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

Hope and Paying it Foward to Make a Difference

I haven't had time yet to really review this book but so far, it looks good. When I do, I will post about it.

A couple of things I picked up this week.

I went to the city this past Monday. Yep, it's a big day to go to the city when you are a country girl at heart!  I went to Joanne's crafts and rumbled around for probably 2 hours. I like to look at all the things in there.

They had quite a bit of knitting books. Very limited cross stitching though.

At last I found a really good book and grabbed a copy of Country Sampler magazine (quarterly favorite of mine) to check out.

While at the counter a young boy said, "oh you knit!"  I told him I was a novice but enjoyed both cross stitching and knitting. He said he was about to take a class on beginning knitting. 

I asked him if he had heard of Ravelry and he said no.

So I gave him the information because he had such excitement about going to his classes soon that I tried to give him hope for needlework. I told him that needlework of both kinds really helps stress and health in general. He was excited to go home and look through Ravelry.

The boy looked college age and although knitting or cross stitching is sometimes looked at by men or women as "feminine" things, there are some awesome and talented male knitters and cross stitchers who I appreciate so much.

I think the stigma is even worse in the South which is too bad because of all the benefits of creativity. I find the stitching and knitting community online to be a kind one in general.

The world needs alot more kindness today.

Families need more kindness.

Sometimes reading or listening to the world news (which I do not do alot of) is so daunting.

This is one reason why I listen to podcasts of cross stitchers and knitters alot and read blogs.

I rarely watch TV anymore. 

I'm reposting a freebie for you today. It's simple. I designed it in 2012.

You can use colors of choice.

If you stitch it up send me a pic and I will show your unique work how you interpreted the colors and why if you would like. 

Maybe you know of someone that really needs some hope right now. Someone who has given up.

Hopefully, you can share it with them. It may not solve all the problems but surprisingly so you never know how much our kindness influences someones' difficult situation.

Hope

copyright 2012

designer Feathers in the Nest

“Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul 

And sings the tune without the words 

And never stops at all.”  

by Emily Dickinson

Till later,

Jennifer

A New Summertime Sampler Freebie, Abbie, and Starting a New Blog

Good Sunday morning, ya'll!  I started after much thought, a new blog on aging and skin care. I really want to incorporate some fun and facts which include any subject for women about aging, not just skin care and body care but also topics to help through this lifetime process we all take. I hope to utilize my experience as a women's health nurse practitioner to also share some late research on the subject, do product reviews as well.

Join me as I start conversations about positive attitudes, encouragement, some latest research about aging, skin care and beauty, exercise, healthcare, and anything pertaining to going through the aging process.

You can find it here.   The name is Aging Gracefully and Skin Care. I named it in part and honor of my grandmother Grace who left this life way to early at age 57 and who was everything I want to be in positive aging.

I have just posted a welcome note but plan to post something really soon!!

For your enjoyment, I designed a cross stitch summer piece. I hope you enjoy!

Summertime and Patience

copyright 2015

designed by Feathers in the Nest

Colors and linen of choice. 

just click on the pattern and if this does not work to make it larger, let me know so I can try to correct it. If you do stitch it up, please share with me, so I can put on the blog or just for encouragment. I have not stitched a model of this one up yet.

I picked the yellows/golds and greens just as preference. I love to watch the yellow butterflies around the homestead here. This summer definitely has challenged my patience, or should I say grown more patience.

On the homefront, I've been super busy at work, and finishing up a forensic examiner class. BUT!
I did bind off on my shawl and when I get my Ipad camera rolling this afternoon will include a picture of it. I really, really like it!  And last night here in the mountains was the perfect night to use it while on the porch. It turned really cool, much cooler than last week.

This is probably the hottest June I've ever seen in the past 14 years I've lived here. But no complaints because I love each season for just what it is and the cool summer nights and warm days with longer daylight, I love the most.

Speaking of Miss Abbie....................

Abbie has a hard life. No honestly, she loves this old pillow I was going to throw out. It was a 6.00 one from Walmart and had seen it's last day for me but she claimed it by the front door before I could carry to the trash. She is in serious yoga mode here.

While this spoiled one here pushes herself to get inside my robe, I just had to take a quick pic of her, so I opened up the side of the robe to show you that she must have part kangaroo in her. She loves to hang on in the pouch part of the robe. Silly Girl!

She loves her back rubs.

