She Feeds Them Well

 

 Happy Mother's Day!  I have a new release to share.  It's called She Feeds Them Well.  I confess to being a bird fanatic, and as I type this, there are two starlings splashing in the bird bath right outside my window.  I never get tired of watching their antics. We have several feeders in the yard, which need constant attention.  I particularly enjoy the little yellow finches, but no bird goes away hungry.  My sister is even more obsessed with attracting them to her yard, so I designed this for her.  I used the new Cedar Plank from Lakeside (which I LOVE!), and Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art.  Colors needed are: Forest Glade, Tarnished Gold, Apricot Blush, Soot, Garden Gate, Harvest Basket, Chamomile, Buttermilk, Pomegranate, Tin Bucket, Weathered Barn, Mustard Seed, Old Hickory, Pumpkin Pie, Picnic Basket, Piney Woods, and Espresso Bean.  Stitch count is 127w x 130h. 

 

 

 

I had to include a duck on the sampler in honor of these two.  They practically live in our front yard.  I suspect they have a nest on the golf course, but show up daily for the cracked corn I throw their way.  It's a real zoo around here at times.  A rabbit lives under the rosemary bush and is often seen beside the ducks, along with a dozen of gambel's quail, and the occasional road runner.

 

 

And totally unrelated are the two big jars of buttons.  It was late one night and I was browsing EBay when I came upon the auction for 12lbs of buttons.  There was only 14 minutes until the end of it, and I was curious enough to bid.  I love vintage buttons, but I think I was even more intrigued to see just how many made 12lbs worth.  I found these big Ball replica jars at Hobby Lobby, which perfectly hold most of them.  I have no idea what I will do with them all, but it's safe to guess that a future design will include a few. 

Good Company

 

Good morning!  I thought I'd share an updated photo of Good Company.  Here are the particulars:

40ct vintage Pear from Lakeside Linen

Stitch count: 271w X 131h

Belle Soie Silks:  Mudpie, Attic Tea, Noir, Berry Cobbler, Cobblestone, Limestone, Wheatgrass,

Weathered vine, Sister Scarlet, Icing, Mer Bleu, Moss, Espresso, Enchanted Forest, Tortoise Shell;

Angel Blush, and Puritan Blue.

I actually used Malted Milk in the model, but I just learned that it is no longer available.  Angel Blush will work in it's place.  Conversions to DMC and cotton over dyes included.  Charts will ship this week.

To answer the question about the sampler rug.  I found it online at Sturbridge Yankee Workshop.

A little new and a little old

 

Hello everyone!  I think I'll show you the new first.  Here's a sampler that you can actually walk on.  I had a birthday last month, so I treated myself to this rug for the craft room.  Ruby likes it, too.  Now to get the slipcovers on the loveseat replaced! 

 

 

Here is a new design called Good Company, that I will be releasing in the next week or two.  I still need to get it framed.  The verse came to me on one of my morning walks, and then the idea for the design followed.  In a perfect world, you would find me living in a house overlooking the sea.  This is a sampler that I wanted to stitch for myself, but I hope you like it, too.  I used 40ct. vintage Pear from Lakeside and Belle Soie Silks.  A conversion to DMC and cotton over dyes will be provided.  Stitch count is 271w X 131h.

 

 

 

 This weekend we took the motor home up to one of our lakes, and I brought along some old friends to work on.  How many years have I been working on the Prairie Schooler alphabet?  Two, I think...  I finally finished the Y block, and now I'm inspired to do more.  I'm using DMC on 32ct something, and stitching it over one.  I may be 100 years old before I finish it, but finish it I will!

 

I have loved Ann Sims forever.  I think she'll be finished before the PS piece. 

 

Lastly, here's the really old...ME!  This was taken at my birthday get together last month.  My little munchkins took time to pose with Grandma.

Greetings!  I know, I know, I'm long overdue with posting AGAIN, but my needle has kept me very busy.  I was determined to put the first stitches in Rachel on New year's Eve.  It took me three needles and forty nine days to stitch her.  I'm pleased to present Rachel Howells 1856. 

