Now Available

You've seen the photos already, but now the official announcement... my two new designs are listed in my etsy shop and also available directly through me (beth@heartstringsamplery.com). They are both on display at the TNNA show in Nashville this weekend, so if you are attending (jealous!), be sure to drop by the Norden Crafts room for an in-person view.

Permit Me Not to Stray

Stitch Count: 197 x 197
Model stitched on R&R Reproductions 28ct. Old Mill Java

Using flosses from The Gentle Art:
0115 Tiger Lily, 0130 Avocado, 0420 Gold Leaf, 0540 Brandy,
1170 Dark Chocolate, 7002 Straw Bonnet, 7004 Brethren Blue, 7018 Woodrose,7019 Pomegranate, 7050 Baby Spinach,7079 Heirloom Gold

Conversion to DMC provided with the pattern.

Frame by Valley House Primitives.

Matchless Grace (a Faithfully Reproduced Antique Sampler)

Stitch Count: 169 x 170
Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 30ct. Confederate Gray

Using flosses from The Gentle Art:
0110 Dried Thyme, 0190 Forest Glade, 0510 Cinnamon, 0930 Deep Sea, 1111 Acorn, 1150 Flax, 7017 Buttermilk, 7042 Raven, 7048 Old Hickory, 7049 Lambswool

And flosses from Weeks Dye Works:
1171 Dove, 1236 Mocha, 1331 Brick

Conversion to DMC provided with the pattern.

Frame by Valley House Primitives.

Market Preview

Since one of my distributors accidentally let the cat out of the bag a bit soon, and many of you have already seen the photos, I figured I might as well give you a real peek at the designs to be released this coming weekend in Nashville...

Permit Me Not to Stray


Matchless Grace (a Faithfully Reproduced Antique Sampler)


Both charts will retail for just $10 each, and will be listed in my etsy shop starting on Friday the 18th. If you want to pre-order either or both designs, just send me an email (beth@heartstringsamplery.com), and yours will be among the first to be mailed out.

Did You Watch?

We aren't really sports fans, but we usually watch the Super Bowl with family or friends each year. This is the first in as long as I can remember that we stayed home, and only turned the TV on once in awhile to see what the score was. Why I felt the need to check, I don't really know, since I didn't really care. Habit, I guess. We did catch the final few minutes, while eating our dinner.

I spent the day, sitting at my kitchen bar, folding umpteen-bazillion charts to send to Nashville, while watching a few episodes of Cranford on my portable DVD player. Have I ever told you that there is conjecture amongst historians that some of the characters in Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford books were inspired by a few of my ancestral Aunties? Interesting story... interesting thought... and of course, makes the viewing of this historically-set mini-series quite meaningful to me.

Speaking of folding umpteen-bazillion charts... want to see one of the designs that I'll be releasing at Market? It is a reproduction of this antique sampler that I bought last Summer at the same show where I found Unna von Bergen (but not nearly so cheap!)...

Since there is no name or date (I guess I'm drawn to the orphans!), I am calling this one "Matchless Grace". I'll be releasing it at the TNNA show and in my etsy shop simultaneously on February 18th, along with my Adam & Eve design (which I'll be showing you early next week).

And while I was busy in the house avoiding the Super Bowl, my Smoking-Hot-Husband was working on the kennel. He got the play yard fence finished on Saturday,

and put in a back window and the base of the sleeping boxes Sunday.

Aren't we the industrious pair?