Re-Post of Valentine Freebie Sampler--Love is All We Need

 

It's that time of year again to stitch up some Valentine samplers. This is a re-post from 2014 when I designed it. Sometimes people are having trouble finding some old samplers I listed for free. Some were taken off the blog temporarily. But this one........... I never stitched myself! Shame on me, right?

I would love to know if you stitched it, what colors you used, fabric, etc!

Well, Abbie is snuggled in bed for the night and I'm finishing up some reading. I thought I would share this again in time to stitch for Valentine's. I hope this post finds you and your loved ones happy and healthy most of all! 

We certainly as a world have gone through so much with the pandemic. Thought I would spread some love to you!

Jennifer

Progress on a shawl for Valentine's weekend

My camera has really been a good one. The hinge actually broke 2 years ago but I was able to press in on it while I took pics. Now, it's dying completely. I definitely would recommend the Fugifilm camera. It's easy to use and has many features for really inexpensive.

 I did squeeze one picture out of my progress on this shawl/cape. The effect with this yarn looks like Boulce.

Lion's Brand has it's own Boulce yarn but this is not labeled as such. However, the effect is somewhat similar. I'm making a rounded shawl by basically knitting each row, rounding it and adding a KFTB stitch on the first stitch of each row. It's really nice and soft. I have 2 skeins but I can't explain enough how densely packaged and wrapped this yarn is!

The colorway is Claret, a nice cranberry color.

 

The  Valentine cross stitch pillowkeep, I stitched and it's a freebie from Primitive Betty's blog

here

 

I aged it with coffee grounds.

 

I've had some questions about specific things and please know I will catch up to answer individually soon. Looks like our snow storm is heading out. We got about 5-6 inches here. Yesterday we basically bunkered down here at the homestead taking precautions in case the electricity was lost.

Thankfully, we didn't lose electricity!

 

I'm definitely getting cabin fever now and I'm sure many of you are too. I see the storm is going up through the Northeast now. Stay safe and warm. I think today will be resting as I pulled something in my lower back this morning. I'm hoping this is very temporary because I have so many things to do.

But one things for sure, we won't be traveling anywhere today.

 

I also have some questions regarding recommended colors in DMC for the previous freebie sampler for Valentine's.

I designed this with over-dyed threads.  There are conversion charts to DMC.

 ,

 

I recommend:

 

Gentle Art

 

Victorian Pink 962

Cameo Pink  353

Old Hickory 610

Wood smoke  612

Flax  3045

Chamomile  371

Avocado  470, 469, 471

Apple Cider  869

Buttermilk  3823, 745

 

Weeks Dye Works

 

Sweetheart Rose  3733

 

 

references:

http://www.stitchesnthings.com/GASTtoDMC.html

 

and

 

http://www.stitchesnthings.com/WeeksToDMC.html

 

I hope this helps!

 

Stay warm and cozy,

Jennifer

Love Is All We Need~~sampler freebie!

  This past week, has been quiet and I've been working on some goals I set for 2014 that include:

• simplifying my life in all areas
• learning new knit stitches
• reading, reading, reading at least a book a week
• organizing while I'm simplifying
• paying it forward with donations of "too much stuff"
• being more mindful of my morning devotionals
• practicing yoga more often AND learn more from You-tube videos
• learning more about frugal living
• researching more about the products I put on my skin and going more organic
• pulling out my cross stitching I designed to stitch the models
• pulling out my WIPS I have already going and finish some
• start writing a book

So, as you can see, I set some big goals but all in all, so far, it's February and I'm doing as well as I can.

Folks, there are some intelligent, talented writers in the blog world and I really didn't realize the depth of the free education and movies on u-tube that we have available!!!

For example, I've been wanting to learn to use cables in my knitting but it just looks so hard. I'm going outside my comfort zone and found The Casting on Couch series of English knitting on u-tube and she taught a braided cable scarf! It looks quite much easier than I had thought but I will have to get those needles out and work it.......work it baby, work it......

Here is her site for freebies. I highly recommend her tutorials on You Tube. She is great at explaining.

http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/

I have knitted the Chunky Lace pattern on the end of a garter scarf and it turned out well.
I really want to try the Cabled scarf pattern.

For simplifying, I set this goal because I'm at a middle age (huhum) point in my life where cleaning the chaos, having fewer things, promotes a better environment for less stress. I've read a couple of books and found some blogs I really like and without identifying myself a hoarder...........I do tend to cling on to things longer than need be. I don't know if it's the mentality of "some day I'm going to need that" or what. I think I mentioned the book I read that was free on Pixel of Ink about organization and decluttering. I have since found and stashed a couple more on my Kindle. Speaking of that, doesn't Kindle save space for books!!!!  I've got 265 books on my Kindle, most of them from Pixel of Ink freebies.

I started with the down stairs bathroom and took out all that was in the cabinets. Threw away an entire trash bag full of expired or junk. Then, I organized using baskets I already have for different things. I have WAYYYYYYYY too many lip products. :O
But, I'm very girly, so to part with them is hard to think about.
I have gone through the baskets once and taken a week off of that and now I'm going to go through them again. My goal is to have minimal things in my bathroom. Minimal. Less stress. And this is just one room. In January, I finished selling or donating toys that my adult kids didn't want and feel a load is off there. So, still have many rooms to go but by the end of this year, I hope to meet my goal.

The knitting bug has had me for a while now, but I'm digging into my cross stitch WIPS again and going to pick this up more. I do love samplers! I think knitting has just been such a repetitious therapy for the mind and also useful finishes, with Winter being the best time to knit.

Yoga is now a mindful part of most days in the week and I like it best when my hubbie and I find a lesson online and practice together. It's really quite balancing. I've practiced yoga for about 2 years now, maybe 3. There was a time I didn't practice and I could really tell the difference when I started back.

Recently, I've started substituting natural oils for many beauty and cleaning products and I'm really, really enjoying coconut oil. Just Google Coconut Oil and uses and you will find amazing things. I really didn't realize how good for you this is. Make sure if you get coconut oil, you get, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil. I have replaced my shaving cream, my night cream, day cream, cleanser, makeup remover and body moisturizer/scrubs with it. It's solid at 76 degrees or below and liquid above that. It lasts forever! It is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties so you can use on acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema. In fact it's GREAT healing for eczema and psoriasis type conditions. This also ties into my more simple and wholesome living goal! You can order this online but I just picked it up at a grocery store. I prefer the glass jar brands instead of the plastic.

One of my goals in life I set many years ago is to write a book. I officially started and have a publisher already in the ready. It's in it's baby stages of formulation right now and that's about all I can say at this point. But! When my writing mojo begins, I write a little more. My goal to finish is by the end of this year. I know that sounds like a long time but I want to make sure it's right before releasing. The publisher is supposed to call me again early Summer to check on progress.

My camera is really on the blink. I hope to get it to squeeze a few pictures of the snow we are getting. The most of this storm, Pax is hitting our area in the mountains with prediction totals of 9-12 inches by Thursday morning. Folks, that is ALOT of snow. I'm concerned about the icing conditions as well. But for the most part, hubbie and I are huddling inside until Thursday.

 Louie the outside cat, has checked in the Lodge at Fox mountain through the end of the week! We already have had constant snow since 5am. He is ever so glad to curl in the back of the bathroom cabinet that is open and hibernate. Can't wait to see what he does when I turn on a blow dryer.


I designed a freebie offered for a short while here for you!!!  I want to thank you for all your support and taking time out to read my blog. Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I was inspired to design this one. I will have it out free for a couple of weeks. Again, if you stitch it up, please, please, please send me a pic. I will put it on the blog here and especially adore the different ways you finish it.

 

Love Is All We Need

designed by Jennifer Fox, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I'm humming the Beatles song now in my head...........................................

