Traveling Workbox ~

Welcome dear friends, 

do you have special plans for this

 Memorial Day weekend?

Hopefully the weather will be nice

and NO rain!

I LOVE strawberries both

edible and non~edible...how about you?

Pretty little antique strawberry emeries...

Embellished with sterling silver tops are displayed

all by themselves.

But what to do with my more humble strawberries?

That's what I decided to fill my jumbo jar with...

No two are exactly alike!

Strawberry picking is such sweet fun...

I always have my eyes open for stray strawberries

that are looking for a good new home!

And there is still plenty of room to add some more...

This is a view looking down into the jar!

~*~*~

Schoolgirl Samplar update...

"Jewel of Wisdom" hot off the press!

Everything is on schedule and ready to 

ship on Tuesday, May 31st.

I'm already gathering my thoughts 

and planning for the next release in August!

Wonderful overdyed linen is already on order...

I'm so EXCITED about this chosen linen!

~*~*~

Before starting a new samplar I love to pick out

either a special basket, tote or box depending

on the size of the samplar...

For my next antique reproduction samplar, 

I chose this nice roomy workbox!

Next, gathering just the right tools

to add to the workbox...

I think of all the necessities I'll need at my fingertips,

especially if I'm on a weekend road trip!

I chose this box because it has a nice

roomy lower compartment...

Perfect place to keep my hand lotion, chart,

rolled up original antique samplar (for reference), 

and my work in progress!

This is a fairly large samplar,

with a stitch count of 

286W by 285H

I find great joy in using my old tools

as well as newer ones...

Tool necessities from left to right ~

* bees wax bar

* hare pinkeep for John James Petite #28 needles

* AVAS Silk thread

* sharp snips

* old cat head tape measure

* magnifying glass necklace

* old ivory needle case 

* old pinkeep for pins 

When starting a large samplar that has a border,

I prefer to start stitching in the upper left corner...

My linen is cut to include a 2" framing allowance.

Next, I choose a 2" square to establish the 

spot where I'll start stitching.

These corner squares are wonderful 

and come in different sizes...2", 3", 4"

Place the square in the upper left corner...

Begin stitching by the lower right corner!

Quilt & craft shops also sell these handy little squares...

This Omnigrid is nice because it includes an extra

 half inch...if you prefer to include a 2.5" framing allowance.

A "must have" in my sewing box is a magnifying glass, 

You never know when you might need to check 

something out!

This is my favorite because I can wear it 

around my neck while stitching!

Now that I'm all organized I can enjoy stitching
either at home or on the road with my
traveling workbox at my side!

~*~*~

Weekend Soul Food...

But thou, when thou prayest,

enter into thy closet, and when thou

hast shut thy door, pray to thy

Father which is in secret; and

thy Father which seeth in secret

shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6...KJV

~*~*~

Blessings for a safe and relaxing

Memorial Day Weekend,

Kindly, Tammy