If you love A&E's...

You might like this upcoming reproduction of mine.  Mary Ann Ibbotson was 11 years old when she stitched her sampler in 1842.  I bought her last year, and she has been holding court in our bedroom since.  The tree is one of the prettiest I've ever seen on A&E's, and I love Adam holding the butterfly.

She's a large sampler, with many motifs, and that wonderful row of animals.  The colors are very muted, and I'm tempted to brighten it up.  I'd love to throw some red in there in place of the pale pink.  What do you think?  I struggle with each reproduction when it comes to either sticking with the original colors, or choosing my own.  As far as dilemmas go...it's not a bad one to have.

Tomorrow will be four weeks since my surgery.  Each day continues to be a bit better.  I was reminded today at physical therapy that the healing process takes about a year.  They are pushing me in therapy, so I'm hoping to be back to normal sooner.  At least I can stitch. 

A quick update...

Hello everyone, my shoulder surgery went well, and is two weeks behind me already.  Tomorrow I start torture, otherwise referred to as physical therapy.  I'm ready to get the show on the road, so I can get back to normal.  I haven't had much trouble with pain, but had some nausea initially due to the pain pills.  I stopped them after two days.  The biggest challenge has been finding button down shirts that I can get on, and learning how to do things with my left arm.  If you know me at all, you won't be surprised to know that I started stitching as soon as I could.  I wasn't very fast, but I managed to make the Mary Little pincushion from Goode Huswife.  I changed out a few of the colors, and it was the perfect little piece to work on.

While recuperating, I had these visitors to keep me company.  The pair in the back have been coming to our yard every spring for four or five years.  I named them Dave and Roseanne after some former neighbors who moved out of our community twice, only to return for good.  The young male up front has started showing up recently.  He's such a pretty boy, so I named him Ashton (as in Kutcher).  I'd like to think they come by to say hello, but I suspect it's the cracked corn that I feed them.

These sweet babies were born on the back patio in one of my Boston Ferns this week.  I never get tired of them making messes, because it's such a joy to witness nature.

I've also made some progress on my next reproduction, the Ann Priest 1841 sampler.  The photos were taken on different days, so the one below looks more accurate.  I'm using 40ct. Meadow Rue once again.  It seems to work for so many reproductions, and it's always been a favorite linen of mine.  The entire sampler is being stitched with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads.

Thank you so very, very much for the emails enquiring about my surgery.  I am very touched that you took time out of your day to wish me well.  I owe replies to two special friends, Sandra and Kelley.  You both know how slow I am to answer with two good arms, so please be patient with me.

Also, I'm still getting asked where my designs can be purchased.  Being that I am distributed through both Hoffman and Norden, any needlework shop can order them for you.  If you have any questions, please email me. 

Coverlet Houses

Happy Thursday from a somewhat gloomy day in Arizona.  We like these rare days now and then.  My new release is called Coverlet Houses, and is available now.  Once again, my inspiration came from the antique woven coverlets that I wish I had a collection of.  I just love the look of them.  I stitched the pin keep first, and the idea to reverse the design followed.  The models are on 40ct. Bisque linen from Lakeside, with no over one stitching.  I tea-stained it for some aging.  Threads used were NPI silk in 128, 902, 976, and 993.  A conversion to DMC is provided.  Many thanks to The Twisted Stitcher, Vonna for the finishing of the pin keep.

I needed a  break from model stitching, and I have always loved this design from With Thy Needle and Thread.  I used 40ct Ale, and I confess to changing some of the colors.  It was fun to stitch something for my house for a change.

I so appreciate the well wishes and emails about my upcoming shoulder surgery.  It's fast approaching, and while I'm dreading it, I'm also anxious to get it over with.  I was really touched to hear from many who offered advice and encouragement...thank you. 

Stuff

My friend, Jen was in town last week.  We met up at the Attic, for a visit and lunch.  It was a fun day shopping, and admiring the beautiful models at the shop. 