 

Use colors of choice and linen of choice! From muted pinks to bright pinks, this sampler can take many décor options. I would love to see this in a primitive sampler.

Please keep pattern as is except changing the initials to suit you and your sweetheart!

To enlarge to print, just click on the picture and then print in your computer software.

 

I can't wait to see some finishes! You really do make my day. I hope this makes someone happy at least and if your heart is happy, then so is mine.

 

I have two knitting projects on the needles. A shawl and a Spring light airy scarf.

Stay-tuned for pics and progress.

 

And finally, this creature that was stealing all of Louie's food outside on the back porch is not around anymore. He actually growled at me and hissed. Scared me to death.

He met his demise at the end of last week.

 

 

I failed to use the Opossum Pie recipe that is in one of my cookbooks......YUCK.

 

Now this is a much prettier furbaby. Yup, she is a B.A.B.Y

 

 

So on the needles I went from this:

 

 

 

 

I have another one, a thick cranberry shawl in another pattern on more needles but at this time my camera has met it's demise. I will have to get hubbie to take a pic of it for the next post.

 

 

This red headed woodpecker was seen prior to the snow coming. I guess he was "going to the grocery for milk and bread before the storm".

 

Stay tuned. Soon some snow pics today with hubbie's nice camera!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Knitting warm and cozy,

Jennifer

 

Twisted Tuesday and Love at the Homestead

Learning something new that is simple. 100% Cotton. Dishcloth~~knitted.

With the top of my right hand still really sore and wrapped, I still am going with the needles until I can't stand it anymore. :P

A friend I had not seen in sooooooooo long told me about this cotton color because she told me all about her crocheting dishcloths and used this.

I started this yesterday and worked on it some today.

It's pretty TWISTED!

Cottage is the name. I LOVE it!

The colors exactly I use in my kitchen and family room.

Why do I keep showing you my work in a plate?????  The lighting is just best really.

It's quite a tightly woven  piece. I cast on 40 stitches and garter stitch all the way. I want to make this a little larger than what most dishcloth patterns call for so probably one skein will make 2.

Size definitely matters.

In needles.......

I started using size 6 as recommended by someone at a quilt store but, I used a 5 instead and it was MUCH easier to slide the cotton over the wood needle + this is the size called for on the package. I think this is Peaches and Cream cotton. (I don't have the label any longer)

Speaking of sweet Peaches and Cream.......this Peach actually fell asleep on the sofa~~~~~~~with her foot in her mouth and arms up. She was nawing on her feet and fell asleep.

The warmth and hum of the wood stove will put one in a trance at times it's so relaxing.

Speaking of relaxing, this is what relaxes me:

my dearest husband

knitting

love for family and friends

music

reading

cross stitching

designing

writing

and 

hot, Cinnabons, fresh from the store........................

a warm fire in the wood stove

my Kindle loaded with good books

My sweet husband brought me a Cinnabon for breakfast for yesterday morning. 

We couldn't be happier together and celebrate everyday, a Valentine's day!

Two more days.....for the official celebration of love and for us, that is a deep, Christ-centered love that is the solid foundation. 

Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind - yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 5

The Love Month

Hey sweet readers, the week has traveled fast in this spot on the map here in North Ga! February is upon us and I always think of the love month because of Valentine's Day; however, really, I know that we should show our love daily for we never know when time is up for us. So every day is Valentine's day for me. I especially am extremely blessed to have Mr. Darcy as my husband because God couldn't have put two people together as well as He did us.

It's quite refreshing to have a partner, a lover, a friend, someone that holds the key to my heart, just daily doing his best, guiding and leading in this homestead. I can't say I've ever had this kind of pure love ever in my life.

The sweet Valentine's I stitched a couple of years ago, and coffee stained are at the top and second below, from Primitve Betty's blogspot and the third on bottom, The Sampler Girl, Tanya.

My kids are also part of my heart and will be forever.

For my little bittie Valentine knitted cover booklet of smalls, I started thinking of redwork. An empty heart frame as well.

