A Second Sunday Post - Hungarian Sampler

As you know, I came across this sampler on the Hungarian Sampler SAL blog a few months ago and it's been on my mind ever since I stumbled across it. I am of Hungarian descent and to be honest, my Dad was a very proud Hungarian. So when I came across the SAL, I knew that I had to stitch it.

This is Ili's finished work. It is so beautiful!



I bugged her and other members of the blog to recommend colors that would represent the colors of the Hungarian flag because I wanted to stitch the sampler in those colors. Ili sent me DMC equivalents and on Friday I purchased my materials to begin the sampler. I know that I said NO NEW STARTS this year and I've broken my promise 4 times so far ( I have such willpower...ha ha) but I could not get this sampler off my mind. I was dreaming of it!

To justify this new start, I decided to stitch it as a memorial to my Grandparents who were from Hungary. I believe they came from a region near the Russian border called Sonkad before they immigrated to the USA. My Aunt Roasza returned to Hungary when she was 13 and lived in Sonkad until she married and moved to Budapest. She lived there with her husband and daughter until they fled the country in 1956 during the Hungarian uprising with Russia.

So today, I began the sampler, I know it's not much of a start but I wanted to share with you what I stitched since I started it. I chose not to stitch it on the Antique White linen I purchased Friday because it did remind me of a Christmas sampler. Instead, I chose to stitch it on a piece of cream belfast linen. I am using AVAS silks - 943 red and 226 green and blanc. I know in the picture, the linen looks grey. I will be personalizing it with my Grandparents names as well as a dedication to them in Hungarian.



I hope to continue working on the sampler today, probably this evening because I will be making an early dinner for the Cadet and some cookies for him to take back with him.

So, off to the kitchen. Talk with you later.

It's Sunday...

I wanted to post some pictures of my recent work. I've stitched sporadically in the last couple of weeks but I did want to document some of my progress.

This is a Prairie Schooler pattern called Autumn Wind. I started it way, way back in the beginning of time as a SAL with Patti and Cathy who finished their pieces probably 2 years ago. OK, I AM SLOW. I am stitching it on 28 count Lugana over one (it's my first attempt at over one stitching and I have to say I am quite pleased with the results.)

Anyway, I want to finish this piece for this Autumn so I am going to participate in an SAL with the gals on the Prairie Schooler BB. The SAL is for the month of August. The plan is to stitch on a Prairie Schooler design on Tuesday and Thursday and post progress pictures on Sunday during the month of August. Since I am over 1/2 way finished, maybe just maybe, I'll have a Happy Dance by September. Let's see if I can maintain focus for 8 days out of the month.

Next is Beatrix Potter. She has my attention right now.

I wasn't really sure about the fiber, it's AVAS 4212 and it's a lovely burnt orange color. It looks really pumpkin-y in this picture. It took quite a while for me to get used to the color but it's growing on me as the sampler grows too. I have the companion piece to this sampler but I am leaning toward a more subtler brown color when I begin that piece. Honestly between us girls, if I had not spent $42 on the hank of silk, I would have chosen a different color. And as I worked on the sampler I thought of switching out the color many times. Now it's a bit too late for switching silks so I'll just finish it up with the burnt orange.

Lastly is my progress on Where My Heart Blooms.

I believe this sampler has it out for me. I literally frogged most of what I stitched on this piece because of counting errors. I think if I did not have a bad case of the frogs, this piece would be finished by now. I think I am over the worst of the frogs now as I am working on the house. I can't say that I love the fabric I am stitching this piece on, it's the recommended R&R fabric. It's very stiff and hard to manage and it has a very open weave. The GAST and Weeks aren't much better, the thread kinks and knots easily. I've found if I dampen the thread it behaves a bit better so that's what I've been doing.

On Friday, I bought the supplies to begin my Hungarian Sampler. I know, I know, I said no new stash until I finish one of the Wips. But it's calling my name!!! I bought red and green silk to stitch the sampler but I may switch out the green for black silk instead. Black and red are traditional Hungarian colors. I wanted to stitch the sampler in the colors of the flag and Ili (THANK YOU!!) helped me out with the colors. Now that I've bought the silks, I am having second thoughts because I am afraid the sampler will look like Christmas. I don't know, maybe I'll just go ahead with what I purchased. I bought an off white linen but maybe I'll switch it out to a creme so that the colors don't jump off the fabric. I'll have to test it out.

The DH and the Cadet are off to motorcycle school this morning so I have some time to stitch. That's what I am going to do when I get off the computer. I am not sure what I want to work on right now, I guess whatever calls the loudest. So the needle is calling and I will say good-bye for now.

Please drop by again and I hope you have a great day!

Exciting news! And a question for my guests

First of all, my question. I am going to begin stitching a sampler from the Hungarian SAL. It's a beautiful piece that you can see on the Hungarian Sampler SAL blog:

I would like to stitch it as a memorial to my grandparents who immigrated from Hungary to the US in 1918. I would like to stitch it in the colors of the Hungarian flag so I am looking for anyone who can tell me what DMC or AVAS silks would match the green, red and white of the flag. Also, if anyone can translate the words, In Fond Rememberance or In Loving Rememberance from English to Hungarian, I'd be thrilled. I want to stitch this in silks so if anyone can give me the colors in AVAS that would be fabulous. I'll stitch it in DMC if I can't find the equivalent silks.

Exciting news from Chez Remodel! At long last we found a contractor who was willing to side the front of the house and the upper right side and replace 5 windows for us. Below are the pictures. We are so excited! The house doesn't look like a slum from the road now! We still have a long way to go, we won't be able to do much more until we save more money to continue but I think spending what was left of my inheritance to finish this little bit was well worth it.

Entire house close up:

Entire house with garage:

Window close up: The contractors finished the outside trim and please excuse the ladder in the window...LOL!!
We do have an issue with the windows, the manufacturer didn't put all the little buttons to mount the grilles in some of the windows so that's why there is no grilles in the upper right window. I contacted Pella and they will come out and fix them and any other windows that don't have the mounting hardware. Now, all we have to do is the interior work, we are going to do all the trim work ourselves because we didn't have the money to have the "Contractor-Who-Is-My-Hero" do it for us. David and I will work together to get it finished. It may take a little time but eventually the interior work will get done!

I do have stitchy pictures too, of Beatrix Potter and Where My Heart Blooms and I got a lovely gift from Alexa that I must show you. True to form the camera has died again so I must wait until it decides to resurrect itself to take more pictures.

Well, I just wanted to share my good fortune with all of you. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for dropping by! Please stop again soon!!