I fell in love with this 1930s garden scene linen

that someone had started embroidery work on. I purchased 

a junk box of old linens, and this was inside. 

It was heavily stained

and I set about soaking it...........two times, yet 

the stains were still very noticeable.  I thought about

soaking it once again for a long term, but noticed

that the embroidery transfer was also fading and I did '

not want to lose the embroidery lines. 

So I retraced over all of the transfer design with a very fine

tip micron  pen, after that,

I lightly tinted the whole design , covering much of the stains.

Some of the embroidery work was also very loose and 

worn

and some of the design I did not like the choice of embroidery stitch,

So, some of the embroidery stitching I let stay, because it really is pretty.

For the frayed stitching, I removed and will work other embroidery over it.

I will show you different sections as I work on this piece over the next few weeks......months?

Such as the photoed section  above. I decided to work on this upper corner first.

  The black lattice was very frayed and 

I dd not like the turquoise roses   

I decided to work red bullion roses with a green spray of leaves

and  the pine shrub in the back 

I chose to work in a darker green

Along with this work I am also working on this set

that I received as a present many,many years ago.

I never seemed to "get around" to start embroidery work

with it.  I want so to have this completed by Halloween

or Thanksgiving

The only hurdle........this is how the chart is........sigh

The company double printed it.

Have any of you ever had this problem with a chart? 

and it is a struggle to read.  I had once emailed the company to see

if they could replace the chart for me......but they said it was 

out of print. However, I have a great sewing light and good

sewing glasses

and the embroidery is coming along well. 

I am embroidering both ends of the table runner at 

the same time. The reason??........

If I have a large design such as this on both ends of a table 

runner, I tend to tire after I have finished the first end and 

take a long time getting to work on the other. This way , I 

will have both ends finished at the same time!

Do you ever do that??

Now I just have to keep working at it to get it all done.........

as long as I prevent myself from getting bit by a rattlesnake.

You can read about what almost happened to me yesterday morning

on my country blog at this link

Eggs In My Pocket

How about you?  Are you working on something 

to decorate with for the holidays? 

I would love to hear!