Enjoy your Friday evening with the one you love!

Jennifer

Finishing Knitting Projects and My Finished Stitching Journal

 

I finished my Kindle Cozy today!

 

 

 

By whip stitching in the calico lining and making a flower button on the corner, I then tucked in my reading glasses, small Kindle light, and Kindle and it's ready to go now.

 Abbie was really not into my crafting today. It takes away from her snuggle time.

 

NEXT, I finished with this in mind:

 

My Stitching Motif Journal

made with love by Feathers in the Nest
2013


I knitted in garter stitch the journal color in Lion's Brand tweed yarn in Mixed Berries with #9 Bates knitting needles.

After binding off, I decided instead of inserting rough paper, that I would cut some Antique White 28 ct linen into  slightly larger pieces than the binder cover. 9 pages.
I used some white DMC  to "bind" the pages of linen together.

I sewed on a vintage red button from my stash and the white thread wrapped around it for closure. Then tied on some white ribbon.
I'm sure othe ribbons, laces, buttons and ideas are endless on securing this journal..............

 The girl is silly.

When you have sewn the 3 part binder and secured it, you can see the pieces of linen of which you can stitch 1 over 1 on this 28 count for small motifs and have a nice journal.
This pic is when you roll back the knit cover.
 

Other ideas include:

redwork motifs
heart motifs
crown motifs
initials
Christmas motifs
monograms
small verses or words
or
whatever your HEART desires!

You may want to cut your linen pieces smaller, make a bigger knitted binder (i/e for 5 x7 pieces), or a variation of things.
I just thought this size would be neat.

I'm knitting a second one to put rough paper in for a paper journal in progress now.

Well, today went by in a flash and soon to head to sleepy time.

I did make some really good Banana Bread from a different recipe.
I thought it would be perfect for one large loaf pan but.......it floweth over in the oven......;)

Seriously. It did. Made a mess to clean up. I'll post the recipe tomorrow.....methinks it's time for getting ready for bed.

This picture reminds me of Mr. Darcy and me.
Time to snuggle, be silly and tell bedtime stories. :p

With love in my heart and home,
Jennifer
 

Twisted Tuesday--new knitting project and old/new cross stitch pattern

The foot is getting much better, thankfully! Woke up last night with it hurting but wrapping it during the day helps a bunch. Mr. Darcy's sweet love helps too. 

While NOT doing housework and such at the homestead yesterday ((((sigh)))), I knitted up a small journal cover. There is a great pattern in a book called Simple Knitting: A complete how-to-knit workshop with 20 projects  by Erika Knight. This book is from Joanne's Fabrics store.

 I got it back a few months ago when I SO wanted to learn how to knit. Along with U tubes, both have been helpful.

page 75 is number 4 lesson Notebook. 

So this is the end result and should be fairly easy going now. I will get some leather tie and sew a button on. I plan to cut up some rough paper, probably from a grocery bag and punch holes in it to put in the binder.

Then I'll show pics later of it finished out. So far one small notebook done and the next working on it. I have a couple of people I would like to give these to for Valentines Day.

Using # 9 Bates aluminum needles with Lion's Brand Mixed Berries. It's really a pretty yarn but I have to say it's tweedy texture didn't really have any "give" to it and it split quite a bit.

Got to sew a button on it, get some leather string, find a grocery bag to cut up rough papers yet to go. I've also thought about using some lace instead, as this if for Valentines.

And on to the second one.

Knitting really has been enjoyable, productive and anxiety-reducing all in one.

Anybody heard of this sampler maker?    This is a package with DMC floss, and the 26 ct natural linen, and chart for a gorgeous sampler with one of my favorite Bible verses. I think it was put out in the 80's.

It's a band sampler.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

I don't know when I will start this but I just had to show you. I had not heard of this designer before. If you have or know of other patterns, let me know!

