*Now Available* Feniscowles Hall 1824

I struggled a bit with what to title this sampler, knowing that the name of the Hall would be a challenge to many. But the location is real, and the lovestory it commemorates is dear to my heart, so I opted to leave it as is.

Although this sampler is an original design and (sadly) not a reproduction of a family heirloom, the names, location, date, and quote are real. In 1824, an unlikely engagement took place between the eldest daughter of wealthy mill owners and the local vicar. Not only was he considered to be of a lower class, he had an additional shadow over his name, being the son of a bankrupt father (who fled to America to avoid prison).

It is a story well-documented and preserved in letters and journals, a story of two young people who married for love, and against all social protocol of their time. It is a story that has fascinated my imagination for nearly a decade now, and knowing that it happened in my own family tree makes me happy and proud.

My Great –Great (add a few more greats) Grandparents, John William Whittaker and Mary Haughton Feilden overcame all odds and went on to bring 9 children into the world. His career as a vicar of Blackburn Parish in Lancashire, England was by all accounts noteworthy, and although I have only had the privilege to read journals leading up to her marriage, Mary’s personality comes across clearly in her early writing. I wish I had known them both.

The house depicted in the sampler is my best effort of reproducing an old photograph of Mary’s childhood home, Feniscowles Hall. It was surrounded by trees and a deer park, with the river running nearby.

At the end of her life, after her beloved husband had passed away, she wrote in a letter to her children: “Oh what his love was to me from the first! … How my life became happy and complete … No one but himself will ever know how dearly I loved your Father. We were more precious each to each than any thing on Earth...”



Although you are more than welcome to stitch this sampler as charted, complete with my ancestor’s names and date, I included a full alphabet and number set so that you can customize it for yourself or to commemorate a marriage in your own family. I’m pretty sure John and Mary wouldn’t mind.



Stitch Count: 253 x 183

Model stitched on R&R Reproductions’ 32 count Heartstring Blend with one thread over two strands of linen.

Using flosses from Weeks Dye Works: Havana, Flatfish, Grape Vine, Oscar
And from Classic Colorworks: Straw Hat
And from The Gentle Art: Grasshopper, Mountain Mist, Old Hickory, Piney Woods, Ruby Slipper

Conversion to DMC available upon request.

The lovely frame is by Valley House Primitives: Profile: MCN, Color: Coffee Bean, Design: Small Swirl with Corner Fans


This design is now available in my etsy shop, and is already in the hands of my distributors and the shops that attended Nashville Market last weekend. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

Market Preview

Are you counting down the days until March 5th? I know I sure am! In just eight days I'll be boarding a plane to take me far away from my little country home. My kids aren't very happy with me for leaving them for so many days, but all of that time with their Daddy will do them good.

I've been super busy getting two new designs and one limited edition kit ready to release at the Needlework Retailer Nashville Market, and I hope you’ll be as excited about them as I am!

In addition to the new designs, I'm rolling out my new cover layout, which I am over-the-moon happy about! No more labor-intensive homespun chart covers… I will slowly begin to convert my older designs to the new look, but for now, just the recent and brand new charts will have this appearance.

If you're itching to get your hands on any or all of these new designs, be sure to let your local needlework shop owner know! Send them up to my suite (619) to stock up for you. I won't be listing them in my etsy shop for direct sale until up to a week after the show; it will depend on how long it takes me to recover from all of the excitement. 

Without further ado, I give you…

The Bird Collection, Part I
Featuring American Goldfinch, Blackheaded Grosbeak, and Mourning Dove

This is the first in a collection that will number at least 12 individual birds (released in groups of 3 or 4) by the time I'm done.

Retail: $12

Feniscowles Hall 1824
A True Story of Happily Ever After… inspired by the unconventional love story of my very own Great- (repeat a few more times) Grandparents.

Includes a full alphabet and number set so that it can be personalized.

Retail: $10

Fruit Basket Pendant Kit (Limited Edition)

Kit includes everything needed to finish the pendant: silk gauze, cotton backing fabric, threads, wooden pendant frame, and black seam binding. Silk gauze pieces measure 5x5 inches. All you will need in order to finish it is time, patience, a needle and scissors.

