it's ready!

The Sampler Girl Companion Booklet Four is now ready! Scoot over to www.thesamplergirl.com for all details!

eat * baseball * stitch

The annual Stitch N' Pitch is going on ~ check with your local needlework shop for gatherings in your area. I was sorry to miss the game near us. TNNA has a great merchandise shop with fun totes like the one shown here and tshirts too! Click HERE for their items. What a fun tote to carry around this summer!

my good looker

Ben will be 10 on Monday. Double digits! Tomorrow night is his sleepover party and then our family party is the 1st. I put together a DVD of pictures covering 10 years of Ben to surprise him at the family celebration. It even has music and I can't believe I made it all come together and work! I watched it several times last night when everyone had gone to bed and yes, I cried buckets. He's my monkey face.

pinkeep peek

These Pinkwork Pinkeeps are in the upcoming Booklet Four of The Sampler Girl Companion.

Both were model stitched by Nancy Rolander in SC and made into gorgeous pinkeeps by her as well. Nancy makes fabulous pinkeeps and has a finishing service for these such pretties called Pins and Trims so check it out!

The Sampler Girl Companion Booklet Four is to be ready early June.

excitement on Tuesday

Big storm in the night. Big branch down across the street. Two big trucks came this morning to fix the lines. Zack was mesmerized by the commotion and kept raving over the truck wheels.

Then it was on other things like putting foam puzzle pieces on legs and stopping to watch Oswald. Don't get me started on that blue octopus...

Oh and look closer...is that the Mama driving again? Yeppers ~ looks like she is off on another adventure and this time put the baby in the backseat.

Hope your day is filled with excitement!

Memorial Day

We went in to the city today. Not as many crowds but plenty of people here and there. Plenty of humidity too. Overcast skies with the sun popping in and out of the clouds just enough. The WWII Memorial is beautiful. Ben and I went up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial and I had forgotten how many steps there were! Great day. We even saw ducks in the Reflecting Pool. Hope your day had some reflecting on this great country of ours and the people who protect her.

simple summer joys

Sale continues at TSG through Monday, 5/25. Hope your week-end is going well. Ours is just peachy! I'm ending my work for the afternoon and about to make potato salad, confetti corn, burgers and more lemonade!

Friday finds and driving happy

Me again. I'm giddy over the finds from the thrift shop this morning. I love Warren Kimble's artwork and have several hanging in the house but never saw the bunnies before ~ aren't they adorable! $8!!! Also got some nic nacs like the flag, a table runner, a grapevine wreath, a round bud vase and a great old book on Britain.

I snapped a picture quickly of the docents walking in to Mount Vernon this morning whilst I sat at the stop light waiting to turn to the post office. It's quite warm here and they still seemed so cool in their colonial dresses. I think I need one of those bonnets.


Before I go, you have to see Mama. I'm usually in the airplane with the animals from the barn but lately I've been doing wheelies down the garage levels. Zack has three of these Fisher Price Mamas and he's forever putting them in some vehicle. Here I am today ~ driving with my hands in the air as usual. Happy Week-end!

long week-end ahead

This is The Blue & The Gray, stitched and sent in by Dora in MA. I love how she photographed it ~ perfect to show for this weekend here. Pattern is from TSG Companion Booket 2.

I'm signed up for a lecture/luncheon tomorrow morning given by a woman who works at the National Archives so I'm really looking forward to that. Ben has 2 ballgames this weekend and I'm hoping for good weather to set us all down for a picnic or cookout at some point. I hear someone shouting 'I'm wakey' so methinks Zack is ready to start the day. Enjoy yours!

tag sale

What: Memorial Day Tag Sale!
When: May 21 ~ May 25
Where: The Sampler Girl website

empty nest

I could never be a birder. I lack patience. Over the weekend I wanted to get some good pictures of Mama Bird and her three little ones in their nest on the carport. Well, it was near feeding time and three times she went to get food and three times she flew back with food in her mouth and watched me but stayed away. She couldn't come nearer to feed because I was too close I guess, SO I had to give up on my birdwatching/camera time so she could feed the wee birdies. They were so cute!!! They came last year so this is our 2nd time experiencing these little chirping darlings. When they returned in April I was so excited. It was such a comfort knowing they were here. Last year the birds left on Mother's Day morning and we thought how appropriate. This bunch left this morning. We miss them already. Ben thinks they are off doing flying tests and will be back.

a sunday party

Mom had a surprise birthday party for a dear family friend today. There's nothing like your parents house and mine sure is a treat to visit. There's always some new touch here and there; I told Mom I was going to show off some of the pictures I took today on my blog. Enjoy the tour! Sorry I don't have luncheon yummies for you...but trust me, it was scrumptious.

mr and mrs darcy

Due to numerous requests, I have added Mrs. Darcy and Darcy to the Pattern and Pieceworke line. For information on kits No 5 & 6, CLICK HERE!

from the stands

We stayed at the game for the innings which Ben pitched; nice and breezy but the sun came out and was too much. Zack enjoyed calling out to his big brother and rooting him on. You can't tell how humid it was but believe me, it was so icky out. Zack is now napping and I'm about to snatch a book and a rest.

Enjoy your Saturday. Hope it's a home run.

more Jane

Lovely day ~ muggy, humid, sticky, high of 80 degrees ~ get the idea. What would Jane do on a day like such? Zack and I are about to head out to Ben's ballgame but before I go here are a few pictures I received this week. The first is Persuasion stitched by Andrea B. in the US and the drawstring bags are made by Sue D. in Australia. Sue's Jane Austen bag is front and center.

I received a cute little Jane Austen Instruction Book from sweet Paulette yesterday in the mail. What great verse within it ~ here's one to end the post:

They who are good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up.- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Pattern & Pieceworke Exclusive Kits

About a mile and a half from the cottage, along the narrow winding valley of Allenham, which issued from that of Barton, as formerly described, the girls had, in one of their earliest walks, discovered an ancient respectable looking mansion which, by reminding them a little of Norland, interested their imagination and made them wish to be better acquainted with it. But they learnt, on enquiry, that its possessor, an elderly lady of very good character, was unfortunately too infirm to mix with the world, and never stirred from home.

-Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

I thought these delightful Pattern and Piecework Exclusive Kits deserved their own post today. These are only available through me and not for wholesale. They are available until the fabric runs out and I do have a goodly supply but just so you know...

There are currently 4 kits, each includes a design excerpt from one of my Jane Austen Inspired Designs (that's your pattern!) and ONE good sized piece of Jane Austen Inspired fabric by Moda (this is your piece!) and the worke is up to you ~ make scissor fobs, pincushions, small pillows or whatever comes into your pretty little head. The designs are small and the options are endless.

The Moda fabrics are 100% cotton and patterned after the Jane Austen period fabrics and thus named such delightful names as this: Mansfield Park, Netherfield Park, Longbourne, Allenham Court and Donwell Abbey. Have a look and see for yourself.

The 4 kits are: Real Comfort, Fanny Price, To the Sea, and In Bath.

For details, CLICK HERE!