*NEW* Instead of Sheep

I’ve never been good at sleeping. As far back as my memory goes, I have been wakened easily, and have had bouts of sleeplessness bordering on insomnia. Thankfully, I am able to get the rest I need most nights, and I’m fully aware that many out there have it much worse than me.

Those nights when sleep seems unattainable used to be so hard I would be in tears. But eventually I learned that I would fall back to sleep more quickly or at least lay in bed more peacefully if my mind was full of pleasant thoughts. I learned to say prayers of thankfulness for the blessings in my life, and now do my most focused praying for others in the wee hours of the morning while they sleep.

“Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1954 for the movie “White Christmas”, in which it was performed by Rosemary Clooney and everyone’s favorite crooner, Bing Crosby.

As I designed this little sampler around some of the words from this song, I tried to think of fun little things to represent the blessings in life… flowers, a chicken, a basket of fruit, a house, a pretty dress, scissors for sewing projects, a kitty, a teapot, a really tall cake (chocolate inside!).

Stitch Count: 130 x 121
Model stitched with one thread over two on Picture This Plus 28ct. Wren

Using threads from Classic Colorworks: Blue Corn, Barn Door, Country Lane, English Ivy, Hazelnut, Honeycomb, Muddy Puddle, Polliwog, Peanut Brittle, Tennessee Red Clay

The frame was found at a thrift store, then refinished by me.

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

Lately

I'm almost finished with a new little design that I think you're going to like a lot. It has been super fun to stitch up. I'm hoping to get it finished and the chart ready to release next week. Maybe even as early as Monday. We'll see...

Spring is busting out all over the place; we're probably nearing peak bloom of the Cherry trees, the plum trees being the earliest and finished already. I think the double-blossom flowering cherries are my all time favorite, they are so poofy and eager to show off. Crabapple blooms are probably my next favorite, if you care to know.

Crabapple :: My Neighborhood :: First Grade Art :: Under the Piano Lid :: Sunset Perch :: Old Kitty (antique sampler from my Sister's collection) :: Flowering Cherry :: Perfect Arrangement (again from my Sister's house) :: Easter Blooms :: Risen Indeed :: Weathered :: Fritillaria :: Snooze :: Lilac :: Kerria Japonica :: Through the Sunroof :: Coming Soon :: Moss and Petals :: Over the Fence :: Bubble Girl :: Scattered

Kids Were Here

Marching On

And just like that, March ended. So fast, so soon. I'm barely keeping up with the days, barely keeping on top of the things that need to be done. School, housekeeping, grocery shopping, laundry, designing, homework, music lessons, stitching (the fun part!)... you know how it goes. I am counting down the days until Summer break. I imagine the days being lazy and relaxed. We'll see how that one pans out.

In the meantime, here are the last images from our March...

:: Hail ::

:: Last Light ::

:: Never Too Old for Pooh Bear ::

:: Lavender-y ::

:: Cooper's Hawk ::

:: Coming Soon ::

:: The Lady Hummers Have Returned ::

:: Inside, Outside ::

:: Seed Ordering is Fun ::

:: Dance Party in Heaven ::

:: The Best Way to Re-Use ::

:: This is Spring ::

:: Rain Dance ::

:: They Were All on His Bathroom Vanity ::

:: Tiny Bubbles ::

:: Sometimes in the Morning ::

:: Drip ::

:: This is Oregon ::

:: Somebody Has Been Snacking ::

:: Double Catnap ::

:: Grandma Cuddles are the Best ::

:: Through the Iris ::

:: Robin Hunting Grounds ::

:: I Like Red Umbrellas ::

:: Well Worn ::

:: A Perfect Sky ::

:: That's Not a Clothespin ::

:: Flowering Currant ::