A Simple Christmas sampler

A Simple Christmas

sampler designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2010

 any linen of your choice in vintage color

DMC colors

355 dark red for the heart, lights on tree, around windows and door

830  the Christmas tree and the shrub

680 dark old gold for the key, the star on the tree and lights

169 pewter blue for letters, numbers,balls on tree (blue)

 and curtains

840 medium beige brown/ the tree trunk

801 very dark brown / logs on house and chimney

613 very light brown/ between logs on house

647 medium gray for walkway

3078 very light yellow for windows only

3865  winter white for snow

Another bit of information on a Christmas finish in 2007

Hope you are doing well. I've been sleeping or working since Thursday as I had an allergic reaction again, to the dye they put in my eyes. Yesterday I took a total of 8 Benadryl and tried to work through it as well so I slept for 12 hours when I got home.

This morning is a little better, not as swollen but still itchy very much.

Before I take more antihistamines, I am trying to respond to some questions. I realized when I put the series of Christmas finish pics from around the house that I should have given more information on title, designer, etc. I do apologize. I'll start with this one.

Several questions on this one in particular I finished in 2007.

The skating couple in the back there.

This is a better close up pic. 

Mill Hill--designer

Skating Pond

This is Mill Hill, Christmas series 2007. They come in kits with the beads (many many beads) and thread and the antique brown perferated paper. This was the only piece I have done on perferated paper and with so many beads but in the right light the beads are so beautiful.

This series still can be found at your local needlework shop. If you order online, this is one source that has it HERE

The frame has to be ordered separately and the charm on it I attached that came with the kit.

I love the whole series, as well as the 2008 ones too. They have apothecary shops, churches, toy shops, etc. Very pretty when placed near a Christmas Village.

Till later,

Jennifer

Wednesday Wonders

I'm soooooo enjoying reading through all your comments and am so sorry I can't answer them each and every one but there are some things I would like to tell you more of.......

This is one of the largest samplers I made back a couple of years ago. I spent about 9 months on it. I was fortunate to have heard about a SAL through a LNS, formerly the Dogwood Patch, now the Stitch Store and I dived into working on this piece. This is called Quaker Christmas by Bygone Stitches.

I thoroughly enjoyed working this large piece and carried it with me everywhere. This one, when finished I did get professionally framed and I was very pleased with it but that did encourage me to frame my future ones on my own because of the high cost.

I used the recommended fibers in the design. Many in our group stitched using different colors and each was so beautiful!  The beauty of taking one design and interpreting and expressing those differences was so exciting fot the stitch-a-long group.

I finished it then in late October and it's been hanging in my front room in a group of samplers ever since. I do not take it down after Christmas. The flash in the pic above makes it look lighter than it really is.

This is a better pic of the true lighting in our house.

This sampler took 20 skeins of Crescent Colors Balsam Fir cotton floss, CC Ye Old Gold skein for the angel and the cross, and 1 skein of CC Cupid for the red.

The stitch count is 320 x 205. I stitched 2 over 2 it's on 32 count (if I remember right) linen of the exact name I can't remember at this time...........Framed by a shop called Joan of Art in Hawaissee, Ga who did a great job!

I remember when choosing I was quite distracted by another sampler about this size, Quaker Virtues by Bygone Stitches. I loved it too but I chose this one to work on.

And then this started a sampler wall in our front room.

The other samplers on this wall are from Homespun Elegance, The Sampler Girl, My Big Toe, the Scarlet Letter and one I can't remember at the top that I stitched a long time ago. The one from the Scarlet Letter is actually one of 2 sets, I have another one in my WIP pile which I started and completed about 1/3 of it, nearly 1/2, but took a break as it is 1 over 1.

Thanks again for all the comments!  If you haven't entered the giveaway, you may click HERE

Well, best get ready for bed. It's been a very busy 3 days and I'm pooped out and for this nightowl, I must be tired to go to bed at 10:30pm!  :o

Good news about the giveaway!

The items on order for the giveaway should be arriving next week. I was crossing my fingers as the Nordic Needle box of scissors was on backorder but good news is I'm extending the chance for giveaway until Dec 14th and on or about the 15th will draw a lucky winner of these beauties and I hope so much you enjoy them this year!!!

