New Fabric, New Threads!

I don't know if you are like me...but I'm guessing you are...I get so excited when I get some new fabric and some new thread! It's not like I don't already have some...I have cabinets full! I'm not fabric or thread deprived! But there is nothing like the sight of some brand new stash. It gets your spirit soaring....I had some ideas in mind when I ordered the linen and thread...but now that it has arrived....my mind is really racing! I've been asked where do my ideas come from and I can tell you it is a multitude of ways. Sometimes it a verse I have read, it might be a motif I've seen but some times it comes with colors I love, linen I love, the season. Anyway, I have discovered that I have the attention span of a fly! My designs are usually something that you can stitch in a couple of days or a weekend and they are simple cross stitch. Now every once and a while I throw in an eyelet or another specialty stitch, but not often. Beware, I am working on a design that has a few eyelet stitches, but I'll put a warning sign on the back of the package to let you know. I read a cute blog the other day where the writer said it upsets her when she finds out there are other stitches included...I thought it was cute and I understand! Basically though I design what I like to stitch. If I start a design and it doesn't feel right or I'm not enjoying it, I move on. If I'm not having a good time, I don't think you will either. I do have favorite designers and I think they influence me, I love Blackbird Designs, I'm a fan of Plum Street Samplers and I admire Lizzie Kate's, graphic arts talent. Wish I had more of that in me! I do follow quite a few blogs, such as Sampler Girl, The Scarlett House and quite a few other stitcher blogs. My favorite linen is R&R Reproductions, always has been. I did see some Old Salem linen that I would like to try. I loved the antiqued look. I like the coffee dyed and the smell when it comes out of the bag. Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works are my favorite over dyed thread. I use both in most of my designs. But I've know from reading the blogs that there are so new overdyed companies and I will probably try some of their products eventually. I also have a love of old antique samplers. I have already released "Ann Merchant" who was a distant relative on my mother's side. I have two more in the works. One is Mary Pilgrim and the other is an English sampler that I purchased and it is very colorful. That's the reason I chose it....although I do like the subtle colors in the American Schoolgirl Samplers. My ancestors were from Virginia and I grew up in that area, although I have been in Texas for the last 35 years. We were fortunate enough to visit many historical sights as a child and I think that is where my love of history and antiques began... We'll enough about me. I have to get back to stitching my new design. Hopefully I'll have a photo soon. I'm expecting it will be a mid October release. Happy Stitching! Happy Weekend!

Oh Happy Day....New English Sampler

Today my new sampler came in the mail! Oh happy day! It's feels like Christmas! I really need to stay off eBay,but I can't seem to help myself. This is my first English sampler and I have to say when I opened the package I was pleasantly surprised. Although I absolutely love our american samplers they sometimes lack the vibrant colors I long to use when stitching. This one has vibrant pinks, greens (my favorite color),blues and beiges and even a tad of violet. I believe this time I'm going to use overdyed threads. The original Ann Merchant was stitched with silks and I tried to stay very true to the original (because she was a family member). But this one has all kinds of possibilities. With Ann, I also tried to recreate what she would have looked like 150 years ago. On this one, I think I will reproduce it looking aged. It has stood the test of time very well. It came to me already framed so it has been preserved well. The verse on it reads: Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth. Eccles. XII I. I have so many ideas for new original designs and am working on a new release for later this month. I am still charting another sampler, Mary Pilgrim that I purchased last summer! She is very detailed and has some over one stitching that kind of slows you down when charting...but I think she's also going to be a beauty when completed. Also planning to participate in the Online Needlework Show in October. The summer went by quickly here in south Texas. I'm ready for some cooler weather...no hurricanes so far this year...but we aren't out of the season yet....so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that we can make it on through hurricane season without any storms. A cool front is scheduled to come through here tomorrow...it will be 90 degrees instead of our usual 100-102 degrees :). I don't care, it's a start to cooler days! Happy stitching!