hello, dear wednesday reader

Pilar finished the Jane Austen Book Bag design into a little zippered pouch and it's darling. I love the zipper pull. Thank you again, Pilar, for sharing the pics with me.

Zack is trying to get out of his nap. I made the mistake of telling him he could paint when he woke up and now he keeps saying, I wake up now ... Mama, I want to paint now. Will I ever learn?

The Online Needlework Show begins October 7th and I will be releasing a new pattern for the occasion, Good Tidings with Jane Austen. Also, more exciting Jane news coming soon ...

ghouls night out

Several spooky-ooky finishes of Ghouls Night Out freebie have come to boo at me and now to you. Have a look! The first is done by Dora in MA, the second by Stacy in MD, and the third, by Anna in Italy. Frightfully great, ladies!

crown'd

I'm wearing a crown. Mine isn't as sparkly and showy as the one in this picture but rather solid and sturdy for good chewing. First thing this morning, it was off to the dentist I went where I found out I needed such an ornament to add to the other embellishments in my mouth. As I was sitting there, hearing sounds you would normally hear when houses are built and hoses fly wildly in the air, I tried to take my mind off my own trauma by thinking how much I loved Novocaine and how far dentistry has advanced through the centuries. This eased my discomfort and before I knew it the hour was over.

Our teeth have to last us a lifetime so take care of them ~ who knows, maybe you'll need a crown too. Wear it with a smile. Here's to Monday!

Trunk Show recap

Today was the Trunk Show at Stitchers Stash in Fairfax and what a gray, rainy day it was! Thank you to ALL those who came out in the rain ~ it was so lovely chatting with those online I hadn't met before as well as those who had come to the last Trunk Show in July. Mary E., what a surprise to meet you and thank your husband again for bringing you from Dover, DE! ~ it was a sincere joy finally meeting you!

As a designer, it's so rewarding putting faces with names of these dear stitchers who have crossed your path online many a time with emails and orders and getting the chance to visit with them even for a short time is such fun for me. Thank you, Jackie, for having me in your shop for the day. It's a lovely shop and I look forward to doing it again sometime. My grandmother and mom had a lovely time too. The day, though ending on a rainy note, was a memorable one. Here are a few pics I took of the displays after setting up.

Several asked which was the most popular of the day and The Witch School Sampler 1821 stole the show. I was grateful my allergies calmed down but I do apologize to those I had to excuse myself to head for kleenex! Also grateful for comfortable new shoes for lots of standing. A BIG thank you and BIG hug to my mom, who treated me yesterday to a haircut and color highlights which I LOVE. I still hear raindrops so methinks a Sense & Sensibility DVD and a cup of tea will close my day perfectly. I'm coming, Col. Brandon...

*NEW* The Witch School Sampler 1821

The Witch School Sampler 1821 is now ready!!! It is a take on old samplers stitched by young girls learning their letters and numerals ~ I designed a sampler that I imagine a witch would work! Wouldn't her mum be proud of her?

Verse by me reads:

ABC 123

I point my wand up to the tree

When I go

then you shall see

what good spells

my mum cast me

Design worked on 32ct Espresso R&R linen with DMC and overdyed threads. Frame made by the talented and ever wonderful Valley House Primitives, MCG Color Yankee Blue, Design is Wave. Chart info on the website in a few minutes. Model to join the others at the trunk show tomorrow at Stitchers Stash in Fairfax, VA.

update on witch ...

The last of the 4 NEW halloween-y patterns won't be available until tomorrow. The Witch School Sampler 1821 is a colorful one and sure to cast your needle with a flurry of magic. When I designed it, the verse came to me, and well, I was giddy (here we go again!) crazy for it. I know you will be too. If I haven't answered your email today, I'm sorry ... orders are getting gathered and I have a sick 10yr old to tend to as well. Stay tuned to the blog and website and mailing list and I'll BOO at ya when this design is ready. Till then ...

sharing

Francoise sent in her finish of my ornament design and I love the color changes ~ so delicate and that beading is charming!

*three NEW patterns ... one more coming ...

Ever get so giddy over a finish, you're beside yourself? I mean really giddy. That was me finishing up this tombstone. I happy danced all the way out to the yard to snap its spooky picture.

Hannah Picket 1725

Inspired by an article on old burying grounds in New England. One tombstone's epitaph struck me so much that I immediately wanted to stitch its words. Verse reads: You that pass by this place may think on me ~ For as you were once you did me see. Stitched on 30ct Cafe Kona R&R Linen. Finishing instructions included.

The Old Black Cat

Design came to be after I was researching antique Halloween postcards. I substituted the motifs for some of the words and it came out really awesome. Verse reads: The Old Black Cat by the pumpkin sat with candle agleam on Halloween. Stitched on 32ct Cream Belfast Linen and then coffee dyed by me. The frame is by Valley House Primitives and well, it's perfect! You'll want to order it from them for this design! The frame info is MCA Color: Tavern GoldRedcoat - Design: Fan/Old Wood.

