-round... We'll see! Do any of you leave out Christmas stitching all year? It seems a shame to put these big pieces away for eleven months of the year after all that hard work.
As you know, this was the year of my plan to stitch some larger pieces for Christmas in addition to the small ornaments that I'm usually sharing with you. I'm happy to say that I finished five larger pieces this year! Would you like a recap? If you'd like more information on what fabric or threads were used, just click on the title for each one.
"REINDEER GAMES"
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In April, I finished "Reindeer Games" by Erica Michaels. Such a fun and unique design!
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"CHRISTMAS IS COMING"
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In May, I completed "Christmas is Coming" by Shakespeare's Peddler. I just love stitching words so this one was a real treat.
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"SANTA STOPS HERE"
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August brought the darling "Santa Stops Here" by With Thy Needle and Thread. The colors and charming house made this one a joy to stitch!
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"GLAD TIDINGS"
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And in November, I finished "Glad Tidings" by The Drawn Thread. The silk threads I used added such depth to the color in this piece.
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So, which one is your favorite? Oh, this is a hard choice for me, I truly love them all! Two are quite whimsical, two are very classic, and the fifth is just plain sweet. However, those darling stocking-capped birds in the Drawn Thread "Glad Tidings" finish have captured my heart so I'll pick that one. Now to get them finished and up on my wall by next Christmas. Wish me luck! You all know I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to framing pieces.
Seven days left until Christmas... I can hardly believe it. I still haven't sent out cards and also have shopping to do. But, because we'll be having a belated Christmas celebration with my grandson in January (he'll be in Texas with his mom's side of the family on Christmas Day), I feel like I have a bit more time on my side. Tomorrow, I will work on my cards and finish decorating my tree. I'm finally getting my energy back after that prolonged virus--almost three weeks of feeling yukky. Thank you all so much for your well wishes in my last post. It sounds like this virus is making the rounds in all parts of the U.S. and I hope it's gone for good soon! Anyway, thank you so very much for stopping by during this busy time of year--I do love hearing from you. Take care now, my friends. I'll be back one last time before Christmas. Bye for now...
31 comments:
Hi Carol, good to hear you feel better.
What a wonderful idea to stitch your 3 boys on this sampler. So you can hang up this sampler all year.
To choose which one I like? Oh my, that's difficult. They are all beautiful. Well Santa stops here is my favorite.
Wish you a very merry Christmas and look for the next post in 2025,
Gabi
Good morning, dear Carol and Happy Wednesday. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better. Cold and flu season is upon us- not any fun so close to the holidays. I just love how you personalized the sampler - with your 3 boys and the kitty. How adorable. You have stitched some fabulous pieces this year. I do believe you love Christmas stitching. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Warm hugs
Oh, I have to agree with you, a really pretty sampler. And I think it's so nice that you made it as a family, the little figures look cute and fit in very nicely.
My favorite is Candy House, a beautiful pattern.
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a good start to the New Year. Take good care of yourself so that we can see each other again in the New Year.
Best wishes, Martina
How many beautiful works, dear Carol!!!!
The one with the red house is my favorite because I love samplers, but they all have something that makes them charming.
A hug
I love all your stitching Carol , they are all beautiful.
Enjoy your run up to Christmas .
I am so sort of time this year , lots of catching up to do in the New Year , this year is the tops for being the most busy one of all.
Hoping I can get back to normal soon.
Love that Noel Sampler.
Your changes are nice, I would leave it up all year.
Cute pics of your sons & Shadow.
You have some nice Winter finishes, can't pick a favorite!
I hope your next post involves your tree. :)
Glad you are felling better.
Marilyn
Your Noel sampler has turned out beautifully, I don't see why that can't stay on display all year as it's not overly Christmassy. I have one Christmas picture on show all year, Blackbird Designs' Blessings Be Thine, but it's in the front lobby so not really that visible. I also really like your Drawn Thread Glad Tidings, that's definitely my cup of tea. Happy holidays.
Now that we're in the countdown to Christmas, I'm glad to read you are feeling much better! Your pieces are all beautiful. The 'Merry Christmas' is a chart I'll be looking for. I love stitching Christmas pieces, and this one is worth my time. Merry Christmas, friend; I hope you have a peaceful and wonderful celebration.
So glad you're feeling better, Carol! I think I like the Noel piece the best, but the others are all wonderful too! Will you frame the others at some point? A week to go...enjoy the holidays!
So glad to hear you are feeling better and getting your energy back, Carol! What a beautiful sampler finish and I love how you added your family to the bottom. Each one is a beauty, but I am going to say the one by the Drawn Thread. Thinking of you!
I think you can leave the sampler hanging all year round! I think it's beautiful, like all your embroidery. Merry Christmas to your whole family!
Have a wonderful Christmas and good health to you in 2025
I love all these samplers and Christmas themed pieces, Care. I would definitely get this latest one framed snd keep it out all year! I never realized that Shadow was such a large cat! So cute. Love the pics of the boys over the years w/Shadow. Wonderful memories!
Merry Christmas! Good to hear you’re feeling better, just in time for the Holidays! It’s a tie for Favorite ~ Santa Stops Here and Glad Tidings. Love the colors and simplicity of Glad Tidings, very classic. And I can’t resist a sweet looking Santa and Snowman! I’m a bit like you in procrastinating on finishing my stitch projects. I really need to finish up the little stack that keeps getting bigger! Have a safe and magical Holiday Season!🎅🏻🎄🤶🏻☃️
Merry Christmas Carol: Lovely post, the new Sampler is lovely, I do like the changes you made, it is a grand idea to put your children in the Sampler also.
