Remembering

those who served, with gratitude, so that we may enjoy the freedom we treasure so dearly.

My Father

Nearing the end

Isabella Johnstone is close to being done. While I will enjoy seeing her hanging on the wall, I've enjoyed stitching her so much, I almost hate to finish. Even the border has been fun. That's an unusual statement coming from this border procrastinator.

I've spent the last couple of days choosing fabric and converting fibers for the next one on the horizon. I've always wanted to stitch the Country Life Sampler from Scarlet Letter, so I'll be putting in the first stitches very soon. It's a wide one at 660 stitches. I'm doing it on 40ct. Sandstone linen, so it won't take up the whole wall anyway.

Thanks for the nice compliments on my charm bracelet, and especially to my favorite Brit, Jen, for her help in answering my question. I haven't had a chance to wear it yet. I've been lifting weights so I can build up my arm strength first. No, not really.

Charmed, I'm sure.

How many of you buy your own anniversary gift? This year, I bought mine. I've blogged before here and here about my love for vintage charm bracelets. I saw this one for sale, obsessed about it over night, and caved the next day. It's all sterling silver and has 52 charms. I try to find bracelets that have unusual and movable charms. To me, they tell a story about what the collector liked, and where she travelled to. This one has many charms from the UK, which was the main reason I wanted it. Some of my favorites are the Tower of London, which opens to show a teeny tiny person with their head on the chopping block, and a person holding the ax over head. Gruesome, but still awesome. The double Decker bus opens up to show people riding and a ticket taker at the door. The Bobby hat opens and displays a whistle. Some others are a Cornish pasty, coat of armour, Shakespeare's head, thatched roof cottage, Old Curiosity Shop, Scottish thistle, and the Tolbooth Church, which is near Edinburgh Castle. The ones I love the most are the London Transport and British Rail. Can anyone tell me what Berwick on Tweed stands for? It has a small cow standing in front of a tree, and looks like a coat of arms of some sort.
Some of the American charms include the state of VA., the Mayflower, Pilgrim's Arch, Boston bean pot, lighthouse, lobster, antique bicycle that moves, and a spinning wheel.

I could go on and named them all, but I won't. Happy anniversary to me.

Here's more of Isabella Johnstone. I love this sampler, and I'm really having fun stitching it. I'm using 45ct. vintage Lentil with the called for Belle Soie silk. I'm having better luck with this silk now that I'm using shorter lengths.

If you want to see what the four-legged ones have been up to, check this out. One more thing, Cari asked what I named my iPhone. She's Isabel.

Moooving on.....

Ann Wragg is finally finished, I'm happy to say. I really enjoyed stitching her, but as always, I'm anxious to move on, or I should say mooove on. The Summer 2010 issue of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly is by far my favorite one. I have found myself stitching more and more from this magazine, and this one does not disappoint. As a former farm girl, I saw this sampler and fell in love. I have to confess to having a kitchen decorated with cows many, many years ago, so stitching Isabella was a given. The most amazing part is that I was able to see the antique in person. The owner and author of the article, Vickie LoPiccolo Jennett, is a friend and lives nearby. It was a thrill for me to see all the antique samplers in her collection.

Oh, the frame is to die for, also.

I am stitching mine on 45ct. vintage Lentil from Lakeside. I love it. I can't put it down, and I'm not getting anything else done. I really need to pick up my paintbrush and finish some sets for some very patient ladies. I will, I promise.

I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day. I certainly did. Saturday was spent with the family, and it was a great day. The four-legged kids surprised their Mom with an iPhone. Woohoo! I wonder how they knew I wanted one? I can't put it down either.