Heirloom Project

Good Morning All!!! It is a beautiful morning here in southeast Pennsylvania and I am fully awake and ready to start my day. The washer and dryer are already working, the kids are off to school and hopefully by the end of today I will have the rest of our vacation stuff put away or at least in a grouping that can be put into the attic. :)

For awhile now, I have been wanting to stitch something for my husband. I have yet to do a wedding sampler, anniversary sampler, birth sampler, etc. I never found the "right" one though and there are some beauties out there. Yes, I have done smallish, fun type things but never anything big. Don't get me wrong, I have done many big projects but they were always something I liked. Hey, if I have to stitch it, it better be something I like after putting in 100s of hours of labor.

A few months ago, someone posted a freebie chart on a bb. She said something about Italy. My husband was born in Italy and came to the USA when he was 5. He has been back quite a few times and even brought DS to visit when DS was 5. My DH's aunt and cousins still live there and we have a close relationship. Well as close as it can be because of language barriers. LOL So I clicked on it and saw this magnificient part of a chart of Italy. It is the regions of Italy and it is huge. You can see it here ... Tesori D'Italia The designer releases a piece of the chart twice a month and it is done in all one color (her choice is DMC 797-blue). Twice a month I have clicked on her site to see the next installment all the while thinking I "might" like to do it. I kept a list of pros and cons in my head and usually the cons won because of the size, stitching in one color, how long it will take me, etc.

Since I came home, I have been thinking about that design and clicked there yesterday. Only this time it was different. There are only 4 more installments and it is looking gorgeous. All of a sudden, it came to me. I don't have to do it in just one color, nor do I have to do it in blue. As I downloaded the first section, I decided to do it in red. By the time I finished downloading all the charts, I had a plan. I will stitch the majority in red. I will backstitch the names of the regions in green and I will add the blue DMC 797 for the little waves of sea around the country in the middle section. In my mind, it is just breathtaking with my plan.

I didn't say anything to my DH at first (he rolls his eyes about my big plans). But he made a comment about how I am finishing up the projects I picked out for the family room in record time. So far, I have one finished, one almost finished and one last one to do. I thought about it for a second and realized that I have a room to decorate and one that I am very excited about. That has to be why I am finishing at such a pace. This is the first room to be done in "our" style since we moved. This is the beginning of what will be project after project of remodeling and changing the way this house is. The room is painted and laid out and I know where things can hang on the walls. I already have a spot picked out for this Italian sampler. The "Wine A Bit", "Happy Hour" and "California Wine Sampler" will go in the bar region. I have a few other smallish things that will go on end tables, coffee table and kid area and desk area. I am excited and motivated.

So I went downstairs and grabbed the charts and showed him. I explained about how I am always on the lookout for something to stitch and something that will be meaningful to him. He loved it and pointed out his region which sits on the right side near the "heel" of Italy. He did not roll his eyes once. He couldn't believe that I have always been on the lookout to stitch something for him. He looked at the charts and asked me my plans. I told him and he loved it. I think I have a piece of antique white linen in my stash. I only need the mega skeins of red DMC (I don't know which one yet) and some green DMC. I am going to wait for a floss sale before I start. I also told him that I won't be able to solely work on it because of the one color but I want this finished in a year's time. It will probably be sooner once I get started but looking at the size of it, I am sure it will take that long as I will be breaking away here and there to stitch other things. He thinks I will get it done sooner. Awww...I think I will keep him.

He even said we will get that one professionally framed because of size. He normally does my framing and does a great job but he wants this one done differently. Fine by me. I took my vacation for the year and can start saving pennies. :)

Of course, I still have Coffee and the Rose to complete. Coffee will take a back burner as even if I finish it, it does not match this kitchen at all and will end up in my "to be finished" drawer. It will go in my "new" kitchen so I have time to finish that. Rose will be completed as that is for my powder room which was finished last year. So for now I am going to finish up Happy Hour (another couple nights), start California Wine Sampler and pull out Rose. Once I have the floss, I will start Tesori D'Italia. I am hoping for a start in May for that one.

It feels good to be stitching again and to have places in mind of where I want my pieces to go. It also feels good to finally find something that I can do for my DH and something that will hopefully become a family heirloom for my children. I will also sign and date the piece and will have to find the perfect alphabet to do it when the time comes. :)

I better get moving. I have been typing for awhile. It is 9 AM at this point.
Have a great day everyone!!!