Original Sampler Models ~ For Sale ~

Welcome dear needlefolk friends ~

I'm keeping cool inside today...very hot and humid!

Days like this are great for finding 

inspiration in a good book...

This is an older book copyright 1994,

but each and every page (160) will fill you with a 

sense of calmness!

"Paradise on earth" is how Tasha describes 

her garden, she lives off the land with flowers and 

vegetables providing her food!

Her paradise is filled with an enchanting

menagerie ~ corgies, Nubian goats, cats, chickens,

fantail doves, and forty or more exotic finches, 

cockatiels, canaries, nightingales, and parrots!

Tasha's house was a hand~hewn home

in New England and she lived a nineteenth 

century legendary lifestyle...she sadly 

passed away several years ago!

Tasha was also a wonderful watercolor artist,

author and illustrator, publishing many

books in her lifetime.

It's fascinating to read about Tasha's 

gardening secrets! 

Her enchanting books will dazzle you with

 her beautiful gardens and inspire you with practical

ideas about improving your own plots of land!

~::~

I decided it's time to start parting with original

sampler models that I stitched and framed

during the years of being a shop owner

for Salem Stitchery (2007~2013)...

This wonderful Halloween sampler was hand stitched,

finished and framed by me, the sampler is dated

2009 with my initials TB.

The pattern was from Carriage House Samplings.

I stitched the sampler on 32ct Lakeside Linen

"Vintage Autumn Gold" using overdyed 

threads by WDW and Gentle Art.

The finished sampler is mounted into a 

quality black frame.

This sampler is looking for a new home,

click HERE to hang it on YOUR wall!

~::~

Do you love "Hearts"?

Next, are three little heart samplers...

This pattern was from "4 My Boys", 

and stitched on 35ct R & R linen "Kansas City Blend",

using overdyed WDW and Gentle Art.

Mounted into a 7.5" by 6.5" brown frame.

To visit this Ebay auction click HERE

~::~

This next one is also from "4 My Boys"...

This model was stitched on 32ct linen using

overdyed threads from WDW and Gentle Art.

Mounted into a 7.5" by 7.5" black frame.

Click HERE to check out this auction!

~::~

And the last one up for auction this week is...

Is a pattern from Heartstring Samplery

 stitched on 32 overdyed linen.

Mounted into a quality 8" by 7" distressed frame.

Please click HERE for all the details!

~::~

Weekly Soul Food...

I can do all things through Christ 

which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:14...KJV

~::~

Every summit I reach seems the highest,

with my valleys below God renews me

again!

I can say my goodbyes to all the struggles 

and tears, when I see through His eyes I've got 

nothing to fear!

For joy's there to meet me and wisdom's my friend

My companions that help me find purpose again!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting 

with me today, your friendship is so very 

dear to me!

Kindly, Tammy

A Goode Foundation ~

Welcome dear needlefolk friends ~

are you enjoying the summer...for it passes 

so quickly!

There is a unique magic that occurs when 

you sit upon a porch...it is often looked

upon as being lazy!

Actually much good and valuable 

work is completed, as you give yourself

permission to leave the world behind.

Time is so quickly gobbled up and we forget

the importance of simply being ourselves.

Before stress relief was a prosperous 

industry...there was goode old porch sitting!

~::~::~

~ Lydia Barnes Pidgeon 1927 ~

Antique Sampler Reproduction 

Progress Update...

If only time would allow...I would

stitch all day long!!

However, I do thoroughly enjoy

each and every stitch I do find the time

to cross with great passion! 

I love working on this samplar so much,

it truly has "A Goode Foundation"...

The third border is all complete, 

moving onto the lovely motifs,

 saving the verse for last!

~::~::~

Upcoming Bee Samplar Update...

The chosen linen will be

Weeks Dye Works 36ct ~ Tin Roof

With limited time this week, 

I didn't get as far as I had hoped...still 

working on the design!

The stitch count will be 161W by 161H...

It will be finished into this 10" by 10" frame.

More updates to come!

~::~::~

Our wild Blackberries here on the farm

 are finally ready for picking...

The gnats can really take the 

fun out of berry picking...thank goodness

for bug spray!

Back at the farmhouse...it was worth

all the bug bites!

~::~::~

The lazy days of summer...

A ducks version of good old fashioned

porch sitting!

~::~::~

This is my all time favorite roadside barn...

I hope no one ever takes it down...that would 

make me so sad!

(Between Viroqua and Richland Center, Wisconsin)

~::~::~

My weekend plans revolve around getting as

many stitches crossed as I possibly can!

Hope you too will find lots of quality stitching time!

~::~::~

Weekend Soul Food...

In Search of consistency ~

My good intentions and desires do not always 

measure up!

I struggle with consistency in many areas of my life,

like when it come to eating healthy, and especially exercising!

Most importantly is my desire to give God first place in my

life and walk with Him daily, seeking His way...not mine!

I start out strong, but sadly...often fall short!

