Pretty little things....

I decided Mother's Day weekend to take a

break from my Nantucket Sampler....

actually the dang border.  

I plummaged through my stash and came up

with some smalls to take my mind off the other.

First up a little Blackbird Designs......

BBD "Remember Me"

stitched on 35ct WDW Straw

w/ Victorian Motto hand-dyed thread

I recently ordered a lavender thread pack from

Nancy and just loved this soft toned thread.  I

think it makes the perfect complement to

the golden linen.   This one makes the 

perfect pin pillow.

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La D Da was next up on the hoop....

La D Da "Count Your Blessings"

stitched on 30ct WDW Mocha

w/recommended DMC

I saw this one being stitched in action at Pals this

past October and it looked so much better

in person.  Not sure why it took so long to stitch

this one but am happy I finally got around to it.

Another little pillow to remind me each

day of this wonderful sentiment.

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While looking for some Americana designs

to stitch last week, I came across this

one and decided I just had to stitch it next. 

BBD "Morning Star"

Stitched on mystery 40ct linen

w/DMC

This is the sweetest design.  I love the colors

in this one and almost hated to see it end.

 

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My little helper....Pork Chop

I'm so lucky to have help when staging my photos.

For those you enjoying the Memorial Day
weekend, I hope it is a good one.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you

have a great stitchy week!

Nantucket Sampler....

I had a good stitchy weekend and finished

up another Crazy Challenge piece.

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

stitched on 40ct khaki linen

w/DMC

This turned out to be a great little sampler

to stitch.   The finished size is only 6" x 3"

but this little sampler packs alot in it.   Although

I used DMC, the subtle thread changes in some

areas almost gives it an overdyed look.  I did give

my finish a little coffee soak to help tone

down the ecru border just a bit.

I love this little scene with the red house and

ship.  The bird and peacock are a little on the

large side but seem to make the sampler complete.

This design has been languishing in my basket

for many years and I am very happy it is stitched.

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With summer fast approaching, I hope to sneak

in a few little Americana smalls.   As always....

thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

Homespun Elegance goodies....

May has been a lucky month!

One of my favorite blogs is

Plain & Fancy Merchant 

(Homespun Elegance)

and she was celebrating her 500 followers

with a great giveaway and sale!    Lucky me won

her giveaway and look at the goodies I got....

I have a large collection of Homespun Elegance

but was delighted that I had none of these!

Sandra also included these goodies.  

The little sheep is just precious.

   As soon as I saw the bookmark design, I

immediately recognized it.  I have had the

Sheltering Tree in the my basket for a very

long time.   I think this is a sign that it is time

stitch it!  If you haven't checked

Homespun Elegance's blog, please do...

she always has some great offerings.

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 Evidenced by the abundance of HE designs

I own, Sandra has always been one of my

favorite designers.   The "colonial" feel to her

designs is timeless.   To extend the celebration

on her blog, she offered a very generous sale

on her designs so I seized the opportunity 

to add to my collection. 

Land of Peace & Plenty

This has to be one of all time favorites.

Originally published in 1990, Sandra decided to

reprint some of her OOP designs and this one

is now available.   This one is timeless to me and

I can't wait to get it stitched.   I think it has also

 helped me decide on the fabric choice for

Plum Street's Colonial Garden.  

You will just have to wait and see!

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I have been busy stitching so I will be

back soon with some finishes.

Hope you have a great stitchy day....

Look what I got.....

I was lucky enough to win Angela's blog

giveaway and the mailman was nice

enough to deliver it today!

Having exchanged a few times with Angela,

I knew this box would be finished to perfection. 

And it is.

This one is an extra special treat since  

Angela's mom stitched the design and

Angela did the finishing. 

I have two stitching spots and I always have to

haul my scissors, readers, needles, etc. from

one spot to another.   This perfect for all of my

accessories in my downstairs spot so that I

just have to pick up my stitching and go.

Thanks again Angela....this will be a treasure.

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If the road to you know where is paved

with good intentions, I am driving the bus.

I had good intentions in starting Colonial Garden

but found myself in a quandry.   Although I

love it on the dark linen, I was leaning

toward stitching the lighter version. 

Since I can't make up my mind, I decided to

pull out another Crazy Challenge piece. 

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

I was still in the seafaring mood so I decided to

stitch on this until I figure out my linen dilemma.

I love the design but am iffy on the border.   The

white is just too "white" so I think I will give

it a tea bath once done to tone it down a bit. 

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Well I'm off to stitch....thanks again for visiting.

Hope you are having a stitchy week.

Throwback Thursday....

Thank you so much for your wonderful

comments on my previous posts.... 

they really do make my day!

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While visiting my mom awhile ago, I really

took note of how many stitched treasures

(her eyes rolling) 

of mine that grace her walls.  It got me

thinking about how I wish I could have started

this blog many years earlier.   Well... actually

I guess I was "blogging" on paper....

My stitching journals

Like many of you, I kept a "journal" of sorts in
a yearly calendar documenting my stitching days.

  My "blog" posts

I love my blog.....

just for the fact it is now my "stitching

journal".  I can look back over the last few years

and see what I was stitching and I am surprised

how I can remember what was happening in my

life at that time.   I've been toying with the idea

of sprinkling stitched pieces from the past so I

could enjoy them on my blog and decided there
was no time like the present to start.

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In keeping with the seafaring theme this week,

here is one of my favorite finishes from 2000.

The Need'l Love Company

"Ship of Life"

Started: 1-16-00 Finished: 4-9-00

I remember I originally started this one on 14 ct

cream aida......don't ask me what I was thinking.  

After stitching a little of the wave, I quickly

realized this just wasn't right.   I restarted on

32 ct. linen with DMC.   At the time, this was

a very different stitch for me....this was my

first sampler of sorts.  I am so glad  I

stitched this on linen and stuck with it.

To this day, I still love this piece.

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BD "The Lighthouse"

Stitched 1999

I just loved the older Bent Creek designs and

probably have most of them between 1998

and 2006.  I especially liked the Word Samplers

and this is one of my favorites.   I attended one

of the now defunct cross stitch festivals where I

was able to pick up the frame.    I didn't have a

LNS and remember being in awe of all the

cross stitch "stuff" available to buy.  O how the

world has changed thanks to the wonderful web!

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If you made it this far, thanks for visiting.  

I would love to know if anyone

else has these stitched and on their blog.