memorial day

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.

~George Washington

New Pattern, FLAG BASKET ... and Memorial Day SALE!

The Memorial Day SALE is on and continues through Monday, ending at 12 Midnight EST May 31. All Patterns are 31% off with the newest ones being 10% off.

There's a new pattern entitled Flag Basket (shown above) which is now ready! This patriotic token has a dear vintage verse that reads:

May thy sweet blossoms never cease

To bloom in love and trust and peace

More details on this design can be found on the website.

May your weekend be full of happy moments as well as gratefulness for those who have served and continue to serve this great nation.

{overheard}

::Mama, can you cover me? I can't find my blankie. Not that one.

::Ok, Zack, this is the police car clue ... now you go hide.

::I can't do it.

::Is it time for lunch? (said right after dinner)

::Can we play potato? (translates: Can we play play doh?)

::There's a bug ... GET IT MAMA!

::But I don't want to look like a grown up.

::It's my turn. No it's mine. No it's mine. Ok, it's yours.

::Where's my cup. (the baseball kind)

::I want more lemonade and more ice.

::I don't like it.

::No, YOU take my shoes off. (child throws himself on floor)

::Why do I have to? (other child stomps out of room)

::I got an A.

::I named the worm, Buddy. Can I keep him?

::She's a pretty kitty. Get her out of my way. Move, Maddy. MOVE!

::Quick, you go there and I'll find you. GO!

::Come on, Ben. Follow me.

::Hey Dude.

::Mama, Mama, Mama ...

gots to go ... see you tomorrow for a Memorial Day SALE !!!

New Pattern ~ Getting Away ... with Jane Austen

I've finished up a new design and the charts are ready. It draws inspiration from Jane Austen's words in Pride and Prejudice that read: 'We will know where we have gone ~ we will recollect what we have seen.' Such a delightful one to stitch as a souvenir for a summer journey or week-end getaway.

All details on this new pattern can be found by clicking HERE!

moving right along

Some days whizz by and you know how you read things quickly and then realize you read it wrong? ... such as standing in line at the grocery deli and scanning a sign that read 'Wisconsin cheese stupid' but then realizing it couldn't have been that, re-read it and feel better it said, 'Wisconsin cheese cupid' ... or looking at your current blog post and seeing it's post #451 when after another look, it's really post #852 ... or feeling the right shoe seems like a slipper when it is and the other foot wears the real shoe ... or looking down at your children and seeing them wear the same shirts they wore the day before ... or well, you know what I mean.

So it's Monday. I know I've been here before. It's wash day and the laundry is nicely piled for me to fold and put away. What day does that happen again? I forget. Tuesday is library day ... Zack has reminded me all day that tomorrow will be spent doing that so I can't fold then. I'm still trying to convince the cat to do this task ... she sleeps amid the piles enough, she should help out!

I've a new design begging for a title and when it comes to me ... it will be ready for release. It's a fun one and I hope you like it ... beckons the Jane Austen-stitcher in you. Did me :)

Pushing 5pm and methinks I should be doing something now ... ah, yes ... dinner. Ben is at his last piano lesson and he'll probably bounce through the door on his return with glee. I've been printing charts all afternoon and I think it's quitting time. I can read that right. See you again soon.

::good things

::rain lulling you to sleep

::new linens

::clean bathrooms

::a tantrum free afternoon

::an untouched week on the horizon

::family parties

::waking to a purring cat

::laughing so hard your cheeks hurt

::kindness of others

::lemonade

::sleeping in

::the blessings from above

::watching Ben play baseball on a picture perfect day

::long week-end coming up

::and ... cake

the 21st

As I write this 411th (wow) post, the birds are chirping, the air conditioning is cooling, and the sun is shining sweetly through every window. Z is waking up from his playground-burned-all-his-energy nap and we will fetch a big brother from school shortly. Today is my grandmother Mary's birthday; she is 84. We're celebrating with a hen party tonight at a fancy Chinese restaurant and then tomorrow night will be the family party at Mom's house. Such a gorgeous weather forecast planned too.

