Springing

I don't know about where you live, but the late Winter weather is always unstable and random around here. Warm sun, hail, wind, fog, snow, rain, sometimes all in the same day, and sometimes multiple times in the same day. As if two weather siblings were squabbling for supremacy.

And I suppose in a way, they are.

Winter vs. Spring, who will win?

On any given day, its hard to tell, but once those first buds start to form, the changing of the seasons appears more and more sure. The hardy blossoms of early flowers seem to take it all in stride. The ground yields willingly to shovel and tiller, happy to be waking from a long rest.

Saturday morning, as we climbed into the car for a long drive to Grandma's memorial service, we saw Swallows for the first time this year. We always look for them to show their fleet forms by the end of March, but it felt like a sweet comfort to see not one, but six of them looping right over our heads and calling their glad tidings to us... Spring is nearly here!... on a day of such deep contemplation.

Grape Hyacinth :: Digging In :: Daylilies :: Plum Blossoms :: Crocus :: Daffodil Kitty :: Lilac :: Forsythia :: Purr :: Violet's Snowy Blanket :: Frolic :: Therapy :: Pollen :: Red Pond :: Looking In :: Baby Chicks :: Chrp Chrp :: Grandma's Legacy

Good Dog

Bailey Cornelius Twist

January 9, 2003 - March 14, 2014

Eleven years just doesn't seem like long enough to share life with such a good dog.

We first brought him home when we were still two young lovebirds with time and energy to give.

He patiently took a step to the side when kiddos entered the family

and never once batted his eyes at needing to welcome their little selves into his pack.

I could ascribe all the usual terms given to our canine family members... loyal, faithful, devoted. 

But he was also mellow, kind, brave, and just a little bit rebellious.

Bailey lived a double life, heading over to the neighbor's house each morning after we left for work.

We tried everything we possibly could to train him to stay home, afraid he was annoying them.

But then in an over the fence conversation, the neighbor told us that he always looked forward to Bailey coming over for "his morning biscuit".

We were telling him to stay home, but he was being rewarded for leaving. 

What's a dog to do?

As a result, he lived a twice-loved life,

and is survived not only by the four of us and his two BFFs Freaky and Strange (our black cats),

but also by our truck-driving neighbor and his Harley-riding son,

along with their elderly black lab Lincoln, and newly-rescued pit bull Pinky.

We will miss you, you old wiggle-butt dog.

*NEW* Le Meow (a Faithfully Reproduced Antique Pincushion)

When I spotted this old cross-stitched kitty pin cushion in the etsy shop of a French antique dealer, there was no way I could resist. Most likely dating to the middle or later decades of the 1800’s, it is perfectly square with the best dirty colors. Quite heavy and firm for its size, I’m guessing by feel that if I were to open it up, I would find it filled with squares cut from an old boiled wool blanket. The back is covered with black linen, and the sides are black velvet. In sourcing materials to make the model, I tried to be as true to the original as possible.

I can’t glean much else from this old piece, but can tell you that I enjoyed every second of reproducing it for you. I hope that you have fun with this project too.

I will make a limited number of kits available for sale in my etsy shop or directly from me. The kits will include army blanket wool for filling, the ribbon for the outer edge, and black linen for backing. I’ll keep them available as long as there is interest and I can continue to find the materials.

I did not specify a particular linen on the materials list because it won’t matter what color it is by the time you’re finished. If you want it to be the same size as the original, you will want to stitch with two threads over three on 40 count linen.

Stitch Count: 36 x 34
Model stitched with 2 threads over 3 On 40 count linen.

Using flosses from The Gentle Art: 0511 Country Redwood, 7042 Raven, 7044 Dungarees, 7079 Heirloom Gold, 7080 Endive

Recommended Additional Materials:
1 small piece of black linen for backing
1 foot of velvet ribbon for edging
Six 3 inch squares of boiled or felted wool for filling

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

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.

