When Blackbird Designs designer Barb Adams died in 2021, a stitch-a-long was organized online for anyone who wanted to participate. I’d never stitched a Blackbird before, although I’d long loved the designs. I just hadn’t jumped in yet. This SAL seemed like the correct opportunity. I chose, like several other stitchers, What Remains. At the time it was an exclusive chart to Traditional Stitches in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to celebrate their 20th anniversary. It’s since been released to a wider audience.

I have to admit that I’m a little self-limiting with samplers. I’m not really interested in doing verse work that’s overly religious in reproduction samplers (a very limiting issue of mine – totally self-created). I tend to lean toward motifs such as in this particular Blackbird project, rather than the bolder, broader motifs (such as birds) with more detail. I always associate that with French style, but I don’t think that’s quite accurate. I guess I have more of a primitive preference?

Anyway, I loved the soft colors in this one and how it resembles a reproduction without actually being one. I purchased my copy direct from Traditional Stitches along with fabric and floss. I started my version on July 8, 2021 – only four days after Barb passed.

The fabric doesn’t photograph true to shade. It’s a mustardy dark yellow that’s deliciously autumny and almost has that tinge that’s just past peak color when yellow starts darkening before turning to brown. It’s quite a bold fabric, rather than the more raw color that it appears in the photograph.

I’ve been fiddling with the start of the border to get my bearings. I plan on doing the top and left side just for perspective placement, and then I’ll work the center motifs before closing the border up – just in case I need to make adjustments (because it’s ME and I never quite do any project perfectly).

I have no timeframe to finish this one – it will finish as it’s meant to be done.