St Charles Needlework Market

Hello everyone!  So I say I'm going to post more regularly, and then I go about two weeks without a new post.  Well, at least I have a decent excuse (or two).  Here's the first excuse: my computer has been otherwise occupied:

She even managed to turn the computer on, access the internet, and try to print a blank Word document!  As I am typing this post, silly Princess is trying yet again to climb onto the keyboard.  I guess it is pleasantly warm on her tummy.  Sigh.

My other, even better, excuse is that I have been at the St Charles needlework market for the past 5 days or so, helping Mom with her room, and checking out all the other great releases as well.  It was a very busy show, and lots of shopping and buying was done.  I am glad that I can finally show you what most of my summer stitching time has been devoted to.  Here are the new releases from Cherished Stitches:

Autumn Whimsies is a limited edition kit that includes everything you need to make this sweet little pillow except the stuffing.  It was Mom's best-seller at the show and it is sold out!  In fact, it sold out the first night, and she ordered supplies to make another 6 dozen, and she's sold out again!  So if you like it, better get in touch with your favorite needlework shops quick and see if they have one available.

 Next up are 9 of the Fairest Flowers series.  Only the three in the center front are brand new.  There is a pattern for each month of the year (with three months still to come), and each flower is one that you would find in a 17th century English garden.  Such interesting uses they had for these plants!  Did you know that thistle can cure baldness?

There were three new Halloween releases as well: a sweetly grim little pot of flowers, a biscornu kit, and the ironwork-inspired "tis time."

And finally, the Quaker family tree, which I think is my favorite of all the new releases.  It comes with suggestions on how to modify the chart to suit your own family, as well as lots of graph paper for drawing out all the names you want to stitch.  I just love how this one looks!  There was one other new release that I don't have a picture of.  It's called "Fall Tribute" and has a cute pair of squirrels on it.  It's one of the ones on which I did the model stitching, so I'm bummed I didn't get a photo.  Of all the releases you see above, I put thread to fabric on all of them except the LE kit, the biscornu, and the smaller Halloween piece.  Now you know how busy I've been in the stitching department!

I do have some other stitch-related news to share.  I am going to try my own hand at designing!  I have already been working (in a very on again/off again style) on reproducing some of my antique samplers.  Now I'm trying to be more consistent with my efforts.  Next year, at the Nashville market, I will be joining Mom and presenting designs of my own.  At this point, I think there will be two reproduction samplers (Rachel Mauger and an Adam & Eve sampler that I don't think I've shared on this blog) and several smaller patterns of my own design that are inspired by my antique sampler collection.  February seems so far away, but really close, all at the same time!  I will share more as we get a lot closer to market.  I guess only time will tell whether this is a great idea, or a very foolish one.

Next time, I will share a little about the pit stops we took on the loooong drive from North Carolina to Missouri.  Til then, stay crafty my friends!

I'm baaaaack!!!

Hello, old friends!  Yes, I know.  It's been a very, very long time since I posted.  Life has kept me very busy.  And there just hadn't been time for blogging in all that craziness.  But I am here now, and I hope to go back to regular updates on my stitching, scrapping and traveling.

There is so much stitching that has been done since that last, long ago update.  Most of it, though, has been model stitching for Mom.  I hope to share some of that in a week or two during/after the show at St Charles.  Meanwhile, here are three pieces that I not only finished, but managed to get framed as well.  First up is Penny America by Tree of Life Samplings:

I stitched this using Weeks threads on a piece of Picture This Plus fabric.  I've forgotten the name of the color, but it has a lovely distressed tone to it.

Next is Christmastide by Pineberry Lane.  This one is stitched on a piece of Cauldron linen by PTP, either 36 or 40 count:

And finally, I have Feast of Friendship by Blackbird Designs.  This one is stitched on an old piece of 30 count R&R fabric, using the called for threads.  I'm really happy with how it turned out:

This past weekend, Mom and I headed up to Cherokee, NC, to listen to the Trace Adkins concert.  We played a few games at the casino, and then spent our Sunday morning visiting the Mountain Farm Museum inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Did you know that the GSM Nat'l Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?  Apparently, there is an amazingly diverse collection of flora and fauna in the region.  It is certainly a beautiful place to spend your time.  The area around the farm museum was beautiful, and the weather was just cool enough that you weren't uncomfortable walking around.  I liked the gourd birdhouses:

Don't you feel calmer just looking at this sweet little farmstead?

Of course, Mom being Mom, she hunted down the most important building right away...

So thankful we don't have to use those things anymore!  The farm is right next to a beautiful shady bit of the Oconoluftee River.  You could walk right up to the river's edge and dip your toes in, if you were so inclined:

 The sound of the water rolling softly over the rocks made me feel peaceful and happy.  I hope to visit again soon... and maybe spend a few days in this mountain wonderland.

That's about it for today.  I promise not to be such a stranger in the future.  Til next time, stay safe, and stay creative!