Maddie Button

Now you know why I've neglected updating my blog lately.  I've been busy!  Maddie Button is my newest offering.  Those of you who know me, know of my love of sheep.  I think every sampler should have at least one. 

Inspiration can often be derived when you least expect it.  A few months ago I was involved in a conversation with friends about the pros and cons of becoming a vegetarian.  I'm not one, but I don't like to think about the unpleasantness of where our food source comes from either.  Maddie's verse came to me while I was standing in the shower pondering the conversation.  As someone who loves old buttons and vintage canning jars, the idea went on from there. 

The models were stitched on 40ct. Days Gone By with Belle Soie silk.  A conversion to Crescent Colours cotton is provided.  Used also as trim for the pin keep and fob cording is the yummy new hand-dyed chenille from Crescent Colours.

Finishing was done by the Twisted Stitcher.  Step by step finishing instructions are included with the chart.  You can also visit Vonna's tutorial blog for online help.

The model for Sarah Elizabeth Brooke is finished.  I'll be showing her very soon.

Meet Mary Roe

 

Pretty Mary Roe took a trip across the pond and arrived safely at her new home in Arizona.  Isn't she a fun and happy sampler?  I'm amazed at how bright and colorful she is.  It was love at first sight for me.  The funny and awkward looking people just beg to be stitched again.  Her skinny tummy just makes me laugh and very jealous.  Of course, I love samplers with sheep and dogs.  We're going to pretend that the spotted one herding the flock is a Boston Terrier.  I wish that she had stitched her age alongside her name and date.  I'd bet she was a very young girl with a vivid imagination.  I can't wait to start charting her.

Here's a peek at my next release, Mattie Button.  It's a three piece set which includes a pin keep, scissor fob, and jar wrap.  All that's left is the finishing. 

Below is a photo of Coverlet Birds sent to me from Bonnie.  She stitched it on 48ct. over two.  Yes, I said 48ct!  She then tea-stained it.  The finished size is 4 1/2w x 2 3/4h.  I love it, and your photo layout, Bonnie.

Thanks for sharing it. 

I almost forgot to mention Sarah Elizabeth's progress.  I am about half the way done stitching the model.  I'm hoping her chart will be ready early August. 

We are doing our best to keep cool.  July is my least favorite month.  The monsoons are working their way up from Mexico nearly every day now for the next couple of months.  We usually get a dust storm in the early evening which is tons of fun.  It's hit or miss if there's rain to follow.  It's been so long since I've seen rain, I barely remember it.  It's wet, right?

Hope you and yours enjoyed a safe and happy 4th of July!

Summer has arrived

***Okay, I have to edit this post.  My husband read it, and called me the biggest dork ever.  It seems that I incorrectly stated that planes couldn't take off on the day it reached 122 degrees because of soft asphalt.  This is not true.  First, the runways are concrete and there was concern that the planes couldn't get enough lift because of the heat.  He should know.  He was at the airport that day.  I stand corrected, and I feel like a dork.  I could have sworn I heard it the other way. 

The calendar says that the beginning of summer is still six days away.  I'd have to disagree...I think it's here.  It reached 122 on June 26, 1990.  I remember it.  The planes couldn't take off from the airport because the asphalt on the runways was too soft.  That day wasn't fit for man nor beast.  We do get used to the heat though, and it's still 15 degrees away from that temp.  The funny thing is that as I type this, I have socks on because my feet are cold.  I hate the evil, but necessary air conditioning. 

Here's how the squatters spend their afternoons when it's hot outside.  They get their ball chasing out of the way early in the morning when it's cool. 

Ruby doesn't look too thrilled to be woken up.  I think she's giving me the eye!

Someone forgot to tell Henry that it's 107 outside.  He's like me, and gets cold easily. 

Scarlett can curl up and be happy anywhere, but this is her favorite spot. 

One thing I can say about summers in Arizona, I get a lot of stitching done.  This chart from With Humble Heart is called Do Unto Others.  It's been a long time resident in my chart stash.  I was fortunate to see this design stitched over one on 40ct at the Attic.  It was solidly stitched and beyond amazing.  I'm doing my version over two on 40ct.  I love the red alphabet, and while I usually start at the bottom, I couldn't resist going there first. 

It might be awhile before you see this completed.  I wish I could show you what I'm really stitching.  I have finished a third design called Maddie Button.  The stitching is done, but the finishing is not.  I hope to show you very soon.  Remember my antique sampler, Sarah Elizabeth Brooke?   Her chart is finished, and I'm stitching the model.  I think she's going to be worth the wait.  I have given much thought about whether to take liberties with Sarah, or do my best to make it a true reproduction.  My personal opinion is that it can be difficult to chart the many mistakes these young girls made.  It must have been extremely hard to count their stitches with the poor lighting they had.  While I did my best to keep Sarah as close to the original,  her borders will match up and some of the motifs will be tidied up.  What is your opinion?  Are you a sampler purist?

I have say thank you for the wonderful response and comments about my first two designs.  You never know what to expect when you create something and put it out there.  I appreciate the encouragement.

My New Designs

I am happy to show you my first two designs under The Scarlett House. 

