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 No. 6 - P-Q-R

The next chapter of Calico Sampler is ready! As I told you yesterday, I shipped the charts to the shops on my automatic on Saturday, before the storm hit, so they should be arriving soon. Haven't shipped to the distributors yet, but I should in the next few days. I love the letter "Q," I think it is my favorite letter, it has such movement in the calligraphy.



Here is a photo of the entire sampler to date. I am really loving this design! I have never stitched anything as large as this before, so it is pretty exciting to me to watch it develop. I am not quite sure how I will finish it yet. I have picked out a frame from Priscilla's Pocket, but if I frame the piece, then it will be too large to include in my trunk show. So, still thinking about the final finishing. Any suggestions?

Be watching my blog, as tomorrow I am going to post the color key and photo to create the "N-O-E-L" version that my friend Carol stitched. I had the piece on display at the Baltimore Market last month.

Until tomorrow...happy stitching!!

Beth

Meet Bailey

Hi Friends!

I wanted to introduce you to the newest addition to our family, Miss Bailey. She is now 15 weeks old and filling our lives with puppy humor. The cat is still adjusting to his new canine friend and not all that convinced she is a friend. Bailey on the other hand, loves the cat!! Oh what fun our pets bring us.

Hope you all fared well in the storm. We have a bunch of branches on the ground from our trees, but that is about it. Obviously, still have power, so we lucked out there.

Still trying to work on this blogger/image thing, so more posts to come.

All my Best,
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