Susie Anderson
Back in 2011 before I moved to PebbleCreek I bought a counted cross stitch pattern of a dog that looked just like mine. It was winter in Minnesota and I figured it would be fun to do in my spare time. I spent several hours at the store and bought 64 different colors of thread and little bags and was excited. Then after organizing and sorting colors, I stitched about 15 stitches at the top left corner and realized that, clearly, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I was using an old eight-inch embroidery hoop that my grandma gave me when I was seven years old which was not right for the fabric that measured 24” by 22.” It was the very tiny 18 count stitch. The cross stitch sat around for several months and then I put it away. In 2017 while organizing a closet in my PebbleCreek home I came across the project. My dog, Skittles, had died and I wanted a tribute to her on my wall. But I didn’t want to do the work, so I put a post on the PC Yahoo group: Will pay you to finish a cross stitch of my Springer Spaniel.
Here comes the kindness of strangers part. A response came and this person said she would do it for free because she loves stitching and had owned and loved Springers. Wow! Was I lucky! So, I brought the pattern to her house and she checked it out. She chuckled when she saw my 15 tiny stitches and didn’t really think this was much of a start, but she said she would take on the work anyway. I said I would pay for her efforts and she refused and said that it may take a long time because she had other projects to do. I said I didn’t care how long it took because I’ve already had the unfinished project for six years. Then she showed me some of her pictures in her home and in the Creative Arts Center. She was very well qualified, to say the least. That person is now my friend and her name is Pat Freeman. The first time I saw the partially completed work my tears flowed uncontrollably. My Skittles is on a prominent wall and watches me each time I walk by. I think of and thank my new talented and generous friend Pat, each time, too.
103,000 stitches, 885 hours, 16 months, 16 pattern pages plus 64 colors equals amazingly beautiful.