OOPS !!

It was mentioned that some of you couldn't get the video to work...actually I mistakenly downloaded the video instead of this picture of the darling chair cushion......so here's the correction.  And again...I'm obsessed with the chenille ric rac around the border !!!

Spring Fling to South Carolina

 Last week I had the privilege of teaching for the Birthwistle Sampler Guild in North Augusta , SC.  A few of the ladies are pictured above with the "Unfinished Sampler teaching piece".

 Friday night after a lovely dinner, I taught a small piece I had designed from the sampler motifs to be mounted on a mini hornbook.

 Friday, Pam Schmidt, the organizer of this weekend (and a fellow Wisconsinite) took me on a tour of the area. We went to the History Museum  where we were able to see the actual sampler of Isabella Birtwhistle, the Guild's namesake, as well

 as a visit to her gravesite.  It was such fun to be able to absorb all this local history as well as take in all the gorgeous
blooming foliage that abounds in that area.  I have never seen more beautiful dogwoods, redbuds or azaleas then I have this weekend.  Quite a TREAT for this "northern girl" !!!

 Here are a few of the finished projects some of the ladies brought to show me  during the Saturday class.  The trim around the little chair cushion is giant chenille ric rac!!!  I'm obsessed with finding it!!!

 As you can see, these women are all accomplished stitchers!!
My pictures don't really do them justice, but at least you can get an idea of the type of projects they like to tackle.

It truely was a privilege to spend time with so many ladies who love samplers and their history as much as I do !

Home Again !!

 Well.........Sharing pictures from my ipad while at Market  obviously didn't work!!!!  Think it was an operator (me) error.  So I'm back to the regular way and guess I'll just be grateful to manage this much !!

 We're back from the Nashville Market and as promised, here are a few pics of my booth.

 This is for all my cat lovers.......Chessie's Alphabet Needlebook........the inside is finished in wool with a little linen needle leaf with another cat on it .

 Needlebook of Stitches......... is a little wool book with 2 linen "pages" on the inside.  There are 15 or 16 of my favorite speciality stitches on the pages and it's meant to be used as a reference guide as well as a needlebook.

 Lulu's Flock is named for my sister, Mary Lou, who loves sheep.  This design is kind of a follow up piece to my "Three Sheep Sampler"  It's stitched on 32ct vintage Meadow Rue from Lakeside Linen using all Crescent Colours overdyed cotton threads

 "Glory House" is a little patriotic kit that comes complete with linen,  silk floss, and a needle.......so there's no excuse not to start stitching it immediately !!!  Ha, ha......don't we think those same thoughts with every kit we buy?

And last but not least..........Scarlet's Summer Sampler.......the lastest addition to the Scarlet Pomegranate series.  This is the one I teased you with last time.  It's stitched on 36ct vintage Pearled Barley from Lakeside Linen using Belle Soie and Gloriana silk threads.

Thanks to you  all for  your well wishes for Market......they must have worked....because I sold out pretty much all of the new "stuff".  It was a really wonderful market this year.  Everyone was very upbeat and eager to take new  product home to their stitchers.  I didn't get out to look around much (which is a good thing really), but Jeanne from "Country Sampler" gave me a peek at some of the goodies she brought back for her shop and they all looked wonderful!!

We had a great time catching up with old friends and even got to antique along the way....so all in all the trip was a huge success!!

Now........it's back to "earth"......I have to assemble more charts, get out a few stray orders and start working on new designs.

Hope you get out to your local shops , pick up some new "goodies" and get stitching !!!!!

We're off to Nashville

The van is packed .......hopefully nothing forgotten....and we're ready to head for the Nashville Market ......but before I leave, I just wanted to share what my little "helper" does while I'm trying to put all the charts together.

 She really gets very insistant about about being part of the process....so I've learned to allow her to find a spot to settle and observe, otherwise she literally will stretch out across as many charts as possible and stare at me ...daring me to move her!!!!

One quick peek at "Scarlet's Summer Sampler" ......sorry it was the only picture  I could put me hands on since every thing is packed......I'll try to take some shots of everything in the booth with my ipad and post from the Market.  Wish me luck......just when I think I've got this blogging thing down.....something goes HORRIBLY wrong !!

I'm really looking forward to seeing old and new friends at market and catching up with what's new in the industry.....can't wait !  Also looking forward to getting a little stitching in while we're on the road......my stitching bag is LOADED with project !!!  I know I'll never get to all of them,but like every other stitcher I know, we always have to have "choices"

Hope you all fit a stitch or two in to your day!

Belated,belated,belated Happy New Year!!!

 YEA !!!!!!  The snow is back...and actually just the right amount.  All the winter "ugly" is covered up and my back country roads are navigable.

 And as you can see I still haven't gotten "Christmas" taken down yet.  The greens are all gone, but I was still enjoying the rest of it, so I've left it up, and now I'm knee deep in working on new designs for the Nashville Market, so it will just have to wait !!!  Hmmmm...maybe if I add some hearts here and there it will help !!  One can only hope !!

 I also am still obsessed with" Hannah Tingey"........my Christmas present to myself (the best kind of course).  It was the December Sampler of the Month from Attic Needlework and I ordered the silk thread package as well.  It's a gorgeous piece and I'm having trouble putting it down.  Here's my progress so far...as you can tell, I'm a "border first " girl.  I guess that must come from my design mentality.  I also believe that if you get the border right, then you can make any mistake you make in the middle "work" !!

Last, but not least, I had to share a picture of my little "box kitty", Chessa........she's never happier then when she's snuggled inside of something...when I took this shot, she was purring like crazy!!

Happy Belated New Year...can't believe the month is half over already.......hope you all can find a little time to fit in a stitch or two each and every day......I know it just makes me feel better about EVERYTHING when I do !!

Quick......before it melts !!!

 Just had to share the view I woke up to this morning......now it finally feels like Christmas is near !!!

 Isn't it AMAZING how a little snow can change every thing?

Unfortunately, it seems to be melting as we speak...but at least we got some of the white stuff to put us in the mood.

Since it is the season ...I'm going to keep hoping it will last a little longer !! 

May you all find time during this holiday to stop and appreciate the loved ones around you and also find a little time to take a stitch or two !!

Peace and goodwill !

Linda, Chessa, & Brewster

Part 3 is out the door

 Just sent hubby John off to the Country Sampler with part 3 of Chessie's Club......Make Do Sampler.  Here's a peek!!
This project has been so much fun for me to design...hope you're all having as much fun working on it!!

Our house is finally "dressed for the season".......I love decorating with fresh greens and this year, John scored a HUGH fallen fir tree from across the road......so for several days I spent most of my time cutting branches from it and adding them to every surface throughout the house.
The cats wore out their little noses sniffing each and every pine bough that came through the door !!!  Believe me...a fun time was had by ALL!!!

This is an after Thanksgiving shot which mimiced what we all wanted to do after the feast....I know it's very last month, but they look so contented, I thought it was still worth sharing.

Happy Holidays to all!!