Thursday, April 06, 2023

A Normal Blog Post

Hi Everyone, 

Hope you are all well! I have decided to do a normal blog post like the old days. I can’t believe it will be 20 years this fall that I started my blog. My boys were just babies and I didn’t even have Matthew yet. Time really flies. In my last video I mentioned that I was taking a little social media break. I loved instagram when it just photos that my friends were posting, now it’s all videos and I just find myself getting sucked into them and watching them for way too long. So now when I go on instagram, I try to just look at the photos, but I still find myself drawn to the videos and have to stop myself before too much time goes by!

I also mentioned that I had been a very monogamous with my stitching lately and I think that’s ending now. I worked on a few different things since my video and have kitted up three more. I ended up getting Ann Grimshaw 1818 by The Scarlet Letter back out and worked on a couple motifs. It’s such a pretty and relaxing sampler… 

Ann Grimshaw by The Scarlet Letter
40 ct. American Chestnut by R&R and AVAS Soie d’Alger Noir

I then got Humming of the Bees back out. I love this one and after seeing Lori Holt’s recent finish, it really made me want to work on it. 

Humming of the Bees by Blackbird Designs
36 ct. Heartland by Picture this Plus and cotton threads

I’m also still working on Elizabeth Furniss 1836 by Hands Across the Sea. The animals in the grass were all off a stitch and I thought I got it all worked out until I put the steps to the house in. They are a stitch over one and I’m hoping it won’t make a big difference and look off once I get the door in. Fingers crossed! I really don’t feel like ripping that section out. 

Elizabeth Furniss 1836 by Hands Across the Sea Samplers
40 ct. Vintage Sand Dune by Lakeside Linens and AVAS Soie d’Alger silk threads

As far as quilting goes - I am still working on my Jelly Garden quilt, which is an English paper piecing quilt. It has been so much fun to work on and I’m really liking the slower pace of the stitching. 

I did get a little bit of stash… I couldn’t resist the new Blackbird Designs book - Crowns and Cartouches. It’s so pretty!! I have a skinny half of 40 ct. Picture this Plus Heartland that will work perfect for it. 

Crowns & Shields by Blackbird Designs
40 ct. Heartland by Picture this Plus and cotton threads

I also purchased the new Hands Across the Sea Pattern - Hannah Campbell 1838. I just love how unique this sampler is. I ordered a few threads from Hoop and Frame, but I had most of them, which worked out well. I think I’m going to use a very coveted piece of 40 ct. Vintage Sand Dune for it. I tried a bunch of different linens and it really just looked the best!

Hannah Campbell 1838 by Hands Across the Sea Samplers
40 ct. Vintage Sand Dune by Lakeside Linens and AVAS Soie 100/3 silk threads
Project Bag - French General La Grande Soiree

The last thing I’m going to start is actually a restart (shocker!). When I went to Florida in January, Theresa was working on A Unicorn, A Peacock, A Badger and she was using the silks and 40 ct. Natural linen. I started it with DMC and really loved how the silks looked on her linen, so I’m shamelessly copying her. I had most of the silks, so I ordered the ones I was missing and the linen from Kittenstitcher.com. I’m so excited to restart this beautiful design!


A Peacock, A Unicorn, A Badger by The Scarlet Letter
40 ct. Natural by Zweigart and AVAS Soie d’Alger silk threads