~ To Thine Own Heart Be True ~

Hello to all my friends on this chilly winter's day.

~ Studio News ~

It seems like every where I look this past 

few weeks....I'm seeing reminders to be true to

what I believe in!

In my little stitching alcove in the farmhouse, 

hangs an old shelve with some of my 

favorite carved folkart sheep.

This one is my my favorite....

It's my favorite because my husband hand carved the little

red heart that hangs around the neck.

I love looking up while stitching, because that little red

heart is a constant reminder to me;

~ To Thine Own Heart Be True ~

There has been something troubling my heart...about my  

stitching thread!

With SO many different threads available to stitchers,

how do you choose what to stitch with....FOLLOW YOUR HEART!

Here's why I'm torn, when I started stitching as a little

girl I always used DMC, which is very user friendly

and affordable....I will ALWAYS love DMC.

As my passion for stitching and antiques grew over 

the years....I also fell in love with SILK thread.

Then, discontentment started back in 2007 while stitching models

 for my retail shop Salem Stitchery.....when the new

overdyed cotton threads were introduced.

I started stitching with them, but just can't seem to fall

in love with them!

Overdyed threads are lovely, but when I use them....I end

up getting frustrated.   

I'm very traditional and love the look of antique samplers,

which were stitched with silk threads....never have I 

seen an antique sampler stitched in overdyed thread, and 

that's what's heavy on MY HEART! 

Then, out of the blue this man's words REALLY SPOKE TO ME....

I couldn't get his words out of my mind, 

because I felt like he was speaking directly to ME!!

So I spent the entire weekend creating a pallet

 of threads for my two favorite threads to stitch with;

~ Needlepoint Silk

~ DMC Cotton

I'm not finished sorting yet, but have my choices pretty 

well narrowed down.

Here a glimpse of what I have so far....

The Needlepoint Silk is top and bottom to the left, 

and DMC is top and bottom to the right.

On Friday I'll share my completed pallet lists...my goal is 

to keep it simple!

I know exactly which thread box I'll be using....

It's PERFECT...two drawers for Needlepoint Silk,

and two drawers for DMC cotton Thread.

This is not to say that I'll never use overdyed's again, 

but for now Scattered Seed Sampler models

will be stitched using Needlepoint Silk OR DMC.

If the model is stitched with the silk, I will ALWAYS 

include the DMC alternatives.

Needlepoint Silk (NPS) ....so traditional & lovely to stitch with!

DMC Cotton Thread....all time FAVORITE!

Overdyed Cotton Thread...beautiful contemporary look!

It's really nice now that there are conversion 

thread lists available for those who 

love working with this variegated thread.

Sorry for all my rambling!

What thread is pulling at YOUR heart?

They're ALL lovely...what's YOUR comfort zone?

There's no right or wrong :)

****

Look at what I found in the East Wing of the farmhouse....

My old Amy Grant poster....dated on the back June 3, 1989!

I was a big Amy Grant fan and went to several of her

concerts....I still love listening to her old CD's while stitching!

In fact, I gathered them all together so I can add a CD player

to my stitching alcove :)

I always have music playing in the Studio, so it will  

be nice to add some music to my favorite stitching space!!!

***

I forgot to post this picture a couple of weeks ago....

Wow, I can hardly believe it!

And now the price is even lower....$1.96 per gallon.

***

Evening Sky over the Mississippi River, by

Samuel Black

I keep telling my son Samuel he should get into

professional photography!

***

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

A man's heart deviseth his way;

but the Lord directeth his steps.

~ Proverbs 16:9...KJV ~

***

Have a wonderful week stitching with 

YOUR favorite thread!

~ Kindly, Tammy ~