Cross Stitch ~

I finished Lydia Bond.  It only took 25+ years :)  I never thought about the "mememto mori" at the bottom of the sampler until The Cranky Crow pointed it out.  My romance language background then kicked in and I roughly translated it to memories of the dead.  Here is what Robin said about it.

"It is really reminders of death and the mortality of men . . .   It became a term to generally encompass the practice (primarily popular in the Victorian era) of saving momentos from deceased loved ones (e.g., the bits of hair tucked into jewelry, the portraits made from woven hair, etc.).  It is also now a term used to refer to the Victorian portraits of deceased loved ones . . .  Often time the only photographs a family could afford (as photography was in its infancy) were those done after a loved one died.  So they would prop them up to make them "look" alive and photograph them.  Others didn't even bother trying them look lifelike and just photographed them in their coffins, etc."  

Thanks, Robin, for the fascinating information.

The sampler was done on unbleached linen which is darker than it appears in the photo.  With the aid of an Ott lite, bifocals and sometimes a magnifying glass worn around the neck, I was able to muddle through.  This part was a real bear to stitch.  Ok, for starters, I only like to do Xs, so this was a challenge for me.  Perhaps that is why I set it aside for so many years.  The flower, stem and leaves is worked in the tent stitch which is half a cross stitch.  OK, easy enough, except that is worked over one thread.  The motif above the flower is worked in the queen stitch.  ARGH.  I did not enjoy that stitch.  Thankfully the pink band that is also the queen stitch was already stitched.  I am happy to have her done.

Here are some other cross stitch pieces I have stitched in the last six or seven years.  They are just sitting in a plastic shoe box in the closet.  I really ought to consider doing something with them, don'tcha think.

My son is off on his annual motorcycle trip to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio, so I get to watch the granddog, Kali.  She moves so quickly it is hard to get a picture of her.  This was the best I could do.

Happy Mother's Day!  A little mom humor :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren