The second of the seasonal samplers-- though as of this writing, I've only ever made two! But I almost only made one; when I started on my Autumn Sampler, I had ambitions of making a full set of four, but-- some things happened.
Someone close to me died as I was finishing the Autumn sampler, and for a long time I didn't really like to look at it. It wasn't... it wasn't 'about' what it was supposed to be 'about' any more-- geese, leaves, pumpkins. It was about hospitals and coroners and holding people as they wept. I put it in a corner of the basement facing away.
A couple years later, I got a very, very sweet message from someone who had stitched the Autumn Sampler, and loved it, and wanted to ask if I'd ever thought about what a winter sampler would look like, and oh, what wonderful things could be in it-- a winter fox, and spiced cider, and lots of lovely nature scenes--!
It meant more than I would have imagined, the idea that someone had stitched the Autumn Sampler the way it was meant to be stitched, and had hung it in their house the way it was meant to be hung-- a lovely seasonal piece, celebrating a favorite time of year, and all the good memories that season held.
It took a long time, even after their message, to finish this sampler, but I got it done! And I'm so glad to have-- it was a joy to make, and to photograph, and to hang in my house whenever the season comes around.
Copper Fox, if you're reading this, thanks. I hope you like your pattern! And-- it healed something, just a bit, making this one.