Sweet photos of your boys, love the cat, I had Vern a golden striped cat for 19 years he was an amazing animal.
I love all the Samplers but the one catching my heart is Glad Tidings, so very beautiful.
It is so nice to hear you are over that virus, I hope all your strength is back.
Catherine🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Good for you! Such accomplishments this year. Noel Sampler is my favorite. They are all gorgeous Carol! I am glad you are better my friend. xoxo
I cannot narrow it down to my favorite of your samplers because all you put your hand to turns out so very well. I will say, however, that the Noel Sampler is so "you" as it is consistent with your taste in stitching and home decor. Really nice.
You should absolutely leave it up all year round. I love the personalization you added. My dear, you have been one very busy stitcher this year.
Magnifique ! J'aime beaucoup cette maison rouge et ce modèle, la famille avec les 3 petits garçons est un joli souvenir pour vous.
Hi Carol! Beautiful pieces, as always. My favorite is Glad Tidings. I LOVE those birds in their winter stocking caps! I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better. I think we all think we can get over these viruses in no time. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that we are no longer 25 y.o.!😉 Take care so you are really healthy when you get to celebrate with Mister B. A very merry Christmas to you. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with all of us, along with tidbits of your life. I so enjoy your photos and musings. Merry Christmas!
Hello Carol,
your newest Sampler looks great. I love your personal changes.
My favourite is this Sampler. Hope I can find the pattern in Europe. It is difficult do order the Brenda Gervais pattern in Germany or Europe.
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Hugs, Manuela
Dear Carol,
I really like all of your embroidery work, you have chosen very beautiful motifs, but my favorite is the Noel Sampler with your "embroidered family", great!
I'm glad that your energy is returning, good luck!!!!
I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas,
thank you for this great blog post,
Jutta
Hi Carol, All of your Christmas stitches are so pretty. I’ve stitched both of Brenda Gervais’s and love everything she does. I do think I have to look for the chart from The Drawn Thread. Hope you’re feeling better. Looking forward to seeing your tree. Cherie in WI
Quel bonheur d'apprendre que vous vous sentez mieux. Mon mari et moi-même n'arrivons pas à nous débarrasser d'un gros rhume virale depuis 3 semaines. Hier le médecin nous a prescrit un traitement qui devrait nous soulager.
Tous ces grands modèles choisis sont superbes. Je n'ai pas de préféré, le choix est trop difficile.
A bientôt pour voir votre beau sapin décoré.
Amitiés de France.
Noel Sampler is just gorgeous, love the addition of your sons. I am inspired to work on mine now! I think Christmas is Coming is my favorite! I have 3 PSS pillows with the first 3 verses of Christmas is Coming, it'd be a great companion piece. Good to hear you're feeling better! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Carol!🎁🎄😊
Glad you are finally feeling better. Those larger pieces are wonderful, no possibility of a favorite. Fabulous work changing your latest finish to represent family. So very special. Merry Christmas to you and family.
Well, I started to write here and I really don’t know what happened, but what I wrote disappeared. It’s true - I’m very “Comment Challenged”. (Maybe I should just admit “computer challenged”!). Anyway, what I started to write was how much I love all of these stitched pieces - truly so special! I love how you included all of your family in “Noel Sampler” (including your cat!). I have “Glad Tidings” in my stash, but I still have to stitch it - I think you’ve inspired me to get it out and stitch it for next Christmas. The others are so much fun, too. Do you have lots of places to hang these for the holidays after they are framed? They are all so wonderful, you will want to leave them up!
I am happy to read, too, that you are feeling better and are on the mend. Maybe a little ‘easier’ Christmas will be a good thing for you this year.
Best wishes and love to you and your family for a very happy and
Merry Christmas!! 🎄🎁
What a gorgeous Noel Sampler! I agree it would be lovely to keep out and enjoy throughout the year. I'm impressed you finished four large pieces this year in addition to your monthly ornaments. I don't know which is my favorite, they all are lovely and sweet in different ways. Thank you so much for all your lovely blog posts all year and showing your stitching and sharing your travel as well, I enjoy every one of your posts. I am glad to hear you're feeling better, too. Wishing you and your family a wonderful relaxing Christmas!
Mary
I loved seeing all of your Christmas pieces. Not sure if I could pick a favorite, they are all beautiful! Love that you personalized the gamily by adding your 3 boys and the cat. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work. Merry Christmas! 🎄
What a lovely finish Carol and I love your personalization of it. The pictures are so cute and your grandson sure looks like his dad and uncles! I think the most recent is my favorite of your big finishes, but really like them all! Hope you had a nice Christmas and enjoy the end and then start of the year!
That sampler is really pretty, as are all your bigger Christmas peices this year - I think Reindeer Games is my favourite though.
Personally, I don't have any Christmas stitching up year round, but two larger Halloween pieces I really like. And with how much you love Christmas and work on your stitching all year long, I think you can absolutely get away with leaving that one up. Besides, it doesn't scream Christmas as much as the other designs, anyways, with the more muted colours!
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