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Hi Stitching Friends!

Did you know that Summer House Stitche Workes has a Facebook page? Well there is one and now you can link to it from my blog page. I finally figured out where I had to put the code to accomplish this little feat of technology. Just click on the link to the right and it will take you right to the Facebook page. When you "like" the page, you can stay up to date on the latest happenings here at the Summer House. I post little snippets to Facebook that don't appear on the blog. So please "like" Summer House Stitche Workes.

As Always,
Beth

Ethereal Illumination Ornament in Just CrossStitch

Thought I would share with you my ornament that is in the July/August 2013 issue of Just CrossStitch magazine. This is the first Ethereal Illumination ornament you will see, a second design will be included in the 2013 Just CrossStitch special edition ornament issue. And if two are not enough for your tree, I will be releasing another 7 accompanying designs in a chart in September. (About the same time the ornament issue hits the newsstands.) All of the ornaments were inspired by stained glass windows in churches or cathedrals. They are stitched with Weeks Dye Works floss in Purple Rain, Curry and Garnet on 28 ct. opalescent white Lugana from Zweigart.



A close up view, somehow the sparkles in the fabric just don't come out in the photos, you can see a little bit of sparkle here. The hanger was created using Mill Hill beads. Another sparkly touch.



Here you can see a close up of the edge finishing. I used a "biscornu" finishing technique, lacing ladderstitch through the perimeter backstitch on each side of fabric. I love this finishing, it is easy and looks really nice.

I will share more photos, once I have the other ornaments in hand. My daughter liked the designs so well she offered to stitch the models for me. I don't get to see them until she visits in August!

Happy Stitching!
Beth

Happy Independence Day!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating our nation's birth and what makes it great! This is a little snippet of the Mr. President chart, that I have been planning on finishing off into a needlecase since I stitched in a couple of years ago, but the needlecase is still not together... I guess we all have WIPs. I hope you find time to stitch during your festivities.

All my Best,
Beth

p.s. Just a side note to my previous posting on the Gettysburg Sesquicentennial... my great-great grandfather was injured at the Wheatfield. My cousin Duane, who is a Civil War reenactor for the PA 148th, will be playing Zachariah at Gettysburg on July 5th, as the three days of the Battle are reenacted.  Happy Fourth!!

Battle of Gettysburg ~ Sesquicentennial

150 years ago today, July 2, 1863, my great-great grandfather, Zachariah Truckenmiller, was fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War, The Wheatfield at Gettysburg. The twenty acre field changed hands six times during the course of the day and over 6,000 men where killed, wounded or captured there.



The monument honoring the 148th Pennsylvania Infantry where they fought at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg.



The Pennsylvania Monument. As a child, it kept us quite busy looking for Zachariah's name on the Pennsylvania monument. His name is too long and doesn't fit, so it is just Z. Truckenmiller. It is in the center group of names on the right hand side of the photo below.





The High Water Mark.



If you have never had a chance to tour Gettysburg, I highly recommend it. It is a hauntingly, beautiful place. We toured the Battlefield once again in May and experienced the new visitor's center. We were impressed with how the history of both sides was presented and also the aftermath of the battle and how it effected the people of Gettysburg. It is truly sacred American ground.