Choose Joy

Well, hello there!  It's been quite a while! 

I have been busy stitching and look forward to the colder months when I can stay in, stay warm, and stitch, stitch, stitch!  I was inspired from one of my antiques to create a sweet ornament, a freebie gift to you, called Choose Joy. 

 I have chosen to make it into a perforated paper ornament but it would also be real cute done as a small pincushion.  The stitch count is 51 wide x 43 high. 

Here is a little sneak peek of some recent stitching.....  Lots of pretty colors, like springtime! 

I am looking forward to the New Year and working on my WIPs, and especially starting on the Ann Roberts Sampler SAL which I will be leading in the Our Sampler Years facebook group.  Each month we will be doing a part of it so I look forward to sharing it with you as we all stitch along!  

For more info about the sampler please visit Hands Across the Sea Samplers website here.

It seems like winter has already come out in full force here in the Northeast!  We are all covered in ice..... it is soooo very sparkly and beautiful!  but cold!!!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! and Happy 2020!!  

A New Year, A New Start!

2016 has had a good stitching start!

Today I received some wonderful stitch-y mail - the new premiere sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers design studio!  Miss Mary Ann Bournes 1791 is such a gorgeous sampler!  The chart is done wonderfully, with color and detailed history. So much to love with this one, the border, the bees, the sweet animals on the lawn, and, of course the birds!  

Congratulations to Nicola and Sandra on their new venture.  Their new website is chock full of wonderful details about samplers and helpful guides for stitchers.  Please take a look see!   

And New Year's Day I got a running start stitching on a SAL!  This one is EN 1815 by Heartstring Samplery.  It will be fun to see what everyone will do with this one, picking their own colors.  I have chosen to use Nina's Threads, in Old Berry.  Not sure if I have enough thread for the whole design so I may improvise with some other colors.  I also grabbed some linen from my own stash, 32 ct PTP Legacy.  This is a nice stitch on the 32 ct, easy on the eyes!  

So I hope you have all gotten off to a great start this New Year!  

I have also found the Bloglovin' app on my phone!  Downloaded it today and realized it is a much easier way to keep up on reading all of your blogs.  

Already the holidays seem like memory, although I am glad that there are still some pretty lights and decorations out and about.  I took this photo on my way home from work today....   

Wishing you miles of smiles and stitches!  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx