New pics

Sorry Joan, I don't know how to find your new pics...do you have a differen t link I should use? I did check out the link you supplied but it has pics back to 2014 and not the new pieces. I love seeing what other people are st itching so let me know where I can see your stuff!

By the way, the wedding cross stitch was really beautiful (mom looking at b ride in mirror and seeing her young daughter). Awesome.

Joan, I loved your award-winning violets!! I used to be huge into violets...had 50+ different varieties and my own grow lights at one point. In fact that's the reason my online name is "violet."

Also that hardanger is beyond gorgeous. Hardanger seems to be the one thing I can't do. No matter how careful I am I always end up snipping the wrong thread and ruining the entire piece.

I'm also impressed how you entered your pieces in for judging at fairs. I've always been afraid to do that because the back of my pieces are never quite perfect enough (IMHO). At least in my county fair, the judging standards seem ridiculously high.

I'm jealous! I have about 10 of them here at work. I don't know what's going on, but lately every time I've rooted a leaf and then planted it, it dies. :(

Thank you! I have done that (yet!), but then I haven't done many hardanger pieces. I did that one again (in lavender) and made it into a ring pillow for my DD's wedding, then had it framed afterwards for her. It's the one next to the mother/daughter picture.

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but there are really very few that enter in our county fair. My only real competition is a coworker. :)

If our standards were high, there'd be even fewer pieces entered. LOL! If it's framed, how do they see the back? And why are they judging the back, anyway? It's not a juried contest, is it?

I'd say, go for it!!! You'll never know until you try.

And thanks for the accolades! They're *always* welcome! :) :) :)

Thanks! I fell in love with and bought that pattern about 5 or 10 years before DD ever thought about getting married!

I don't even know how the contest is judged. I just remember looking at the requirements a few years back and they said the back had to be view-able.. .and it basically had to look as good as the front. As someone with disable d hands, I try to make the backs look decent but this is NOT something I wo rry about a whole lot.

However, I went to the fair last year and there were ZERO needlework entrie s, so I wonder if perhaps their high standards made it not worth it to cont estants. I might check it out again and reconsider, though truthfully, winn ing the "grand prize" ribbon if I'm the only contestant seems rather weird.

I saw both the pink and the purple hardanger you did and am just taken with them. I think that heart has to be one of the most pleasing stitching desi gns I've ever seen. Your stitches were flawless...my attempts are hardanger looked nothing like what you did. Those should be family heirlooms for sur e...you've done some really beautiful work with those. I hope your daughter cherishes your stitching!

As she does a bit of stitching herself, she does! :) Thanks for the compliments!

I'm sure I'll never stitch it again, since I've done it twice, now. Do you want the pattern? I'd be happy to send it to you.

OMGosh Joan, I'd love to have that pattern! I've only tried hardanger once before and was horrible at it, but this pattern is beautiful enough that I' d definitely give it another go. This time I'll prepare more by watching so me youtube videos before I begin.

If you'll send me an email (violetstitchesmn@gmail) I'll respond with my ad dress...I'd be happy to pay you for the pattern and the shipping too. It's a design that just *sings* to me.

Thank you so much...many hugs!