Full Moon Rising – The Lyf So Short

As promised in yesterday’s post, today I worked on finishing the lettering for the two Bent Creek designs I just finished. I wasn’t crazy about the lettering for the original designs for a couple reasons: first, they were backstitched (not my preference for lettering), and, second, they said “Full Moon Rising” and “Here Comes the Sun.” Yerp. And I mean that.

First, shouldn’t that be “Bad Moon Rising”? Second, could someone please get that Credence Clearwater Revival song out of my head? And, while you’re in there, could you take care of that Beatles song too?

So, I changed the patterns into mini-language lessons. And, since I only know a few words in other languages, and since there was limited space, here’s the new version of “Full Moon Rising,” which I am renaming “Lune Moon Luna” (the French, English and Spanish words, respectively, for “moon”) for reasons which should become obvious shortly:

And here’s the corresponding “Soleil Sun Sol” (to match the above, these are the French, English and Spanish words for “sun”):

I love these! And I can see them being hung up next to each other in a child’s room. Wouldn’t that be cute? Perhaps one of my future nieces or nephews…

Update 12/25/2013: Here are the Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works substitutions I made if no substitution is indicated, I used the recommended DMC floss colors):

DMC 221 — Weeks Dye Works “Brick”
DMC 420 — Gentle Arts Sampler Threads “Brandy”
DMC 646 — Weeks Dye Works “White Light”
DMC 647 — Gentle Arts Sampler Threads “Slate”
DMC 840 — Gentle Arts Sampler Threads “Walnut”
DMC 924 — Gentle Arts Sampler Threads “Brethren Blue”
DMC 934 — Weeks Dye Works “Juniper”
DMC 3362 — Weeks Dye Works “Kudzu”
DMC 3828 — Gentle Arts Sampler Threads “Brandy”

About a million years ago–OK, really only ten years ago–I saw these two Bent Creek patterns in the June 1998 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine. They were called “Here Comes the Sun” and “Full Moon Rising,” and it was love at first sight. I can’t explain it, but I’ve always loved patterns with suns and moons. Pumpkins and sheep are my other faves. I went right out and bought the fabric for them and then they sat around in my stash for almost ten years.

But no longer! I proudly present the completed “Here Comes the Sun”:

And here, at long last, is “Full Moon Rising”:

Because the designs are so deliciously “primitive” (i.e. there’s not a lot going on), I decided to add a little visual interest by using variegated Gentle Art Sample Threads instead of good ol’ DMC. I don’t think they were calling for many hand-dyed threads back in 1998, but I really think, in particular, they make the sun and the moon look more realistic and colorful. If you want to know what GAST I substituted for DMC, let me know and I’ll post my suggested substitutions.