Please note that 4 weeks after all of the limited kits have been sold, I will be making this design available for purchase as a pattern only (without kit).

Retail: $32

In Loving Memory

My Grandmother Zella Marie Woolley (Kjosness)
was born in Waynoka, Oklahoma on May 19, 1926,
and slipped quietly out of her earthly costume Sunday, March 9, 2014.

She gets to see those Pearly Gates and all of the wonders beyond.
I will dearly miss her sweet spirit and spunky sense of humor, her warm hugs and unwavering loyalty.

But OH!, she is finally Home.

She is second from the right, with her parents and siblings in order of birth... she was the 9th of 10 children (9 survived past infancy).

With my Grandpa, shortly after they were married:

Mother's Day 1975, with baby Me:

Loaning my "Something Old" to wear on my wedding day:

And most recently with the kids and I:

I can't begin to express what a treasure this woman has been to me and the rest of our large family, not to mention every life she touched beyond. Even in the midst of grieving over loved ones, the physical hardships of Parkinson's Disease and dementia, she remained sweet and gentle and loving toward her family and friends to the very last.

We miss you, Grandma.

We're also so very happy that you are now reaping the rewards of a faithful life.

*NEW* Always in My Heart

This sampler is a continuation of the sampler series I made a few years ago to honor my Great-Grandmothers. Now I’ve moved to the next generation, designing this sampler to pay tribute to my Paternal Grandmother.

My hope is that at some point, when you inevitably find yourself grieving for the loss of a dear one in your life, that one of these samplers will strike a chord and serve as a therapeutic way to help carry on their legacy. I know that for me, as I stitched each one, and to this day, as I look at them grouped together on my wall, it is with warm fondness and affection. Somehow, stitching their memory onto linen has served as a balm; a tangible and lasting memorial to their lives.

Included with the pattern is a complete upper and lower case alphabet and number set so that you can customize this sampler to honor the life or death of someone you love.

There is also an instruction sheet telling you my method of inserting a photograph into the finished sampler.

Stitch Count: 104 x 109
Model stitched on Picture This Plus 32ct. Mello

Using flosses from The Gentle Art: 0420 Gold Leaf, 0440 Maple Syrup, 0460 Grecian Gold, 0540 Brandy, 0560 Nutmeg, 1130 Wood Smoke, 7005 Old Red Paint, 7016 Chamomile, 7018 Woodrose, 7059 Pumpkin Pie, 7061 Caramel Corn, 7082 Piney Woods

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

Why I Don't Bother with Umbrellas

Or "barellas" as my littlest calls them. The kids were asking me yesterday, as we prepared to go out in a downpour, why we don't have any umbrellas. And this, my dears, is the reason...

Do you think that a silly bit of fabric-on-a-stick would have kept my jeans from being soaked through? And the bottom half of my coat? I don't think so. Not when its raining sideways buckets. And windy besides... Had I an umbrella, it would have turned into a sail in my hands, and I would have been fighting just to keep it in alignment.

Granted, perhaps my sleeves would have stayed dry (had I held them up beside my ears). But truly, whats the point anyway? As they say in Scandinavia (from whence a good portion of my ancestors hail), "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing".

Waterproof boots, waterproof coat with a deep hood, and fortitude are all we need.

I wish I had a picture to show you of my dripping-wet daughter, but she was in an all-fired hurry to get out of her wet things to go hang them by the stove to dry.

Oh, that's right. Still no fire in the stove.

"Well, Mama, I dess (guess) we can hang our wet things in our wooms to dwy!" To which I replied, "Good thinking... but how about we hang them in the mud room, honey? That way the drips won't get the carpet wet." To which she responded with a very dramatic slap of her palm to her forehead, as if to say, what was I thinking?

This is the same girl that a few days ago, on our way to big Brother's classroom for pick-up stated, "Mama, I'm pwetending dat da yewwow sticks and weaves are poisoned, so don't step on dem, otay?"

