Lincoln~~ small sampler motif

 

A monochromatic motif of Abraham Lincoln in black. Inspired by many words of wisdom and the recent movie that I so want to go see, the man in black was on my mind today. I think his life is quite interesting. His wife loved him so much and he to her.

About 2 years ago while rambling through an antique store I cam across a book called "Mary Lincoln: Biography of a Marriage" by Ruth Painter Randall

 

The front of the book says it all

"now for the first time---the truth about one of the most controversial women in American history, and the never-before-told, never-to-be-forgotten story of her life with Abraham Lincoln."

 

I have only read parts of the book. It was published in 1953 and must have been a gift to a Wanda June Jones, as this is written in the front of the book with the date of 1953.

 

Up until this time, evidently the rumors and myths, stories was that Lincoln loved Ann Rutledge instead. These stories were spread by his law partner; however, through the unveiling of letters starting in their early courtship through the presidency and until his death, he truly loved Mary in spite of all the troubles she had in dealing with the death of their son, politcal committments, and other things.

 

This book is the story of the day-to-day life of the Lincolns which began in Springfield, Ilinois. The letters that were private in safe deposit boxes and explored over a 100 year span of time interested the author Ruth Randall, especially of Mr. Lincoln coming to answer the front door in pushed up sleeves and an apron at times. Mrs. Lincoln spent more that she was allowed to refurnishing the White House.

Through all her devastations and struggles, she was holding Lincoln's hand when he was shot.

Then again, she had much grief that extended for a long time as she truly loved her husband and missed him so much.

 

Some of my favorite Lincoln quotes are :

 

Be sure to put your feet in the right place and then stand firm.

 

I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.

 

Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.

 

All I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

 

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thornbushes have roses.

 

The best day about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

 

Every man's happiness is his own responsibility.

 

It has been my experience that folks that have no vices have very few virtues.

 

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.

 

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

 

You cannot escape the possibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

 

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

 

You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry.

 

To ease another heartache, is to forget one's own.

 

I would rather be a little nobody than to be an evil somebody.

 

My best friend is the man who will get me a book I haven't read.

 

I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book

 

and his passage here:

 

Here in my heart, my happiness, my house.
Here inside the lighted window is my love, my hope, my life.
Peace is my companion on the pathway winding to the threshold.
Inside this portal dwells new strength in the security, serenity, and radiance of those I love above life itself.
Here two will build new dreams--dreams that tomorrow will come true.
The world over, these are the thoughts at eventide when footsteps turn ever homeward.
In the haven of the hearthside is rest and peace and comfort.” 

 

 

 

with love from the homestead,

 

Jennifer

 

P.S another design project one day will go with this one for a pair. Both would go well in oval frames for a colonial reminder that our forefathers had much wisdom for us all to learn. Stay tuned for a Mary Todd Lincoln soon......

 

 

 

 

 

and Abigail

 

 

Faith, hope and love

 

 

Junkin' and Jumpin'

First I went junkin'.

 

Then I went jumpin'.

 

 

I know it's that time of year for all kinds of things with many legs to appear out here but I literally got wrapped in a HUGE spider web and the spider ran across to the flowers but the web was stretched from the roof, to the table, to the birdfeeder and back to the front of the porch.

 

 

I had my camera outside to take a picture of the sweet sunset this evening but ran into this one that has definitely taken up the porch.

 

 

Oh yeah! Rounding the corner of the porch was "entangling".

 

 

I'm sorry to say it but he is not boarding here at the homestead any longer........

 

 

The day otherwise has been awesome! The sun is out for one!!  And I feel some change ever so slight back to the drier air and hopefully much cooler this weekend I hear.

 

I went junkin' today. I think I've adopted Thursday for junkin' day. I had something in mind I needed in the kitchen but instead found a gallon bag of  38 forks and 40 spoons for 8 bucks. Stainless steel.

 

 

Now I think I have enough for guests!

 

 

I even found a stitching frame for a large project still new in bag and all the hardware looks great......5 bucks.

 

 

and I couldn't resist this little Colonial Williamsburg piece for 3 bucks.

 

 

 

 

saw a sweet, heavy pewter angel frame in a pile for 2.00. I can't wait to stitch a small in this.

 

 

and finally a small bit of progress this morning, early with my coffee before I started the day.....

Battle Hymn of the Republic, by LHN, Lakeside Linen, DMC floss

 

 

I even played with a scrap piece of this Gingham linen I got a very long time ago to do one over one on a freebie by Liberty House Primitives "With God All Things Are Possible".

 

And for a nice evening it is, even with spiders.......I can't wait for the weather to change up this weekend!

