a happy day

Today was a giggly day. You know the type. Everyone is in the best kind of mood. The sun is out. You just feel good to be alive. The air was crisp and cold but we went in to Old Town for a late lunch and a jaunt to a favorite unique toy shop that I used to enjoy as a child. Then we went to Barnes and Noble for book buying and train playing. Zack had plenty of Thomas the Train playing at our stops on this fine Saturday, January 31st ~ the last day of Zack being a one year old for tomorrow he will be TWO! He lived it up as he does every day. Hearing children laugh is golden. My boys have the sweetest giggles. And I think, the sweetest smiles.

Before I go, you have to see this! Harmien surprised me with the most creative gift. I honestly was speechless when I opened it. She said the design is by Prairie Moon and she thought of me when she had stitched it, how sweet! Harmien, you took my breath away with the beauty of it and your dear thoughtfulness. Thank you again, dear heart. I am still thinking of you and your kitty loss. How special you are and I am blessed to know you.

new offering, no 2

It's ready! The Sampler Girl Companion, Booklet Two is now available. Charts within this issue include: Always Kiss Me Goodnight, Pinkwork Sampler 1837, Laura's House in the Woods (shown below), The Blue & The Gray, Snowed In Tavern Sign and Queen Street Schoolgirl Sampler 1709. TSG Booklets are sold as printed chart paks and as e patterns for download. For ALL details, CLICK HERE!

new offering, no 1

I have 2 new offerings and the first up for today is PRIMITIVE VALENTINE CUPBOARD SAMPLER. A cupboard is often made of wood and used to store cherished dishes and favorite linens, protecting them from dirt and dust. Why not display some needlework within a favorite cupboard or hutch as well? This little antique style souvenir is made for safekeeping, sweet fragrance and kind remembrance. All details for this pattern can be found HERE.

Chart is available as chart pak or e pattern download.

wow

Jan just emailed me her In the Kitchen with Jane Austen that she had Vonna finish and wow. It's gorgeous ~ great finishing, Vonna!!! I love seeing her work come to life. Your stitching is beautiful, Jan. Thank you again for sharing it with me.

snow day

"...we have got another fall of snow, & very dreadful..." wrote Jane Austen on Tuesday 17th January 1809 from Southampton

Another snow day here. No school. Just rain now. Sparkly icicles. Slick roads and not a sun in sight. The bright spot in this day was a dear package from Angela in England. Sweet Angela has spoiled me in the past with Harry Potter goodies and Jane Austen souvenirs and to my lovely mailbox she sent more trinkets from Bath and some sweets for the boys. Thank you again, Angela!

To continue my Jane day mood, I'm listening to my Mansfield Park soundtack while I work. Just what I needed. Stay warm!

snow birds

You know when you're sick with double ear infections, oh yeah - it's a party in your head, isn't it? - and your sleep pattern is outta whack? Well, that is what my week has begun with. Today, FINALLY, we get our much desired snowstorm. When it ended this afternoon we had 4" but this morning when Ben went out in it to make snow angels and a fort there was only about 2" on the ground ~ he had such a grand time. I wished I could have been out there too but I think that would have done me in. We enjoyed watching him have fun through the cozy indoors. Here's my snow bird amid the flakes.

There were so many birds this morning. They were all over the feeder which hadn't seen this much action in weeks, each patiently waiting all a twitter on the fence for a turn to fly over for some food.

Yesterday my order from Rock River arrived. I had recently seen this bird online and had to call it my own. It is really well made and a lovely addition to my primitive decor.

So I've exhausted the remote control the past few days. Caught up with shows I rarely get a chance to watch and got hooked on old ones that I told myself I wouldn't watch anymore, like The Duggers, 17 and Counting. Baffles me. All of them. I did watch several wonderful old movies including two I hadn't seen: Shadow on the Wall with Nancy Davis and Witness to the Prosecution with Marlene Dietrich.

I haven't felt like stitching until this afternoon I started this simple pattern on Osnaburg fabric and about 1/2 done but the fabric is really annoying. I love the effect but since it's not typical evenweave, it's not as quick to stitch and you know I like to stitch fast! I keep thinking I'll stop but then I put another letter in and more time is vested so I carry on.

