Meet Mary Roe 1808

I'm very happy to show you Mary Roe 1808.  The chart is now available.  I am distributed through both Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts, so shops may order through them, as well as directly from me.  I stitched the model on 36ct. vintage Meadow Rue from Lakeside Linen with Belle Soie silk.  The verse is over one, and the mounds at the bottom were done in rice stitch.  It was so fun to do the rice stitch, and I love how they stand out.

The antique was found quite by accident.  I was actually looking at another one, and spotted Mary hiding behind it.  I'm so happy that I didn't overlook her, as she was pure joy to reproduce.  Little Mary must have had a colorful, vivid imagination.  The quirky and primitive people just make me smile.  And who can resist the sheep and the little black and white dog?  Scarlett insists that it's a Boston Terrier.

Thanks so much for the sweet comments about little Rowan.  She is much better, and over that virus.

ORTS and ENDS Box

I'm excited to show you my new release called "ORTS and ENDS".  It's a stitched top for a 4x4 paper mache box that will hold all those little thread pieces that we stitchers like to collect.  I'm sure that I'm not the only one who likes to watch my orts accumulate.  They eventually get scattered in my back yard for the birds to use in their nests.  In the meantime, I enjoy watching them multiply, for some odd reason.  You get it, I know you do.  Maybe it's our proof that we are accomplishing something.

I chose to simply paint the box, rough it up a bit with sandpaper, then apply a thin coat of antiquing.  You can get much more creative by faux painting, sponging or graining the box.  It would even be cute decoupaged with scrapbook paper.  I chose a simple cording that I found at Hobby Lobby to wrap around the piece.  Thank you once again to the very talented Vonna for her finishing.  She has graciously provided a tutorial for you here.

The frame for Mary Roe 1808 is in, so as soon as I can get her framed and the charts finalized, she will be available.  I've started another reproduction from my collection called Jane Hopkins 1801.  After she is ready, I think I'll get back to some stitching for myself.  While reorganizing my charts last weekend, I was reminded at how many things I want to stitch.  Never enough hours in the day.   

Here is my sweet granddaughter Rowan Elizabeth who turns one tomorrow. Isn't she pretty in pink?

Unfortunately, her birthday party has to be postponed until she and her siblings get over a virus.

Grandma loves you, baby girl!