Mama taught my sister, Toni, and me to embroider, to help us pass the long, long hours of travel in the back of our vehicle "du jour", from Montana to Central America every year.
Once you get the hang of one needle art form, it is not difficult to learn new ones. I went from embroidery to needlepoint, to crewel, to cross stitch in about 10 years. I do not have the very first embroidery project I ever did, but I remember it well. I do have the second embroidery project I ever did. I also do have my first crewel work I ever did, as I made it for my grandma and she gave it back to me when she felt I should have it back. My advise to my granddaughter, when she began doing needlework was: Always keep your first piece of handiwork! You will be able to look back at your handiwork and see how far you have come!
Fifteen years ago, my husband spent a great deal of time in and out of hospitals, and months of recovering at home. During that time, I spent literally hundreds of hours cross stitching Baby Samplers for my grandchildren. Now great-grandchildren are eminent, and I have begun to cross stitch smaller-sized Baby Samplers for hypothetical babies! This is the latest piece I finished this summer. All it needs is a name and a frame!
Oh I love this idea sooo much!!