She now has Minties added to her diet, which are small bones that are green and replaces brushing her teeth,  guarenteeing to remove plague and good for her teeth. The doctor said she had plague so now at 830pm at night, my DH tells her it's time  "to brush her teeth" and she runs over where we give her this mint thing and she eats it in 3 minutes and loves them. I really didn't think she would eat them but then again, she has eaten an EOS lip balm in Strawberry Mint by mistake so it didn't surpise me. You can get these by weight of your dog, at Walmart.

Have a great peaceful Sunday,

Jennifer

A Freebie For Valentine's Day Sampler: Love Is

Love Is

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2015

I hope you enjoy stitching up this little sampler. You can use any colors you want. You can even work all of it in a pretty overdyed red color for redwork.

Print this only for personal use. Please do not sell or pin on Pinterest. Thank you.

This will be free for a short while on the blog.

Please feel free to share this webpage/ website blog with others by html.

Linen of choice

105 x 100

Enjoy!

If you stitch this up and would like to share a pic of the finished product, please email me at jenniferann_fox@yahoo.com. I enjoy those emails and will put them on the blog here.

I hope your weekend went well.

I love finishing off the weekend with Downton Abbey at 9pm. This year is certainly moving right along with mystery, romance, and just about everything in this season.

In between working, I am reorganizing one entire room, closets, clothes, and redesigning it for more practical use. This has been a long time project but I am about to see the light! You Tube has certainly helped me in doing this large project.

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

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

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.

Home of the Free sampler Freebie and Nesting!

 

Home of the Free

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

I hope you enjoy this one. It's a little sampler I designed in 2012, can't remember if I posted this one or not. 

Between Memorial Day and Independence Day, our thoughts of patriotism really are more highlighted around the homestead.

I designed this one with the 2 and 5 being 25 years of service my dearest husband served in the military and his initials. 

You can customize this to fit a special year, person, or number of years served, a tour date, or anything to personalize it. The message is the same. We know as Americans, we have much more freedom and when you think about it, we must thank a soldier, remembering what they did for us to keep our freedom. Veterans go through quite a bit to ensure our freedom in this country and sometimes when all is said and done, they do not get the services or thankfulness they deserve.

I hope you find this little sampler fun to stitch and pay it forward to your favorite serviceman/woman with a thankful heart.

The colors suggested are:

Gentle Art

Old Red Paint

Old Blue Paint

Straw bonnet

Dark Chocolate

The finished design is 88 x 53

linen of choice

The above colors give it a more worn vintage look, however, you can change to your own liking.

Today, looks like more work at the homestead, getting ready for the flooring to be put down soon.

I went shopping yesterday for the first time in a very long time. Michael's on Thursday and Friday ONLY had all their hat boxes and decorative boxes 60% off!!!  I got several for my closet shelves. The prices were very low and I'll get much use of them.

When I get them all stacked and fixed, I'll take a pic for you!

These kinds of boxes also make a great storage system for cross stitching items too but my use will be in storing some jewelry in the small ones, scarfs and ties in bigger ones and socks.

We have to put a move on and get going with the house soon because in June we will have guests.

Mr. Darcy has already got the meal planned for barbeque on the grill!!

I hope this finds you at peace and healthy!

Jennifer

Comforts of Home Sampler Series: number 2 Coffee Together

 

Comforts of Home Series: no. 2

 

Coffee Together

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

The inspiration of this series is our homestead. A place that is filled with comforts, not luxurious extras, but basics that become part of the homestead joy, love, togetherness, and coziness. The first in this series is about quilts in the home.

 

For this second band sampler, I designed called Coffee Together, I used the colors of our kitchen, where we go each morning to reach for that pot of coffee. A cup of coffee is a daily deal here in the mornings, just the two of us. Sometimes we carry it on the back porch, sometimes, we take it to the family room.........wherever it may be, it's a time to share our hearts together.

It's almost like the glue that shapes our day, discussions about current events, hopes and dreams, and chores for the day.

 

The two hearts together represent the intimacy that a cup of coffee with your special someone can bring. You may put your own initials in the gold blocks to signify that bond.

The cross is there for symbolizing that we recognize Christ as the head of our home and the key represents the key to our hearts.

 

I chose the colors as follows:

 

Gentle Art

 

Blue Jay

Morning Glory

 

Crescent Colors

 

Ruby Slippers

Finley Gold

 

The smoke from the cups are backstitched in black or a dark gray of your choosing.