My two favorite teams, the Coyotes and the Blackhawks are playing each other in the 1st round of the play-offs.  Being an Illinois native, the Hawks were my first love until hockey came to Phoenix.  We went to game two, and experienced the whiteout.  The teams are warming up in this photo, so the seats aren't full yet.  It's crazy seeing everyone dressed in all white.  I even saw a few people wearing wedding dresses  Sadly, we lost in OT, but the series has a long way to go.

I've spent some time this week organizing and piddling in the craft room.  So much of my time is spent in that room working, so I like to surround myself with things that inspire me, and make me happy. 

Occasionally, I'll get in a mood and think about eliminating the clutter.  The mood passes quickly though, and I end up adding more.

Yea, I have stuff.

Lots and lots of stuff, even functional stuff.

I see lots of red stuff...no surprise there.

I

Stuff here, stuff there...

stuff everywhere.

 Even odd stuff. 

At least now it's organized stuff.

 And when I feel the need to escape from all the stuff,

 there's always this spot to curl up and dream about new stuff.

          

  I have a new design to release within the next two weeks, and a new reproduction in the works.  I'll be having surgery on May 2nd for a full tear in my rotator cuff, so that may put a stop to my designing and stitching for awhile.  I have no clue how I tore it.  When I asked my surgeon how I could have done it, he replied "it's called life".  It's going to be a long, long summer if I can't hold a needle.

Something new, something old, and something strange

Here is the my new reproduction sampler, Jane Hopkins 1801.  She was stitched on 35ct. Mocha linen from Weeks Dye Works.  I think I was drawn to the somber verse, and then to the contrast of the sweet row of flowers at the bottom.  I really wanted the pretty parts to stand out, so I did something that I haven't done in a very long time, and that is stitch the model with two strands. The verse, small alphabet, and all eyelets are done with one strand. 

 

Threads needed are: WDW's Sweet Potato, Crescent Colour's Wisconsin Woods and Black Coffee, and Flax, Antique Rose, Apple Cider, Picnic Basket, Otter Creek, and Old Red Paint from Gentle Arts.

The stitch count is 149w X 146h

Now to the something old.  Um, that would be me since I celebrated another birthday on St. Patrick's Day.  Actually, that's beside the point, and the something old is really this darling little shoe.  I saw it in an antique shop, and it had to come home with me.  I love the little black button enclosure.  When you see it again, it will be re purposed as a pin cushion.  I've got plans.

This is the strange.  We had a winter storm roll through last Sunday. 

It hailed! 

It's kind of pretty on top of the grass.

My poor birds were hiding for cover when the white stuff was coming down. 

Jane Hopkins...past and present.

Jane Hopkins was 13 years old in 1801 when she stitched her sampler.  While still in excellent shape, with no missing stitches,  her bright colors have faded.  I bought her unframed, so was easy to see what she originally looked like on the back.

I stayed true to the colors she chose, but I opted to go with over dyes.  The antique was stitched on a 25ct coarse linen, and I chose 35ct Mocha from Weeks Dye Works.  The chart should be available within the next couple of weeks.

My Carolina gal pal, Faye sent me this pair of project bags.  Aren't they awesome?  They are perfect for me.  I love the red, the contrasting prints, and the sweet little bird on the zipper.  Thank you, my friend.  They are already holding a new sampler.

We are enjoying some beautiful weather here in the desert.  March is one of my favorite months.  The citrus trees are blooming, and the air smells wonderful.  The geckos are starting to come out to sun themselves, and the doves are making making nests in my hanging basket's.  Spring is in the air.  We have had guests visiting from the Midwest recently, and it's always such a pleasure to share the beauty of Arizona with them. 

Attention Mary Roe stitchers

There is nothing like designing needle work to remind me that I am only human.  There is a small omission of a letter on the rice stitch mounds on some of the early charts that are out there.  Going forward it has been corrected.  The three rice stitches above the "E" section are to be stitched in color "B".  You can see the slight color change, but I forgot to draw the line and write in the letter...sorry.

In other news, I will be headed back to Myrtle Beach for the PALS Stitching at the Beach retreat in Oct.  It will wonderful to see old and new friends.  Hope to see you there.