Happy Birthday Matthew!

Wishing you the best today

 Matthew

on your 30th Birthday! 

30 years, how did this happen so fast?!!

 

Enjoy your day!

Love,

Mom & Dad 

 

 

{Photos were taken during Matthew's visit home last summer.  He and a couple high school friends participated in their first half-triathlon.  The above photo was taken by me.  All my photos from this day are a bit fuzzy...mother's nerves, you know!    The above photo makes me laugh... at the time I was taking this photo, I didn't even realize that his dad was on the other side of the path taking a photo too!  A two fingers up gesture to his Dad, must mean it's a piece of cake, right?

 

Have a good week everyone, tis a cold, windy and snowy day here,

Brenda

Framed!

Framed & all done!

The lovely frame for "The Bee Keeper's Sampler" arrived yesterday.   I snuck home, earlier then normal, to get the piece pinned, finished, framed and photographed while the natural lighting was good for picture taking.  Was feeling really good about meeting the March 15th date, that I anticipated the patterns would be ready.

After the pattern cover layout was completed, and I was about ready to start printing, I screamed "oh nuts!"...I actually might have said more then "oh nuts!", but where is the N?  No N?  We can't have a sampler with no N!!!  We can have J's missing, and the U or V (whichever it is...can't remember which it is), but not the N!  How would I explain this!  So, after a sleepless night, I awoke early and started frogging...the sampler now has a N and printing of the charts will begin today.   Everyone that has the pattern pre-ordered, it will ship Monday.  If you ordered just linen and the chart, they will both ship together on Monday, as well...we've had your linen set aside and saved for you.

The frame I chose, is a beautifully hand-grained frame from Valley House Primitives.    The specifics of the frame are as follows:
Front opening measures 8 3/8" x 10 1/4".
Profile: MCN
Color: Tavern Gold  
Design: hairpin/corner fans. 
Take note, this opening size accommodates 40 count linen, working over 2 threads.  If you are interested in finishing you frame with this look, contact Janet at Valley House Primitives to purchase your frame.  Her contact is valleyhouseprim@aol.com    Their frames are meticulously handcrafted, and Janet is wonderful to work with.

Short post today, have lots and lots to do....will be a working weekend for me.    The dear husband and I are sneaking off to the beaches of Florida for a few days for a little R&R.  My sketch pad and stitching will travel with me...I just can't seem to ever leave them behind...vacation or no vacation!  {sigh}

Enjoy your weekend,
Brenda 

P.S.
The cute little wax bars are back in stock...we have a few matching needle keeps left too!  Check them out under the NEW ITEMS category.  New charts are arriving daily and the website continues to be updated with new goodies!

From X's to loops!

Conversion...

 

I've had some requests for the "Three Tulips" cross stitch chart

 to be offered in punch needle. 

For those inquiring minds, I'm working on it!

I was worried about those little bluebirds getting too small for punch needle....

 but,

 I think they'll be okay! 

 The little flitting bluebirds are only about a scant 1/2".

They'll look more defined,

of course,

when the background gets filled in. 

I'm done with the main design area

 and will move onto the letters & background area

 this evening.

 

What do you think? 

 Do you like light backgrounds or dark backgrounds? 

 It can't be too dark or the leaves won't show up,

 and yet,

 it can't be too light or we'll lose the bunny...

this is always a dilemma when selecting thread choices...

 

Happy Hump day...

it's all downhill from here,

Brenda

Announcement, please take note!

The time has come to make this announcement, as things have really started to get a little out of control... I'm asking for your help with this.

 

Once you place an online order it can no longer be added to, or combined with other previously placed orders.    If you want all items shipped together, then PLEASE order them all on the same transaction.   

 

These situations cause re-work, re-entering of data, waste of paper, thumbing through stacks of orders & PayPal transacations to locate the various mulitiple orders, and issuing the shipping refunds.  This all takes valuable time that could be spent filling/shipping other customers orders.   These situations causes confusion and shipping delays.  It's one step forward, two steps back....none of us like these kind of days.

