Early work, newest project

I don't know if it is the time change or what, but I was tired when I got home from work and didn't feel like doing anything. I did mention to one of my readers that I ought to show some of my early cross stitch pieces and the difference of when I started and how it has changed! This is the first sample I ever stitched. I didn't date it, but I think it was from the early 70's. I bought this stamped pieced from an offer on the back of a Kleenex box. There also was a crewel piece that had two pigs on it that I stitched, but no longer have. I don't remember how much I paid for it or if it came with the floss.  It couldn't have been very much money.  I used babysitting money.

I then made this piece which was an iron on transfer. I don't remember which pattern company this came from - McCall's or Simplicity. The fabric is an off white muslin. Those squirrels are scary! Not dated, but I would say the early 70's.

Moving on to Aida for this piece which is dated 1983

Sometime between 1983 and 1985 I graduated to stitching on linen. I have this little piece dated 2-85. I know I stitched this for a gift for someone too. I have no idea about the pattern, although I think I have seen the chart recently on ebay.

I was still stitching on Aida as this piece is dated July 1983. I think at that time this piece was shown to be  stitched on Aida so that is what I did. Now I would stitch it on linen.

I stitched this piece in 1985 but didn't frame it until 2/16/87. I had gone to a place that would cut all the pieces then you could use their tools and frame it yourself. It cost me $15.13 to frame it. I can't believe I had written all this info on the back, but I am so glad I did.

I framed this one the same day as the previous piece -  2/16/1987. It cost $10.42. I know I stitched this piece more than once to give as a gift. It was a very quick stitch and I saw the chart for sale on ebay yesterday for this with another small sampler from The Scarlet Letter.

Then there is this piece which seems to be the last sampler I stitched until last year. I framed it December of 1988 and it cost me $34.00. It is stitched on linen and now that I look at it the border is so plain! I have no idea where I got the chart from.

Last year I finished the cross stitch stocking, the Danish cross stitch tree, tbe Birds of a Feather piece, the Harris zebra sampler, an Irish Blessing, a little red sampler, three smalls, and two cross stitch pieces that I made pillows for Xmas gifts so I guess you could say I have gotten back into cross stitching after a 30 year hiatus! My next project is this reproduction sampler originally stitched by a nine year old boy, George Eisenbrey. I haven't seen any other samplers stitched by a boy so I like that this one is unique. I found this in a library book although I have seen that you can buy the chart. The original is in the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in DC.   I don't remember the library book, but I will post that information when I figure out which book it was in. It is a small sampler so this one should not take long to stitch.

Here is my little start. I am using 28 count Italian linen with the called for DMC colors. There was one color that was silk, but I substituted DMC.