Back To My Bell Pull

My poor bell pull has been stashed away since before Christmas.  I happened to stumble across it today and realized how much I miss it.  As you can see, I am almost done with the grapes square.  After this is completed, I believe the next square is apples.  I still need to finish up the back of the Hardanger heart, but I am taking a little break from it since I have had to pull out my work so much.  Working on linen is difficult with the uneven nature of the weave.  You can have a huge puffy thread next to a super hairline thin thread, which can totally mess you your count.  But I digress...

So now my fruit bell pull is calling to me again.  I may try to get some stitches put into this weekend.  

Teresa Wentzler, the designer of this piece announced yesterday that she and Leisure Arts are re-releasing some of her out of print designs, like the Fruit Bellpull and Peacock Tapestry.  This should make a lot of stitchers who love her designs happy.  I realize that designs go OOP for a variety of reasons, but I wish this were not the case.  (Which is why I love Lavender and Lace patterns.  They never go OOP.)  The prices get so inflated on ebay and the designers do not get to benefit from it.  The one pattern that I would love to have come back into print is Mirabilia's Seaside Kingdom.  I love the vintage nostalgic look of it.  However, the prices are really high, IF you can find it.  I am still kicking myself for missing out on getting it back in the day.

Now, if you are considering stitching this bell pull, be aware that there are a lot of blended threads and a lot of confetti stitching.  So it is a challenge and can be slow going.  However, it is more stunning than photos can show so it is so worth it.  

On the reading front, I am back to reading yet another book about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.  I so love this period of British history.  This book is called "Bring Up The Bodies."  I knew it was going to be a good one when the librarian checking out my book load, said that she could not wait to read it and is on the wait list.  I am waiting to see how this compares to The Other Boleyn Girl which got me totally hooked on anything by Philippa Gregory.  I do not think I would have done well in the politics of royal courts.