I'm asking that you take your time & shop carefully, making sure you aren't forgetting anything!!   Thanks a bunch and I appreciate your help with this.

 

That all... I'll fly away now, on my broom ;)

 

Have a good evening,

Brenda

New Patterns!

Greetings,

 stitching friends

 &

 folk!

After several months of planning, designing & stitching,

I'm happy to show you all

 whats been keeping me busy ~

 

"The Candlestick Maker"

A sweet simple little sampler featuring the candlestick maker and his wife.  Each are holding tiny candle sticks.   With a close & careful look, you will find tiny candles burning in a few of the house windows.  Sampler is worked in muted, colonial times, floss colors of mustards, brick reds, tin blues and smokey blacks.    Design is worked on 40 count linen over 2 threads.

 

Below is the companion piece

 to the Candlestick Maker Sampler...

"The Bee Keeper's Sampler"

This design didn't quite" make the bus" to market, but will be released around mid- March.  I have it just digitally framed above.     I will be finishing this sampler in a beautiful hand-grained frame from Valley House Primitives.  This sampler too, is worked in wonderful muted shades of mustard golds, faded rusty reds, and tinflashing grey-blues.  We will be taking pre-orders for this design, with a mid-March ship date.    There will also be two NEW Floss Keeps featuring these two companion samplers!

  Sampler beautifully stitched by model stitcher, April Taylor.

 

 X X X X X X

 

"Three Tulips"

Alphabet, rabbit, urn and three tulips...simple, yet a stunning "Spring-time" sampler.   I'm thinking this tulip-filled urn may have had more then three tulips at one time....what say you?   I chose an antique picture frame for the finish on this sampler.    Design is worked on 40 count linen over 2 threads.  

 Sampler beautifully stitched by model stitcher, Suzanne Garber.

 

 X X X X X X X

 

"Basketful of Spring Time"

A unique and quick-stitch pillow for your spring-time decorating.   I like the "neutralness" & "simpleness" of this piece.    Springtime motifs are worked on a piece of linen that gets turned into a flower basket and then hand-appliqued onto pillow top.  The pillowcase is also cross stitch linen.  Use of vintage silk ribbon bow and antique button flowers, adds extra charm and simple detail to this pillow.  I'm hoping to design other seasonal basket pillows....keep a watchful eye out for future designs for Summer, Winter & Fall.

 

X X X X X X X X

 

"Crumpets & Tea"

A pillow featuring my version of a poem written by Jessica Nelson North.  Jessica was born in Madison WI, in 1891, she was a children's literature writer.    Her original version of this little saying was published in 1912.  It's a verse that I find fitting for myself.

  I love to start a early summer morning off outdoors,

 enjoying the gardens & the songs of birds,

 while sipping my morning cup

and

 enjoying a sweet.

 

"A garden tea party of three...

twas me, myself & I...

I ate all the berries & cream,

myself ate all the crumpets,

twas also I

who ate the pie,

and passed the tea to me."

Design is worked on 40 count linen over two threads.  I chose to finish it into a pillow trimmed in ruched vintage seam tape.  The pillow will sit in a chippy painted antique child's chair

 in my kitchen

 and it will remind me

 of those quiet summer morning hours

that I so enjoy. 

Sampler beautifully stitched by model stitcher, Susanna Baker.

 

 

X X X X X X X

 

 

"Tending the Tulips"

A cheery spring-time ditty pocket,

 featuring Mrs. Cottontail... the tender of the tulips. 

Pocket has hand dyed wool penny tongues with antique buttons for added texture and detail.  I chose to fill the pocket with viburnum berries that wintered on the bush.  It was so nice of the robins to leave me a few!  Pussy willows would be equally charming tucked into the pocket.

 

Watch for these new releases to be arriving in your LNS shortly.  These designs have been added to our website, plus a few other new goodies!  Linens, floss paks and supplies for these items also available.

 

Enjoy your weekend,

Brenda

Floss Organization System?

The question has been asked.

You've all read it or been asked it...

How do you organize your floss?