I honestly didn't mind the soaking, and driving through muddy streams, and standing water in the yard. Wanna know why?

The rain took the snow away. All but the drifts, that is, but who's counting?

Random, the Christmas Edition

Hi there... its just me again.

Showing you a few festive things I have scattered about... like this old ornament I recently found. A pink flower with a giant beetle on it. Those Victorians sure had interesting taste.

I like to scoop up old silver-plate compotes when I find them at the thrift store. Stacked together, they resemble a shiny fountain, long gone dry, but with lovely patina.

This charming old postcard was sent to my Great-Grandparents in 1913. The woman who sent it wrote all in Danish, and has the most beautiful penmanship.

My cozy living room with its tiny tree.

A Victorian cookie tin, silver-plate platter and footed oil lamp.

An old and tattered sampler done all in red and green.

Appliqued angel announcing the birth of the Savior of the world.

Old mirror, concrete pheasant, pewter plate, swift.

Frog tree.

Let Us Be Truly Thankful, the Winter Edition.

Vintage Christmas books that belonged to my Grandmother.

NOEL 1705... from the Tidings of Comfort and Joy booklet.

Now Christmas is Come.

And my most favorite decorations of all...

Reading Christmas books, no less.

New Pattern Release... Great Grandma Ida's Birth Sampler

Read more about Ida's life.

Because this is an alphabet sampler, you will be able to easily customize it to honor the life or death of someone you love. If you wish to represent any country of the world, other than the already included American flag, I will chart it for you and add to your sampler pack by request.

There is also an instruction sheet telling you my method of inserting a photograph into the finished sampler.

Stitch Count: 110 x 170
Model stitched on Weeks Dye Works 35ct. Linen-colored linen
Using flosses from The Gentle Art: Dried Thyme, Pomegranate, Blackboard, Endive
And flosses from Weeks Dye Works: Havana, Red Pear, Sand, Teal Frost
Conversion to DMC provided inside.

You may purchase the pattern through my etsy shop, but if you aren't an etsy user, you can contact me directly via email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

You can also wait and buy from your local needlework shop. My distributors will receive their shipment early next week. If your LNS doesn't carry my designs, ask! I am still so new to the market that there are many out there who don't know about my work, and I am counting on you to help spread the word.

New Pattern Release... Great Grandma Johanne's Birth Sampler

This sampler is the second in a series of four, which have been designed to honor my Great-Grandmothers. To read more about the life of Johanne, scroll down and read yesterday's post.


In the photograph, I included the silver fork and spoon engraved with the date of Johanne and Olaus' wedding, which is also my wedding anniversary (something that I didn't know until my wedding day had nearly arrived). The crock was also owned by them, and most likely was purchased when Olaus first immigrated to the US, for his very first place of residence here was Red Wing, Minnesota. The wool coverlet was woven by a family member as a gift, and was possibly patched by Johanne.

Included with the pattern is a complete upper and lower case alphabet and number set so that you can customize this sampler to honor the life or death of someone you love. ***ADDED: I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT AN AMERICAN FLAG CHART IS ALSO INCLUDED, SINCE MOST OF YOU WON'T WANT A NORWEGIAN FLAG ON YOUR SAMPLER! I ALSO WILL OFFER TO ANYONE WHO PURCHASES DIRECTLY FROM ME OR THROUGH MY ETSY SHOP AN ADDED CHART OF THE COUNTRY FLAG OF THEIR CHOICE BY REQUEST***

There is also an instruction sheet telling you my method of inserting a photograph into the finished sampler.

Stitch Count: 230 x 150

Model stitched on Zweigart 40ct. New Castle Cream linen
which was then stained upon completion.

Using DMC flosses:
221, 676, 680, 840, 926, 928, 3011, 3013, 3859, ecru

The lovely frame is an antique.

You may purchase the pattern through my etsy shop, but if you aren't an etsy user, you can contact me directly via email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

You can also wait and buy from your local needlework shop. My distributors will receive their shipment early next week. If your LNS doesn't carry my designs, ask! I am still so new to the market that there are many out there who don't know about my work, and I am counting on you to help spread the word.

