~ Hot Mocha on a Winter's Day ~

Hello and welcome dear friends and stitchers.

I don't know where this week disappeared to, but I 

sure wish there were more hours in a day!

Better yet, I need another lifetime just

for my needlework pleasures!

***

~ Studio News ~

I'll be finished stitching my next handwork project 

this weekend.

This piece will not be framed.  

One of my Studio friends would like to give you a little

sneak peek of some fabric we chose....

This fabric is a perfect match for the finishing.

It really matches the Terra Cotta pot.

A special note to my friend Candace, this is NOT the 

one you're hoping for, but it's coming....sorry to keep you waiting!

I'll be releasing many Springtime finishes in the next

few months :)

***

I love keeping my sewing basket exciting.  

In anticipation for SPRING, I changed my needle case....

Lovely old needlecase with carved rabbits.

Pretty sewing tools in my basket is all it takes to 

make my heart very happy  ~♥~

***

A good hot Mocha coffee ALSO makes my 

heart very happy!

While a Starbuck's or Caribou Coffee House is fun for

a treat once in a while, I certainly can't afford 

their high prices on a daily basis!

So this is how I make my Mocha's at home....

This is my favorite Chocolate Mocha mix by Ghirardelli.

For years it came packaged in the round container on the right, 

but last year the company changed it to the bag style. 

Unfortunately they lowered the content weight and raised

the price!!!

I'm so happy I never threw out my round container, which

is much more user friendly.

Next you will need coffee....

The one thing that I make sure is ORGANIC is my 

instant coffee.

Coffee is one of the leading foods we consume that is highly

treated with chemicals, pesticides and herbicides....YUK!!!

I finally found this wonderful Organic Decaffeinated Instant

coffee at our local People's Food Co~Op.

The flavor is absolutely wonderful!!

Next mixing it all together....

Add the following for one cup of GREAT MOCHA:

~ 8 ounce cup

~ fill with your choice of milk

~ Microwave on Medium-low 4 minutes 20 seconds

(low heat & longer time prevents milk from boiling over)

I use Skim milk which creates a scum on top after being in the 

microwave, so I take the end of my spoon and remove it before adding

the ingredients.

Add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee and 1 heaping teaspoon 

of Mocha mix and stir....ENJOY!!!

***

This old bear sits all alone in the farmhouse....

 

This big guy belongs to my husband.  I was so excited 

to find the perfect little friend to sit on his lap....

The white fur has aged to the exact color on both of them!

What a sweet pair!

***

I was blown away by an email I received last week on this

pincushion that I had for sale in my Ebay Store...

The production manager from FOX TELEVISION purchased

this from me and needed it shipped air overnight for 

a television shooting!

She told me that this pincushion will be a PROP in the new 

mini series called "Salem"!

I'm not familiar with this show, but my pincushion will be featured late this fall in ~

 SERIES TWO ~ EPISODE TWO

She also said it was exactly what they were looking for and 

absolutely loved it!

It was a really nice 5.5" in diameter pincushion box with detailed

viney branches and little flowers.

The bottom was stamped with the makers hallmark ~

"Middletown Plate" 

Quadruple Plate (2)

Hard White Metal

I still can hardly believe it!

If anyone sees it later this fall, please let me know!

***

~ Weekend Soul Food ~

I can do all things through

Christ which strengtheneth me.

~ Philippians 4:13...KJV ~

***

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me today.

Enjoy a hot Mocha and have a 

wonderful weekend...please stop back on Monday!

Blessings from Scattered Seed Samplers,

~Kindly, Tammy~

~ Simple Country Gatherings ~

Welcome dear friends to the last

week of January....only two weeks until 

Valentine's Day!

My thoughts turned to a nice warm summer's day 

as I gathered together red tomatoes to share....

This variety is known as the wonderful Sewing Tomato 

and two old silk apples.

I always keep my eyes open for tomatoes

while antiquing...so fun to find a very special one! 

***

For those of you who collect the "Simply Country" book 

series by Judy Condon, the newest one is out....

~ Simply Country Homes & Gardens ~

Softcover, 144 pages, 2014

Here is a little glimpse of the content...

Fun garden ideas, love the bee skep and little rabbits on 

the upper left page.

Love, love this old bed, quilt and rug!

Lovely handwork featured in this home!

I would love to have a sunny room with lots of windows...maybe

someday!

If you look real close, the couch on the upper left page has

a great rug hooked sheep pillow.

Judy Condon's next book titled "Little Bit of Country", 

will be available in March  2015.

***

For this week's Ebay auctions, I've selected the 

next three sewing items....

Wonderful antique 8 spindle thread stand with original

gold velvet pincushion.  Circa 1930.

Also included, are the 

eight old spools of thread. 

These are very hard to find in antique shops these days

and this one is in good used antique condition.

Item number two....

This long necked swan thread holder is so sweet!

The swan is attached to the lower tray making it one piece.

Comes with the thimble.

This piece is heavy, solid metal (not sure what kind).

Nickel plated or silver plated.