This one is called Coverlet Birds.  The models were stitched on 40ct. Earth linen from Crossed-Wing Collection using NPI silk.  I have always loved antique coverlets, and that is where I drew my inspiration from.

And this is Death By Candy Corn.  I used a favorite 40ct. linen of mine called Days Gone By and it is charted for DMC.  The candy corns are stitched over one, but can be done over two. 

The charts will be available on Friday at The Attic, and hopefully in other shops eventually. 

Special thanks to:

      Margaret Chess for her expert stitching of the framed piece. 

Vonna Pfeiffer for finishing the pin keeps so beautifully.

Priscilla's Pocket for the perfect frame. 

Jenny Bean

It's a windy and not so sunny day here in Arizona, not a great day for taking photos.  But, I've finished and framed Jenny Bean from Scarlet Letter, and  here she is.  I stitched it on 40ct. vintage Black Forest from Lakeside Linen with plain old DMC.  It didn't kill me to use cotton thread, but it came close.  I don't know why I didn't use silk.  I guess I thought it would require a lot of it in the solid area.  I learned my lesson though and won't be using it again on any 40ct. linen.  It shreds too much, or maybe I pull too tight.  I love this sampler, and once my eyes adjusted to stitching on black, it wasn't so bad.  It's worth the effort because the colors just pop, but I'm looking forward to a much lighter linen. 

We made a quick trip to Iowa last week for a wedding.  I took this project to work on.  I'm determined to I finish the Prairie Schooler alphabets over one on 30ct.  It's been a bout a year since I picked it up, and I'm all enthused about it again. 

The ducks, Dave and Roseanne, are still hanging around.  Dave is here three times a day, but Roseanne must be sitting on a nest and doesn't come as often.  They were both sitting in the driveway when we got home from Iowa and walked right up to the car.  I think they missed their handouts.

On my last post, a comment was left asking about the designer of the stitched piece in my header.  Um, that would be me.  I am planning to use it on my chart packaging.  The house is an adaptation from an antique that I plan to reproduce.  Thanks for asking. 

Jenny, Ann, Will and Kate

 I'm almost done with the bottom section of the Jenny Bean Sampler from Scarlet Letter.  I got bored filling in the cloud, so I jumped up to the verse.  It's both over one and two.  My poor guy got his much needed face lift.  Aren't they a handsome pair?

I also pulled out the 1820 Ann Hicks Sampler.  I was gung ho about this sampler initially, but I quickly lost my enthusiasm.  The colors don't do much for me and there is a color change every couple of stitches.  I'm not a big fan of that either.  There's only two ways to stitch a design like that,  re-thread your needle constantly or keep multiple needles threaded.  What do you do?  I am going to finish her though because I just can't stand having unfinished samplers, and it would be a waste of a nice piece of linen.  Oh, another thing that really bugs me about this sampler is the color of the apples.  Pink?  Really?  I should have changed them for sure.  

  

Awhile back someone emailed me wanting to know where I got the wooden folk art birds.  I had no idea, but recently saw them at Cohasett Colonials.  They are exactly like mine. 

Like much of the world, I am excited about the upcoming wedding of Will and Kate.  Being a self proclaimed Anglophile, this is the icing on the cake, no pun intended, ha!  I clearly remember getting up very, very early thirty years ago to watch Prince Charles and Lady Diana wed.  I'll be doing the same thing on Friday, but I'll lose two more hours of sleep since I'm in a different time zone these days.  I would love to be one of those people lining the streets for a glimpse of the couple, but I'll settle for having my cup of tea and scones from the comfort of my sofa.  I need to look for an outrageously large hat to match my jammies.  I wouldn't want to be under dressed.  I have visited Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.  Here are a couple of pages from my scrapbook. 

Yes, that is me all bundled up with the red gloves.  It was freezing cold that day.  Last week, I was inspired to hang out in the craft room and collage this UK themed printer's tray.  You can see in here.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, the last time I showed stitching, I had started Sophia's Sampler. I didn't get far. As you can see from my new blog header, I stitched a "Scarlett" house which I plan to use for my designs logo. Of course, Scarlett is the top dog on the house, with Ruby and Henry Blue on the lower levels. Please be patient with my blog...I'm making changes , and things may be different every time you stop by until I get it right. When I'm not busy blowing up my blog and trying to get the designs that I've come up with finished, I've been enjoying Jenny Bean by the Scarlet Letter. The fabric is 40ct. vintage Black Forest from Lakeside. It sort of looks bluish in the photo, but it's closer to the chart color. The first couple of stitches were kind of weird, but eventually my eyes adjusted, and now I can see it with no problem. The poor guy is going to get a face lift. I forgot to add his cheek color and eyebrows and he looks like he borrowed hi wife's lipstick. He'll look better next time.

As if three dogs weren't enough trouble, these two ducks have adopted me. Meet Dave and Roseanne. This is the third year in a row that they have stopped by every day on a regular basis. I am a sucker for all wildlife, so naturally they get fed. The female will walk up the sidewalk almost to the front door, but Dave hangs back. We used to have real neighbors named Dave and Roseanne. They moved away, and then moved back to our community twice. So, I decided to name them in their honor since they keep returning. It makes no sense to you, I'm sure. They even brought family and friends with them on one of their first visits this year. I counted eighteen Mallards in the front yard. It was crazy.