This pattern is very little to see. I will have to use magnifier to read it; however,

the address and name on the pattern is:

Words of Praise

2 Alexis Drive

Richmond, Virginia 23231

Whoever is the designer, did a great job and the work is so meaningful.THANK YOU!

The colors are PERFECT for our family room!

The natural, unbleached linen in 26 ct will be perfect for my vision as well.

Well, I guess I've started enough projects for who knows when to finish.

The Downton Abbey episode was so SAD this past Sunday night. Of all people, Sybil. {{{frown}}}

 We can't wait to see the next one though.

I haven't much progress to show on my spot sampler for DA but when the mood strikes I'll pick it up again.

Right now I have a bit of stitcher's ADD.

Seriously.

Is it the Winter time?

the variety of crafts we all have in stash?

Whatever it is, it keeps me going!

As the verse says~~Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Carry-on and stay strong!

Love to all,

Jennifer

Valentine Love

I so sweet.

I so true.

I will be your Valentine

how about you?

~~~Abigail Rennee Fox

 

Two hearts connected with lots of love.

Thank you for all your comments! I do enjoy them and connecting with all of you.

Here's hoping your week started off well,

Jennifer

Sweet Valentine Goodies for the Stash

The rainy days in Georgia are growing loooooooonger. It's a yucky, rainy evening and we've had many of them this Winter!

But all in all the month of January is almost to a close and in such conversation of "winding it up" I wanted to share with you some things I've added to my stash in the past 6 weeks.

If you like this as much as I do, you can get this and the thread winders at your local Hobby Lobby!

Some are included but I get extra to wind some floss.

(It's a good thing I don't live close to one) LOL

I just love the Springy like green color!

I thought it was a total neat way to add to the other many methods I have for organizing fibers.

Of course I couldn't help but get a couple of heart buttons while I was there.

2 hearts are always a cheerful treat.

And some vintage cotton lace ribbon too.

And mail items NOT from Hobby Lobby are:

an 8 in square black prim wood frame

and my most favorite is this new design Coverlet Birds!

I absolutely LOVE coverlets and when I saw this little piece I knew I had to stitch it.

Definitely will pull me out of the creative slump along with other cheerful adventures.

I also got the recommended Needlepoint Silks of which I have never used before but I do LOVE stitching with silk and I'm sure this one will be a treasure. I've heard only good things about this brand.

The fabric I chose was not the recommended fabric but is As Days Gone By ( I think is the name) by ????  I just had a brain blip. I'm having alot of those lately. ;)

Design is by The Scarlett House

I'm just in love with the colors.

I hope I pick up some speed on this one

I just need to pick it up....LOL  This should be a quickie! It's the Sampler Girl's Mr. Darcy sampler.

Wrinkles and all, here it is so far. Yes, I know the hoop makes marks, I just change around and on certain pieces I'll pick it up from time to time. Hopefully the wrinkles will come out. xxxxxx fingers

Here you can see the contrast of the color of linens, As Days Gone By and 32 ct natural Belfast linen.

I love both actually.

Torn between two lovers. :p

and I was in a Hearts Aflame mood, so I got this Kelmscott needleminder to plant my needles on while I'm stitching my Valentiney samplers. ;)

Oh, hmmmm.....yes, it was in the garden.

Yes, Miss Flossie Mae is going to have kittens and what's really funny is that Thomas, bless his heart, thinks he is the father of them but he can't be as he is neutered, but he tried, yes he did at my astonishment.

Honestly, they are a matching couple now and I think they are this year's Valentines couple expecting!

They sit together on the front porch swing every day.

I guess there's something in the air around here.

I think I was a wee bit late on getting Miss Flossie Mae fixed.

Will be interesting what colors her kitties will be.

Hope your weekend is full of fun and adventure. I know mine will be. I'm attending a seminar Saturday out of town to hear a speaker for the book A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. I think it will be AWESOME!  I might even sneak my stitching in there while I listen if my eyes will let me see without the magnifier light. I've really gotten addicted to the magnifier light even with my glasses.

Stay sweet and until we meet,

Jennifer