Bees and Skeps

I'm moving along with The Potting Shed. I worked some more last night and this afternoon on it. The herbs are now hanging and I was able to complete the bees and skeps which are quite cute. Here in Australia we call skeps, hives as in bee hives. I didn't think of changing the wording because it's an American design and I like to keep the authenticity of it. Of course it would be quite easy to change if you wanted to.

The Potting Shed - 10 March 2009

I love stitching these narrow samplers because you can work through them and feel like you're getting somewhere quickly. This one was designed by Tina Richards Herman of Shepherd's Bush in 1995, and there's a lot of her earlier samplers like this one that I love. Probably most of them I have too! :)

Another sampler I'd started in 2004 which I adore is called Saint Peter's Fair. After working on it I'd realised that I was out with my thread count on the sides. I continued on, trying to work with it, but ended up losing interest. I tend to do that. If I know there's a mistake, the enthusiasm seems to go. I would love to get back to this one some day. I've got a few unfinished designs sitting there that need to be completed. It's funny how some you just love and can't wait to finish, then others seem like a chore. Needlework shouldn't be a chore, that's why I end up putting them away for a while. Though a while always seems to be a long time. :)