The Nichols-Hardman House 1869---A Sampler in the Making!

 My creative mind never tires of ideas and places to go and homesteading in the mountains!  Alot of times, I don't have to go very far to find the absolutely stunning gems in the North Ga. mountains, valleys and hills.

I would like to share with you some pictures Mr. Darcy took this afternoon of the old Hardman House right here in Sautee-Nacoochee, Ga, very close to where we live in this beautiful mountain country we call home.  He drove by and stopped to take several pics of the gorgeous, absolutely stunning restoration of a home from the 1800's here. The house touring will start and open this week. He said he had to take the pics from the road. A couple of folks were there still working on the inside of it today.

 People from all over visit Helen, Georgia, the little town next to it all year long. 

The house was originally built in 1869-1873 by Captain James H. Nichols. Nichols actually served as a Colonel in the Confederate army, but was called, "Captain" by those who knew him well. The farm was sold in 1893 to Calvin Hunnicutt of Atlanta. He sold the farm to Dr. Lamartine G. Hardman in 1903. Hardman later served as Governor of Georgia 1927 - 1931.

Captain Nichols named Anna Ruby Falls after his daughter, Anna Ruby, which is a beautiful waterfall just a couple miles away. I think I have posted pics in the past of Anna Ruby Falls. 

The house has been in the process of restoration for several years so I'm excited when I drive by to see all the restorations in progress and almost to completion now.

The estate will be reopening this Thursday for tours. A lot of the furniture of Dr. Hardman still remains in the house.

This is the main house. Yup. Isn't it beyond beautiful? Would this not make a gorgeous sampler???????

 It was modeled architecturally in an Italianate style after Nichols' aunt's house in Milledgeville and he called it West End.  "An unusual feature of the porch is clustered columns. A scroll-saw railing encloses the porch. The arched entrance has double doors with sidelights carrying over in the form of a transom arched at the bottom and top".~~~ from Digital Library of Georgia.

This is a fountain to the right of the house.

This is a second house on the property.  Not sure right now, but we think it was a guest house or the home of the care taker of the property years ago.

Side view of the Hardman house

One of 15 farm buildings on the property

The left front side to the Summer kitchen

Three of the fifteen other buildings on the property

We can't wait to see what is inside this fenced in area.

All these pics are taken from the highway or outside of the property until it opens this week.

This is a close up pic of the Summer kitchen.

http://www.snca.org/bp/history/bldgHardman.php for more information on the grounds.

These pics intrigue me for a future sampler design. I can feel the birth of a new design to work on right now! So, somewhere down the road..........in the future, know that I will be recreating my take on this beautiful house.

#inspirationisrightatyourfingertips

I hope you have enjoyed these pics that Mr Darcy made this afternoon and when this site opens, for an inside tour, if they allow pictures, I will for sure be taking some detailed pics for the blog. I never thought of myself as loving history in school so much but as I get older, I really enjoy seeing something old, restored and valued just as before. 

A sampler of the entire property front, or including the Indian mound across the road.....just ideas now....... I do know that the first picture with the detail of the house would make a gorgeous linen sampler. The red roof, the white house and the shutters.

Of course, when the leaves change their beautiful colors in just a couple of weeks, my heart will be happy soaking in the views here. 

There's always, always, always, things to do at the homestead here and with working full time as a practitioner, I've been quite the busy one. However, I'm still clicking my needles at night and weekends, along with reading some good books and taking one room at the time right now week by week, cleaning out and redesigning our home for the two of us. I'm still on track with my 2014 goal to simplify.