 

Under that 12 pounds of fur

 is organization,

 really...

Kitty loves my system!

 

Signed Brenda,

who wonders why there is " kitty fluff" on her floss...

 

 

P.S.

a few days ago I was visiting Paulette Stewart's blog

and she shared this cute video for all the cat lovers...

 In case you missed it,

here it is

Helping hand?

My helper...

 

 

Typical. cat.

Decides to take a nap in the midst of my what I'm working on.

{sigh}

I'm working on & scheming a finish...

A pillow?

Maybe.

Can't decide...

 

 

He's been asked by his human dad if he is supposed to be laying there. 

He just gives him the "sleepy kitty face" look...

 

and

quickly falls back into a slumber,

 

Sweet kitty dreams.

Dreaming of a new "kitty duvet" finish!

 

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Hanky hem?

I've been practicing! 

 Practicing on, what I call, the "hanky stitch".

  Remember Grandma's hankies?

 The ones that had that little delicate hem with holes in it?

  Often times,

 crochet edging was then attached to the hem along this open and airy hemline.

 

  So delicate...

 

I've been practicing on a little bit wider hem.

 I think I'm ready to move onto a narrower hem,

 and then maybe even onto working a corner. 

 

I'm not going to be making hankies anytime soon,

but I love old samplers that have been finished this way.

   I've always wanted to finish a piece with this method,

so I'm practicing,

 and at the same time,

working on bravery.

 

 

Brave enough to make that cut

and pull those threads...

 

Here is one of my antiques that has this sort of finish to the edges.

  See those little delicate holes around the edge of the frame?

 This is one of my older samplers,

 Ann Lamploughs, 1793.

It is worked in vibrant colors of wool threads.

  I  intend to have it re-framed in a more age appropriate frame.

 

Until then,

I sit and admire it's "hanky hem"...

it's my inspiration!

 

Happy Valentines Day everyone,

Brenda



I'm here!

Pardon. my. absence.

It's been busy,

orders need filling,

stitching needs stitching,

 and

 I'm trying to dig out...

I do think I see daylight just ahead!

 

TNNA is quickly approaching and we all know what that means!

 

 In the evenings and early mornimg hours,

 I'm trying to get my ducks in a row for that. 

  I've been stitching,

 all three model stitchers have been stitching,

 and if everything gets done by the February 22nd deadline,

 there will be 5 NEW cross stitch charts releasing at the show.

 

 

Once finished work starts to trickle in from my model stitchers,

it is then time to decide on a finish for the piece...scary part!

  I always hate making that cut into the linen....so, so scary!

 

  Framing is always the easy route,

 but,

 I've been known to not always take the easy route...

 

To frame, or not to frame...

that is the question of the day.

I have an idea for a fun finish,

 but fun finishes sometimes don't

 turn out how we want them to...

{sigh}

 

 

Do you prefer a frame finish,

 or a fun, outside of the box, sort of finish???

 

  If you are like me,

 I am running out of wall space,

 and prefer to tuck finished pieces

 here and there,

 and move them around

 from place to place

as my heart desires.

 

decisions.decisions.decisions.

 

 X X X X X

 

To those who are attending TNNA,

 be sure to stop by Norden Crafts

 to be the first to view models

of the following 5 hopeful titles...

(that is if everything gets done)

 

~ The Candlestick Maker Sampler ~

~ The Bee Keeper Sampler ~

~  Crumpets & Tea ~

~  Three Tulips ~

~ Basketful of Springtime ~

 

Off to work I must go,

Brenda

If you need a laugh....

just please, pardon the ape...

A Snowy Sunday

The weather outside is telling me it needs to be a lovely, lazy and  "stitchy" sort of day.

 

 

The furry folk are wearing a dusting of snow...

 

 

and

 our

 feathered folk friends

are in sort of  a feeding frenzy today...

 

 

 The birds had pretty good manners this snowy morning...

they waited their turn

and

didn't seem to mind sharing,

for the most part...

 

all

 but

the big red boy...