More tea to make and then I think I'll catch up on some blog reading and then sleep might come. Be cozy.

pleased

I finished and framed Mini Carlyle Sampler project today. After stitching it, I coffee dyed it so that made it slightly darker. I wasn't fond of the flame stitch aka as the Irish stitch but plowed through it just the same. There are many stitches in this sampler including the mark stitch, double cross, four-sided, algerian eye, double backstitch, reversible cross and I think I'm forgotting one. Instead of the current year I added the year which Carlyle House started being built, 1752. I'm pleased this little project is finished.

Looks like I've come down with a cold. I guess it was my turn. Drat. Off to make a pot of tea and get under the covers. I can think about my next stitching project ~ primitivebettys' kittens!

the best kind of day

I have so been looking forward to today for several weeks now. Mom signed us both up for a sampler workshop led by Nancy Williams at Carlyle House and today was the day. I don't know when I'd been in a stitching workshop last, many years, and it was such a delight. There were gray skies his morning but our spirits were surely brightened with a morning of needlework in an historic house nonetheless. Carlyle House was closed to tours for our gathering; we were in the main area of the first floor of the house. John Carlyle was a Scottish merchant in early Alexandria; he was a founding trustee and the first overseeer here in the seaport. If you have my Scottish Alexandria 1749 sampler chart, the house is somewhat similiar to Carlyle House.

The sampler taught in the class was a mini version of the sampler Nancy Williams designed for the museum. Our class project is lovely and I look forward to finishing it. Here is my progress from classtime.

Nancy's larger sampler chart pak was available for purchase in the gift shop which we got and had her autograph after the class. The model was hanging in one of the rooms upstairs. Isn't it lovely? It is not a reproduction but made to look like one little Sara Carlyle would have stitched in 1765.

After the class we were given a tour. No flash photography allowed so the pictures aren't as clear as they can be but you get the idea. The beds were decked with gorgeous fabric coverings and the furnishings made you yearn for the colonial look in your own home, and lots of it! The rooms where sunlight broke free from the clouds were grand for the camera and made for better views ~ have a look!

Mom and I had such a wonderful time. We had planned to go to a nearby crepe place in Old Town for lunch and then across the street for dessert at a newly established Cupcakery. She had surprised me with some dear friends at lunch for a belated birthday celebration so it was really a lovely time. Stitching, friendship, crepes AND cupcakes ~ who could want more?

a pillow and a giftie ~ all in one day!

I made I Will Stitch You In My Heart into a pillow and love it! This was such a fun and fast stitch; thanks again, Beth, for this sweet design. It's done in DMC on Vintage 28ct Homespun by Lakeside Linens.

The mail brought a birthday giftie from Nancy and well, look at it!!! It's beautiful. Thank you ever so much, Nancy ~ I'll cherish it. The design is by Gigi. I love the French style. Your finishing is unique and so pretty.

Fun Saturday planned. Can't wait! Ben has another 4-day weekend, woo hoo! Enjoy yours.

another peek

Redwork Samplers are lovely but why not pink? Here's Pinkwork Sampler 1837 ~ another design of mine in TSG Booklet 2. I found the frame at Michaels Arts & Crafts. It's unusual because it has two hooks on the back which had gold ribbon knotted to them for hanging but I snipped it off and replaced with matching pink and brown ribbon instead. It looks really sweet hanging in the bedroom.

a finish for me and a sneak peek for you

Zack and I went to the library this morning and then lunched at Subway. Stopped by the grocery store before naptime and now I'm scrambling to finish up some work in time to pick up Ben from school. The day has just flown by! Before our outing, I was able to haul get some much needed framing accomplished. Now Imagine and Bestow are hanging in the dining room and I'm really pleased with them. They were such fun to stitch, both incorporating a few specialty stitches.

Now for the sneak peek! Here is one of the designs that is included in The Sampler Girl Companion Booklet Two. The Blue & The Gray.

a new President

What a perfect shirt for Zack to wear today. He just went down for a nap after a busy Inauguration-TV watching morning. We were all excited to be a part of history this morning ~ amazing. Truly amazing to witness. Off to read more of the newspaper and stitch in the warmth of the living room. The keeping room gets so chilly in the afternoons. I can't imagine those swarms of people standing in the cold waiting for the parade to begin. brrrrrrrrrrr!

Thank you sweetly for all the birthday wishes via emails and comments! Enjoy your day.