This afternoon I finished up designing a little Jane Austen-inspired pattern which will be my week-end project. It will make for a nice companion piece to Jane Austen on the Weather, I think. Stay tuned! Here's Jennifer D. in GA's finish of His Letter to Anne Exclusive Epattern. This pattern was included in a promotion earlier in the year and now only available as an epattern.

Ben has a ballgame tomorrow and my brother in law and his wife will be coming for a week so it's a busy time of it. Just another month or so (thanks to those snow days from the 3' snowstorm!) of school and summer will be in full swing. This time of year moves along speedily with end of school committments and such; the pool opens next week-end and well, can it get better than that?

Happy Week-end!

stitched and baked, on fancy's wings

I am a big fan of Pineberry Lane designs and Wendy's new pattern, On Fancy's Wings, is another treat to stitch. I stitched it on 32ct white linen, using the DMC colors called for except used GAST's Soot instead of DMC 640. The girl is supposed to be done over one thread but I stitched her over two instead. Put the last stitches in last night and coffee dyed & baked it this morning. I had a frame just perfect in the stash for it. The design has a story behind it and you know how I love that connection.

good night john boy

Remember that family show, The Waltons? Well, I live the last few minutes of that show (and more) most nights. Meaning ... at bedtime the banter that goes back and forth becomes comical and sitcom-ish way too often. We've all said good night before retiring to bedrooms but once in beds, Ben and Zack continue saying good night and then one will ask the other something and then one will ask for Mama to come here and then the other will say what was the last score of the game or then the boys will laugh about some silly thing they played earlier in the afternoon and then the good nights begin again ... good night Ben .... good night Zack ... good night Mama ... good night Dad ... where's my blankie? ... can someone bring me some water? ... Maddy, is that you walking by? .... good night Ben ... what time is it? .... Mama, is it time for lunch? ... wake me early so I can play my game ... it's dark ... go to sleep! .... good night Ben ... good night Zack ... I love you ... where did Maddy go? .... good night ... no more talking ... ... ... I want different music ... I think I see a cricket in the hall ... I don't want clifford, I want cookie monster ... I wish we had the clapper ... Maddy wants food ... good night Ben ... good night dude ... zzzzzzzzz

when it rains ...

... you package charts for distributors

... you get a few stitches in a new design by Pineberry Lane

... but most importantly, you bake brownies

New Exclusive Pattern, Mother's Prayers

I have enjoyed these words by Abraham Lincoln and now put it in a simple design to enjoy all the more. Pattern is exclusive to website.

For all details on this design, click HERE!

saturday stuff

Thank you for the dear, familiar and funny emails & comments regarding the behaviors of 3yr olds. Looks like I am in good company. Since I last wrote here, things have been going better with Z. Of course as you know, meltdowns can happen when you least expect but so far so good. The weekend weather looks swell and I don't think there's a full moon to occur so let's hope for smooth sailing to continue.

I coffee dyed some white evenweave yesterday for a new exclusive design I'm working on. It features a quote (of course!) so I'll keep you posted. I usually tea or coffee dye after I've stitched the piece, so this was the first time I dyed the fabric first. I hadn't aged fabric in awhile so it was weirdly therapeutic. Funny how we don't want to look old but like our needlework to look as if they've weathered better days!

Ben has a ballgame soon and I have to decide whether or not to take Z to the field. I'm not feeling that great this mid month day of May (ya know that feeling) so we might opt for a quick visit and then I might plant myself in a nice chair in the yard to stitch while Z digs in the dirt. Hope your weekend has lots of good stuff in store for you!

Edited to add ...

The post just came and thank you, Michelle!!, who sent me a fragile pretty she found at a local fayre and thought of me with my passion for Jane Austen times. I love it. Thank you sweetly ever so much.

new patterns are ready!

NEW PATTERNS!

Affection's Kindred Love, a Sampler of the Sea

Open Windows

Both designs are now available on the website. Click HERE for all details!