I've been so busy today that I literally just sat down from this morning at 6am.

I'm having trouble with my new progressive lens glasses and had to take them back to get different lens ordered for them today. Until then, my basket of readers are within reach.

I'm in one of those "cleaning moods" and have to take advantage of the sorting and donating, and cleaning, even silver and closets.....don't know what's got into me lately. But it's so much less stressful when I can actually find things...LOl

The high temp today was 30 degrees. I had a chance at lunch to run an errand and the car said 25 degrees at 1pm and the wind was blowing...........needless to say getting out the scarves and gloves tonight.

My day off this week is Thursday so I definitely want to finish up Miss Abbie's sampler and then back to work on several other WIPs I have STACKED in my basket(s).

I missed Frosty the Snowman tonight......oh, I love to watch that program every year. I'm sure it will be on again before Christmas. This was definitely a day that I could relate to Frosty. COLD!

Finished your shopping yet?

I am just starting here and there to pick up a few things. Planning a Christmas Eve Party as usual. I love the magic in the air on Christmas Eve, even as an adult. I like to make apple cider and bake cookies then. It's been kinda tradition that I choose to keep through all times.
 Skip the dinner that night, just munching on goodies. I'm fortunate this year to have the whole day off on Christmas Eve and it's  a Friday!!! YEAH!

I know there are alot of people not so much in the spirit of Christmas this year and I can relate to some degree but trying hard to stay positive and enjoy the season and of course, the real reason.
I also have to count out my Christmas jar and find a anonymous family that may need something extra special sitting on their doorstep Christmas morning. We started this tradition last year, after being inspired by the book, The Christmas Jar. It really helps the heart when we give to those who appreciate and need something special. That's the real spirit.

Well, here's to a nice, warm evening for you.

Stay safe,
Jennifer

The Weekend of Christmas Spirit scattered through the house

What a productive weekend!  So happy we put out our Christmas goodies. We arranged them differently and this year, I didn't put the village out.......yet. I'm sure I will have to as I haven't missed one year in 15 years to do that.

Well, many of the Sampler Girl designs from last year peaked out to be placed around. And then there's Abbie, peaking through at times during her many naps in her Christmas pompom dress to keep the spirit light.

This elf is TIRED. Heading for bed for the workweek.

Hope your Monday is fully of brightness!

Sunday thoughts

 And Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19

The Virtues of Grace finished

The Virtues of Grace

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2010

fibers--Week's Dye Works

32 count Lambswool linen

mother of pearl vintage buttons

framed by Me and Thee

December 2010

I designed a sampler this weekend in remembrance of my maternal grandmother, Grace Gordy Coleman. Her birthday would have been this week and she had all the virtues of her name, plus many others. I got to spend 8 years with her and I watched her go through at the end of her life a diagnosis of brain cancer, surgery, radiation and chemo in a 3 month period of time when the angels accompanied her to Heaven. I believe this to be one of the reasons I went into the medical field as I watched her suffer so much at the end and this was in the 70's.

 Ironically, she also died at the end of December. I called her "Mama Grace". These virtues were "in her fiber" every day and what a role model she was! She introduced me to many things including shopping for the matching purse, shoes, and outfit, the "powder compact" to primp with, and lotion.......many of the things I enjoy today too. When she spoke, she meant what she said. There was no guessing with her. My step- grandfather, who is also deceased, loved her like I've never seen a man love a woman and in retrospection years later as I grew to be an adult, I found out that her first marriage was the opposite. She had many struggles but grew positively from them. She was well-respected in the very small town she lived in and I accompanied her to church on weekends I stayed with her.

On visits with her, I would sleep with her and she would say prayers with me and I believe we blessed so many people before I finally went to sleep until I was silly. She had patience with my nightowl nature which has stuck with me through life.She encouraged my love for music and we would dance at all kinds of music in her living room. She was in no way perfect but she lived the virtues of grace. When she died she left her rings and watch with my stepfather on her death bed and asked they be given to me when I became an adult.

I treasure them now and wear them almost daily as a reminder of strength during trying times.

 I hope you have someone who made you feel special too, even if for a short while. That's what life is all about. Not perfection, but the "fiber" that is in our being from one soul to another.