Out Flying

Wickedly wild is this witch with her broom as she takes flight into the night sky with an owl and some bats too. Stitched on 30ct Witches Brew R&R Linen and fancied into a small pillow to display near keys resting place makes for a frightful flight of the needle!

One more new pattern coming...keep posted! All patterns available at my website.

wed nes day

That is the way my 4th grade French teacher said the word, Wednesday. Odd but true and I still think about that every Wednesday, since all those years ago. Madame was American so I never understood why she said it that way ... maybe just to put some crazy in her middle of the week. Funny what sticks in ours heads sometimes, isn't it? The sun is shining and the printer is going. Wait ... shouldn't the birds be singing next? Well, they are ... I guess ... but I just hear the whir of the printer as charts and booklets flow out before me. Lots still to be packaged for Saturday's trunk show. I'll have the new Halloween designs there as well as the Jane Austen models and several other designs that want to come with me. There are dozens of matchbox cars spinning wildly past me (and ending up hither and yon just in my foot path so I can step on one later and say OUCH) as Zack practices his own Indy 500. That zany fella of mine.

Look at the finished pretties stitched by Yuko in Japan! Her photos are delicate and sweet. Great job! Thank you, Yuko, for letting me show them here.

Ya'll are super duper. Keep repeating yesterday's post ... these allergies have a strong hold on me. *thank you*

repeat after me

Tanya will not get sick.

Tanya will not get sick.

Tanya will not get sick.

Sore throat be gone.

Tanya will not get sick.

Tanya will not get sick.

She has too much going on this week.

*thank you*

f r i d a y

The morning started well enough. Coffee shop chat with a friend and then we ended up taking a 2 mile walk which was wonderful for body and mind. Gray day here so the mood fits the view outside my window. The sun is trying to pop out ever so slightly and I wish I could reach it to give it a push. Busy time and lots of stuff on the plate. Note to self - find bigger plate. I feel like Zack's cars ~ parked and waiting for something. Just not sure what that something is. See Elmo in his car? With his arms in the air? I want to be like that this weekend. Enjoy yours!

psst . . . look!

Here's another lovely finished version of Return to the Sea with Jane Austen. This one is done by Roberta in GA and wowza, she made a needle roll out of it. Super sweet. I love when designs can be made into something practical.

I got an email from Moes Southwest Grill few minutes ago. Turns out it's quacamole day (I don't like the stuff.) and the burritos are special priced. (I do like deals.) I need to stop signing up for restaurant emails. Off to Moes! Well, it is lunchtime.

an apple a day

Zack looks forward to our farmers market mornings. Lately he has his mind set on getting raspberries and blackberries, and peaches, and well, anything he remembers seeing at eye level, but today was the last of the raspberries and what a sad lot they were but just as juicy and fun to pop in the mouth. My highlight were the crates and crates of apples, the season's candy. The samples were plentiful and by the time we left, Zack's fingers were raspberry red and peach scented. Last of the summer's sweetness. The apples with their stems look almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Then pie it shall be.

no frost on the pumpkin ... yet

You wouldn't think it was September for the heat. Last week's brief breath of Autumn coolishness (well, it should be a word) has gone away for a spell and I hope she'll be back but in the meanwhile, we have the mid 80's once again. Looks funny to have this little bright orange pumpkin sitting on the table while the sun shines hot but it's a reminder that Fall is coming to linger long and will claim the front seat soon while summer plays clown car.

No fancy recipe dinner tonight. Hot dogs. Well, that's summer-food, right?

going about your day when...

Ever been driving around and notice the license plate infront of you has a scripture reference? You immediately try frantically to locate a pen, any writing instrument, a crayon will work, as well as some scrap paper in your purse while still keeping eyes on the road? You can't find said paper so you recite the message over and over in hopes you will remember it to lookup in the Bible when you get home after going through Target aisles and putting shoes back on a toddler who has abandoned them and chasing the same toddler around library shelves in order to reach the checkout desk? You know you'll forget it because you have oodles of other fast moving things to remember in that Mommy brain of yours so you search again in your purse and ah HA, you find a crumpled receipt from McDonalds and feel relieved you don't have to memorize anything. The crayon doesn't write very well on the waxy paper but you have a vague notion of how it comes out so you are happy now. You throw the important, mysterious writing back in your purse and wonder the rest of the outing what the scripture could be and why it had crossed your path to see.

So the other day, I saw Jer31:3 staring me in the face as its car owner turned infront of me, for I know God wanted me to see it, and here it from the King James Version: The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. This scripture reference was seen on a day when I really needed such love and I am grateful. Thank you, God.

Keep your eyes open. Don't miss the signs before you, for you.

*The Stitching Janeite's Pattern Book, No 1* - NEW!

