Tuesday, February 25, 2014

New Sampler, Preserve My Heart Secure


I am pleased that I managed to finish another new sampler pattern.....and I still can't believe I squeezed in another 25 hours into a busy week.
I had seen this verse years ago...on a sampler from the 1800's.....some times I can find verses in old hymn books....they are wonderful reference books for beautiful verses. This one says:
Preserve my little heart secure
From every hurt and stain
First make it and then keep it pure
And shut to all that's vain

If early thou would'st have me die
O that no harm will be
Into thy arms I then will fly
And ever be with Thee

I did a different border...with twining roses. Lots of flower, birds, an alphabet......lots of goodies here. I love making it up as I go along. It fits any 16" x 20" frame....that's always a plus. There are so many nice antique frames that you can pick up instead of paying a custom price. This is charted for DMC....and then you could always antique it after stitching...stain it any way you'd like...and make it an instant heirloom.
Design size is 240 x 304 stitches. Finished size is 15 x 19". Charted for 16ct (32ct linen). Pattern is 10 pages, color blocks and symbols pages. $14.99. nbelgian@aol.com
Mine will be going out to a model stitcher soon. These arthritic hands are having quite a time just doing patterns these days...I wish I had time to stitch all of these but alas....I will have to save major stitching for retirement.
   I think we need a give-away for sampler patterns.....soon!

Thanks for stopping by.
Back to the drawing board.....
Nancy

Friday, February 21, 2014

Always Remember motto

I was asked by a friend to design a small motto with the quote from A. A. Milne:
"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
She wanted to give it as a gift when her grandson graduates this year. She wanted a masculine design so I did a simple border. Shown in blue, green and brown.....but if you changed it to cranberry, pink and green it would be nice for a girl. Chart is $9.99. Color blocks and symbols pages. 7 pages total. Pattern size is 143 x 114 stitches. 16ct (32ct linen) finished size is 8.9" x 7.1". Fits any 8x10 frame. If you would like one, email me at nbelgian@aol.com.

I have had a very busy week and now need to get to my next sampler pattern.....and cram another 25 hours into this week if possible! Wish me luck.....
Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Is it time for a Spring floss give-away? YES!!! 10 winners!

I hear everyone wishing for this very cold and snowy winter to be over....I love the snow...but understand those who don't. I love spring...I just dread our hot and humid summers that we have here...so I enjoy winter!
Spring will be here before we know it....and of course we have to have a Spring floss give-away! So lets try to hurry it in with anticipation.......and lets give some floss away!!!!

Lets do some new spring colors.....lets give 5 skeins (100Yards!)  to 10 lucky winners! 50 skeins (1,000 yards!) is a nice give-away. 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......how about March 10th? Sounds good to me. The first day of spring is the 20th.....but that's a little too long to wait. This will give lots of stitchers time to enter.
Good luck....and be sure to check back to see if you are a winner. I truly don't have time to track you down and after all....you must follow!
Nancy

Monday, February 17, 2014

Youths Flowery Season new Sampler design


It was another busy week and another sampler pattern completed. I wanted to show the difference when you change the background color on the stitching program....it really changes the look of the sampler just like clicking on a color and changing it...it can go from bright and new colors to old and faded with a click.....talk about easy!
This new design is called Youths Flowery season. Another quote from a very early sampler.
Youths flowery Season soon will pass
And Beauty's Bloom decay
But Knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue, Grace
Will never fade away.
In the fair regions of the Blest
External roses Bloom
No Storms nor Blights can enter there,
No Pain, no Death, no Tomb

I liked the flowing border I had just done on the Patience sampler so I did a vine and added rose buds and leaves. A nice spring sampler.....birds, flowers, butterflies, bees...all wrapped in one sentiment. I just keep drawing until it is filled...talk about fun!
Charted for DMC. I like to make it easy on everyone. You can always change the colors if you wish. Pattern size is 267 x 331. 16.7" x 20.7" finished size.
I send 10 pages with each chart. Four color blocks pages, 4 symbols pages (use the one you prefer) pattern information and color key. Chart is $14.99. I will put the chart in my ebay store today. I will be sending this out to a model stitcher but that will take a while to stitch. Email nbelgian@aol.com if you would like a chart.
I have several verses I want to use and now to decide which one for the next sampler......
Thanks for stopping by....have a great day!
Nancy

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day and some winners!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! I hope each and every one of you will have a wonderful day.....with the loved ones that make our life so worthwhile.