 

I need to point out that not all of the border flowers are exact.  You will need to pay attention.  I charted her exactly as Rachel stitched her. I used 40ct. Legacy from Picture This Plus and NPI.  Stitch count is 319 x 280.  Thread colors needed are: 292, 301, 313 (2), 316, 325, 502 (2), 622, 746, 761,851, 852, 993, & 991BB. 

 

Now I'm off to print charts if my printer holds up.  It started spitting and sputtering on the first batch.  Wish me luck.

 

On a personal note, I attended granddaughter Quinn's gymnastic meet this morning.  Her team took 1st place!  I'm very proud of her. 

Trying to stay warm by stitching

Greetings from the frozen tundra.  We are experiencing some unusually cold weather here in the valley of the (not so much) sun.  I know I am a major wuss, but 20+ degrees is out of my comfort zone.  I miss my flip-flops, darn it!  The plants are all hiding under any towel, blanket, or sheet we can round up.  I miss my geraniums, darn it!  I think normal temps are supposed to return by this weekend.  I sure hope so, I miss my patio time, darn it!  In the meantime, I am hunkering down by the fake fireplace with my next release.  You may have seen the antique Rachel Howells on the Internet.  I think she has been making the rounds.  I purchased the antique from a shop in Wisconsin early last year.  I'm not exaggerating when I say my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.  I've never purchased anything so fast in my life. 

I have recently learned from Mary that the sampler is Welsh.  Like Mary says, the original is not finely worked, but stitched with wool on canvas.  I'm not sure if that disqualifies her from being a sampler or not, but there is no denying that she is truly lovely.  I am using NPI silk and Legacy linen from Picture This Plus.  If my fingers don't freeze off, look for the chart release in early March.

You must indulge me to show current photos of my darling grandchildren.  The boys above are Sawyer and Kai.

Here are the girls, Quinn, Olivia, Rowan, and Remy.  I'm the luckiest grandma in the world.

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In other news, I have done something TOTALLY crazy but exciting.  I have signed up for a trip to Australia and New Zealand.  I will be going with my sister, niece, and friend.  I have dreamed of going there forever, so it will be a trip of a lifetime.  Not looking forward to the thirteen hour flight though.  I wonder how much stitching I can get done on the plane?  It's not for several months, but I'm already getting nervous and thinking about what projects to take.  G'day everyone!

If the crown fits...

Greetings from not so warm and not so sunny Arizona.  It's currently 58 degrees, and the dogs and I are all gathered around the heater in the craft room today.  This will be my last release for 2012.  It's called Queen of quite a lot.  The pin pillow measures 111w X 66h, and was stitched on 40ct. Legacy from Colorscapes Picture This Plus using NPI silk.  Threads needed are:  993, 414, 823, 448, 104, & 474 or DMC (conversion provided on chart) 310, 699, 797, 817, 3837, & 3852

The small pre-made tassels were found at JoAnn's.  The crown pins, I made.  I'm fairly certain I found the charms at Hobby Lobby.  I've had them awhile.  Anyway, I simply glued on to dressmaker pins.  Any jeweled pins would be cute.  Charts are being shipped this week. 

As the year comes to a close, I want to sincerely thank you for your support, kind words, and enthusiasm for my designs this past year and a half.  I feel so blessed to be able to do this as my "job"!

I know (because I hear the hints and outright demands, lol) that some of you are looking forward to the Rachel Howells sampler.  She is up first in 2013.

Our vet had an open house this weekend.  I couldn't resist taking these three to see Santa.  Poor little Scarlett was having none of it.  I couldn't get her to sit any closer for anything.  I wonder what they asked for?

A change of mind...

It's been a busy week filling orders for the Adam & Eve charts.  I've had a change of mind about one of the NPI to DMC conversion colors.  Originally, I thought 739 was a good subsitute for NPI 761.  After thinking about it, 3864 would be better, 739 is just a tad too light.  It's not always easy getting an exact match, but I do try.  I'm not sure why I went with that color, maybe my lighting was bad on charting day.  So, if you are planning to use DMC, please make a note.  The chart calls for 739.  If you're using silks, or your own conversion, there's no problem.

Off to create some wool goodies.  These two always make good company. 
Enjoy your weekend!