It's ready! The Stitching Janeite's Pattern Book, No 1 is now available!!! I'm positively giddy over this booklet with its 5 simple sweet designs inspired by Jane Austen's pen and my needle. Patterns within booklet are: Netherfield Park, Toffee Apples, Jane Austen Lives Here, Darcy & Me, and The Elizabeth B. Sampler. All information including model pictures of each design can be found on the website. Enjoy!

in this issue

Didn't expect to be blogging again before Monday but ... the 2009 Christmas Ornament Just Cross Stitch Magazine is out which is extra exciting for me since my design, Early American Motif Ornament, is in it. Check out page 86 for the model pic, page 89 for the pattern, and page 104 for the recipe I sent in. When they asked for a picture, I sent in Miss Maddy's best side. This issue is filled with lovely designs; I've marked several as 'must stitches' for our tree. Just Cross Stitch converted the DMC in model to Presencia which I've never heard of ~ have you? I'll have to look it up.

a jane book, coming

One more design, The Elizabeth B. Sampler, to be finished and then The Stitching Janeite's Pattern Book should be ready for release. I've put the booklet up for PRE-ORDER on the website since I've had crazy Jane fans knocking at my email door ever since I made mention of it soooooooo check out the website if you wish to pre order, otherwise wait until next week. Here's a picture of Netherfield Park, a pattern in the booklet.

Busy week here. First day of school, PTA meeting and Back to School night already accomplished and I'm happy tomorrow is Friday. Fall baseball begins this weekend. I said I was ready for Fall routines, right? Happy weekend.

Darcy & Me

Another design in the upcoming release of The Stitching Janeite's Pattern Book - this called fittingly, Darcy & Me. Simple. Sweet. Swoon.

yum, again

Spaghetti and Meatballs was on the menu tonight. Perfect day for it. A good pot of steaming pasta with crunchy garlic bread spells comfort in my book. I have used Nigella Lawson's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs as it's written once (except for homemade pasta - let's not go crazy...) and have tweaked it to my quicker way (substituting jar sauce in a hurry or changing out the meats) more times than I can count. The homemade tomato sauce is really good though. If you're in the mood for spaghetti, it's a keeper. You can finesse it to your liking but don't forget the bread!

sklonklish

Rain began early and came down hard just as we left for Ben's first day back to school. Fifth Grade. Seems like yesterday I was holding his hand as we walked into preschool. He was up when the alarm went off but the morning had me feeling sklonklish. If you're familiar with Shirley Temple and Cary Grant in The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, then you know what I mean. Ben and Zack said their goodbyes before getting in the car.

Zack and I ran some errands after dropoff and he set foot in nearly every puddle we saw. My legs were soaked by the time the morning ended.

After Zack ate most the 'try one' raspberries at the farmer's market, I had to buy a carton. Glad I did.

I'm feeling less sklonklish now and eager to hear all about Ben's day. Back to work until then. Happy Monday.

in a word, yum

I've been wanting to try the recipes for Perfect Crispy Potatoes and Crispy Skinned Chicken l'Orange for a few weeks now and tonight was the night. Oh what a sweet night it was. Both recipes are simple and delicious. For the chicken, first you sear the skin side in the pan and you get this:

...and then you baste with the orange concentrate/honey mixture a few times while it's in the oven and you get this as the outcome:

The potatoes were fabulous (AND perfectly cubed thanks to DH, my sous chef) and broccoli balanced out the meal.

Chocolate chip cookies just came out of the oven. Saying goodbye to summer with a smile here.

a little more, since you're so cute...

Zack usually asks for more of anything and since I'm a softie, I usually give in so since you're so cute too ... I'll show you another peek from a design in THE STITCHING JANEITE'S PATTERN BOOK No 1. It should be ready soon!

The 'Literary' Labor Day SALE ends at 12AM EST and this is the last sale until next summer. Stop by the website and see which patterns with a literary verse have been included in offer. Orders will go out Wednesday and Friday this week. Tomorrow Ben starts the 5th grade. Times just flies at warp speed, doesn't it? Still trying to bottle it.

giddy for beads

Yesterday Mom and I went to the needlework shop to pick up my models where they had been resting for awhile; I came away with Prairie Schooler's fun new Halloween leaflet. Then we went to the bead shop where I added some more pretties to my little bead collection. Look at that cat face ~ too sweet. Last night I was giddy with my necklace finish.

a foodie post

After lunching, and lunching well, at Bob & Edith's Diner, we went in to the city for some paddle boating around the tidal basin. Ben had never done it before and it had been about, oh, a decade since my last paddle boating hour on the water so it seemed more work than relaxation but Ben had a good time. DH and Zack waved to us from the dock but apparently Zack got wildly distracted by a helicopter and we became a distant distraction. Ben told me we should make paddle boating an annual thing and I was relieved because for a split second I thought he wanted to make it a weekend thing. The painful idea of that would be too much.

Ok, enough about exercise - on to the foodie part of the post. Tonight for dinner I fixed a winning menu so if you're a foodie like me, check out the September issue of Everyday Food for Marinated Chicken, Green Beans with Hazelnuts and look up Summer Fresh Bruschetta on Tasty Kitchen. I make the bruschetta often because it's just sooooo good and sometimes, a meal in itself. Good eats!