I love to stay busy in my life, especially when I'm so blessed with a loving husband, a continuing career in women's health as an NP, and the love of needlework, homesteading, designing, music, and reading. 

~~~~~~~ And all of this started with a dream in my heart at age 10 in Ridgecrest, North Carolina with my church youth group. I said a little prayer to God that He would let me live in the mountains
when I grow up..........because literally each Spring when we traveled there and then again to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Fall with the church group, my heart fell in love especially during the Fall. 

Being raised in South Ga at the time and really not thinking that life would slow down enough for me to have that dream come true, I pushed it away until one day. One day, I made the move. God didn't share with me all the things I would have to go through to get my dream of a loving, kind husband, and a home in the mountains, and working in nursing but I can say it was all worth it in the long run. I know He watches me.

 If you are reading this and you have had dreams and prayers, please know even though it seems the impossible, with God all things are possible. It's the timing that makes the difference. He showed me through circumstances, some very surreal, what His promises hold in His timing, not mine. It's so good to know He loves us all unconditionally without rejection and judgement. After all, we are sons and daughters of a King.

I always appreciate all your comments, both private and public. They really do mean so much to me and have through the years. Have a Blessed Monday!

Best and Blessings,

Jennifer

Throwback Thursday---A little Sampler Revisited

Blooms in August

designed by Feathers in the Nest

Just a little bright thought of my past creative spirit to a pattern I created back a couple or few years ago in August in memory of my son Aaron. I'm sad to say I haven't stitched this one but it's calling me to do so.

In August, it's always that last heat, the last flowers bloom from the Summer to make room for the beautiful Fall mums and other varieties more favorited for cool weather.

Although it's been posted before, I thought I would repost this year because it's one my favorite samplers that I have designed. Being small in nature, I should start on it and maybe I will now.

 Please use the colors in the design as they have special meaning in this sampler. You can choose any blues or golds/yellows. 

Linen --- of choice

Thank you for keeping copyright guidelines for designers!

I hope you have a great day! Today is nice and sunny and really not too humid for the past couple of days. I'm sure out in the sun, it's pretty warm, like August is usually, but we can sense the change, the ever-so-slight change towards Fall air at night.

 September is right around the corner with promises of new beginnings and opportunities for us all if we seek them.

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” 

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

My Wednesday Wow!

Quilts

Old Quilts

Really Old Quilts

I spent the afternoon cleaning out closets and have much more to go at the homestead. I actually have an empty big closet that I can use my imagination with a little. This quilt in the pic is the oldest one I have and I can't tell you how many years it's been loved, for it was bought antique back in the 80's.

I have, since then, bought more old quilts but this one is special because it was the first one I bought antique and has been with me through years.

It's been put to good use and still has more years to go.

Right now the quilt is just one of several on display and at which occasional time, I will change the quilts around on the beds at home.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I literally bundled myself up in it during the last trimester as my need for sleep was about 24-7 for some reason.

Then again, back in the 80's when I bought this old quilt, I even used this for a tablecloth for awhile. I would remove it when it was time to eat, but it really added alot to a country style kitchen I had.

This quilt also has been through raising two kids which both would curl up on the couch or in their room with it or drag it around while they were toddlers.

Ren (my last chi that passed) and Abbie both have tunneled themselves in this big heavy quilt too!

It's been through it's time. 

There are a couple of frayed parts where the cotton batting is seen and I need to fix them because even though it's that worn out, probably about 50 years old now, I can't bear to give it away.

I have never quilted but always admired those who have. I like to read quilter's blogs and stories when I have the time to. I always wanted to knit and finally learned to. I've had this little pull to quilt but I haven't tried any of it........yet.

I think one day, later rather than sooner as life is busy as a bee right now, I will learn some basic quilting.

However, I think it takes a special person, most-talented to make all those cuts and shapes so perfect to make one final product to withstand years and years. 

I'm not sure I'm that person. Geometry was not my favorite subject. (honestly)

Maybe one day when I'm old, I will learn to quilt.

And probably when I do, I will still have this first, old quilt I bought--- before my kids were even born-- at an antique store, and still admire it's aged beauty.

Retired now to a special place on display, the old quilt can be brought down again to wrap it's heavy, comforting thickness around me and it's coziness, warmth and promise will remind me that something so very old, can still bring a lot of happiness on a cool, Fall day.

And I'm SO ready for a Fall day!

Wow!

May we all strive to be like the old quilt~~~

to be strong

to cover and protect

to warm the heart

to last a good lifetime

during good and bad times

and cherish for hope