I have not polished it.

What a great punch needle thread holder for those 

lovely overdyed balls of Valdani!

***

Item number three....

Old two piece sewing trinket basket.

Measures 4" in diameter by 3" high.  If you include the tall

handle it is 6" high.

Nicely woven and good and clean...no bad smells!

Would make a nice little snippets basket.

These 3 items will be listed as 7 day Ebay auctions

later tonight and will end Monday night, February 2nd.

If you are interested just click onto the Ebay link provided,

and ZAP it will take you directly to my Ebay Store....

stores.ebay.com/Salem-Stitchery-and-Antiques

These sewing items are looking for  

GOOD NEW HOMES!

***

~ Studio News ~

I enjoyed a very relaxing weekend

 stitching to my hearts content on my next release.

I'll share an update on Friday.

***

The first week of February I'll start releasing the details

for the new upcoming club....

~ Little Sparrow Pinkeep Club ~

***

This big fellow can hardly wait for Spring plowing!

***

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

He that followeth after

righteousness and mercy

 findeth life, 

righteousness,

and honor.

~ Proverbs 21:21...KJV ~

***

Before closing I would like to extend a 

BIG, BIG THANK YOU...for ALL 

the lovely comments that 

you leave!!

Please know that ~

EACH & EVERY ONE IS TRULY APPRECIATED!!

Blessings from Scattered Seed Samplers,

~ Kindly, Tammy ~

~ New Studio Stash ~

Hello and welcome dear friends!

Just think, January ~ the LONG month of 

January is nearly over....yeah!!!

I love when February finally rolls around 

because SPRING is just 

around the corner!

~ Studio News ~

After finally getting all caught up on 

shipping & paperwork, I spent

Wednesday and Thursday designing, pulling threads,

and choosing the right linen for my 

next sampler.

Oh, how wonderful it was to start stitching

last night....

It was really hard for me to lay my handwork 

down and go to bed!

Here's a sneak peek of how far I got.

 ~ a little Terra Cotta pot ~

My son Sam thinks this will be my best sampler so far!

I hope he's right.  We'll have to wait and see!

***

While running errands in town, I treated myself to stopping at 

our local Quilt shop "Olive Juice" and Hancock Fabric.

Here's a look at the fabrics I'll add to my stash....

With so many bolts to choose from, I was very happy 

with my choices.

They meet all my requirements...especially the colors!

I love anything viney...in real life and on fabric!

***

Next on my list, was my favorite handwork thread at

 Hancock Fabrics....

While driving home, all I could think about was, 'what will I 

use to hold all my new threads?'  

This little old red darning tin was my first thought.

Sweet little thing....it's looking for something special to hold!

At first I thought it would work, but it only holds 12 spools,

and I purchased 13!

Then I remembered this unique basket....

I was excited to count 19 spindles; but would the spools 

fit onto them or not?

YES....it's a perfect fit!

My sewing machine doesn't like the modern day threads, 

which are polyester.

I fell in love with this 100% cotton thread by ~ 

~ Gutermann

~ Made in Greece

~ 110 yards per spool

~ $2.05 per spool

Here is a list of the thread colors I purchased:

Color 1140 ~ light linen

 Color 3260 ~ dark linen

 Color 2410 ~ Hazelnut 

 Color 3880 ~ Mocha

 Color 2200 ~ Cocoa 

 Color 8935 ~ Moss Green

 Color 1661 ~ Mustard 

Color 4850 ~ Terra Cotta

Color 1800 ~ Copper

Color 4820 ~ Dark Copper

Color 3756 ~ Light Grey

Color 3400 ~ Medium Grey

Color 3630 ~ Dark Grey 

The spools are listed by the Color number only...I added the

name just to give you an idea of the color shade.

***

I was hoping to share my personal pallet choices on the 

Needlepoint Silk (NPS) and DMC, but I haven't 

had time to finish the list yet.

I'll give an update as soon as the lists are complete.

***

While looking through some old magazine clippings, 

look at what I found....

Oh this makes me smile....I laugh every time I look at it!

This sweet cottontail looks so much like Abigail...aka Abby!

For the last couple of years, during the winter months, 

we've been feeding our wild rabbits

with feed available from our local farm store.

Abby is alive and very well...I'll try to get a new photo 

of my pretty girl!

***

These next photos are courtesy of my son Sam, 

while on a drive in Amish country....

Up the hills....watch for cattle crossing AND

Amish buggies! 

Down the hills, keep watching....you just never 

know what you'll see!

The horses wear "Blinders" over their eyes so they

 don't get spooked by the passing traffic.

And sure enough....horses pulling a SLED wagon!

Thank you Sam for your awesome 

drive by photography!!

***

~ Weekend Soul Food ~

How much better is it to get 

wisdom than gold!  and to get 

understanding rather to be chosen

than silver!

~ Proverbs 16:16...KJV ~

***

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Please stop back on Monday

for another visit.

Blessings from Scattered Seed Samplers,

~ Kindly, Tammy ~