 

Till later after I watch the show Hoarders,

 

Jennifer

 

Colonial Kids~~~~

Colonial Kids

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

This morning, I awoke dreaming I was at Colonial Williamsburg and basking in the beauty of the area with the museums, the shops, and the culture of colonial days.

Then I was inspired to put my thoughts to graph for a design I think you might like if you love Colonial art as much as I do! I probably could spend at least 1 week if not 2 there at Colonial Williamsburg.

Yesterday, I talked about loving sillouettes and I guess with both in mind I created this design.

I hope you enjoy!

You can use any color of course but I am going to stitch in a Colonial Blue and Dark Brown but I haven't yet selected the fabric.

Overdyed threads would look best, of course, with this but any fibers will make a good sampler.

You can add initials, dates, etc to personalize for your "kids".

I'm excited now and putting down my BBD BAP to start on this. I LOVE sillouettes. Then, I will pick back up on the BBD sampler Love One Another in the My Dear Friend book.

You can also stitch just a boy or a girl motif for a sweet nursery or child's room.

If you do stitch this up, share with me by email and I will show on the blog for others to see!

This will be offered as a freebie for a limited time.

Well this weekend, I have finally done.........nothing....yep, and it feels good for a change.

I walked outside a time or two and felt like I walked off the plane in Arizona. HOT, is not the word for it. Oh, it's this time of year, mid July, that I start to long for Fall. Fall is my favorite time of year and it's when the mountains show off their colors in all ranges and shades, apple cidar is on my stove warming for friends, and the chunky sweaters and sock feet are warming by the fireplace again in the evenings. But for now..............

 The dog days of Summer are here.

Even Abbie is ready to go for a stroll when the weather cools off.

Here in the North Georgia mountains, I can certainly say that in the 11 years I have lived here, this has been the hottest Summer evah! Even though it's pretty hot outside, Miss Abigail, picks a cozy spot in the cool air-conditioning.

 I think she is praying for another oatmeal cookie.

 I kinda used some of the ones I made for treats this weekend and she loved it.

 I guess you could say she is my Colonial kid. :)

Progress on Ann Hill and Junkin' and Nesting adventures

Well, yesterday was a busy day at work, so I didn't even sign on the computer to write.

Sunday night I spent a good deal of time stitching and frogging out and then repeat, this border of Ann Hill. I think I'm getting the hang of it now. It's going to be a large one so I will have much practice.

I have had questions in the past from readers if I stitch in hand or in a frame or how?

Well, the answer is complex. It depends on the stiffness of the linen, the size of the linen, etc. I normally use Qsnaps in hand or my Needlework 4 system stand. I have used regular wooden hoops on some occasions. They just leave such markings to iron out that I rarely use them.  I have a ruptured disk in my neck so I learned awhile back not to stitch much just in hand. It flares that up. AND I did part of Sunday and I'm still with a flared left arm and neck even today but it will get better.

 After I got the left corner started, I put it in a large Qsnap and put it in the needlework stand which was much better. The linen, supplied in this sampler kit from Colonial Williamsburg, gave only 2 and a quarter  inches around the edge when it was cut. I usually like a bit larger when I know I will be working on it for a while. BUT, make do and try to learn.......  :)

The colors are beautiful in Ann Hill. The pink flowers are so dainty. For some reason (probably because I was watching all the Casey Anthony stuff on TV) I kept miscounting and had to frog twice, because you know how borders go.......it's a sunken feeling when you get around to the other side and it's not meeting up right.....LOL

No fancy overdyed threads, just DMC.

35 ct linen, antique ivory

I will have to add that this linen could probably stand straight up on the floor it's so stiff. But I kind of rather work with that instead of really limp, stretchy linen.

On Pink Hill Manor by Blackbird Designs, I'm here. I really just needed to do the border but I had to give my eyes a break from the muted colors on this linen. With glaucoma, contrasting with muted colors is really a challenge for me now.  I hope to finish this one up soon and frame.

Speaking of color, I still love my pincushion, I treasure it from our Williamsburg trip.

Other things around the house, include this beautiful rose blooming this morning. You can see that the plants aren't that healthy. I essentially do nothing in this gardening area. What blooms---- blooms.

 Once I found a snake while trimming back the roses and I surrendered to weedy, wild growth after that. ;)

Flossie Mae has graduated with honors to the yard now! She stays on the porches and runs up and down. Thomas is keeping his watch over her. They have a love/hate relationship seems. One minute he is hissing at her, next minute he is watching her and keeping her close to the house.

 Last night we brought her back in for the night so gradually she is getting used to her new territory.

{yes, we have painting to do on the porch. It's an endless task}

My dearest friend Dot, who just moved away ( so sad), left me with one of her wreaths she had for years.

