Saturday Stitches

Great Grandma Johanne's Birth Sampler
Cross Stitch Nation : Feniscowles Hall

Anna's Prayer : Stars & Diamonds : Never Let You Go

New Mug Design!

You guys! I made up a new mug design! I'm super excited that Costco has expanded their mug line to include color options AND that they now have a 15 ounce size in addition to the 11 ounce mug they already carried.

I've just listed the digital file for Cross Stitch Nation in my etsy shop. As before, this is the IMAGE ONLY, so that you can go to the establishment of your choice to have mugs made.

I spent a few hours online trying desperately to find a good source so that I can stock these and have readily available as a finished mug, but there are just no good options for me. I am very willing to special order finished mugs to be sent directly to you, so don't hesitate to ask. I just don't have room to stock the huge order quantities that most of the wholesale companies require.

As before, with the other mug designs I've created, you can either purchase the graphic through my etsy shop for $5 and take it to your own place to have made into as many mugs as you want (for your personal use or for gifts only please), or you can order completed mugs by contacting me via email (beth@heartstringsamplery.com).

If you choose to order a finished mug directly through me, and you live in the continental USA, your total will be $20 for the 11 oz., or $24 for the 15 oz., which will cover the mug plus all shipping fees and tax. Color options for handle/interior are red, black, blue, or white. If you live outside the US, please contact me directly and I will work up a quote based on shipping to where you live.

These would be perfect for Birthday gifts, or a happy day surprise for someone, or for YOURSELF, to enjoy while you stitch.

*NEW* Cross Stitch Nation

During my recent trip to Nashville for the yearly cross-stitch Market, I went to a writer’s round to hear some local songwriters performing their original music. I was able to meet them before the show (it was a very un-crowded venue, and one of the writers was a childhood friend). Apparently, they found the reason I was in town to be intriguing, because there was an impromptu rendition of one of their songs mid-way through the evening, that included a reference to the Cross Stitch Nation. I knew immediately that I needed to use that phrase in a design.

Consider this our very own stitched anthem, to be displayed proudly above your stitching chair or on your sewing room door:  I belong to the Cross Stitch Nation.

I realize that although I created a few different body types and hair colors, I didn’t represent the demographics of our nation very well in that all of the people have pale skin. Please feel free to customize one or all of the skin/hair combinations to reflect you and your local stitching group, or online stitching bffs. I did it that way to keep the color palette simple, but would love to see what variations you bring to your version of this design.


Stitch Count: 200 x 83
Model stitched with one thread over two
on Silkweaver 32ct. Wexford “Midas’ Touch”

Weeks Dye Works:
Charlotte’s Pink, Fathom, Red Rocks

The Gentle Art:
Endive, Lambswool, Mountain Mist, Mustard Seed, Picnic Basket

Classic Colorworks:
Eggshell, Hazelnut, Muddy Puddle

Conversion to DMC included,
as well as an alphabet and number set for customization.

The frame was found at a thrift store.

This design is now available in my etsy shop, and will soon be in the hands of my distributors and the shops on my auto-ship list. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

Lately

Grape Hyacinths, Spring Break, Easter celebrations, frost on the Daffodils, brilliant sunshine, blossoming orchards, a new handbag (much deserved, after lugging the last one for nearly six years), antique shopping, stitching, and all the regular things that somehow don't ever get photographed.

Life is good.

In the Middle of March

Everything seems poised on the edge of bursting in the middle of March.

Buds swell on branch and vine.

The color saturation in grass blade and winter leaf
gets a boost each time the sun's rays peek through the almost certain canopy of clouds.

Water droplets cling to every available surface, magnifying the places where they rest.

There are baby chicks and muddy dogs and plenty of wet days for sitting inside and stitching.

But soon the days will warm and the sun will shine more often than not, and this girl will have a lot of yard work to catch up on. I wish the middle March days of promise would linger just a little bit longer.