Missing Page

It has come to my attention that some of you are missing page 6 in your His Eye is on the Sparrow chart. I know of 38 so far, and suspect that a batch of 100 of them were printed wrong. That leaves 62 more unaccounted for.

If you could, please check your chart to see if you're missing a page (there should be 12), and contact me via email if you are. I have a pdf that I can email to you. If you are missing that page, and purchased your chart from a shop, would you please make sure they know of the problem so that you can help me hunt down all 100? Thank you ever so much, and I'm so sorry for the hassle!

Free Downloadable Alphabet for His Eye is on the Sparrow

Hi everyone. Wow... you've really taken me by surprise with all of your orders for His Eye is on the Sparrow! I figured there would be a lot of you that would admire it, but to actually buy the pattern, with the intention of tackling such a large project? Or maybe you don't intend to stitch it, you just want to have it in your collection? Either way, thank you so very much for all of your support and enthusiasm. I'm getting a little tired of folding patterns with 12 inserts though, so any time you want to give me a break...

Just kidding... Keep those orders coming. Every single one blesses my heart.

I finally have an alphabet available so that you can customize it with your own initials and the year you complete the pattern. It will continue to be available by clicking the link in my sidebar under "2014 Pattern Releases", or you can contact me via email to ask for a pdf file sent to your email. The downloadable one will have some issues with the header font, so it won't be as pretty, but it will be quick and easy to get, and you won't have to wait on me to answer your email.

Click these words to be re-directed to the download.

I also have a DMC conversion ready now, and have sent it to all of you that asked. Any others that want to get their hands on it, contact me any time via email.

Finally, please note that the model was stitched with one thread over two, and the first few printings of the pattern do not have this information printed with the supplies. If you intend to stitch it using two threads, you will need to double the quantity of the colors that call for two skeins. The colors that call for one skein, some you will be able to get by with just the one, but others you will need to re-order. Unfortunately, since I only used one thread, I cannot give you an accurate quantity or statement of which colors you will need more of. 

Lately

Catnap :: Daisies :: Moon :: Red Plums :: Swordfern :: Growing Up Too Fast :: Girlie :: Hard Work :: Red Plum Sauce :: Yellow Butterfly Bush :: Heirloom Tomatoes :: Looking In :: Overgrown :: Feathers :: Picking Blueberries (photo by the 8 year old) :: Canning :: Watermelon and a Tutu

Kids Were Here

*NEW* His Eye is on the Sparrow

The day has almost arrived! This sampler will be officially released tomorrow by Norden Crafts at the TNNA show in St. Charles. You will be able to purchase it directly from me starting early tomorrow morning in my etsy shop (that is Saturday, August 16). But you can also put in an order with your local needlework shop. There seems to be a lot of buzz going around about this sampler, which has us country folk out here in the Twist house pretty happy. The Farmboy commented that he doesn't want to leave the house on Saturday so he can watch to see if very many orders come in. So nice to be supported by my life companion in this business venture.

This pattern will retail for $15. I had to raise my usual price because it is a doozy! Twelve pages to print the whole chart out in a large enough format for most of our eyes to easily read. As you can see, it is a Tree of Life with just about every creature under the sun. It is a mirror image, but the colors vary from side to side to add interest, and there are a few places that aren't truly mirrored. There are some places where my count got off in the model and things don't line up exactly as they are charted, but I'm not one to be bothered by it, so I left my errors in. If one of you manages to get it stitched absolutely perfectly, then you have my utmost respect and admiration for the rest of my life!

Anyway, enough chatting. You've waited long enough. Here is the official photo...

Stitch Count : 435 x 363
Model stitched on Picture This Plus 28ct. Doubloon using one thread over two.