 

 he's spent his morning chasing off other big red boys...

he is territorial

and this is

 HIS

 buffet! 

 

 As you can see,

our ground is pretty barren,

an unusual site for mid January...

so the morning's dusting was somewhat welcome.

 

Can you spot the fat bunny?

 

 This boy comes out at night

 to feed on dropped bird seed.

   He just minds his own business,

quietly eating in solitude under the moonlight. 

He then can be seen for a short while

 in the early morning hours

 and

 then he disappears for the rest of the day.     

Isn't he nicely camouflaged

with this morning's

 snowy surroundings?

 

 

He looks well fed,

doesn't he?

 This morning I caught him do a little pruning nibbling on my Viburnum bush. 

{sigh} 

I'm okay with a little pruning,

 just hoping he doesn't get too carried away!

 

I hope you all are enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon. 

 The dh treated me to a late morning breakfast

 of

 griddle cakes and oven-baked Apple smoked bacon.

  Pot roast and veggies for an early dinner is the plan...

 I'm set to stitch the day away.

 

Have a good week everyone,

Brenda

NEW Floss Keeps!

There are a couple NEW additions

 to the floss keep line!

  Of course,

we couldn't resist

 offering the

 new Valentine Sampler in a floss keep,

for your stitching pleasure...

 Isn't it sweet? 

Perfect little Valentines gift for that someone special!

And lastly,

ABC Sampler Floss Keep is the other new addition... 

The Floss Keep inventory

 has been replenished

 once again,

take a peek here to see them all.

 

Have a good evening,

Brenda

Coming Tomorrow!

Printing, collating & packaging has begun!

 

Now that the chocolates are gone,

it's time to tempt your needle

with the new

"Valentine Sampler" pattern...

 with it's 6 sweet, quick-stitch projects!

  Chart includes patterns

 for a

 needle/scissor roll,

 pinkeep,

 spool thread winders,

scissor fob,

 thimble box

 and a

 sewing box.

 

X X X X X

 

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Elizabeth Clark, 1822

My New Year's Day start,

meet

Elizabeth Clark, 1822.

 

This is an antique reproduction

 that is currently in my hoop,

and

 I'm having a hard time putting her down...

 

The original is from my personal collection

 and

 is heavily faded.

I love faded samplers.  

I'm always intrigued

 with how beautiful

 a faded sampler

 can still look...

 

 When Elizabeth Clark arrived,

she was glued to a piece of wood.

  Over time,

 the glue had hardened,

 and the sampler

 pulled away from the board

 with ease...shew!

  I turned it over,

 and to see the sampler

 in her un-faded state

 made me gasp...

she is beautiful!

 

Sharing snippets

 of some of my favorite motifs...

 

Look real hard,

and you'll find a sweet little man

in the corner.

 

 

a large grape vine

stitched in a somewhat quirky fashion...

&

a lovely brick house

{sigh}

 

X X X X X

 

And here's where

 I am,

stitching row upon row of

 tiny clay bricks...

 

 

 

The verse on the sampler reads,

"with humble heart and tongue

my god to thee I pray

o make me learn whilst I am young

how I may cleanse my way" 

 

The sampler originates from Everthorp, England

 and may have been

 Elizabeth's second piece she stitched. 

  From my readings,

 most girls often stitched two samplers. 

 The first being more simplistic,

with the alphabet and a few motifs.

  These samplers

often times

 did not get displayed in the homes. 

 

 Their second sampler

 was much more

 detailed and elaborate.

  It was this sampler that was often hung

 by the parents

 in the parlor to enjoy.

 This sampler

 was somewhat of  a status symbol...

  one must remember,

that this was the only formal education

 these young girls had,

 at about a cost of $2.00 a day.

 

 

A Sneak Peek...

at the upcoming

 new pattern release,

            "Valentine Sampler".    

 

Pictured is the "Thimble Box" project from the chart. 

The pattern will include patterns

 for

 6 sweet, love-themed cross stitch projects

 that just hint

Valentines

 and are suitable

 for keeping out year-round.

