Wednesday, January 29, 2014

First Sampler Completed


Some lightening needles have completed one of my first sampler patterns, Mary Long. I just received this in the mail an hour ago and I can hardly wait to frame it. She did a beautiful job stitching...front and back look perfect.
I will print charts tomorrow and list this in my ebay store as soon as I have it framed for photos for the cover. I will also be selling charts with or without floss. Charted for DMC but model is shown with my over dyed floss.
Chart only will be $12.99 With my floss $19.99.
Shown stitched on my hand tinted 32ct linen. Finished size is 10 x 11". 177x164 stitches.
 
Back to patterns....I am going to have a hard time keeping 23 model stitchers busy....especially when one is as fast as this one!
 
Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy
P.S. To answer a few questions...the walkway and fence are my medium taupe, a rose brown and the photo looks more pink than it really is. The flowers are faded pink and the berry border is a dark rose. Hand dyed looks so much nicer than regular DMC.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Waiting for the Angels Sampler

Another week....another sampler pattern done. I especially like this one for the verse. I took several elements from antique samplers, the verse, the birds and a few motifs and designed this one. Waiting for the Angels. The verse reads:
    Only waiting till the angels open wide the mystic gate
At whose feet I have lingered weary poor and desolate
Even now I hear their footsteps and their voices far away
If they call me I am waiting only waiting to obey

The smaller verses in the boxes are:
Call up on the angels
heed their voices call

Listen to thy savior
follow submit to all


The stitching program picture never does justice to a design....so I can hardly wait to see this one stitched. I may show the chart in other colors too....it is amazing how it changes the whole look.
I will be sending this off to a model stitcher tomorrow. This is a 16 x 20 inch  (249 x 317 stitch count) sampler on 32ct linen. After the model is stitched the chart will be available. Full cross stitches in my charts. Charted for DMC but I may offer over dyed floss for the chart too.

I will get started on another pattern......by the time I am done I will have my 23 model stitchers very busy! Oh yes...one of the first models I sent out is almost done! I will have it in a few days and show it to you.
Thanks for stopping by. Be sure you have signed up for the Valentine's Day give-away in a previous post. Lots of goodies to be given away.
Nancy

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

New Sampler pattern preview

I have another sampler pattern done and it will be off to a model stitcher tomorrow. This is The Charm of Friendship....and is 11 x 14 inches. Using the stitching program it is shown on cream linen as I will be using my antique champagne linen...a mottled antique cream. I have some nice over dyed floss for these patterns. The charts will be available with or without floss. Charted for DMC....but will be so much nicer with over dyed floss.
I have so many verses that I have seen on antique samplers and I hope to design a sampler for every one of them. It will take me a while...it's a good thing I have 22 model stitchers this year! Sometimes the only thing I like about an antique sampler is the verse...or a motif or a border....so I will be combining these elements into my own designs. And then there are times that I just let the imagination go.....and dabble with the motifs and experiment as I did on this one. I love the soft rose colors.....especially on cream. It is 11"x17"
I just thought I would give you a sneak peak at this one. Back to the drawing board......

And be sure to sign up for the Valentine's Day give-away.
Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Shall we have a Valentines's Day give-away? Yes! Enter now!

I have been busy....busy...busy these past couple weeks. Business and personal....and there is never enough time in the day. Do we have time for a Valentine's Day give-away? ALWAYS!!!!!

Lets see....it has to be mostly red........so how about red floss....and red trims(and some cream colored trims....cluny lace!)....and red heart buttons...I have wood and plastic hand dyed red buttons.....and I have several heart charms....yes those would be great!!!!! Lets add an Alphabet Ornament chart with your initial.....and the Treasured Friend red heart pattern.

Lets draw 3 names.
Rules: You must be a follower and post a comment here. Post on your blog and get 25 more entries. Send a friend and get 25 more entries.
Drawing to be Valentine's Day....of course!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.....good luck in the drawing!!
Nancy

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Sneak preview of a few new samplers

I have had a couple friends ask for a sneak preview of the new sampler patterns that I am working on.....impatient souls........and I always hesitate to show something from the stitching program because it doesn't do it justice. It does show it on linen...but not the beautiful over dyed linen that I have...or the over dyed floss that I will be using....but I will show a preview of the few that I have finished and they are off to model stitchers. Some are my adaptations of antiques and some will be my own designs. So here you are:


 I love designing birds and Forget Me Not Flowers together.




I hope you like the preview. The charts will be $12. I will also offer them with over dyed floss and 32ct linen. These are also charted for DMC. All my designs are full cross stitches.
Some of the colors shown on the charts above are darker than they actually are. I need to show them darker on the stitching program for the colors blocks on the charts. I don't know about you....but I like color blocks to follow when stitching. I will also include a symbols chart with each pattern. So you have the option to use the chart you prefer.
Thanks for stopping by and viewing my work.
Nancy

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

A great response from model stitchers!

Thank you for the great response to my add for model stitchers.....I had two...now I have 22! I appreciate each of you contacting me to work on these samplers. All I can say is I better get busy! It takes me about 20 hours to do a sampler....if I stick with it a little bit less time. I must say that sitting for 10 hour days really gets to me so I may drop it back to 8 hours at a time. Either way I should have lots of samplers being stitched this year and I appreciate the great response. You stitchers are the best!!

Hugs from Nancy

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

I need a model stitcher in the US

     I have been very busy since I recovered from the holidays. I have completed 3 sampler patterns and two will be in the mail to model stitchers shortly. Now....I will be needing more model stitchers. I have a few requirements.....I need you to be in the US. With high postal costs and shipping time I think you can understand my position. For the samplers...they will be on 32ct linen and they will be around 11 x 11 inches or 12 x 12 inches. The going rate was a penny per stitch....and I am looking for someone who wants to trade for floss. An average sampler would be around $150.00 for you....and I would be happy to send my $156 Sampler Floss Collection (1600 yards and would be over $600 from other companies) and pay all postage. Or linen. Or you could select floss from any in my store. Some samplers will be $200 in pay.....and I would pay half cash and half floss or linen.
These are all full cross stitches. The sayings on some will be over 1 but most are over 2.
    MOST IMPORTANT! I need someone who has the time to stitch. And stitch quickly. And has very nice stitches and neat on the back.  I can't wait 6 months for you to complete this. I am looking for someone who will quickly stitch for me, say within 1 month. I know that would leave out the part time stitchers but I think you can understand my position. I could show the pattern stitched with the stitching program...but the linen colors they offer just don't satisfy me....or make the sampler look as good as it should. I may do that on one here and there....
    So if you think you might be interested....please email me at nbelgian@aol.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Thank you for listening.....
Nancy
P.S. Several emails have come in...I now have 4 stitchers and still wanting to line  up more.