***A few designs have been added to the EPATTERN option and they are:

Busy Nothings Needle Cushion

Laura's House in the Woods

Picnic at Box Hill

Out Flying

and the winner is ...

The winner of the Giveaway is NATALIA ... congrads! I have just emailed you ... you won the new pattern - Affection's Kindred Love, a Sampler of the Sea! Thank you to all who entered.

why is it

::when you want to sing, you cough ... or yawn

::that one child goes to bed and the other one won't

::when it rains, it pours

::when you can't take it any more, you can

::when you want to bake, it's late

::the night makes one nostalgic

::toddlers can mingle better than adults

::when you crave chocolate you can only find twinkies

::that a bus always gets infront of your car when you're in a hurry

::time won't slow down, just a bit

::we have grand ideas that never go anywhere

::some days go fast and some days never end

::neighbors can live so close and never speak

::a funny joke doesn't make you laugh

::that all toys nowadays have to sing, beep, talk and make noise

::that one little cloud can be present when the rest of the sky is cloudless

::that painted toes can make your whole self feel good

::that a song can just take you to a moment you once had

::when you hear someone's name, you think of someone you know

::when you have nothing to say, you ramble

see you on wednesday ... 2 new patterns coming then and they are called ...

Open Windows

Affection's Kindred Love, a Sampler of the Sea

a day for mama

I love being a Mama more than words can say and think it's the bestest (most challenging at times!) job I will ever have. These boys of mine make my life extra sweet with their smiles, their complaining, their giggles, their groans, their milestones, their battles, their quirks, their talents, their love of living in the moment and having me take them where they need to go. They depend on me and I'm there ... childhood is a blink of an eye and I'm not missing anything.

I am blessed with a wonderful mother and grandmother and while we may not always get along, see eye to eye, act like we should, play nice ... we are three generations of strong women and I love them very much.

road trip!

About to collapse in a heap, I mean bed, but wanted to stop here for a few because I won't be online tomorrow.

This morning began bright and early and cloudy as we (Mom and my Grandmother joined me!) made our way to Leesburg for the trunk show at the Loudoun County Sampler Guild meeting. It rained at some point during the drive but eased up for sunny skies when we got there. It had to be the windiest day of springtime here ... wow was it windy! Not hot so that was good - overall a picture perfect weather day to cap the event. I began setting up the tables with models & patterns but didn't (to my crazy, perfectionist-at-times self) display things as I really wanted because the ladies were already beginning to go through the things as I put them out and well, I couldn't get to the tables to get the stuff out quick enough. I must say this was quite a frenzy at first and thrilling too. I was so honored to be asked to be a part of the program ~ thank you again, Stacy D. I quickly snapped some pictures when everything was out but the meeting had started so I wanted to put away the camera ... you can get an idea of the displays. I was a window merchandiser for the children's book area of Borders Books, way back when, and still love the set up process!

Thank you to all the members who I met today ... it was great chatting with you and talking needlework. I was flattered several of you take the time to visit this dear Blog. Anyway, the day was a true delight. From there, we lunched at the Lightfoot Restaurant (which was beyond delicious!) and then braved the busy (more like mobbed) nearby Leesburg Outlets. I was gone from home about 11 hours today ... the boys had fun with Daddy and to my pleasure they were all in one piece on my return ... fed AND even bathed from their day at the ballfield and Nats stadium.

Happy Mother's Day!

Open Windows ... new upcoming pattern

Just framed a new release entitled, Open Windows. Inspiration for this design comes from an exhibit on old Virginian samplers with the open window theme. What a delight to open the windows and let in the fresh air (on non-pollen days!) ... pattern available at the trunk show tomorrow and will be on the website in a few days for purchase ... in addition to another one ... till then!

except V accept

I use old sampler verses from time to time in my designs ~ they are added as they were stitched by young girls & young ladies from the centuries in which they lived. Their grammar and spelling was not always perfect. A recent design of mine, Posey Sampler 1819, has brought in many emails and now a post by a particular blog which think I don't know the different between the meanings of the words, except and accept. I do, thank you. I preferred to keep the verse as it was originally put. It states on my website that this is an old verse.