I am happy to announce the winners of the give-away....lots of goodies in red going out of here. The winners are....... and  yes I picked a few more!!!!!
Tara
Vickie (A Stitcher's Story)
Monica (hoopless stitcher)
Mary B
Wichitastitcher
Nan (Nan's Needlework Notions)

Congratulations!!! I have some wonderful packages ready to go out to you. Please email me and give me your addresses. nbelgian@aol.com

I better get busy and think of what to give away for a spring give-away....we can't let too much time go by around here without sharing!
Have a wonderful day.....thinking of you.
Nancy

Monday, February 10, 2014

Another busy week,another new sampler

It's been another very busy week around here...and another new sampler pattern emerges....An Almighty Friend.
Everyone seems to be anxiously awaiting spring and warm weather...and I thought a sampler with flowers....birds...bees and butterflies...and roses on the gate would be fitting. Lots of color in this design.....and a flowing leaf border. Charted for DMC to make it easy for all. Design size is 174 x 174 stitches. Finished size is 10.9 x 10.9 inches. Pattern is $12.99 plus postage. Color blocks plus symbols charts included.. Email nbelgian@aol.com if you would like one.

I love the man that scorns to bend
beneath afflictions blast
Who trusts in an almighty friend
for his reward at last



The next sampler will be another large one....just getting the rough draft done on the pattern....and it looks like another 25 hours or more to chart this one. You can see why I send these out to model stitchers.

We still have lots of snow on the ground here...but I do love winter. I like spring...but our hot and humid summers follow....so I will enjoy winter for a while yet.

Make sure you have signed up for the Valentine's Day drawing that is quickly approaching.

Thanks for stopping by.......back to the drawing board.
Nancy

Friday, February 7, 2014

Forget Me Not Sampler Completed

My Forget Me Not Sampler is finished and I will be taking more photos and printing charts on Monday. Charted for DMC but chart is available with my over dyed floss as shown in the photo or just the chart alone.
 I need to frame this.....It's going to take a lot of stretching as ironing wouldn't take out the creases....it was mailed back to me in a flat envelope and folded. You can imagine how flat the envelope was smashed by the time I got it. These crease lines are so hard to remove when you can't use steam on over dyed floss...that's why I always mail in a small box. Wish me luck on this one.

I am working on the sampler pattern with the delicate leaf border...I am pleased with how it is coming along. I have to decide on a verse to use...I have quite a few verses I have found over the years and I am always looking for others. Do you have a unique verse you would like see on a pattern? I would love to see any you might have.

I need to take a break and go bake a birthday cake for my son who will be 43 tomorrow....where did the time go! My son is the joy in my life....and a Mother couldn't ask for a more caring and loving son. We are the best of friends....I love to spend time with him and his sons....all great guys if I may say so and I am so lucky to have them. Am I proud or what?!!

Thanks for stopping by....the chocolate cake is calling me....
Have a great weekend.
Nancy

Thursday, February 6, 2014

New Patience Sampler!



It has been a long week and another sampler pattern is done. I love old samplers...but I prefer to design my own. These will be the future heirlooms and antiques a hundred years from now. I like to look at the pictures of the old ones... and then take the drawing wand and go for it. This border is similar to one I had seen from an 1827 sampler. There were a couple from that same area that did similar borders and then I wanted to add birds...one of my favorites....and a house of course.....and on and on and on......and I left a space above the roof if you wanted to put in your family name, initials, a date, etc. Your family name would be nice.

Patience
Patience will wipe away the streaming tear
And hope will paint the palid cheek of fear
Content will always happiness supply
And virtue calls a blessing from on high

This chart is 249 x 314 stitches. The finished size on 32ct linen will be 15.6 x 19.6 inches. This will take my model stitcher a while to do....so I am printing charts from the stitching program picture on linen. It is charted for DMC floss and I am blending a few colors together. The actual sampler will be stitched on some very antiqued linen....a dark caramel....and then I may over dye the whole thing once it is stitched! Since it will be DMC and color fast I may have a go at it and dip and dunk it into some dye wash to age it further. I have done that with other samplers and love the finished result.
Charts will be $14.99. Six pages of color blocks that are easy to follow. Not a lot of colors so it is not too confusing. I have had many stitchers tell me they like my charts simply for this reason. Easy to follow. Symbol blocks chart also included for reference.
If you would like a chart email nbelgian@aol.com. Postage is extra. Charts will be ready to mail tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by....back to the drawing board. I am working on a sampler with a leaf border that is stunning.....hope to have that one to show next week and then it will be off to a model stitcher. Have to keep those needles busy! Mine have been busy in the evenings stitching mottoes for customers....my goodness are these hands sore. Chart all day and stitch all evening. My break time is do the laundry...cook dinner....iron trims for ebay orders...pack kits.....after 9 years of 7 days a week with my ebay business I am ready for a vacation. Maybe later this year....if I last that long!
Have a great day.
Nancy