Finally My Turn

I have spent years gazing longingly at antique samplers online and in antique shops, wishing with all my heart that I could have one for my very own... watching online auctions in the desperate hope that no one else will find the treasure that I have spotted, and always losing out by a long shot when actually finding the nerve to place a bid. It seems that my meager allowance was just too small for the buying of such rare treasures.

Well, I am happy to tell you, that a few weeks ago, I stumbled across a treasure trove on ebay that apparently wasn't so desirable to most bidders. For less than $180, including shipping, I won not one, but... THREE ANTIQUE SAMPLERS! They all appear to be undated, and only one is signed, but I don't really care... they are mine, all mine!

The roughest of the three, in very tattered condition:

Quite possibly my favorite, and certainly the most mysterious:

And last but certainly not least, a sampler by Beatrice Godfrey:

I hope that I can find out some genealogical information on Beatrice. The three samplers came from the same estate, near Philadelphia, so it is possible that they are all by members of the same family, but I doubt my novice research abilities will be able to confirm such a thought, since two are unsigned.

Celebrate with me! I am just delighted with my new treasures.

Etsy shop has been updated... the Christmas booklet is now available for purchase.

Missing All the Fun

For those of you, who like me, are missing all the fun of the big market show in St. Charles this weekend, here is a full photo of my new Christmas designs, being released by Norden Crafts today (click on the photo for a closer view)...

I can begin mailing patterns out on Monday, and will also create a listing in my etsy shop then. For now, if you are interested, you may place your order directly through me by simply sending an email (beth@heartstringsamplery.com).

For $15 you will receive charts for the three designs and finishing instructions for completing the little wall hanging.

Autumnal

Sunflowers are in bloom...

Firewood has been stacked...

Grapes are ripening...

Blackberries have been eaten (with ice cream, of course)...


Wooly caterpillars are out in force...

The leaves are beginning to change their colors...

And yet the warm Summer sun is still shining, and I don't feel Autumnal at all... Oh, how ready I am for some sweater weather! Cider, pumpkin pie, SOUP season, hurry up already!

Fashionista

Katie, now 20 months old, is becoming a bit opinionated about her apparel. Today we will see her modeling some of her favorite Fall ensembles...

1. The (broken)Tiara Pajama, perfect for wearing to a slumber party or while raiding the pantry for Goldfish crackers (if I don't close the door, she gets out a tupperware tub and helps herself!):

2. The After-Bath Boot & Nappie, just right for a romp around the living room with your favorite homemade Sock Creature:

3. The Ready-For-Anything, Smart-Girls-Wear-Hardhats ensemble... heading out for a day of adventure? Don't leave home without your sippy cup!

4. The As-Found Fascinator, applied slowly, with care, often taking an entire day to collect the miscellaneous "pretties" lost about the house, but each and every one simply MUST be added to the hair just as soon as it is discovered:

5. The Butterfly Princess McQueen- Faster than Fast! Quicker than Quick! Ka-Chow!

Is it Just Me...

or did anyone else grow FREAKISHLY HUGE green beans in their garden this year?

The little beans in the upper right are regular old 6" Blue Lake Pole Beans... the others? Blue Lakes on steroids? Or did I get a few random mutant bean seeds in my Spring packet?

Do You Want a Sneak Peek?

Since the charts and models have already been shipped off for their official unveiling at the St. Charles Market at the end of the month, I will give you a tiny little teaser. Charts won't be available for purchase through me until September 28.

The booklet will sell for $15, and includes 3 designs, all containing a portion of the first verse from "Joy to the World". Hence, the name, "Joy to the World (3 Little Christmas Samplers)".

Joy to the World:

Let Every Heart:

Heav'n and Nature Sing:


And while I'm at it, here are some glimpses of a design to be released in October...

Resistance is Futile

Forever more, I will lovingly refer to these as my "the BORG shoes". I should have known when I entered the clearance section of the Delta Quadrant (aka Fred Meyer) that I would not be coming home empty handed.


And never, ever, EVER try these cookies unless you want to become an addict.

Consider yourself warned.

For Now...

I am a busy little bee today, assembling charts, cleaning, and catching up on 2 weeks worth of laundry (I know, I know... but we were having too much fun on Matt's staycation).

I have photos and updates for you, but for today, you will have to settle for three of my favorite images from the past week:

To Market, to Market...

I have just sent off three of my sampler models to be displayed in Norden Crafts' booth at the 2009 Needlecraft Market in St. Charles.

I would love to be there myself, representing my designs. But, I am nowhere near being ready to leave my babies for such a long time! Maybe in a few years. For now, if you are in attendance at the show, stop in and say hello to the folks from Norden Crafts for me. And if you happen to have your camera, would you pretty please snap a photo of my models for me? This is my first ever time being represented at a national market, and I am pretty darn excited about it.

Rachael Holmes, With One Accord, and On the Oregon Trail are travelling across the country in my stead.

Oh, and did I mention that my 2009 Christmas booklet, titled "Joy to the World" will be released at the show? The three Christmas models will be there, souls bared for the (needlework) world to see and judge, desperately hoping that they will be loved!

Bounty

As I type this, I am waiting for green bean canner #1 to cool down so that I can go out and pick raspberries for a batch of jam.

But what I REALLY hopped on here to tell you about today is...

quite possibly the earliest harvest of CORN! that we have had to date...

everyone in our household is very happy to indulge!

Mmmmmmm... yummy!

Happy 10th Anniversary, my Love.

I am so glad to be sharing my life with you.

And I would do it all over again.

Ah, September

Mary and I both love September.

She practically begged me to take her outside last afternoon,

for she wanted to rest a moment by the garden gate,

in the friendly company of Dill, Sunflower, and Squash.

Alien Invasion (of the Harmless Variety... I think)

Yesterday afternoon I had one of those scary realizations... its QUIET in the house... WHERE ARE THE KIDS???

Oh, whew... there they are, and how cute... the Boy is drawing alienTs again.

(getting in trouble for taking pictures of the UNFINISHED artwork, I pause.)

Okay, now he's ready... there is a baby alienT now, and the first has gained a "block" body, and, inexplicably, they all have tattoos of the letter "T" on their faces?

The Littlest, finally scrounging up her mini-doodlepad, joins Big Brother in his creative space.

Her alienT looks more like a Blackberry Thicket.

And round 2 of the Alien Invasion, complete with letter "H" tattoos. But of course!

How on earth am I supposed to get ANYTHING done with these two clowns taking up residence?

I mean REALLY! Look at those faces.

See the Mischief oozing from their pores?

I'm done for.