Grand Old Flag CHART CORRECTION!

***Re-posting of my 5/23/16 chart correction, but UPDATED 5/27/16 to clarify some mis-understanding: please read, even if you already saw the original post***

There are no missing pages. There is no chart recall or chart re-issue.
 
The inner grid on the basket (where Parchment is charted) and the entire flag pole (where Old Hickory is charted) should both be stitched with Pecan Pie.

So sorry for the mistake!

Any charts purchased directly from me starting 5/23 will be completely correct, but the charts already sold to distributors, shops, and direct sales will have the error.

When I first started designing Grand Old Flag, it had another portion to it that also included Pecan Pie and I had decided to incorporate it into the basket and bouquet while I was stitching it, but forgot to alter the chart. Later, when I simplified the pattern and removed the other portion to avoid having a drum that was entirely too big, I completely missed that I hadn't put in all of the correct colors.

I do think that it will still look great if stitched the way the first batch of charts came out, but if you want it to look just like the model, you will need to make the simple change listed above.

Oh, and FYI... the portion that I removed will be released next month as the first installment in a brand new alphabet series. It is called, "O is for Old Glory".

2015-16 School Photos

Our new school is a web-based charter and therefore a large percentage of its students don't go to campus for classes like we do. Classes on campus are optional and are mostly electives. We only live eight miles away, so we're there every time the doors are open (two days a week).

One down-side that I didn't realize until too late was the fact that they don't bother to bring in an official photographer for school pictures, since most of their students are off site.

Which made me really sad, since I've always wanted to fill in one of those frames that holds all of the school year pictures over the course of a kids' education. You know the ones, right?

So what did I do? I bought some lights and a backdrop and did it myself! I wish I had done it sooner so it showed what they looked like at the beginning of the school year, but at least it's done, and now I have the means to keep doing it in future years.

And if I do say so myself, they turned out pretty darn good.

Perhaps

"Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created."

-Esther 4:14

Snapchat

I've heard about it for a long time, but never had motivation to give it a try.

Until my trip to Nashville and hanging out with Paulette Stewart and two of her lovely girls. We face-swapped and I laughed until I cried.

The Farmboy thinks it is the most ridiculous thing pretty much ever, and his son isn't too far removed from sharing this sentiment, but the girlie and I can't seem to stop playing with it and laughing our silly heads off.

If your life is too serious or stressful, and if you have a smart phone, you really need to get this app so you can make silly faces and laugh at yourself.

Thought you might like to see some of our favorites. Or not. Whatever. I'm going to post them anyway (grin).

Feel

"People will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel."

-Maya Angelou

*NEW* Grand Old Flag Pin Drum

Drum roll please...

(tee hee, couldn't resist)

Introducing... my very first pin drum! I've never constructed one before, so it was a relief that it turned out on the first try... whew.

“You’re a Grand Old Flag”, is a patriotic march, written by George M. Cohan for his 1906 musical, "George Washington, Jr." The lyric came from an encounter Cohan had with a Civil War veteran who fought at Gettysburg. The two men found themselves next to each other and Cohan noticed the vet held a carefully folded but ragged old flag. The man reportedly turned to him and said, “She’s a grand old rag”. Many individuals and groups objected to his original version calling the flag a “rag”, so the lyrics were changed.

The song was first publicly performed February 6, 1906, and quickly became the first song from a musical to sell over a million copies of sheet music. A portion of the words go like this...

There’s a feeling comes a-stealing,
And it sets my brain a-reeling,
When I’m list’ning to the music of a military band.
Any tune like “Yankee Doodle”
Simply sets me off my noodle,
It’s that patriotic something that no one can understand.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high-flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘Neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.


Finish it simply, with a solid back and stitched front, stitch the bouquet twice so that your drum looks the same from either side, or follow my pdf tutorial to finish it patchwork-style (tutorial can be found by clicking on the "tutorials" tab at the top of my blog).

The chart includes a full alphabet and number set for customization.

Stitch Count: 62 x 71

Model stitched with one thread over two on Picture This Plus 32ct. Ale
Total size needed: 12 x 8

Using The Gentle Art threads: Brethren Blue, Parchment, Old Hickory, Endive, Piney Woods, Ruby Slipper

Conversion to DMC included.

Materials needed to finish Pin Drum:
2 feet “Vintage” Rick Rack from Lady Dot Creates.
Two 5x5 pieces of quilting cotton, your choice.
One 4x4 piece of fabric to patch bottom.
Optional 5x3 piece of fabric to create scissor pocket.
Crushed walnut shells or other filler of choice.


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

Here's what the backside will look like if you choose to follow my tutorial:

And stay tuned! I have another small patriotic design that I had hoped to release at the same time, but will have to wait until the frame arrives, hopefully very soon!

Mother's Day

This one. The boy that was the first person to ever call me Mama. The ten year old that is already over five feet tall and can knock me over with his exuberant hugs. The kid that still holds my hand in public. He has my whole heart. I truly wish you could all know him. He is the sweetest, kindest boy you will ever meet.

And oh, this girl. The daughter I was scared to have, but that completed my heart in a way I never imagined. The eight year old that still curls up in my lap every time she gets a chance. This happy living bubble of joy. She has my whole heart. I truly wish you could all know her. She is the most delightful, kind-hearted girl you will ever meet.

And can I just say that those crinkles around my eyes must be because these kids make me smile so much. I'm certainly not old enough to be showing this much age, am I? That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.

For Mother's Day this year, we did something we've never done before... a family art project. I've had some stepping stone kits in my shopping cart on amazon for well over a year, and finally pulled the trigger, telling my family that they didn't have a choice. This is what I wanted to do for Mother's Day. Farmboy even gave me a bit of an eye roll.

But afterward? He's a total convert, loved every second, and can I just say that he's got quite the artist hiding out in that handsome head of his?

Kits were purchased from amazon.com, made by two different companies; we used this one, this one, and this one. Even though one of the kits was missing its bag of glass pieces, we still had enough for four stones with a lot left over. The molds are re-usable, and I can't wait to make more!