 

You may change the colors of your cups and letters to your liking. I just used the color of our own cups and the red for hearts. The Finley gold is a lighter gold that really makes a good contrast for those colors but of course you may substitute one of your own liking.

 

Linen of choice.

 

I love these days that we have so many choices of how we make our coffee, flavor coffee, and the options for caffeine or not. I have one cuppa caffeine a day. Used to be all decaf but this morning cup of caffeine coffee is my first and best. My DH makes the best coffee. He is usually the first one up at the homestead and has it made. We both differ in our likings for coffee additions but not too much!

He loves, and I mean LOVES, Irish Creamer. I was raised on plain milk in my coffee, but my preference is half and half and sugar. If I travel or splurge on a flavor creamer for myself I get hazelnut or French vanilla. If we are in a pinch for creamer, I have substituted canned milk, or Cool whip. Cool whip makes a great topping for coffee with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top!

 

Throughout my life, I've made coffee in a couple of ways. Mostly we just have a regular drip pot coffee maker. I have had a perculator for about 7 years and miss it. Walmart still carries the perculators and I've been tempted to get us another one.

We don't grind our own coffee at home but a coffee grinder is on my wish list and has been for awhile.

Otherwise Folgers is our daily cup.

 

On some days we will make a second pot for the afternoon. My DH can drink lots of coffee and the caffeine doesn't make him jittery but he is pretty much a calm, cool guy anyways!!!!

 

I've seen the other one cup coffee makers and seems they are nice but right now, not in our budget and I really don't mind the way we make it now. Rarely is there leftover coffee in the pot by noon.

 

I hope you enjoy this one. It will be free for a couple of weeks here on the blog. If you stitch it up and would like to share your finish, shoot me an email with your pic, and I'll put it here on the blog.

 

Thank you again for all comments. I appreciate your time and opinions on topics that inspire me.

 

So, what is your favorite coffee?? or do you like coffee? and what are your favorite ways to drink your cuppa joe?

 

Till later,

Jennifer

 

Freebie Sampler: Comforts of Home Series no 1

I absolutely love, love, love a quilt in my home. It just resonates with comfort even on a Summer day! I saw a quote somewhere once and thought this would be a great sampler verse. I have not stitched it up yet but will. I hope you enjoy it! I hope to design some of my favorite comforts of home. Just for starters..............quilts.

If you do stitch it up email me a picture to put on the blog at jenniferann_fox@yahoo.com

Thank you to all who commented such sweet, sweet words! I so appreciate it. If I can make just one person happier in the day or lifted, my purpose is served.

 

 

 

 

Comforts of Home Series

No. 1

The Quilt

 

designer Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I designed the border for half stitches to mimic the appearance of  some quilt edgings.

I love the primitive colors used here in dark gold and black but you can sub any colors you like to match your room décor.

 

There are areas for French knots that add texture to the sampler.

 

This sampler would look really awesome near your quilt collection, or sewing room.

 

I hope you enjoy! Please remember that this is for free for a limited time on the blog and not to be sold or kitted. I thank you so much. If you stitch it up and put on your blog, please reference Feathers in the Nest!

 

I hope this prints out ok for you. If not, please comment and let me know.

 

Well, today is certainly a typical March day with wind gusts and sunny cool skies. A great day to fly a kite............not as a joke........but seriously if you have kids, they would love this wind.

The trees are still bare and I just found out Easter is really late this year, like towards the end of April!

So more cool weather I'm sure until Easter. That's what my mama always said and it has always been true.

 

I hope you enjoy your Tuesday and remember that home is where the heart is. Make your home a place of comfort. Of course, for everyone that is different and suitable to your individual needs.

I have found that a good balance in my life of work, homesteading, faith, and physical care is the perfect equation for me at my age and stage of life. A little of all blends perfectly for the balance I need to ensure I'm healthy, a good wife, a good medical provider, and a good child of God.

 

Expressing our creative spirit is a great way to nurture the soul AND the soul of others. I am so thankful for all the creative spirits out there sharing patterns and ideas, and networking.

 

 It's definitely the balm for my spirit.

 

Again, I hope you have a great day!

Till later,

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

 

Free Sampler The Star~~a Christmas card for you

Good morning!

