Monday's show & tell

Blyler House by The Goode Huswife is finished. As with all of the GH designs that I have done, I'm always surprised at the charted thread colors when I lay them out. I have a hard time imagining the outcome, but I'm always pleased with the result.

Rebecca Robinson now resides on my bedroom wall.

I went with a simple frame since the design is so busy.

Since Melissa wondered what my next "big" sampler would be. Here it is. I wouldn't call it big though. The design was in the May issue of Cross-stitch and Needlework magazine. The picture below shows the original antique. There was also a reproduction which I won't bother to show because, well...I don't like it at all. They used Olde Willow threads, and I thought the colors were odd. I came up with my own DMC and NPI conversions which are closer to the original. I'm using 40ct. vintage Homespun from Lakeside. It isn't as yellow as the antique, but more than my photo shows. The border's a breeze , too. I'll be giving the magazine away when I'm done. I'll give it away to the person who comes up with the most original, humorous, "begging or needing it" comment that I receive. Obviously, it won't be until I'm finished, but start thinking.

I know it's still early...

new set on my Etsy

but I'm done with summer. I'm completely summered out! I know that I just used horrific grammar, but I'm moving on to fall, even if I have to go by myself. I'm dying to dig out my pumpkins, gourds, and bittersweet. I love decorating for autumn more than any other season.
One can only handle just so much of the sunshine and blue skies. I want a cool, cloudy day. I want a pumpkin bar with my pumpkin latte. I want some leaves to fall off the trees. I want to wear real shoes, not just flip flops. I want to need a jacket when I'm outside. I want to burn a cinnamon spice candle. I want to make a pot of homemade soup when it's below 90 degrees. I want a caramel apple. How about you? Are you ready for a new season?
Digging through my stash for something different, I came upon this one from Notforgotten Farm. I love the willow tree and tombstones on her dress. I might stitch this up and make her into a pillow. If I start now, I might be able to enjoy it this Halloween.

The border didn't kick my butt...

I survived the border...woohoo! I finally finished her on the last day of August. Now she patiently waits for her frame. If you've been considering this sampler, go for it. She's a little repetitious, but much prettier in person. Here's a sampling of Blyler House by The Goode Huswife. I'm using 40ct. vintage something with NPI. After stitching the full figured Rebecca, this one is a treat.

I mentioned on my last post that I had painted some thread keeps for Bloom Woodworks. Here's a few:

This one can be personalized with one or two initials.

Men are clueless

Okay, I know you're wondering what this post is all about after seeing my title. I'll get to that in a minute. Here's more of Rebecca. Only twelve more of the alien looking border flowers. I'm forcing myself to stitch at least two a day. I'm starting to feel that I'll eventually finish her. I have to admit that the border is pretty...not just pretty boring. I've been sneaking a stitch or two in Blyler House by The Goode Huswife, also. It's an oldie that I've wanted to do forever.

Tonight, my husband will come home and ask me what I painted today. When I show him my version of Adam and Eve, he's going to say "who would want little naked people on that?" I'm going to reply "hopefully, somebody". He just doesn't get some of my subject matter. The tombstone angel set was the perfect example. He didn't understand why anyone would want that either. The look on his face was classic when I told him it sold right away. Now, it all makes sense, right?

I sent my first package off to Bloom Woodworks on Tues. They will soon be offering assorted thread keeps that I've painted. I'll show photos in a day or two.

Something new...

from The Scarlett House studio. I am happy to now be offering these complete sets on my Etsy shop. The four piece set includes a needle case, ruler, thread keep, and scissor fob. The scissors are my own beloved Ginghers, and are not included. For the longest time, I have wanted to complete my sets with a fob and thread keep. I was recently contacted by Bloom Woodwork's about painting for them. They make these wonderful horn book fobs and thread keeps in all kinds of fun shapes out of solid cherry. Their workmanship and attention to detail is the best I've seen. I am so thrilled to be partnering with them. In the very near future, you will be able to purchase individual items from them. I'll occasionally show the designs here on blog. If you've purchased one of my previous sets and would like the matching pieces, please email me for details.

On the stitching front, I'm still working on that darn Rebecca border, and hating every minute of it. My friend, Margaret, is stitching her, too. She has turbo needles, and I've threatened to go take her needles away if she finishes it before I do, since I've been working at it so much longer. She only thinks I'm kidding.

I did finish the third sachet for my Stacy Nash grouping. The little coverlet design took the longest. Let me tell you, the lavender filling smells wonderful.

My new obsession

For the past week, I've put Rebecca Robinson's border aside. I've had so much fun stitching these little lavender filled sachets. The designs are from the new Stacy Nash Primitives From Hollyhock Farm. They are stitched over one on 30ct. cream fabric that I've tea stained. It is definitely my favorite linen for over one projects. Finished they are about 5x5. I wanted to change the decor on the blanket chest at the foot of our bed, so this is how it looks so far. I have one more to stitch for the grouping, and it's a coverlet design. I think I'm going to look for a couple of her Halloween and Christmas designs, and do them the same way. The Peace and Plenty piece was finished like this and is hanging on the armiore.

Nothing but the border...

All that remains is the border on Rebecca Robinson. I should always do that part first as it is my least favorite. Only 35 1/2 of the funny looking border flowers left to finish. I have a honey colored frame already picked out.
As usual, my mind is already full of possible new starts. I bought a couple of new charts recently, and we'll see if they go to the top or the bottom of the stash. I was able to find The City Stitcher's Strawberry Sampler, which I absolutely have loved forever. There's also Mary Corey, 1809 by Threads of Gold, another Stacy Nash design, and lastly Betsy Davis 1797 by The Scarlet Letter. I almost wish someone else would make the decision for me. There is so much to stitch and never enough hours in the day.