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: 

but godliness is profitable unto all things, 

having promise of the life that now is, 

and of that which is to come."

1 Timothy 4:8...KJV

~::~::~

Hoping YOU can enjoy some

quality "porch sitting" this weekend!

Fill your heart with goodness,

Tammy

Let Freedom Ring!

Welcome dear needlefolk friends...

hope you're enjoying a day of remembrance

in honor of Independence Day!

I have very fond memories of attending a 

Parochial School while growing up in 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin...to start the

school day our class would all stand

up beside their desk and recite 

"The Pledge of allegiance"...

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag 

of the United States of America, 

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one Nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all."

I've always love the "Betsy Ross" Flag...such 

lovely Threads Through Time!

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of libery...of thee I sing!

Land where my fathers died, 

land of the pilgrims' pride, from

every mountainside...Let Freedom Ring!

~:::~

This week I'm excited to finally

spend some quality time starting my

upcoming "Bee Samplar"...

I have all sorts of fragmented thoughts floating

around in my head...I need to sort through

them and start the fun part of designing!

More updates to follow in the upcoming weeks!

~:::~

Antique sewing items for sale this week

on Ebay...

Offering from my personal sewing collection

is this sweet sewing basket!

The perfect size basket for chair side

sewing needfuls!  

The top is embellished with

glass beads, silk tassels, 

center pull ring (serves as opening handle)

brass coins laced with cording.

The inside and bottom of the basket are

green in color and measures 7" in diameter.

Click HERE to visit this basket auction!

~:::~

The second chosen item for this 

week's auction block is...

"A  Gilded Pilgrims Shoe" Pinkeep

It measures 5.5" long x 2.5" high x 1.5" wide...

a lovely chair side pinkeep for any sewing space!

The pinkeep is covered with dark red velvet

and is filled with sawdust.

Click HERE to visit this pinkeep auction!

~:::~

Guess what's starting to bloom?

While enjoying a walk on the farm yesterday,

I was happy to see the Purple Coneflower's are 

just starting bloom!  

~:::~

Weekly Soul Food...

God bless America,

land that I love; stand beside her,

and guide her, through the night,

with Thy light, from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

to the oceans white with foam,

God bless America, My home,

sweet home!

~:::~

I'll be sharing another update on

my antique Lydia samplar in

progress...soon!

~::~ Blessings from Scattered Seed Samplers ~::~

Kindly, Tammy

The Early Workbasket ~ Tomato Pinkeeps

Welcome dear needlefolk friends

and hello to summer in July!

The weather today in my neighborhood is

 absolutely gorgeous with cool summer

 breezes flowing through my Studio

 screen door...no need for air

  conditioning today...Yay!

~♦♦~

The Early Workbasket 

Tomato Pinkeeps...

The earliest recorded origins of pincushions 

dates back to the Middle Ages of Europe.

In the English language, 

they became know by many names ~

~ pimpilowes

~ pimpilos

~ pimplos

~ pimploes

~ pin~pillows

~ pin~poppets

I love the modern updated version...pinkeep!

During the Victorian Era, according to folklore,

when a family moved into a new home,

 a fresh tomato was placed on the 

 mantle to ward off evil spirits and thus

bring prosperity to the new homeowners!

If tomatoes were out of season, 

families improvised by using a round ball of

 red fabric filled with sand or sawdust and made

to look like the real thing with embellishments such

 as leaves and veins.

The good~luck symbol also served

a practical purpose...a place to store pins!

Typically, the tomato is filled with wool roving

to prevent rust, and the strawberry is filled

with emery (an abrasive) to clean and

sharpen the pins and needles.

These two plump tomatoes I made years

ago using red and green wools, they

are filled with wool roving. 

The strawberries are embellished with

random backstitches to resemble the seeds.

Here is my sewing machine companion...

This one I made using the same basic materials,

but used a flatter pattern design.

These three are the only tomatoes made by me, 

the rest are all old vintage tomatoes!

A group photo of my tomato harvest...

Collecting tomatoes is such fun!

With all my many collections,

I always seem to have a favorite...

This sweet little tomato all dressed up with a
sterling silver cap and silk tassel wins my

first place "Blue Ribbon!"

Hope you enjoyed this months 

Early Workbasket feature on Tomato Pinkeeps!

The next featured topic is scheduled for 

Friday, August 5th.

~♦♦~

Little Sparrow Pinkeep Club Update...

"Mend Thy Soul" kits 

have shipped and are on their way!  

Please keep in mind there will be no 

mail delivery on Monday for (4th of July)...watch

for kits to arrive either Tuesday or Wednesday.

~♦♦~

Oh the joy that summer delivers...

Fresh garden veggies at their best!

All this writing about tomatoes is making me

hungry for something like spaghetti...

Or, maybe homemade pizza!

~♦♦~

Weekend Soul Food...

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,

or whatsoever ye do,

do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31...KJV

~♦♦~

Blessings for a safe and relaxing

Fourth of July weekend!

Kindly, Tammy