☩ Mary's Sampler is finished! ☩

Plum Street Samplers free SAL from 2013, Mary's Sampler, was a casual stitch along on a Facebook group I am in.  Here is a link to the pattern and color key:

Mary's Sampler chart: https://plumstreetsamplers.com/2013/11/24/marys-sampler-finale/?fbclid=IwAR1CoppH_DPvl5zLFI33bdkgLSPJs-wolYKq4GgR55K7KJLhiRKTe33URhM

COLOR KEY: https://plumstreetsamplers.com/2013/09/29/marys-sampler-part-1/?fbclid=IwAR3VOqSQ42usepWxXL7kxyAsY2ekX9rch-SNzrZhGledezHdjT7C7ZZOe64

I started stitching it Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 1220 p.m.  I completed it Monday, February 21, 2022 at 9:00 p.m.  That was a span of 28 days of which only 20 days I worked on it.

I used Hand Dyed by Stephanie 28 count Lugana in the color "Slate".  The floss I used was DMC 611, 642, 729 and 3371. I used Dye Is Cast Dried Herbs and Weeks Dyed Works Boisenberry for the berries in the border.  Crescent Colors, Sweetest Heart was used for the large flower in the design and Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in the colors Brandy, Shaker White, Wood Smoke, Adobe, Wood Trail and Heirloom Gold were also used.

I really like this design.  I think the fabric choice was perfect for it and showed off the floss colors beautifully.  I think the designer was so novel using quilted stars for the stars in the sky.  I wasn't too sure about her color choice for them but they are absolutely perfect. My favorite motifs are the Mary and Joseph and the shepherd. I found that I loved the Gast color Wood Smoke, it is just a dirty aged white that was wonderful. I don't know how or when I will finish this, but it might make a nice small pillow. I am glad I took time away from Gloria to work this.  I did have some separation anxiety to be truthful.

My substitutions and choice of floss colors and fabric were determined by what I had in my stash.  I have been very conservative in my stashing habit, trying to whittle it down to nothing. The biggest event that occurred as I was stitching this was cataract surgeries of my mother and a very bad snowstorm on February 2nd and again on the 17th which was also ice under the snow.

So this is the accurate and true story of my experience stitching this design.  God has blessed me.