Friday 1 July 2011

Happy Dance

O happy day, but also slightly sad -  opus magnum perfectus!   My masterpiece is complete. This has been a true pleasure to stitch and so although I have done the


and not once either -  twice!!

I am truly sorry in many ways that this journey is over.

Dare I say it, the section that commemorates my closest neighbours, Australia,  is the portion I dislike most -  that trite verse and that cat and the black swan!   Somehow they don't seem to fit with the 'Historic' part of the name but as I have said before each single portion of this amazing sampler blends to form a whole, both in colour and design.   The lines of specialty stitches on this portion took me back to my childhood days of learning stitching with wool on a freshly washed hessian sugar sack!   Oops does that show my age a little?

Anyway from start to finish this has been one of my most lovely and memorable stitching journeys and I worry that I will not find again, another such masterpiece to tempt me and my needle.   22.06.11 would have been more satisfying but was impossible to manage and in a fit of pique I decided to omit the zero in front of the six and so emphasize to myself for evermore that try as I might I couldn't get this finished early enough to have a truly symmetrical start and finish date.   With slight deviations for a few other necessary projects such as The Memory Book, the road to completion took just over six months.   Not once did I lose interest; only once did I complain about one of the stitches (that dreaded faggot stitch!!).  

And finally here is the HDHBEM holding up my lovely and beloved Historic Countries Sampler.

Have a great weekend everyone.   I will be back next week to tell you what my needle has chosen for the next project.

16 comments:

Sheila said...

WOW!
It is absolutely STUNNING!!!
Huge congratulations :)

Cindy said...

Amazing. Fabulous work.

Hazel said...

Wow. I think this is the first one I have seen finished. Well done. It is indeed a masterpiece. xxst

Karen said...

Gorgeous! It's great that you were able to find such a large project that kept your interest through-out the entire journey of stitching it. A big Congratulations to you!

Catherine said...

Congratulations on your beautiful finish!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

An amazing piece, well done. I hope you find something that appeals to you soon - what about something like "And They Sinned" - it would keep you going for a while!

Edgar said...

What a spectacular piece of stitching - congratulations!!!

staci said...

It truly is a masterpiece Margaret! Congrats on such a fabulous finish!

Valerie said...

What a truly amazing piece! Heartfelt congratulations to you!! Amazing, just amazing! Kudos!!

Anne said...

Wow! That is a beautiful and stunning piece of work! Congrats on your historical finish!!

Gabi said...

Congrats with finishing your sampler.
Although Australia doesn't look Australian too me. That kangaroo looks a lot like a cat I would say.
But you're right ...the overall impression is gorgeous. :)

Ellen said...

Congrats on the finish, it's a just gorgeous!

Hugs,

sheri said...

Incredible accomplishment! BRAVO!!!

Jennifer Stumpf said...

My gosh, that is incredible! It would take me YEARS to finish! You are amazing! How lovely and thank you so much for sharing it with us! It's just beautiful.

Gillie said...

May I add my congratulations? Well done, especially as you weren't too keen on the last bit, some might have given up and stuck it in the big basket!

Keeper of the Crowes said...

A true accomplishment.
You must be so proud!
Linda