~~~~~~~through generations

Till later,

Jennifer

Thursday Thoughts----Joy and Balance

Thursdays are like the feeling of Christmas Eve. You know that Friday is the next day and if you work Monday through Friday you know what I mean by saying it's a joy! ( unless you do not like to go home, which can sometimes be the case and then Monday is the feeling of joy)

How do we keep that same joy that Fridays bring every day? Well, sometimes, it's a challenge, even for those that say they are happy all the time and joyous. We are all human and there are seasons in our life that it is more difficult to express or even find joy, sadly but true.

Joy : a feeling of great pleasure or happiness

Webster puts one word differently in there.  A SOURCE of great happiness.

I think that one word makes a big difference in how our days go whether it be Sunday through Saturdays as we are almost all busy in one way or another in the doing of our lives. Because our lives are pretty much scattered in different areas of service or need, we have to make sure that we seek out the source of great happiness which may be entirely different from me to you or anyone else.

I can think of many sources of great happiness for myself:

stitching

knitting

comfort food

junkin' for a good buy

time spent with my husband

time spent alone

reading

writing

going to church and time with God

helping others when they can't help themselves

meditating and yoga

listening to music

spending time with loved ones and friends

These are just a few. Each one brings me happiness or is a source of happiness because I connect good memories with it and feel like I'm recharging my busy body and mind.

I literally sing this on somedays in the car to remind myself of the difference. Getting what we need is pretty basic and simple really (most of the time). Getting what we want is an extra and sometimes what we want IS something we need. 

It's during these times that I find that I have to choose one of the SOURCES of happiness to get myself back in the groove of this life journey. I don't know if that works for you but I hope it's some food for thought today. I also have to remind myself that balance in life is the goal. When the balance in our life is not "balanced", it really is reflected in our happiness or joy. Most of the time that's because we do not have time to find a source of joy to balance it all out. I know that has happened to me. I have to choose to say......Wait, wait just a minute.....I must, must try to find some balance here. If I don't, then I know I will be burned out and my choosing a source of joy is limited.

For women in specific, I have in practice as an NP found that (and I am guilty of this myself at times) there is a true lack of balance and not seeking out a source of joy because of being the primary caretakers of the home and just giving and giving and giving of themselves to the point of a major burnout.

This is the conversation:

me:  so what do you do for hobbies or for yourself?

them:   I don't have time for a hobby and I never have time for myself. {{{laughing}}}........that's a joke. I have too much to do.

me:  How is that working for you?

them:   Well, I just need a pill for this feeling of  unhappiness. My husband said I need to get fixed. My family can't stand me.

me:    So, do you think your family/husband could at least once a week watch the kids while you choose something you used to do for happiness?

Then they think real hard and most but not all , unfortunately, say "yes, they probably would, but...but...but...

and then it's but.   

Then we explore things that could be hobbies or ways to find some me-time. You would be surprised at how many people cannot even remember what they liked to do to chill out, so to speak. And sometimes journaling or going for a walk twice a week or music or anything that used to be a source of joy needs to be revisited.

I in no way am suggesting everyone has to choose to slice a bit of time out of their life for themselves and their source to remain balanced if you simply cannot but even if we find the most rewarding part of our life tending to our family 24-7, it's unbalanced and will eventually lead to burnout. I also am not suggesting that medication is not necessary because in some cases it certainly is a helper to many situations and cases; however, for the purpose of this posting, I am trying to express that even with medication, finding joy sources to put into our lives, helps so very much.

And as the sayin' goes.......when mama ain't happy, nobody's happy. : )

So, I hope this gives you thought for Thursday today in some way in order to maybe try to find your own sources of happiness so that you are filled with joy.

Makes a world of difference when we can't always get what we want..............yup I'm singing it.

