Love with a Capital L Happy Dance!

Friends, I am so pleased to announce Love is finished, and before my anniversary too!  It's stitched 1 over 1 on 25 ct antique smoky white lugana with 3 colors of Gloriana silk floss- crimson, pumpkin, and copper.

 Stitching the bottom section involved a lot of frogging!  I kept messing up on the spacing.  I even spot cleaned it, because I thought it looked dirty after all the handling / frogging.  All the motifs in the bottom were charted by me, though I took inspiration from stuff I found online.  The rose border and hearts with calla lilies: roses and callas were the main flowers at the my wedding.  The candles because we had a candelit ceremony.  The colors were my wedding colors.  Cupids- why not? 

It was great to stitch along all year with you.... I hope this continues in 2017 as I'm planning to start a new full coverage next year- Winnie the Pooh II.

Love with a Capital L September progress

Hi, everyone!  At last my piece is coming together and I'm starting to feel excited about it.  I finally reached the bottom border and made good progress on the personalization section.  I also did some research looking for a mini cupid motif and I found a Brooke's Books' freebie, that may work, with a little tweaking. 

Previous progress:

Now:

I did try Valdani "Terra Cotta" for the big capital L and wound up frogging it.  I suppose I am terribly picky, but I felt it looked "muddy".  So, I finally decided I will stitch that section with the crimson (main color), and I will try to complete the top left corner this month, plus a bit more if time allows.

Love with a Capital L August progess

Hello!  August was a great stitchy month for me, made lots of progress during the Olympics, with the SAL event on Stitch Maynia (Facebook group).  I also visited a LNS and picked up some variegated cotton thread for the big capital L at top left (Valdani "terra cotta").... haven't tried it yet though.
Previous progress:

Now:

 I finished page 12 and set up my personalization section at the bottom, including some of the left border.  After I placed the first letter of each line (they are centered), I realized a few extra motifs would help fill out the space.  Some people commented on my Flosstube video and offered suggestions: entwined wedding rings and cupid with an arrow- I like both.  Does anyone have recommendations for books with sampler motifs?  I am looking forward to working on this project next weekend... maybe I'll try the Valdani thread.

Love with a Capital L July progress

Hello, BAP stitchers!  July was a weird month for me.  I traveled and lost my stitchy mojo; recovered my mojo and got sick.  I'm still not 100%.  But I did work on Love.  Page 11 is finished and 12 was started.  I also got some graph paper and charted my "personalized" section.

I'm hoping for a finish by November 19 (wedding anniversary).  Happy stitching everyone!

Love Update- June progress

Hi everyone and I hope those of us in the States had a good 4th of July.  I finished another page last month (bottom left).  There are now another 3 pages to go, plus my personalization section, and the bottom border.

I've sketched out my personalization in the margins of my chart: our names, "united in marriage" and wedding date; I'm also planning to add a rose motif.  Though, I need some graph paper so I can figure out the proper spacing.  No rush on that since I need to finish pages 11-12 first.  Happy stitching everyone!

Love with a Capital L April-May progress

Hi everyone.  It's been awhile!  The frog visited in April. The thread I bought for the big capital L, Silk n' Colors "Turkey Feathers" did not work out. 
Previously:

Currently:

You can see the faint remains of the frogged stitches.  I was so upset after frogging, I had to set it aside.  But I did take it out a week later and stitched a new page.  Then, in May, I worked on it again.  I also spent some time charting a new section for the bottom, with my wedding details.
Honestly I'm at my wit's end with that capital L.  I want a variegated thread with the colors in the piece (dark red, orange, gold).  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  Or I could just stitch it it with the crimson. 

Love with a Capital L March progress

This update is late, but I figured I'd better post before I work on it again for April.  I traveled in early April (for a stitchy retreat!) and the beginning of the month was crazy.  Previously:

Now:

I finished page 7 and started page 8.  At Keepsakes LNS in Cincinnati, I found something for the big capital L (at top left).  Next time, I'll see if that works out.

Love with a Capital L February progress

Hi, BAP stitchers!  "Love" was my focus project for February; why not, given the subject matter?  So I did work on it quite a lot.  I have 3 colors in play now- all Gloriana Silk- crimson (main), pumpkin (border and motifs), and copper (second color in the text).  I am happy with these choices but I still need something more variegated for the big capital L that will be at the top left.
Previous progress:

Currently:

In March I will try to finish the berry vine band (work across to the right side) and work on the next page.    Honestly, I got pretty tired of this project in February, so I don't expect to make as much progress in March.  I do want to finish this year, however.

Love with a Capital L January Progress

Hello!  Here is my January start on Love with a Capital L.  While I love how the colors work together in the border and decorative elements, I felt the pumpkin was too pale in the text (see Patient and Kind).  So I skipped around the chart, until I could find a better color.  And I skipped the big capital L (top left) because I want a highly variegated thread for that.  I am considering Caron Waterlilies "Hot Peppers".  Is anyone familiar with that colorway?

I'm happy with my new start; I worked on the first 3 pages though none are complete.  Eventually I did find a better color for the text: Gloriana Silk in Copper.  This will be a focus piece for February since it is all about Love.  

Stephanie's Introduction: Love with a Capital L

Hi, my name is Stephanie and thank you for letting me join!  A SAL is so helpful for making progress with huge projects.

I'm a married thirtysomething, living in the Washington, DC metro area, with one son, almost 2 years old.  He keeps me busy, and I mainly stitch in the evening after baby bedtime.  Other hobbies include sewing, quilting, knitting, and reading, but cross stitch is my primary creative outlet these days.


In mid January I will start Love with a Capital L by Papillion Creations.  Here is my floss toss: Gloriana silk in crimson & pumpkin, on 25 count vintage smoky white lugana.  This pattern has been in my stash for a long time.  The plan is to add some personalization to the bottom as a wedding sampler.  It's a large project (260 x 434 st), which I found a bit daunting.  I will stitch 1 over 1, full cross.  But we've been married 10 years, so it's about time.   I look forward to sharing my progress here and seeing everyone's projects come along.