   All for the price of $12.00.

   One payment,

 6 patterns in one,

 and no club to join...

so everyone

can take in the fun

 of re-purposing their spent

 Valentines

candy boxes. 

  Are your chocolates gone yet?

 

My story....

After purchasing

 my two boxes of  Russell Stover's

 heart sampler chocolates,

I broke into the small heart box first...

just because it was so small,

 and so cute...

just 3 pieces of candy. 

 

  Inside was a milk chocolate caramel (love these),

 a coconut haystack (love those, too),

 and some other creme-filled candy

 that I'm not too fond of.   

 I opted for the coconut haystack first,

 saving the caramel

 for the next morning

 to have with  my morning coffee.....mmmmmm.  

That takes a lot of discipline,

 you know...

saving a piece of candy

 until the next day.

 

  Woke up,

 filled my coffee cup up,

 and off to find my little box of chocolates,

 specifically thee caramel...

no caramel.  

 Thee caramel is gone!

 So thoughtful of him

 to leave me the creme-filled candy... 

I think I might have said a naughty word... 

 The dh beat me to my caramel,

how dare him!  

  Now,

 dh usually stands for "dear husband",

 but,

 when he starts messing with my caramels,

 I'm thinking

 the d

in dh

could stand for something else........

you can be the judge!

 

Have a good weekend,

Brenda

 

A New Find!

I imagine there are a few of you,

 like myself,

 where your local Wal-Mart

 is your only source for craft supplies,

specifically craft paint.

  I've used their little bottles of craft paint

for years,

 and have problems

 with my paint drying out,

and

 locating just the right color.

    I don't feel like the craft paint companies

 have done their best

to kept up on color trends...JMHO.

 

   So,

 I wandered down the house paint isle,

 while perusing my local Wal-Mart,

 and

 found these...

Cute little paint tester jars in gobs of colors. 

 Even varying shades of within a color! 

My paint dilemma

 has been resolved!

And,

 you know what is my favorite part of these little 2 oz. jars?

Looky!  

A paint brush is even included! 

 No paint brushes to wash,

 how nifty is that?!!

Now,

 I know you aren't going to be able to paint much detail

 with this size of brush,

 but

 for large surface background painting,

the brush is ideal.

 

As you can see,

 I am readying my heart-shaped boxes

 for the upcoming

 "Valentine Sampler"

cross stitch chart. 

 After buying an ivory, red and brown paint,

 I've decided upon the Ground Nutmeg Brown (#WGN32) paint,

making the boxes look like a milk chocolate heart. 

If you would like to step outside of the box,

and paint your boxes a different color,

paint colors Cranberry Zing (#WGR32) or Whispering Wheat (#WGN30) also match the floss selections very nicely.

 

 

Wishing you all a fun-filled winter weekend,

Brenda

 

It's that time of year again!

 

Time to wander down the candy isle!

This year

 I'm even going to give you reason

to treat yourself

 to

two boxes

 of chocolates!

 

Hurry up,

 and

 sink your teeth into

 the chocolates,

cause we are going

 to be re-purposing

 the

heart-shaped boxes

 into

 cute little sewing/ditty boxes,

with

 cross stitched

embellishments!

 

This year you will need the 4.75 oz. Red Foil Heart

and

the teeny little 1.75 oz Photo Heart

 

Valentines candies

are now showing up

 in the candy aisles,

 check your local retailer!

 

  If not available for you locally,

you can purchase directly

 from

 Russel Stover. 

 

Click on red hyper-links above,

 to take you directly

 to the correct heart-shaped boxes. 

It is very important that you use the correct sized

hearts, to fit the cross stitched work.

 

For those of you who didn't partake

 in this annual

 Valentines event,

here is last years chart...

 

 

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

 

Mmmmmm.....

Momma's fresh-from-the-oven Spritz Christmas Cookies...

I'll take these over peas and carrots any day!

 

Little Avry gets her first taste of Christmas cookies and from the look of her face,

I think she gives them a thumbs up!