I'm so thankful that I have stitching and knitting as a couple of those sources. I'm also thankful that while it fills my heart with joy, I can pass that joy to others in all areas of my life in my work or at home.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A New Sampler and New Beginnings for Fall 2014

These past few weeks have gone by in a flash. I'm halting one area of work and have accepted an offer full-time in a medical practice that I'm excited about. During the past few weeks I've worked extremely hard in the area of home health, revisiting my years of home health from about 20 years ago. I learned alot, sweated alot, drove with my knee alot while answering the phone and managing cases with an office in the car, and frequented McDonald's dollar menu probably more than most!  I'm switching gears again as I have an excellent opportunity again as a women's health nurse practitioner and very excited to be back in the swing of things.

Thank you to all who have still hung out and followed my blog. I literally had to take a long break as I didn't have time really for any personal hobby time. I'm hoping this new position will put back the balance I need in my life back and also serve the community at my best.

Mr. Fox and I went to a farmer's market last weekend and had so much fun, enjoying  a Peach Festival. I wish I had photos but I don't :(

Anyways, I can share with you that all the kinds of peaches that were possible, were there!  We also had some homemade Peach ice cream and hot Peach pie. Along with some Jersey sweet peaches, I also got some fresh Romaine lettuce, carrots, lemons, sweet corn on the cob, honey, a loaf of cinnamon pecan bread, and squash. I already had so many tomatoes that kind folks had given me through the past 2 weeks and we have eaten our good share of tomato sandwiches. I LOVE fresh tomato sandwiches with lot of salt and pepper, mayonnaise (not the Miracle Whip stuff......yikes) and lettuce, and thick, peppered bacon.

I definitely will be back more frequently especially with the Fall coming up very soon. I can already feel it in the air at night here in the North Georgia mountains, the coolness, but still the days are warm.

With the coming of that little bitty nip at night in the air and visiting the farmer's market, I was inspired to design this little sampler for those getting out their Fall decor, or who would like to add a pillow keep/pinkeep to their kitchen wood bowl of ornies. There's just nothing like the smell of Apple Cider and to have a warm cup of it with your sweetheart in the cool Fall Days coming up soon. Apple Cider is definitely a staple at the Fox homestead during the Fall and Winter here.

I hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for respecting copyright. I so appreciate it. Nothing fancy here, just a simple sampler for Sunday. But, sometimes simple is better to me.

Apple Cider 

designed by Jennifer Ann Fox

Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

70 x 106~~~size

antique white or vintage linen of choice

recommendation for threads

Weeks Dye Works

Pumpkin

Hazelnut

Marigold

Gentle Art

Shaker White

  Here are a couple of photos from our yard/forest around the house with 2 beautiful deer that come around the house regularly. We have named the buck-------Buck.

We named the doe--------Buttercup.

We saw Buck when he had only a little bit of antlers a long time back and now they have grown so much and he is getting a little heavier now. He still has the velvet on his antlers. Thank you to my DH for the photos.

Buck and Buttercup

Buck's picture was not taken with a closeup lens. DH was actually out right there with him and then after a couple of pictures, he just walked off slowly. They really are quite comfortable around the house.

The cats just sit in the porch chairs and watch them, not even chasing or making anything of it. Amazing.

I'm glad to have a couple of weeks off between jobs to get some things done around the homestead and go visit my parents. 

Mr. Fox's mother had surgery this past week as well as my dad. Yup, all in the same week.

Thankfully, they are both doing well. 

If you have any questions or comments or any topics you would like to be reviewed or explored in a blog post, please notify me at jenniferann_fox@yahoo.com. I'm always loving to here from you! And I'm always loving to write about needlework and/or encouragement on this journey.

Today we watched two really good movies on Amazon Prime for free and popped some corn from the farmer's market with oil in a large pot on the stove. It was really tasty! One of the movies was The Cider House Rules..............ironically.

Till later,

Jennifer

Newbie Sampler~~~ Bear Good Fruit

Inspired by a big huge watermelon this week, designed this little sampler that should fit nicely in a 5 x 7 in frame or stitched as a pinkeep for your wood bowl in the kitchen!  I hope you enjoy this. The message is something I try to remember every day. 

