Stitched and Noted

Hi Stitching Friends!

I have a few photos to share of some completed Summer House Stitche Workes designs that have been sent to me. It is so rewarding to me to see how stitchers have interpreted my designs. The first photo to share is from Patti R and her wonderful finish of Calico Sampler.


photo used by permission of Patti R.

Patti used the recommended linen and floss and her sister, Petra Dennis sewed the wonderful quilt finish. Petra has her own finishing business, so if you are in need of some finishing work, here is her website: http://www.needlewoman.biz. I love the fabrics she chose, they just set off the stitching perfectly.

The next finish is Star from Jeanne Horton of Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI.


photo used by permission of Jeanne Horton, Country Sampler, Spring Green, WI

Jeanne's shop model is stitched on 28 ct. Natural linen. She and her girls have kitted up the chart, fabric and floss. If you are interested in her kit, here is her website: http://sgcountrysampler.com/wp/. I wish her shop was closer to me, as the photos of her displays of quilts, needlework and antiques are very inspiring.

I hope you have enjoyed this little show and tell and if you have any finishes of my designs, email them to me, as I would love to showcase them as well.

Next week's post will be a sneak peak of my newest design. I have the model nearing completion and the needlecase is finished. I still haven't finalized a name for her, I have several possibilities, hmmm, maybe I will let all of you vote on her name...

Enjoy the Spring and have a Happy Mother's Day this weekend.
Beth

Completed Calico Sampler

Hi Friends!

I just realized that I had never posted this photo of the completed Calico Sampler design, so here it is! I backed it with a natural muslin that had a lot of natural flecks in it. I will eventually put tabs on the top, so it can hang from a dowel or most likely a branch, so it really has a nice primitive look. I loved doing this sampler and the many borders offer a myriad of applications, not to mention the alphabet. When I first played around with this idea, I was trying to create words with the alphabet, but I could not figure out how to use each of the letters, so I settled for the sampler idea, which definitely works. Someday when my stitching schedule allows, if that ever happens LOL!,  I would like to create M-E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S, all letters stitched and finished individually and then strung together on a piece of jute to create a mantel swag. Perhaps one of these days, I will get to that project. Please send me photos as you complete your version of Calico Sampler. I would love to see your interpretations.

As I was talking to my daughter about the "Dyslexic" Sampler that I blogged about earlier this week, she suggested it was stitched by a rebellious teenager that didn't enjoy stitching. I thought that idea was good for a laugh, so I thought I would share. As I have tried to do some research online about samplers with backward letters, I am finding that there may be just one letter backward, or that within a word a letter may be backward, suggesting that the schoolgirl may not have known how to form that particular letter or perhaps she was dyslexic, but I did not find any samplers that had the extensive amount of backward stitching as this example does.

Well, I need to get back to stitching!! I am really trying to make some progress on my next release. Sneak peak coming soon!!

All my Best,
Beth

Calico Sampler Numerals

Hi Friends!

Below is the chart to personalize the finish year on your Calico Sampler. When you pick up the last chart, you will see that it only includes the 1, 2 and 0, so you may be in need of a different number.



You should be able to pull this off the blog like you would any photo. Let me know if you have any issues. Please send me photos of your finished Calico Sampler, I would love to see your interpretations.

All my Best,
Beth

Happy February!!

Hi Friends!

Okay, I am a dismal failure at my New Year resolutions. One of them being that I was going to post to the blog twice a week. LOL. Here I am on the 5th of February and I am posting for the first time this year. Of course I have a ton of excuses why I haven't posted, but they are just that...  So much for beating myself up, let me share with you some of what has been occupying my time.




First thing, Calico Sampler is complete!! I shipped charts to the shops on my automatic program and to the distributors the end of last week, so your shop should have it or be able to get it now. This has been such a wonderful project to design and work on, I hope you all agree. It is definitely an eye catcher. I will show you a photo of the entire sampler once I am able to take a good photo. I have taken several and I was not happy with the lighting on any of them. Add to that, the weather has not been great for setting the stage and giving me good lighting for the pic.

Now onto other stuff, I have been designing and stitching up a storm for the last couple of months, thanks in part to my sister who broke her foot and hasn't been mobile since 27 Dec. I will have four new releases for the Nashville Market on March 1-3. It was such an exhilarating experience last year, that I can't wait for this year. Three of the designs are stitched and just waiting for frames, but the fourth one has been my challenge. I think I have ripped as much as I have stitched and have gone back to the drawing board many times. I think I worked out the last kink yesterday and now I can really get moving on stitching. It is a good thing that linen is such a resilient fabric!!  Here is a little sneak peak at one of the new market releases, her name is Corona and she is a cousin to Sylvania, whom I released at last year's Nashville market. She is stitched on 28 count Doubloon linen from Picture This Plus using DMC floss. She is just as friendly and fun as Sylvania and also inspired by Baltimore Album quilts.