 

Hope your having a sweet cookie sort of day,

Brenda

 

 

 

 

 

Just waitin'....

Been up since 5 bells.

Couldn't sleep.

I'm giddy,

 because Frances is framed!

So pretty.

Been just waitin' for the sun to rise...

Waitin' for dawn to break

 into a nice partially sunny morning sky (hopefully),

and then it's outside for Frances and I.

Time for a little morning photo shoot session.

After 30 or 40 photos are shot,

then a little photo editing.

 I'll then drop the photo into the pattern cover template,

 that I've created

 especially

 for Frances Pool.

 

Then, 

I'll digitally send the photo to my big printer at work,

and let the printing begin! 

 

 What did I do before modern technology?

  When I started designing patterns 25 years ago,

 I was typing on an old fashioned typewriter,

 using white out,

 when the font of choice was Courier...

because it was the only font of choice!

 

 I really felt like I had something

 when I upgraded to a new typewriter

that had the built-in correction tape!

 

  And then,

 came along the digital camera,

best.invention.ever.

I use my Canon everyday. 

 

Lots of hard work and long days

 go into a chart from beginning to finished product.

 On the upside of doing all this "stuff" myself

 (photo shoot, graphics and printing product),

I can pick a framed sampler up one day,

 and by days end of the next,

 I have charts! 

 

 

"Thank You" to all who participated in our Cyber Monday shopping event.  So many loyal customers, we are glad to be your source of stitchin' goodies...thank you, thank you!

 

Have a good day everyone,

Brenda

Cyber Monday Savings at Country Stitches!

Pssst,

 tell Santa it's

Free Shipping Cyber Monday

at Country Stitches...

 

  Then,

   show him your wish list

filled with these NEW goodies

and

it doesn't hurt to remind him that

you've been awfully good

this year too...

 

FRANCES POOL, 1832

Chart for a lovely antique English sampler, reproduced just for you! Design is worked on 30 count linen over 1 and 2 threads, using hand dyed flosses throughout. Chart - $16.00  (*Note - please pardon the digitally framed Frances sampler, I am picking up the framed Frances from the framer today, will show you a photo of her when she is all pretty in her "real" frame!)

 

X X X X X

 

 

FRANCES POOL FLOSS KEEP

A lovely little stitching companion, featuring the Frances Pool sampler, to keep your flosses organized and at your finger tips! The FLOSS KEEP category on our website has been updated, view them all here.    Be sure to check out the other 2 new floss keeps,  Elizabeth Harrison & Sarah Taylor.  These make great Christmas gifts! Hurry, this will be our last shipment of these until after the holidays.

  How fun would it be to use a Frances Pool floss keep

 while stitching

 the Frances Pool sampler?!! 

  $25.50

 

X X X X X

 

SNOW SPARKLE

Pattern for a sweet little holiday collage. The canvas for the piece is the cover of an old book. The snow angel is a little bit of punch needle, a little bit of wool. Vintage paper scallops and angel wings adds extra detail to the piece. Vintage glass glitter snowflakes and halo adds just the right amount of sparkle. A tiny bottle brush tree finishes the piece off perfectly. Place finished piece on top of a stack of old books and you have a very interesting winter holiday vinette.  Pattern includes the weavers cloth and tracing template. Pattern - $12.00

 

X X X X X

 

And lastly, can't think of an idea?  Have a hard person to buy for?

Buy a Country Stitches gift certicate...

the color is always right,

 and it always fits!

  Give a  gift certificate,

 or put one on your wish list!

   Available in the $15.00, $25.00, $50.00 or $75.00 amounts.

 

  Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on Cyber Monday between the hours of 9:00 AM - 10.00PM central standard time.  Applies to in stock items only.   The free shipping offer applies to internet orders that ship within the United States, no phone in orders please.

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 7th - to ensure delivery in time for Christmas gift giving, orders must be placed by the 7th.

 

December 15th - January 6th, 2013- Country Stitches will be closed. No order taking or shipping will occur during this time frame.

Happy Cyber Monday shopping to you,

Brenda