Edited post: Matter was resolved and apology emailed by blog owner I referenced. Thank you, Molly.

did someone say GIVEAWAY?

This new sampler of mine is nearly finished and hopes for a release at tomorrow's trunk show. If you wish to WIN this design, enter your name and email address to this post. I'll randomly pick a winner on Wednesday (May 12). Good luck!

An old sampler verse adorns this design and reads:

No ocean can divide

Affection's Kindred Love.

getting there

Another pretty sunny day in the 80s and we spent a good part of it at Z's weekly art class and the park. It's that time of year again to bring out the sunblock (did you bring the sunburn, Mama?) flip flops & sandals. The park is Z's current favorite place to while away the hours, aside from the cars aisle at Target, and I love the big sand area. When Ben was small and he'd get sand in his shoes, his shorts, the car, you name it ... it would drive me nearly to drink but now I could care less. Sand is sand and it's fun ... so maybe I've grown up about it.

Thank you dearly for the kind comments and reassuring emails this week as I panicked over the upcoming trunk show and getting it all together. It always works as it should be the getting there is such a long road sometimes. Last evening, I escaped for a few hours and enjoyed a manicure/pedicure and eyebrow waxing ... simple pleasures and no kids tugging on me the entire time. Funny how some quiet time for Mama at a busy, noisy day spa can soothe the soul. Oh and food helps too ... the new Lobster sammie at Panera was a dream to eat.

I'm pleased as punch with the little packaging of the exclusive design the sampler Guild members will receive .. the bookmark within was a Midnight thought and it worked!

repeat after me ...

... it will all get done. The week has hit the middle and Friday seems like it's coming too fast ... I have oodles of stuff to do for Saturday's trunk show not to mention models to finish ... maybe if you say it with me, it will help! IT WILL ALL GET DONE .... thanx.

now it can be May ...

... because today was opening day for our nearby farmers market and what a gorgeous weather day for it ... 82 degrees with a pleasant breeze. After grinning & bearing a post office visit for me, Zack was happy to finally get to the market ... in search of raspberries. Rows and rows of strawberries and it was difficult to explain to him, again, that raspberries won't be at the farmers market for several more weeks. Raspberries are his favorite berry. He could eat a whole pint if allowed. So, instead Zack made do with several sample tastings of ginger cake, banana nut bread, sourdough bread, tomato ... and strawberry, all the while I'm sure wishing for raspberries. The flowers were gorgeous and the buckets of asparagus were picture worthy.

Before lunch we went to the park where apparently rock climbing is Z's new thrill. I think he went up it and down it and adjacent slide 16 times in a row before heading back to the sandbox.

Lunch at Subway where he ate everything he ordered. Tuckered out little lad, woo hoo!, now I can get some orders packed and the massive pile of laundry folded. I'm grateful for such a fun little boy and pretty weather days be enjoy with him.

Hope your day spins at the right speed. Enjoy the ride.

behind the scenes

This week-end, like so many, has flown by. There was pizza, baseball, humidity, movie night, errands, reading, napping, breakfast out, church, laundry, laughter and stitching ... almost finished with a new design which I've just set down for the night to trade in for a book and some shut-eye soon.

It will be a busy week ... school book fair, more baseball, more laundry and of course stitching! On Saturday I'll be doing a trunk show for the Loudoun County Sampler Guild so I hope to have a few new patterns by the end of the week to release. The website has been given a little refreshing to go with my new logo.

Until later in the week ... enjoy this May of ours. It is such a sweet month.

In the Meadow with Jane Austen, in GOS May issue!

Check out TSG featured on the cover of Gift of Stitching's latest issue! IN THE MEADOW WITH JANE AUSTEN is within it ... if you don't subscribe to this online mag, it's a good one! Design is Jane Austen-inspired with a verse by Jane Austen's Emma. Model was stitched by GOS Editor, Kirsten Edwards.