Lately

Farmboy picking out Apple Trees :: Cacti from my Three Loves :: Kindergarten Math :: London Fog :: Second Grade and Water Dog Entertainment :: Lovely Decay :: Nuts :: Tea in Grandma's mug :: Winter Fruit Bowl :: Kindergarten Sight Word Sentences :: New/Old Snips and Pincushion :: Made with Love (my 30+ year old Grandma-made afghan still providing warmth and comfort) :: Early Bird Wallpaper for you to enjoy on your Computer Desktop

Free Chart... Three Peacocks (a Faithfully Reproduced Antique Sampler)

As promised... Simply click on these words to be redirected to a free downloadable pdf charted version of this little stitched piece that I found over the weekend at a local antique show.

The chart calls for DMC, but please substitute your favorite threads if you so desire, choose a different count of linen to work it onto, finish it as a pin cushion or needle book, whatever your heart desires... and be sure to send me a photo when you’re done! I’d love to share it on my finish blog.

I tried to represent the original piece as best as I could, by charting for stitches where I could tell they originally had been placed, but leaving off stitches that have no evidence of ever existing. This means there will be some imbalance and unexpected quirks, so pay attention!

Now off you go... download the chart, spread the word to your stitching friends, challenge each other to be creative, send me photos of your completed work, and start checking the Heartstring Samplery Finish Blog to see how many different ways it is translated!

As always, I would be very grateful if you gave credit to me if you post photos or links anywhere online, or offer your finished goods up for sale.

P.S. if it bothers you that my specialty font was lost in the conversion to pdf process, you can always contact me to ask for an emailed copy. I've tried and tried to fix this bug, but somehow can't figure out how it is being lost. My pdf file looks perfect on my end, but when it is uploaded, POOF! gone. The chart itself is unaffected, so this is merely an aesthetic issue.

When I Go Treasure Hunting

I never go in with a plan. You really can't these days when out perusing the wares of antique dealers. It seems, at least out here in the West, that all of the good primitives have fallen into a black hole.

Good thing I'm not easily disappointed when it comes to collecting. I tend to favor the ragged and worn.

The more an item shows its history, the better. I love that the cupboard in my kitchen is missing the crown molding along one side where it used to cozy up to a wall... even though the missing molding is on the wrong side for its current home.

Usually, what I'm REALLY after when I go to a big antique show, is some time to be ME with nobody getting hungry or needing help with homework or even cuddle time. Freedom from responsibility goes a very long way to fuel my burners. Especially when I get to surround myself with old things.

Oh, and we can't forget kettle corn. Kettle corn is pretty important too.

This time I came home with three lovely old frames that will show up some day on a pattern cover and a pair of sweet old and completely worthless scissors that wouldn't cut if their life depended on it.

I also hit a jackpot mother-lode of tomato pincushions. Would you believe that I left another half-dozen behind that were almost equally as great? And each one for less than five dollars; a steal these days.

My final treasure- that darling little log cabin trinket box. Stamped on the roof the words, "Whiff of the Cascades", and hand-written on the bottom, "Wood you be my Valentine?" How could she say no to such a sweet overture?

It was an added bonus that I got to spend the day with my Sister in Law. It has been way too long since we spent that much time together just the two of us. Good therapy for the heart.

What do you look for when you go treasure hunting?

Oh... what's that you say? Sampler? Did I forget to tell you about the little sampler?

Why yes I did!


What a horrible friend I am.

And to let you know exactly how much of an imp I can be, I'm tempted to not even say a word more.

But I won't leave you hanging. Because I want you to keep coming back. I like you that much.

I've never seen anything quite like this little stitched piece. Just a simple little design, completely finished with a bit of muslin at the back. I can only imagine that it was a candle mat or wall hanging or perhaps sat on the arm of a chair. Three peacocks with a floral border. No date, no name, no alphabet.

I'm working on charting it up as you read this, and plan to offer it this week as a little freebie chart. Stitched on a higher count linen, it would be perfect as a pincushion or for the cover of a needle book.

Happy now?

Good.