I'm drinking a banana smoothie that my DH made me while I post it too! 

Bear Good Fruit

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

colors of choice

linen of choice

Summertime good juicy fruits are a definite treat.  

Enjoy and be reminded that we all have "good fruit" to give to others including love, patience, kindness, joy, and peace.

Jennifer

Twisted Tuesday~~~~~~Going With the Pattern in Life

Hello sweet readers!

It's been a long time since last posting. I took a bit of a break while I am adjusting to a new schedule, new job, and learning lots of new things!!!  In the interim, I have decided that cross stitching AND knitting will be on this blog. I tried to create one just for knitting but kind of like "frogged" the idea. Yup, just going with the pattern of my life right now. It's kinda like going with the flow, so to speak---- a necessary retrospective evaluation for the best and purpose of my blog, and still balance other areas in my life. Simplicity is my goal for 2014 and I appreciate all who are strictly cross stitchers sticking with me through knitting projects and vice versa. :)

I love both needle crafts so!

So, soon I will be deleting the knitting blog. I really didn't have much on there. I have craved the time to stitch and work on a sampler of late but still in the home rennovation mode here at the homestead and into almost the third month, we are still waiting for the flooring company to finish the trim. It was kinda like moving as we had to completely remove things out of all closets and two rooms..........all while starting a new full-time job!!!

We are so pleased with the new flooring which blends in well with the family room, guest bath, hall, and two closets.The colors are very neutral and looks like, but is not, patterned tiles. Anyone who has looked at the new flooring really thinks it is real tile!

Miss Abbie was a bit confused through all the rennovations, and we had to do a bit of "re-potty training" again, but she is worth every bit of extra time and with a lot of love, she is getting back to normal. In fact as I write, she is taking a long sigh on the sofa, stretched out completely on a quilt. Seems like 9pm is her bedtime and slowly becoming my new bedtime after a long day of work ;)

In the beginning of the Summer, I put the knitting needles to mostly working on cotton dishcloths and washcloths. I started making a sweet blend of muted teal, green, and natural beige washcloths for the guest bathroom basket. I'm working on a fourth one now. (pics to come soon)

In the cross stitch world, I'm overwhelmed with the new beautiful samplers that are out. Just absolutely gorgeous!  I'm trying not to leave my WIPs to start another one, but the temptation is strong.

Is anyone else as pulled between the love of cross stitching and the love of knitting???

What are some of the samplers or knitting projects you are working on now??

Most of all, are you a morning stitcher or an evening stitcher??

Just some thoughts as I reach out to all things needles today!

I hope your week has gotten off to a good start. Time is certainly flying this Summer.

So it's off to bed without a stitch this evening.

  But, definitely every day is a new beginning for something new.

It's amazing how much "stuff" we have found and then "stuff" we have lost in shifting all the things around for putting in the new flooring!  When I find my memory disc for the computer, I will post some pics soon.

In closing, just a thought for encouragement. Figs make the Summer sweeter. As I love poetry, I read this tonight in one of my books of poetry I read over and over again.

 The book is "Poems That Live Forever" selected by Hazel Felleman.

