His Eye is on the Sparrow *Chart Error*

*UPDATED 9/29/14* There is another place where I goofed. The two hyena/jackal-like creatures to the right and left of the basket of fruit are both charted incorrectly. They should both use Tarnished Gold and Pecan Pie, the left being using the lighter for the body and darker for the fur, the right one being just the opposite.

Hi everyone... it was just brought to my attention this morning that the large sheep in the very bottom left corner is charted with Old Hickory, when in fact it should be Cidermill Brown. Make a note on your chart now, if you want your sampler to have the same variation as the original!

Kids Were Here

*NEW* I See Trees of Green

Long a favorite Christmas song of mine, this sampler is inspired by the lyrics of “What a Wonderful World”.

Stitch Count: 150 x 107
Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works’ 40ct. Straw

Using flosses from The Gentle Art:
0350 Mulberry, 7041 Apple Cider, 7061 Caramel Corn, 7082 Piney Woods, 7097 Pecan Pie

Frame by Valley House Primitives.

I have the fingers of Kevin Tober to thank for getting this project stitched. He not only did a fabulous job in record time, but he also caught a few errors caused by my hurry to get it in the mail to him. Next time you see him out there in this wonderful world, give him a high five or hug or however you express thanks, on my behalf.

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

And be sure to check out my other new design, It Must Have Been the Mistletoe, which was released simultaneously.

*NEW* It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

I wanted to add another band sampler to my monochrome pair “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and “My Funny Valentine”. I decided that the next color should be dark green, and what better season for green, than Christmas? Then to find a song that fit… and the song “It Must Have Been the Mistletoe” came to mind. Although its far from my favorite holiday song, I do like the lyrics very much, and have always loved the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.

Stitch Count: 125 x 233
Model stitched on Picture This Plus 36ct. Mello

Using 1 thread over 2 of The Gentle Art’s 7082 Piney Woods (3 skeins needed)

The frame was found at a local thrift store.

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

And be sure to check out my other new design, I See Trees of Green, which was released simultaneously.

Lately

Okay, so maybe I wasn't fully recovered yet... or the busy-ness of the start of the school year and finding a new groove have worn me down... I just can't seem to fit it all in how I want, and I feel it in my body. Nothing hugely bad or overwhelming or unable to be worked through, but it does seem to affect my inspiration and desire to take photos and write about life. It doesn't help that everything is dry and brown and there has been smoke filling the air for days and days from a forest fire just 20 miles away.

I have managed to finish up a Christmas sampler and will be releasing it, along with another, on Wednesday. Can you wait? Not one, but TWO holiday projects for you to choose from!

I can't tell you just how overwhelming and encouraging your support of my little business has been these past months. I've had to ramp up production quite a bit, since Sweet Land of Liberty struck a chord in the needlework world, followed by your amazing reception of His Eye is on the Sparrow. You all are amazing! Thank you! I won't blame you one single bit if you are too stocked up to pay much attention to my Christmas designs. Really. I don't expect anyone to keep up with me. If I was stitching for a hobby, I wouldn't get nearly so many projects done. I love it that I get the excuse of work to let me stitch every day. I think I would feel guilty if I stitched this much just for fun.

Now for some photos, catching you up on the first three weeks of September...

Sunflower Glory :: Family Effort :: Summer Rain :: Forest View :: Bird Hunter on the Bird Feeder :: Coming Soon :: Whiffle Ball :: Changing Colors :: Two-Bass Sunday :: Ashes that Traveled 20 Miles :: Smokey Sky :: The Sun Through Smoke :: On a Road Trip :: Homegrown :: Firepit Smoke :: Dappled :: Zoom :: The Best Lunch :: Just Two Girls Hangin' :: Glow :: Stitching Spot

Lately

Oh my... it has been so very long since I have stopped in to say hi to you all. It has been a whirlwind of activity around here for the past month. Concerts in the park, the first day of school, harvesting of fruits and veggies, stockpiling firewood, sittin' on the back deck enjoying the cool late Summer evenings, and folding hundreds and hundreds of copies of His Eye is on the Sparrow (Wow!).

I've recovered from my adrenal relapse. It took most of the month of August, but I'm finally back to full fettle. My kids started their third week of school yesterday, and we are getting settled into the new routine. I'll be volunteering at the school two full days a week this year, and will reserve the other three days for errands and housework.

Oh, and that little designing job I have going on the side too...

The three days a week I have all by my lonesome feel strange. I haven't had this much me time in almost 9 years. I miss my kids dearly while they are gone, but I can certainly get a lot accomplished when interruptions are minimized.

All of the following photos were taken in the latter half of August. I still haven't even uploaded those from this month. All in good time...

Blueberry Vodka :: Primping Goldfinch :: Concert in the Park :: White Wings :: Twining Beans :: Bee Balm :: Taters :: Looking for Strawberries :: They Come Running Every Time :: Dove :: Fresh :: Morning Mist :: Green Beans :: Cuddly :: Black-Eyed Susans :: Pattern Production :: Float :: Tall :: Cousin Birthday Party :: Spirea :: Pearly Everlasting :: Back to School (First and Third Grades!) :: Blackberries :: A New Toy :: Best Friends Forever