I have used it for a  year now, and change the bows depending on the season and it's holding up well. I miss her alot. I put a simple Waverley ribbon bow on it for the Summer.

Sunday afternoon I went junkin' around at one of my favorite junk stores. I found this for 50 cents.

Each day it gives a lovely reminder on that date and we read it.

yesterday's

and today

Well worth the money for positive thoughts, word vitamins to see each morning when we take our regular vitamins. Feed the body, feed the soul.

And here is Raven, the Lab just diagnosed with diabetes. She is doing well with her insulin injections twice a day and expects belly rubs each morning, as you can see. She does have a persistent limping on her right back leg and it's bothering her so another trip to the vet soon. I suspect she has arthritis. Raven is the Lab that got hit by a car a couple or more years ago and had extensive surgery. We were surprised she lived through it. I think she will probably have alot of arthritis from those old wounds.

There's always something going on, isn't there?

But life is that way.

 We journey with those who have the courage to ride the bumps in the road with us and hopefully in turn we can give good back to those who have some bumps also. But there are those that simply reject it and we move on, knowing we did our best with what we have and pray they cope with their own issues at hand.

A couple of other things that were heart-felt from the thrift store are here:

a vintage cotton feedsack tea towel. LOVED it!

with a blue basket to put some nice summer flowers in.

I actually got the flowers from a primitive store local called Hearts and Flowers. I love that place. It's in an old house built in the 1800's and filled with vintage goodies. If I'm looking for flowers or candles or anything extremely primitive.

I've got to rearrange the towels but just for you to see.......in the corner of the kitchen.

back at the thrift store finds---- this wood frame.

I thought it would make a cute frame for a design I make for the 4th of July and my Americana sampler wall.

And last but not least, this is from Hearts and Flowers. I picked out this necklace which has almost a sampler motif style on each side. There were others, but this one won my heart.

Here's the other side of it:

I hope your week is going well and your journey is full of joy!

Ok So What I brought back from a short trip to Williamsburg!!!!

Because I'm a bit spoiled like Miss Abbie, I brought back a few things I drooled over for stitching purposes.

This book has many of the colonial houses at Williamsburg that I can "visit" when I have the time and also tells the history, design, details, etc. that I couldn't fit in an 8 hour trip.

I still haven't read it yet but it's awesome full of pics. My designing mind wants to know!

I just can't wait to delve into this book and simmer into it's stories with a cup of Earl Grey tea.

isn't this beautiful?

Like I needed another sampler to stitch.....LOL  anyways, I wanted this one The Ann Hill sampler

the history of it.

included the floss and 35 ct linen

absolutely gorgeous colors which would go on our sampler wall in the master bedroom.

with 35 ct linen, antique ivory. I should have taken out of the plastic but this is fresh out of the suitcase!

I did a full happy dance when I saw this smaller floor cloth!  I LOVED IT!

The colors in our Dutch colonial home are sooooooo pretty! and I knew this was the spot to put it.

If you've never seen a floorcloth, it's actually like a piece of canvas and very durable. I have one in front of the fireplace, and it's withstood 2 winters so far without any scratches with walking on it and building fires.

They are gorgeous! This is actually a placemat size but I just got one because I knew exactly I wanted this on the sofa table.

and my most fave treat is this pincushion. I couldn't decide on which one to get as they had many ones to choose from. I almost chose the delft blues but decided I wanted this one better, besides it had pins in it!!!!

yep, this just fit with Feathers in the Nest very well.

I got a couple of other things as gifts for others but these are my favorite things from the Williamsburg short trip we took. I hope we go back one day and get to visit the other museums and buildings and I believe that we will in time.

Miss Abbie was so glad to see us. She dug right into a piece of pizza when we came back and slept soundly in the laundry pile all day.

she's a bit ready for play her on her snack mat, we call it, under my stitching chair. She has her fave treat, the sweet potato treat in her "paws".

brushed and groomed a bit today. She was pretty rough-looking when she came home...LOL

She loves to drag her blanket to the stitching chair.

But I haven't been in it today. Too much to do.

I tried to put bows on her after brushing but she doesn't like them and this was taken a few minutes before shaking and flinging them in mid-air.......

And praise the Lord, I found my "close up" glasses when we got home. OMG, I had to get readers again and what a difference as one eye is different than the other.  I was in a "tizzy" before I left and couldn't find them at the last minute, but finally did when we came back.....thank you, Lord!

and here is some progress on a design I'm making called "Follow Your Heart".

Methinks I have too many going on at one time.....stitching ADHD

I still have some pics from the Quilting section of the museum.....but later......

nite,

Jennifer