First Fig

My candle burns at both ends,

It will not last the night,

But, ah, my foes, and oh, my friends~~

It gives a lovely light!

~~~~~Edna St. Vincent Millay

and my WIP awaits.........for new patterns of my life.............

Goodnight

New Freebie: Summer Time and Patience sampler

Summertime Patience

copyright 2014

designer, Feathers in the Nest

Jennifer Ann Fox

(Click on the design for bigger picture and to print out. Please do not sell, or distribute. Thank you for your understanding on copyright)

My inspiration for this sampler I designed is yellow butterflies and those green catepillars that I see every Summer. I love butterflies. Especially yellow ones. We have many out this time of year, soaring through the butterfly bushes and flittering around so we can see them through the windows or on the porch.

When I was a little girl, seems like Summers lasted longer than they do now. In actuality with school, we did get out earlier in the Spring and started back later in the Fall. Even though I loved the Summer time activities, I actually loved school more. My love for reading and writing persist to this day. I remember the best part of Summer was the reading book club at the library.

 As the years roll on, they get shorter and shorter especially if I fill up my life with too many "things" on my list.

Not only in Summer, but also any time of our lives in which we are going through times that seem to last forever and ever, the little catepillars can be a reminder that with time and patience they will become a beautiful butterfly one day.

As I get older, I seem to have more patience with things. I think it's because with time and many years of learning life lessons. I know the key to those long periods of wait are time and patience.

Introspection can really help me see the possibilities and set my perceptions to a positive direction, knowing that through those long periods, my patience is being sharpened for the next time and the next and the next. I am not perfect by any means  but I'm encouraged by a simple yellow butterfly to remember that with time and in the right time, beautiful things can happen. 

And I think yellow butterflies flying around are very beautiful!

Bottom line is, what we put our time and patience in, will yield something beautiful.

We may not be able to always see it, but we can always have hope. 

Summertime is shorter for me now. It flies by literally because the weather in the mountains is really not as hot as it was growing up in South Georgia as a child. However, I'm still reminded of situations in my life that keep trucking along at a catepillar pace sometimes but have been told many times to remember that with time and patience, things change for the better. 

I hope you like this little sampler and stitch it up for the Summer as a positive reminder when you pass it by in a special place in your home. We all need those positive reminders especially in this world of so much negative. 

For book lovers, you can stitch this one up on 40 count for a book mark for a special friend or a sweet pinkeep.

Colors suggested are

Gentle Art Spring Grass (light green)

Gentle Art Cinnamon (catepillar legs)

DMC 310 black

Week's Dye Work's Saffron (yellow)

I just love the Spring Green color! You can choose any that would match your decor, vintage it up, or whatever. 

I hope you start your week off with peace, happiness and hope.

With hope,

Jennifer

P. S.  Other natural beauty around homestead today were 2 deer. Just outside the window. A small buck and a doe. The buck was barely growing his antlers................sweet.

This is How We Roll in the 2014 Summer---Good Changes to the Homestead!

Hey there!

This is the first day of Summer officially and the longest day of the year!

It seems to be a long time since I posted last. I'm working full-time now and getting adjusted to the change has been so refreshing. I'm really enjoying this job and in fact, it combines the best of all worlds in the areas of nursing I have been in in my 30 year career. The folks I work with are the nicest I've ever worked with, very kind, helpful and alot of teamwork. I've been in the car alot, so I've read nearly 2 full books on my Kindle this week. When I travel, I just turn on my Kindle to text to speech mode and it makes the time fly by and also some interesting reads I had picked out on Pixel of Ink. If you haven't seen Pixel of Ink, go to facebook and search for it. This page offers about 8 books a day for free, or at a deep discount. You have to grab them when you can because then the next day the price goes from 0 to like 12.99 again. I enjoy watching out for some good reads on this page daily.

 We also have been working on the homestead here in the mountains and had a little hiccup with the new floors. After they put them in, bubbles started to appear and the store manager states that this has happened one other time with the particular flooring and is a defect. They now have to pull up all the flooring and start over with a new kind.  I'm bummed out about that because we had guests coming soon and I really liked the new floors alot! We are going today to pick out the new pattern and I think it will take a couple of weeks again to get it in. Slowly but surely though some changes have made a big difference in the flow of the house and to simplify and have only what we use and love.

