Samplers and Dollhouses

A couple of days before I went on vacation I started a sampler. I was cruising the internet when I happened upon a blog that I loved a year ago and then lost the site! Well there it was!! It's called Inspireco. Many of you have probably seen it. It's the cutest. Amy(the author) started another blog about 39 squares for a sampler. I just had to try it out. And I'm hooked!!

 Some of the designs come straight from Amy's blog like the gumball machine, Marie Antoinette(I had to add closed eyes with eyelashes to mine because my sister complained that she couldn't tell what it was!), cupcake,sheep, bobbins,teacup,,bowl of cherries,bluebird,house,nest,little girl legs, and the birthday cake. Then I added some of my own: the poodle,yorkie,cat,mouse,sailboat,crown,pumpkin,ice cream,strawberry,bee. I also put on some bobbles I had around. There's a cameo, cabochon, button, twine bow, a mini clothespin, ribbon,rose,butterfly and star.

This is such a fun sampler to do. The only special stitches I used were french knots and chain.
Of course I already started the next one!!

It's Christmas themed. Here's the first square: a mitten.

Now for a dollhouse update! Here's what it looks like right now:

Impressing isn't it? No? I guess I'll have to do more work on it! I'm getting ready to cut out holes for windows and a door in the front. It's going to be like a couple of shops on a Victorian English street(Christmas Carol).  I'm doing at least 3 different finishes outside: a brick, a stone and a stucco/ wood trim upstairs.

Amy's blogs: InspireCo
   
                           39Squares