Well, enough for now, I will share more in a few days. Well, that is my goal anyway. I am going to put it on my calendar and perhaps that will help!!

Stay warm and keep stitching,
Beth

N-O-E-L, Calico Sampler in Holiday Colors

Hi Friends!

As promised yesterday, here is the conversion to stitch this wonderful adaptation of Calico Sampler. It is the thread wizardry of my friend Carol, she is the one who took my charts and adapted them to Holiday colors. The fabric she stitched on is a 32 ct. opalescent. I am sorry that I don't have more information than that, but it was in her stash and she wasn't quite sure who manufactured it. She also made a few other changes, she did not stitch the upper and lower bands as herringbone stitch, but as an alternating cross stitch. Also, as Carol is not a fan of Algerian eye stitch (and I am, LOL!) she stitched those as Smyrna crosses or double cross stitches. So without further ado, here is the Holiday Floss Key:




I hope you enjoy this festive version and send me photos of your innovations. I would love to see them!!

Happy Stitching and Happy Halloween!
Beth

Calico Sampler M-N-O Corrections

Hi Stitching Friends!

I have a lot of stuff to share with you, but I am having issues with the blogging interface. So, since I really want to get these corrections to you, I will forgo all of the photos and other info I have for you and just concentrate on this.

The Calico Sampler No. 5 chart, which is M-N-O, has a few mistakes on the chart. The first one is that the star symbol does not have a corresponding thread. It should be GAST Carriage Black, so star symbol = Carriage Black. The second is there is not a corresponding thread for the "o" symbol. It should be GAST Brandy. Brandy is listed as the double infinity symbol, this is correct, so Brandy = o and double infinity symbol. My sincerest apologies for these mistakes. I have changed my proofing methods, so I hope to avoid these type of mistakes in the future.

On another note, the next "chapter" of Calico Sampler P-Q-R was shipped to shops on my automatic program on Saturday, ahead of the "Big Storm." It will not be sent to the distributors until after Hurricane Sandy is finished disrupting our lives. So, be looking for it. I will upload a photo as soon as I figure out how to get my photos from Flickr onto the blog.

Keep stitching and I hope you all of you on the East Coast stay safe from "Sandy!!"

All my Best,
Beth

10/30/12 - I think I am figuring out the whole "code" thing for the images!!

2012 Baltimore Market Sneak Peak

Hi Friends!

The Fall Market in Baltimore is coming up quickly! This wholesale market runs from September 7 - 9. I will have three new releases available at the Market. Without further ado, here is a sneak peak of the goodies to come...

The first is Indian Summer. I will post another photo once the frame comes in. I expect it today. It is a beauty from Priscilla's Pocket. Indian Summer features a warm autumn palette, just the right hues to remind us of the in between time between summer and fall. From the center of the design, a By Jupiter! sun charm radiates its warmth. The charm is included with the chart. The model was stitched with DMC floss on 35 ct. Lambswool linen from Wichelt.

Next is Sonnet, inspired by Shakespeare's most famous sonnet, 116. I absolutely love this design and once I started working on it the ideas kept coming, so Sonnet is a little booklet with charts and instructions for three projects. The main chart is a perfect memento of any special occasion. An alphabet is included, so you can personalize the initials and dates. If the dusty pink/reds don't fit your purpose, then changing them is very easy. Just use four shades of the same color, from light to dark, and you will change the entire personality of the piece. The model was stitched on 35 ct. Lambswool linen from Wichelt with floss from The Gentle Art.

I know, two projects stitched on the same linen? What is up with that? I absolutely fell in love with this linen and knew the moment I saw it that it was the perfect fabric for Indian Summer. Then, while choosing the colors for Sonnet, I just happened to place them on top of a scrap of the fabric and once again, there was no other fabric.

Sonnet also features a pincushion design. The model was stitched on 32 ct. Belfast linen from Zweigart in Dark Chocolate with floss from The Gentle Art.

The third project in Sonnet is something a little different, it is a mixed media piece featuring cross stitch. I enjoy the creativity that goes into one of these projects. Your imagination is the limit. The stitching medium is perforated paper, which is then added to a floral background with poem printed on it. The background piece is printed on the chart, so all you have to do is cut it out. And follow all of the instructions of course! There is plenty of room for your own creativity as well. Using the same alphabet from the main piece, you can personalize it with your own information and special mementos.