Using thread from Weeks Dye Works: 1201 Putty, 1229 Chickpea, 1230 Havana, 1236 Mocha, 2197 Oscar (2 skeins)

And threads from The Gentle Art: 0350 Mulberry, 0410 Tarnished Gold, 0420 Gold Leaf, 0460 Grecian Gold, 0511 Country Redwood (2 skeins), 0590 Terra Cotta, 1190 Fisherman’s Wharf, 7004 Brethren Blue, 7007 Cidermill Brown, 7019 Pomegranate, 7039 Bayberry, 7040 Lexington Green, 7048 Old Hickory, 7061 Caramel Corn, 7078 Toffee, 7079 Heirloom Gold, 7080 Endive, 7082 Piney Woods, 7097 Pecan Pie

The frame was thrifted, then refinished by me.

I have not done so yet, but have already been asked for a DMC conversion. If you are interested in getting your hands on the conversion, feel free to send me an email. Also, I did not include an alphabet and number set with this pattern, because it was already so many pages long. I do, however intend to make an alphabet available for free download. Or you could use one that you already have on hand.

And finally, since you're still with me, I have a challenge for you. The first person to finish this monster sampler and send me a photo (preferably framed as well), I will give you your pick of any three of my patterns as a prize. The second person will get two patterns of his/her choice, and the third person will get one pattern. Think you're up for the challenge?

Coming Soon...

You will get to see the official photo of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" on Friday. I know... I've been stringing you along for so long now, but a few more days won't hurt, right? Until then...

The pertinent details, should you be so inclined:

Stitch Count : 435 x 363
Model stitched on Picture This Plus 28ct. Doubloon

Using thread from Weeks Dye Works: 1201 Putty, 1229 Chickpea, 1230 Havana, 1236 Mocha, 2197 Oscar (2 skeins)

And threads from The Gentle Art: 0350 Mulberry, 0410 Tarnished Gold, 0420 Gold Leaf, 0460 Grecian Gold, 0511 Country Redwood (2 skeins), 0590 Terra Cotta, 1190 Fisherman’s Wharf, 7004 Brethren Blue, 7007 Cidermill Brown, 7019 Pomegranate, 7039 Bayberry, 7040 Lexington Green, 7048 Old Hickory, 7061 Caramel Corn, 7078 Toffee, 7079 Heirloom Gold, 7080 Endive, 7082 Piney Woods, 7097 Pecan Pie

The Gentle Art will have a thread pack available at market this weekend, and Picture This Plus has been notified of the size needed and will be working on making sure they have it available (they are unable to be at market, so you will have to get it on order through your shop or by yourself). I can put your name down for a pre-order  of the pattern if you just can't wait (send me an email), but otherwise know that there will be plenty available in my etsy shop come Saturday morning bright and early (West Coast time).

Late July

I know these are rather late, but my month of July went by in such a flash of memories that it was all I could do to just hold on as tightly as possible. I don't want to think about the imminent end of our Summer break. These days at home with my kids are absolute perfection to me. We don't go out much, or do many exciting things. Its just the pace of life without interruption from outside demands that I adore. Time to slow down and enjoy each other in this life we share.

A few days after our camping trip, I was struck with a harsh case of food poisoning that knocked me out for a few days. The pace of my recovery was so much slower than it should have been, and then I realized that the symptoms I was feeling were all-too familiar. My body is apparently still compromised, and I am once again feeling the effects of the adrenal fatigue that I've battled for nearly two years now. It has been seven months of full strength leading up to this relapse, and the symptoms aren't nearly as debilitating as they have been before, so I'm thankful. I'm reminded once again that I'm not invincible, and am slowing the pace down as much as I can, taking my reserved supplements to help boost me back to normal again. I can't even begin to tell you what a comfort is is to know now what is wrong with me, and what steps I can take to get my system balanced. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but if I had to choose this over all of the other maladies and diseases I could contract, I'll take what I know, thank you very much.

Here's to a few more weeks of sleepy Summer days with a legitimate excuse to take it slow...

Windflower (Anemone) :: First Tomatoes :: Rain on the Sunroof :: Honey Bee on Gooseneck :: Playing Games :: Mountain Ash :: Popcorn :: Waiting for Patterns :: Wildflowers :: Buttermilk Zucchini and Blueberry Pancakes :: Make a Wish :: Through the Screen :: Black Eyed Susan :: At Day's End :: Still in Velvet :: Blueberries :: Sunset Reflection :: Bean Vines