Work in Progress...

Welcome dear friends, 

what do you have planned for this fine day?

My weekend was so relaxing!

This is the way I passed my time...

Every possible moment was spent stitching!

My goal was to have the first of three borders 

finished by Monday morning...

Yay, I met my deadline...barely!

Working on 40ct with a

stitch count of 286W by 285W...lots of tiny stitches!

One border complete...

Two more to go...I'm excited to get started on the next 

one tonight!

Once I finish these three borders, 

I can enjoy stitching the wonderful motifs

that Lydia worked into her samplar

back in 1827...she was only 9 years old!

.~.~**~.~.

Right in front of the Studio are 

Arbor Vitae bushes, and for the past

 several weeks every time I walk between

the farmhouse and the Studio a Robin comes

 flying out...just squawking at me!

With my curiosity in full force,

look at what I discovered...

Four little babies...sound to sleep!

Mama Robin is finally getting used to hearing

my voice and she's not squawking at me 

like she did at first!

What fun to check on the babies every day...

They are starting to get fluffier...caught

them sleeping again! 

.~.~**~.~.

The country roadsides are so 

pretty this time of year...

Wild Sweet William!

.~.~**~.~.

On Sunday my family and I went on a short road

 trip to Winona, Minnesota, luckily my favorite

 photo man Sam (son) was with...

When we passed this family of Canadian Geese

they were up on the edge of the highway, we turned 

to get photos and to get them back in the water!

As soon as we slowed down the Gander (male)

really started honking at us...

The female Goose stayed close to her 

little Goslings!

Six little Goslings...

The mother Goose stayed quite, 

while the Gander did all the honking!

We were so relived to get them back to safety 

and away from the busy highway...

What a special site to see!

One happy family...

Sam is so quick with his camera!

Plus, he even got a video...

Thank you so much Sam!

.~.~**~.~.

Weekly Soul Food...

My brethren, 

count it all joy when ye

 fall into divers temptations,

Knowing this,

that the trying of your

 faith worketh patience.

James 1:2~3...KJV

.~.~**~.~.

O the joy of holiday weekends,

hope yours is splendid!

~Sweet Blessings~ 

Tammy

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

Spring Breeze ~

Welcome dear friends, 

hope you're enjoying beautiful

spring weather!

I'm really getting excited about starting

to stitch my next antique reproduction sampler!

Saturday evening and all day Sunday

were spent charting, and still not finished, hope

to have the chart done later this week!

The model will be stitched on

 Week Dye Works 40 count "Tin Roof" linen...

Little nine year old Lydia stitched her beautiful

sampler 189 years ago using silk thread!

The model will also be stitched in silk,

I'll be using the lovely AVAS silks.

I can hardly wait to draw my needle with silk

 through this awesome linen!

~*~

My assemble line is coming together nicely

for the "Jewel of Wisdom" kits...

All the WDW 36ct. Straw linen is cut,

and the brown floral pinkeep fabric is ready to go!

Little "Crown" charms finally arrived...

All the way from the United Kingdom...each kit will

include a little crown!

Kits will also include the little o~ring 

for the heart shaped pinkeep.

This week I'll be getting all the pattern

stuff ready to go to the printers...

"Jewel of Wisdom" Samplar & Heart Pinkeep.

Scheduled to ship May 31st.

Memberships are available through my Etsy Shop

as a one year membership, which can be paid

all at once, OR I have a quarterly

installment plan available.

All the information is posted in the listing...

If you are interested in joining,

please click HERE

~*~

Several months ago I purchased this Jumbo Jar...

I found it at our local People's Food Co~Op,

LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

The glass has a green tint, 

the front is stamped 6kg.

It is so heavy...

It weighs 8 pounds!

The quality is amazing for a brand new jar!

I've decided it's finally time to fill it...check back

on Friday to see what will fill this jumbo jar!

~*~

I started working out of my Studio back 

in 2007, when my husband remodeled this

old building here on our farm... 

A photo taken last fall.

At that time he had installed a 

new front door...as shown in the photo.

Well, we always talked about adding a 

screen door, but as time passed by it just never

happened...has that ever happened to you?