The third new release is the next line of Calico Sampler, M-N-O. No photo yet, I started writing this and realized that I hadn't taken the photo yet. So, I will upload that at the same time I add the complete photo of Indian Summer. But, while we are talking about Calico Sampler, I wanted to share a photo from a stitcher. I had a special request for the "W" a bit early from the Kranberry Kupboard in Hatboro, PA. Their stitcher wanted to create a special wedding piece and wanted to use the alphabet from Calico Sampler. Here is her finished piece, I think it turned out wonderfully!

Enjoy your last days of August, there is a chill in the evening air, so Fall is on its way!

All my Best,

Beth

Correction on Calico Sampler No. 4 Chart

Hi All!

Thought I would let you know that a mistake was uncovered on my Calico Sampler No. 4 Chart. This is the J-K-L chart. The "K" is noted with an "X" on the chart, but it should be an open heart. So, instead of stitching the "K" with GAST Pumpkin Pie, it should be stitched with GAST Heirloom Gold. So sorry for the mistake, I hope I have caught you in time before you stitch the wrong color.

All my Best,

Beth

Calico Sampler is Growing!!

Hi Friends!

Another row has been added to Calico Sampler! The chart, no. 4 in the series, is now available through Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts and from your favorite needlework shop.

A close up of the newest row. Five more rows to go after this one. I absolutely love how this sampler is progressing. It is just as fun to stitch in July as it was in January!

An update for those of you waiting for Summer Garden, I am stitching the model. So...hopefully I will be sending the chart off to the printer next week. That is my goal anyway!!

On another note, I have been busy designing for new releases at the Fall Market in Baltimore in September. I will give a few sneak peaks as those designs develop. I have to hurry and get Summer Garden off of my frame, cause I am "itching" to start on these new designs!

I have to share some photos of my son's new kitten, Siri. He is like a little panther and constantly busy. He loves boxes and chasing ping-pong balls around in them. He was a constant source of entertainment for us during their visit.

Hope you all are enjoying the fun of summer!! I am enjoying a day with my windows open and AC off.

All my Best,

Beth

Calico Sampler No. 3 is Released

Hi Friends!

For all of you out there eagerly awaiting the next installment of Calico Sampler, it is out! I mailed the charts to both Hoffman and Norden and also the many shops on my automatic program last Saturday. So, you should be finding it in your local needlework shop and on the distributor's "what's new" listings. I must say, this sampler is not growing old on me at all. I love each row as I create and stitch it. The next line, J-K-L, is all designed and I hope to stitch the model this weekend.

Here is a look at the complete sampler so far.



I have had many emails from stitchers about how much they are enjoying the sampler. One stitcher I thought had a marvelous idea. She is stitching the letters of her initials in darker colors, so that they will stand out more. A great way to personalize the sampler!!

Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition

I viewed the spectacular needlework exhibition at Woodlawn Plantation two weeks ago. If you live within driving distance, I would completely recommend it to you. Although the show is in it's 49th year, I had never been there before. It is so inspiring and the needlework showcased is incredible. Do try to get there if you can. Needlework in a historic home, what more could you ask for! Here is a link with more information for you. The show runs until 10 June. http://woodlawn1805.org/49th-annual-needlework-exhibition/

And once you are reinvigorated from Woodlawn, stop in at In Stitches in Alexandria, VA. It is literally a hop, skip and a jump from Woodlawn. A wonderful shop, chock full of cross-stitch and needlepoint supplies from fibers, to fabric, canvases, you name it, it is there, including charts from Summer House Stitche Workes. ;)

Happy Stitching!
Beth

p.s. Punishment for not posting for a month is that Blogger has updated its interface. While most seems to be the same as it was, the way I posted photos is not, so please bear with me, I will try to fix this code as soon as I can.

Calico Sampler No. 2 & Seasons in Stitches

Hi Friends!

A little sneak peak of the next row of Calico Sampler. I am picking up the charts this afternoon from the printers, so they will soon be on their way to shops. The photo above is the entire sampler so far, with two rows completed.

This photo is just of D, E & F, which is Calico Sampler No. 2. This row adds two new Gentle Arts threads to the palatte, Carriage Black and Heirloom Gold. Fabric is Weeks Dye Works 3o ct. Straw and I am stitching over 2 threads. I just love how this sampler is progressing. The colors compliment each other well and create a relaxed look. The borders that accompany each letter are so fun, I am imagining all sorts of little uses for them, such as bookmarks, curtain tiebacks, etc. And then there are the letters themselves. The calligraphic alphabet is so fanciful! Be looking for Calico Sampler No. 2 soon at your local needlework shop.

This little ditty is my contribution to TNNA's Seasons in Stitches collaborative project. The free-bee charts were distributed to shop owners at the Phoenix Winter Show in January and at the Nashville show in February. Thought you would enjoy a photo of the finished piece. I finished mine into a scissor pocket, using fabrics from Moda.

Happy Spring!

Beth