My Great Grandma Johanne

As I have grown older, the stories of my ancestors have grown increasingly of interest to me. And most especially of the women that have gone before me, living their lives, caring for their children, making their piece of the world softer and more beautiful in small or large ways.

I am blessed to have people on both sides of my family tree that have compiled many countless hours worth of information from which I can glimpse traces of who they were, these people from whom I am made. I hope to continue their work, carrying the torch forward so that generations that follow me can also know a little about the people from which they are made.

Therefore, I have endeavored to create a series of birth samplers honoring my Great-Grandmothers. The birth samplers will be released one at a time over a four month period of time, the first having been released last month, the second will be released tomorrow. But before the unveiling of the next sampler design, I wanted to share a little with you about the woman for whom I have made it.

Johanne Marie Haugen was born in 1881 in Norway, the second of 12 children. After finishing the required 7 years of school at the age of 14, she was sent to Bergen as a house maid in the home of her great uncle. She received little more than room and board, and was expected to send any extra home to her family.

During the 20 years that she lived in Bergen, she worked as a nurse maid and cook in homes of business people. She had many friends and was active in support of missionary ministries and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

In 1915, at the age of 34, she met Olaus Kjosnes at the home of her cousin. He was on a 4 month visit from America, where he had immigrated in 1898. By the end of his visit, they were married, and 4 days later boarded a ship to America.

That first winter in her new home, there was snow 9 feet deep, more than she had ever seen in all her years in Norway.

In the Summer of 1916, the first of two sons was born, followed a few years later by a fall while hanging laundry, which resulted in the miscarriage of a daughter.

Johanne always planted a large garden, and canned fruit, vegetables and preserves for Winter use.

According to my Grandpa’s memoir (that is his handsome self in the photo above), she often worked late into the evening sewing, patching, or ironing clothes, and sang a lot as she worked around the house. She was a good communicator and central figure in family discussions. She had a lot of compassion and always put her family ahead of her own needs. She was a good story teller who never lost her love for her home country, keeping a subscription to 2 Norwegian newspapers and faithfully corresponding with friends and relatives.

She happily welcomed visits from grandchildren (that is my Mama and Uncle Don in the above photo), and often had a lump of sugar dunked in coffee to share with them (the origin of my coffee gene, I’m certain).

She died in 1968 at 88 years of age.

New Pattern Release... Great Grandma Pearl's Birth Sampler

This sampler is the first in a series of four, which have been designed to honor my Great-Grandmothers. To read more about the life of Pearl, scroll down and read yesterday's post.

I included some snapshots from her life in the cover photo, and the little doll quilt that serves as backdrop is one that Pearl made and gave to my Mama when she was young. The young woman sitting on the barrel in front of Pearl in the lower photograph is my Grandma at about 15 years old.

Included with the pattern is a complete upper and lower case alphabet so that you can customize this sampler to honor the life or death of someone you love.

There is also an instruction sheet telling you my method of inserting a photograph into the finished sampler.

Stitch Count: 226 x 134

Model stitched over-one on
Zweigart 28ct. Cream linen
which was then stained upon completion.

Using DMC flosses:
167, 221, 223, 225, 842, 926, 3100, 3790, ecru

The lovely frame is an antique.

You may purchase the pattern through my etsy shop, but if you aren't an etsy user, you can contact me directly via email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

You can also wait and buy from your local needlework shop. My distributors will receive their shipment early next week. If your LNS doesn't carry my designs, ask! I am still so new to the market that there are many out there who don't know about my work, and I am counting on you to help spread the word.

In Loving Memory

My Grandmother Clara Nielsen Whittaker Borovec was born October 8, 1915.
She passed peacefully from this earthly life on December 14, 2007.

Grandma with her parents and brother in 1930:


Undated photo of Grandma with her Mother in a hayfield (here's proof that I am descended from farmers!):


In 1939, after her wedding ceremony, with new husband David Whittaker:


At a recent Thanksgiving family gathering: