Here I am again trying to upload some pics.  Beth is standing right beside me to guide me through this.

This is the cover for The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow.  I  mentioned earlier that the designer called for 40 ct. and I am using 28 ct. unbleached. The given stitch count for the above is 557 wide by 185 high.   On 40 ct. the above arrangement was to be 27 3/4 wide X 9 1/4.  On 28 ct./14 it would be almost 40 inches wide.  Then our friend Barb S. was in the shop as I was trying to make up my mind and she pointed out that there was another arrangement on the back of the front cover........it is

This.........was what I found.  The stitch count for each block is 92 x 92 and with four across adding one stitch between each of the blocks, it becomes 371 wide and 278....this allows for one stitch between each block.  The designer allowed for the center double block in the design.  Using the 28ct./14 linen this becomes a design area about 27 " x  20".  I cut my fabric .....a fat half we call it....half the width of the fabric by 36".  That leaves me plenty for framing.


This piece would also work up nicely on 32ct.  I'd prefer lambswool or unbleached as the whites show up nicely on the darker fabric.  


Now I mentioned the word "compensation"  in an earlier posting and this piece is a good example of just that.  Over the past 40 years teaching women crafts, painting, and needlework, I encountered many that I would consider perfectionists...in other words it has to be just right ..... or I'll do the "rippit stitch" and put it in the correct way.  Convincing a perfectionist that it is o.k.  to adjust a stitch or two if it doesn't throw everything off.......is a difficult task.  One of my earliest Danish teachers, Marianne, the Baroness! no less, searched for the English word to encourage us not to remove the wrong stitches but to fix it...adjust it  .and we found the word......COMPENSATE.   It is something that makes life easier and doesn't cause you to throw away hours of stitching.






If you look closely in the above pic, you will see 4 threads or two stitches between the blocks.  (Actually there are two blocks - left and right in the upper part and then the double block - Auction- begins )  The blocks have a row of gold around each to define the border of each.
Well, the addition on my part of two stitches, not one between each, looked very nice...I thought.  I stitched the four upper blocks, the left one on the second row and then the double block  "the Auction".  Doing the gold border each time to begin, as I started this double border and did the top row of 184 stitches, I didn't meet the right side where I needed to be.  Remember, I've already stitched one third of this piece in the top row. I stopped and began looking at the chart realizing that it was not meant to have two stitches between each block.......but believe me.....I was ripping out what I'd done.  I could hear Marianne saying, "Compensate it, Ruth Ellen!"   


Looking closing at the white and gray bull, cow, whatever just by the front feet, notice the zigzag band and you'll see a one stitch variation just above the gold stitches determining the blocks below.  The green border has four stitches then two above the four....unlike all of the other light green triangles with three stitches with one above the center stitch.  It worked at this point .  


The picture on the left shows the adjustment.....ala compensation...on the top side.  On the chart there are five - 5 stitches - between the "n" at the end of the word Auction  and the beginning of the stem of the "T" beginning the work Tuesday.  If you count my stitches you will note.....see....that there are 6 stitches here - another fix!  It doesn't end there.  



Again, the chart has four gold stitches on the top of the sunrise.....mine has 5!  So the sunrise is compensated right in the center by adding one stitch.  
Look at the guys hands....because they were right in the center with 2 stitches creating their hands.....I had to add my stitch...or two threads...so each guy has a hand 3 threads wide and 2 threads high, making them look a bit larger than they should be......doesn't bother me and those guys probably had big hands anyway.  
Working down adding a stitch here and there, I simply shifted an animal in one direction of another to compensate.


I flubbed up on some of the colors as well.  Those pigs on the right were supposed to be the light gray of the ones on the left.  I didn't discover I'd picked up the wrong "gray" until after the 3 on the right were stitched "dapple gray,dark" and should have been just "dapple gray". You can see the pigs on the left are light, the ones on the right, dark. They don't care and neither do I.


This is real example of compensating.  Marianne would have been so pleased.  She was a beautiful wrinkle faced lady with a gorgeous smile.  I am so blessed to have worked with her many years ago, and come to know her as a dear friend and wonderful teacher.







I am really enjoying stitching this sampler.  Each of the blocks could stand alone as a picture, pillow, or for the top of a box.  The chart is $42. I believe, which , after working on the piece , I find it quite worth it.  


This is Fishing Friday that I'm working on now and will start soon on Saturday Dance and then.....Giving Thanks on Sunday.
How appropriate after all that stitching.  








The first block is HAWK RUN FARM with all of those cows in the meadow and the sunflowers blowing in the wind at the bottom....and of course the crows are having fun as well.  When I started this, I was stitching with my friend who loves to work "over one" intersection......up one and over one......instead of up two and over two for those of you who don't do linen (I'm going to work on that) later....anyway, Marian says," That would be so neat if you stitched it over one......HA......but having vocalized my feelings, I took a corner of the fabric and tried one little sunflower.




I must say it looks very nice.....almost cute....and I may do just that block "over one" when I'm finished.  Working on 28 count is not so fine as 32 or higher.  I love the Double Yolk Wednesday too......












There is a story about how we got started cross stitching here in the U.S. and guess that I had a part in that story having found Ginny and The Counting House at Pawleys in 1974, later having ownership in that shop and several others.   Sadly The Strawberry Sampler is the only remaining of the four.  Those working there share over 150 years of working at TSS...that includes me and Beth.  We are blessed to stick the key in the door each week and make our knowledge and materials available for you to see.  


We are so blessed as well with our online or internet friends and are thrilled when they make a visit to the shop......on a vacation or just a run through eastern Pennsylvania.  I will share with you that we are located and live in an historic part of the country with many museums and sites to visit.......just west of Philadelphia.  We have a direct route....easy one from the airport to Chadds Ford.   Andrew Wyeth and his family was and are our "local artists" with a museum  of their works.   Andrew's granddaughter, Victoria, is a tour director at The Brandywine River Museum.   We also have Winterthur with a wonderful needlework exihibit;  Longwood Gardens, known around the world  with beautiful grounds of flowers and so much more.  
Call us for local places to get lodging right smack in our neck of the woods.

And one more thing.......check this out.....We just received our copy of Country Gardens published by Better Homes and Gardens.  When Beth opened it she said....."Hey, look at this!  Here is Marie Stotler, who just happen to have been in the shop today!"  She is a very talented lady and we are blessed to have her right here where we eat, sleep, and share our love of counted cross stitch.  Go grab a copy.....it is a nice gardening magazine.


Have a wonderful weekend.....come see us.....bring in your pieces to be framed and get ready for Super Bowl Sunday.


Learn from yesterday, Make plans for tomorrow, Live today......


..and Dance like no one is watching!