 

As we all get busy the week before Christmas with so many distractions, events to attend, friends to see, gifts to deliver, etc, that I wanted to say thank you to each and every reader for making my 5th year of blogging very special. Thank you for all the "gifts" you send to me with comments, personal emails and love. It means more to me than you know.

I wish I had could have a huge giveaway this week and have at least 10 winners but finances this year just didn't make that happen. I'm content though with what I've been blessed with, even the hardships because without them, lessons would not be learned, life would not be sharpened and my faith any more challenged.

Christmas, we all hope, is a happy time for families to get together and just be in touch at least once a year but for many, it is not a day of happiness but emptiness. Hardships of all kinds abound today and I hope in some tiny way at least, that writing and encouraging, offer hope throughout our journey in life. I enjoy helping people. I always have. The part of Christmas I enjoyed was seeing the faces of my kids open their presents that I had so thoughtfully put away for them and hoped it was an equal amount. :) 

Just like life ebbs and flows, those days are gone and as I get older, I find that things change and evolve in a different way. God has blessed us with the ability to create.  To bless others. To pay it forward. The faces of happiness that are more meaningful are those that enjoy the journey with us unconditionally and the acceptance of what our strengths and weaknesses are a part of everyday life.

I hope for all of you who take the time to pop in every now and again, that you have a very happy and blessed Christmas whether you are with the ones you love or not. Just remember that God gave His only son and this is the greatest gift of all. He always will love and protect you. The assurance that He will never abandon us is surreal.

If there is a time I watch TV it's probably this time of year, when the days are short and the nights are longer and the time between supper and bedtime is more settled in. I watched a Christmas movie on the Inspiration channel this week, The Nativity and it was the THE best representation of the Christmas story. The actors that played Mary and Joseph were exactly like I had them pictured in my mind when reading the Bible. I hope this movie comes on again before Christmas because I could watch it again and again. When the angel came to Mary and then to Joseph to direct their paths, to explain and not to be fearful, I was touched deeply. I was also amazed at the star that shown so brightly bringing them all together. The Star that gave them direction if only they accepted it.

Sometimes I wish I had a big star when I look in the sky that would shine on and off and directly in certain directions to know when something is God's will. But we actually have better than that now. We have Jesus in the flesh, His word for guidance. I am in no way perfect at all. None of us are and I am so thankful for Christ's birth, for His life He gave to cover our sins when we ask forgiveness.

So the inspiration for this sampler Christmas Card to you for 2013 and because I literally cannot mail every reader a card as I wish, I hope you print this off and keep it for some stitching time. 

Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

Sometimes on this journey of life it's hard to find the answers. We search for the star or the direction. Even though we don't always know the answer or even why we are on such a journey, we can be reassured that after we find the star, the direction, the answer, the meaning, then it will be followed by great joy.

The STAR will show the way.

Christmas miracles do really come true.

The Star

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

 

copyright 2013

 

linen of choice

 

colors suggested are Weeks Dye Works

 

Deep Sea

Morris Blue

Aqua

Blue Topaz

Gold Leaf

 

Please do not kit to sell and reproduce only through needle and thread. Also, if you are on FB where I put the design, please do not tag or share without giving credit to the source.

I so thank you for respecting this.

 

If you stitch this one up, please send me a picture and I will post on the blog and FB page!

 

 

 Sipping my second cuppa,
Jennifer

Paying it Forward for Monday Mini no 3 Merry and Bright!

First, I want to thank you for being patient and for those who purchased no 2 in the Monday Mini series, I so appreciate your patronage!

 

Today, I have been so busy and in the middle of all the rush, someone special did something very kind for me today. I promised to pay it forward and I think that offering no 3 as a freebie this week is the plan!

 

So if you are looking for another sampler and a quick finish for the Christmas tree or gift tag, I hope you enjoy!

Merry and Bright

Monday Mini no. 3

copyright 2013

designed by Feathers in the Nest

Jennifer Ann Fox

 

In using this background you can barely see the pale color on the left but it is there!

Also one block on the right corner should be red.

 

Colors and linen of choice!

 

I would love to see pics of your finishes!

feathersinthenest2013@yahoo.com

 

The inspiration for this little sampler is the toys back in the day that were around and on the Christmas tree. Remember the jacks to toss? Probably a vintage game now but I remember my brother getting those one year.

The toy soldier and the ornament brought much color into Christmas décor.

 

I hope this brightens up your week!

 

Jennifer