A hunting we will go...

for antiques and other cool stuff. Thursday morning will find me hopping on a plane with my sister and friend for a flight to Minneapolis. There, we will meet up with my niece for several days of shopping till we're dropping. Every year we get together for giggles and a good time. This year, we're heading here. There's supposed to be a ridiculous amount of craft and antique vendors. We've heard great things about this festival. Hopefully our rented SUV will be so weighted down with our fabulous finds that it does wheelies all the way home. I'm hoping to find at least one piece of salt-glazed crockery. Who knows what else will catch my eye?

Here's a small bit of progress on the A&E. I'm not sure about the blue ship...that color may have to be changed. Remember, I'm giving this magazine away to the best comment. I've been highly amused and impressed already, but I won't decide until I'm finished with the sampler.

A&E from May 2009 issue of Cross-stitch and Needlework

Are you all excited about the upcoming market? There are some wonderful things coming our way. I've already ordered Sarah Woodham. Isn't she a beauty? I hope she's waiting for me when I get back.

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.