Crazy January start #5 and I'm a winner!

Day #5 of the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge is the Hungarian Peacock Sampler by Manka Mintai.  She sent this free chart by request but her Hungarian blog sadly is closed now.  I'm using Cosmo Seasons 8079 variegated floss in purple/green/blue shades and 18 ct DMC Aida in Light Sea Green.  It will be about 9.5" x 11".  I am also in the Peacock Stitching group on Facebook where everyone is stitching different peacock designs.

Hungarian Peacock Sampler

Hungarian Peacock Sampler

I chose this companion piece from my WIPocalypse list because it is also a free monochrome design from a foreign blog and is stitched all in one color with variegated floss.  This is Merci, a freebie from a French blog, Gazette94.  I haven't touched this one since November 2012.  Today I stitched Merci and finished the border but there will be another flower and heart to stitch.  I will stitch Merci and Thank You and put them back to back and hang on a ribbon to make a pretty sign for my daughter.  It is on 14 ct Aida in Mint Parfait and will be about 4" x 3".

Merci update #2

I won the 10-year blogoversary giveaway from Lindsay at Caring Stitcher blog!  The prize will be a complete mystery, which is perfect since I love surprises!  Thank you, Lindsay!

I also won the Samplers Not Forgotten chart giveaway by Brenda at Time 2 Xstitch blog to celebrate reaching 100 followers.  I had my choice of five different samplers and chose Elizabeth Lamb 1837.  Four of the samplers were featured in the October newsletter from the Attic Needlework shop in Arizona.  Thank you so much, Brenda!

I also won three 20-yard skeins of hand-dyed floss from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  Thank you, Nancy!  She is looking for model stitchers in the US. Details HERE.