Here is a peek at one side of the rooms. Yay, to my loving husband for moving a 600 pound piano across a huge room!!!!

Here's Abbie, a little confused for day 2 of the project, but now she loves the arrangement. The sofa is under the window and she loves to look out and watch the wildlife around here. Lou the cat, loves to sit on the porch bench and watch us in the house.

So this is just half of what we did and it really made a difference. It feels huge in this house now.

The kitchen I will take extra pics of later, even though that flooring will have to come up so you can see the kitchen table in there. The kitchen island was moved to the laundry area and provides a GREAT nook for storage of linens and a wide open top for folding clothes.

Over the buffet my downstairs sampler wall is rearranged a bit. This is where the piano used to be.

Abbie has her own spot. She loves the vintage, down-filled pillow to sleep on, and has her own basket of toys and "wardrobe" box. There's a little ray of sun there in the day and it's her favorite nap spot.

I absolutely love our chairs comfy by the fireplace now. My stitching chair will be cozy this Winter.

I sat down and played a tune or two and will soon be getting this piano tuned. I was waiting for it to be moved before tuning because any time you move a piano it has to be retuned anyways.

My dearest husband plays the guitar and he has two of them. They fit well in the house and we both share a deep love for music.

From the kitchen, this photo was taken, looking onto a whole different layout that really makes the flow in this area much better. Much bigger for entertaining guests.

As frustrating as it is cleaning out and sorting, donating and having to redo all the kitchen, hall and bath floors, there has been so much positive out of it. And it makes a world of difference for you to have a life partner/ husband who is willing to do anything to help. We make a good team and have very similar tastes in decor.

My other project is making my downstairs guest room, a REAL guest room. I've got some new ideas from a friend who has a you tube channel, about how to make it GUEST ready.

So more pics to come in the future of the old kitchen.................. the best part of the house to have a cuppa. Well, I take that back, the back porch is cozy too this time of year. Honestly, as hot as it's been in town, it's been no higher than the 80s here on the shaded back porch. We enjoy barbequing on the grill on Saturday nights and eating on the back porch table. 

I hope you are having a great weekend! Till later and after more cleaning and moving................and finding a good recipe for Kale. Yup, I've only eaten Kale once in my life and I love it. Trying to incorporate more veggies in our diet.

Thank you for hanging in there with me this Summer!

Jennifer

Sarah Bottomley sampler WIP

Hello all,

I picked up another WIP to try and finish. I don't even know why I got distracted from this one and went to another. I guess my creativity and interest in the sampler had diminished at the time.

Now, going through my stash I'm inspired to continue to work on it. I think I started this one about 5 years ago.

Sarah Bottomley

designer The Scarlett Letter

colors and linen are in the kit from The Scarlet Letter

Most of the colors are basic. Brown, tan, cream, olive green.

The chart pack states that the finished size of the sampler design is 8 and 1/2 in x 12 and 1/2 in.

 Just thought you would like to see what I'm up to in the stitching world!

Right now I have limited time for stitching as we are busy with finishing up remodeling. It's looking REALLY good; however, our backs and joints are pretty sore from it all. ;)

I will say..................it definitely helped me with my general goal for 2014 to simplify because I have cleaned out closets, bathrooms cabinets, and many other things and realized how much I had duplicates of and things that expired.

With that being said, it's looking a whole lot better and pics to come of the changes.

Back to the closet cleaning......................

Jennifer

Finished and Framed At Home with Jane Austen sampler

At Home with Jane Austen

designed by The Sampler Girl

WIP in my stash for 3 years!

finished per instructions in packet using Crescent Colors and linen 

I finally put the rest of the stitches in this piece and framed it. The frame is from a clearance at Target. I loved the dark pink border. While the width was not perfect for it, the length certainly was!!!

Here are a few other pics. I could NOT get it without shadows which appear to be wrinkles in it.

Even in this pic I can see myself in the shadow. I decided to leave the glass in. 

This one will go on a sampler wall in one of the guest rooms.

I love the saying.

So, another one bites the dust!  About 40 more WIPS to go!

There is a patriotic one, still in lap frame from 3 years ago...........Battle Hymn of the Republic. I do think it's the time of year to work on finishing that one next.

We are still quite busy with our house hold projects this Summer and putting some new kitchen and bath flooring down. Still waiting for it on order. More on that as time comes.........

Here's hoping you are having a beautiful weekend, staying cool and at peace. ;-)

Jennifer