On Sunday, out of the blue my husband

asked me; 'would like a screen door put on

your Studio'...

Here is my new screen door...before I opened

up this morning!

Now with cross ventilation,

after 9 years I'm finally enjoying

the beautiful Spring breeze

while I work...

I REALLY, REALLY, LOVE & APPRECIATE 

this new addition!

~*~

Do you have a favorite flower?

Mine would have to be dark purple Iris...

Just look at all those blossoms just 

waiting to burst open! 

Spring, such an amazing time of the year!

Simply gorgeous! 

And the lovely blossoms of bushes and trees...

Just amazing, when you look close at all the 

little flowers that form one cluster!

The Peonies are getting bigger and bigger...

Soon...very soon!

~*~

Weekly Soul Food...

"I love them that love me; 

and those that seek me early

shall find me."

Proverbs 8:17...KJV

~*~

Enjoy the beauty 

that spring delivers!

Sweet Blessings,

Tammy

Farmhouse Samplar Library ~

Welcome dear friends, 

hope you enjoyed a great week!

Last night while working late in the Studio,

I decided to hang "Jewel of Wisdom"

right below "Martha Howells 1849"...

I think they look so sweet next to each other!

Both samplers were stitched on 

WDW 36ct Straw...they seem to really

compliment each other!

Stepping into the Studio this morning was a 

real thrill, to see them in the morning sunlight...

Welcome to a little corner of my Studio!

~*~

On Monday, 

I shared a newly acquired 

antique sampler and had mentioned

that there was one very specific symbolic 

thing that stood out in this sampler...

I had several emails, all with great guesses,

but no one had the correct answer!

The verse on the left reads:

Trifle Not

Your time away

when youth is

In its bloom

Think upon your

Dying day and

Mind the world

To come

The words on the right read:

Agnes Corville

Granton

A D

1866

Here is the answer to solve the mystery...

It's stitched in the lower half, 

There are two sets of initials "JC" and "MC"

The "MC"really stands out because the initials are

  STITCHED IN BLACK...THAT'S THE CORRECT ANSWER!

In studying reference books on antique

samplers, I learned that initials stitched in

black are actually deceased family members.

So, it is the symbolism of remembrance 

and respect for the dearly departed!

My guess is Agnes Corville (AC) stitched this

and the JC & MC were her parents...I'll be researching

her genealogy to see if my guess is correct. 

About six months ago,

I remember telling my husband about this,

and never thought in a million years 

that I would actually stumble upon

such an antique sampler! 

~*~

    I finally took some pictures this morning

of the little farmhouse room that I 

recently turned into my Samplar Library...

Looking into the room from the doorway,

this is a very bright and sunny room!

Very small but sweet...

On top of the green cabinet are my two very

favorite workbaskets, and a very special

black crow my son Samuel carved for 

 my 44th birthday back in 2005.

Sam was only in 5th grade...how I love that crow!

Displayed on top of the hanging bookshelf...

A collection of antique pinkeep boxes with 

pull out drawers...my favorite one has the inlaid

Lion on the side! 

Just enough room for a

 small reading chair and table...

A wonderful room to enjoy a cup of Mocha Coffee 

and refuel myself with inspiration...this window looks 

out to my design Studio!

Sitting in my chair, if you look up...

There is a nice shelf way up high with a lower

storage cabinet below...this is actually an old fashioned 

  built in china cupboard that faces the dining room

on the other side!

The other wall has a desk and some more books...

I still can't decide if I should add curtains

 or just keep the blinds?

This little room was once my office,

but decided to relocate my good computer 

out to my Studio.

This side of the room looks out to the front yard...

Lots of nice work space!

The doorway looks out to the dining room,

I've already fallen in love with the convenience

of having my books at my finger tips in the

evening hours!

~*~

One of my Christmas presents was the 

Downton Abbey series...

So far I've watched seasons 1~4,

I'm hoping to get started with the last

two seasons this weekend!

Plus, I'm really excited about the bonus DVD

The Manners of Downton Abbey!

~*~

Weekend Soul Food...

"The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge."

Proverbs 18:15...KJV

~*~

Wishing you a very happy weekend,

Many Blessings, 

Tammy