39

A new number. A new year. Now for the rest of my cake. Thank you, Mom.

pretties

One of my birthday gifties was this darling pincushion from dear Monique. Thank you ever so much again!

Jan emailed in her finish of the Inauguration Day Sampler exclusive and Jennifer sent in her Abigail's Sampler for John finish which looks like a 'winner' to me!

We were out digital camera shopping today and will head out again for a second look. I take forever when spending birthday money. I did buy a purse which I'm a little too giddy about. I get that way over purses. Well, I do! Enjoy your Monday.

remembering Cary Grant ~ 18 January

Every year, I try and have a 'Cary Grant' stitching and movie night on January 18th, his birthday. I love his movies with Bringing up Baby being my favorite. I found this clip of a great scene on youtube for you; it's a hilarious movie. Tonight I'll watch it and Philadelphia Story and An Affair to Remember. I designed a small Cary Grant sampler with the titles of his films years ago for mom's shop; we had a Cary Grant shopping day and incorporated the design in it. It was really fun and stitchers went wild over it. I can't locate that graph right now otherwise I'd share it with you. Maybe I'll come across it one of these days. Do you have a favorite Cary Grant film? Penny Serenade is really good too but have kleenex on the ready; it stars Irene Dunne too.

a day in the pre-inaugural city

We braved the frigid, more like raw!, temps this morning, bundled in triplicate and drove into the city for a day of history and memorable fun. An Extraordinary Life exhibit opened yesterday at the National Museum of American History. It was an amazing exhibit devoted to Abraham Lincoln. The most intriguing item was the hat which Lincoln wore the night he was shot at Ford's Theater. I was pleased that the photos came out as well as they did considering that everything was naturally behind thick glass. Here are just a few of the treasures to show you! The last being Ben's hand next to Lincoln's ~ pretty neat stuff.

Exclusive!

Here is the model for the Exclusive Inauguration Day Sampler design of mine which is given via PDF to all those that order from me during 1/16 through 1/20. All details can be found at The Sampler Girl website.

The verse is taken from a letter written by John Adams to his wife, Abigail, in 1800. The quote, at length, is engraved on the mantle in the State Room of the White House.

Happy Weekend!

girls lunch

Some girlfriends took me to an early birthday lunch today at Bertuccis which was such fun. It was a very cold day here and only to get colder tomorrow but we braved the winter wind and enjoyed a delicious meal. There's nothing like friendship to warm the heart. I received lovely gifts and afterwards I went by Michaels and picked up some more frames and a ball of yarn to make a hat. I decided to frame Imagine and Bestow ~ wait till you see!

Thank you for the comments and emails regarding little Zackie. He is so much better and I'd say back to his normal zany little self. I think he'll be in super duper shape to go to our weekly musical storytime at the coffee shop tomorrow.

Stay warm!

INAUGURATION DAY GIVEAWAY at The Sampler Girl!

INAUGURATION DAY GIVEAWAY!

16 January ~ 20 January

ALL orders placed via The Sampler Girl website and orders on my charts at Patternmart.com during January 16 THROUGH January 20 receive an exclusive (NON-PARTISAN) INAUGURATION DAY SAMPLER chart via PDF file that will be emailed to you after order & payment is received. ***This giveaway is for paypal orders only.

The 20th is an historic day. No matter your political party, be a part of history and live it!

Be cozy and Stitch!

a 19th century view of The White House

me again

Another post from me today. The mail just came and in it was the 'I Will Stitch You in My Heart' chart pak from Beth Twist. Remember the other day when I went bonkers for this pattern? It's next up after The Gathering Place's Bestow which I have the word in already! Zack napping and nearly time to get Ben from school. It's sooooooooooo cold here. The high for Friday is 18. Nice and balmy! Chicken to be roasted for dinner and more stitching planned tonight. Stay warm and cozy in your part of the world. Here's a picture of Zack, and horsie, this morning as he was cozy in his robe and slippers, trying to kick this sickie bug!

imagine

Recently I fell in love with The Gathering Place's good word charts. This week I stitched Imagine. Imagine has 3 different stitches which makes it extra fun. If you stitch it though, be warned that the symbols on the girl jumping rope don't match the color code so look at the photo and you can figure it out from there. I love the colors. Next up is Bestow. If I can find dried lavender over the weekend I'd like to fill them both as little scented pillows, otherwise I'll order the balsam from their website to fill them.

American Idol again tonight!!