Blessings from Above

Someone wrote and asked if I could post a close-up of Blessings from Above to my webpage. Well, that's DD's turf so I thought I'd post it here since that's something I can do on my own. This is one I took when it came back from the framer.

A few new things

Yesterday was Market Day at The Attic and I was able to pick up the kit from Blackbird Designs "Tis Halloween". This chart is also in their new book but I loved the fabric bag and the bird thread holder plus it is always nice to have the fabric and threads included. Also bought a nice decoupaged box from Homespun Elegance. All in all a fun day looking at all the new things from market.

Pennies from Heaven

My sister and I were talking the other day and the talk turned to how we have both been finding coins. We conjectured that maybe our Dad is sending us messages from above. He loved coins, and would even save the fake coins from Las Vegas casinos. This week I've started finding foreign coins, one from Canada and another from Denmark. It's rather comforting to come upon a coin unexpectedly. I had a good chuckle after a recent Weight Watchers meeting and I found two quarters sitting in the driver's seat of the car. I'm absolutely sure they weren't there when I went into the meeting. Was Dad saying I needed to lose another 50 lbs? I prefer to think he was saying "keep up the good work". Dad, next time just leave a dime and a nickel or perhaps just one quarter. Thanks.

Happy Valentine's Day

Isn't this a great Valentine? Reminds me of Mary Engelbreit. I thought I'd post some of the photos I've seen of the different versions of my Valentine freebie. The one below is from Ruth:
This one is from Heidi:
This was done by Debra:
And this is from Monique:
I'll edit this later to get the links to their blogs but I'm on my way to Phoenix so don't have the time now. I just wanted to post because it's been a lot of fun to see how everyone has made this freebie their own. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Heaven Above

Here's my latest release I call "Heaven Above". I have a friend who has seen many of the things I've been designing lately and she feels I'm working through death issues which is probably true. My favorite part of this design is the sun which my own son designed for this piece after seeing my poor wobbly attempts at trying to create one. Hope you like it!
P.S.
I've had some requests to post the supplies for this piece so here it is:

Fabric:
40 ct Sand

169w X 228h Stitches
Size:
8-3/8w X 11-3/8h in

Threads:
DMC
676
3021
3750
3779
Gentle Arts:
Dried Thyme
Cranberry
Pink Azalea
Briar Rose
Fragrant Cloves
Melon Patch
Pomegranate
Antique Rose
Harvest Moon
Barn Grey
Apple Cider
Dungarees
Weeks Dye Works:
Cadet
Whiskey
and one Crescent Colours:
Plum Paisley

Shakespeare's Sonnet designs

Lorraine and I had breakfast this morning to unveil the ornaments we stitched for our Shakespeare's Sonnet Challenge. Actually, these are bigger than ornament size but we decided we can change the rules as we go. She chose Sonnet 55:

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone besmear'd with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lover's eyes.

I was stunned when she pulled out this gorgeous remake of a Ewe and Eye and Friends piece:

This so perfectly represents the spirit of the sonnet not to mention it's beautiful. I chose Sonnet 105:

Let not my love be call'd idolatry,
Nor my beloved as an idol show,
Since all alike my songs and praises be
To one, of one, still such, and ever so.
Kind is my love to-day, to-morrow kind,
Still constant in a wondrous excellence;
Therefore my verse to constancy confined,
One thing expressing, leaves out difference.
'Fair, kind and true' is all my argument,
'Fair, kind, and true' varying to other words;
And in this change is my invention spent,
Three themes in one, which wondrous scope affords.
'Fair, kind, and true,' have often lived alone,
Which three till now never kept seat in one. I designed this piece and tried to make it look Renaissance-like. Not sure if I accomplished it but this was a fun challenge for February and we already have March's assignment so stay tuned...

Used bookstore

I love our used bookstore. I've been gradually taking items like these there all month and now it's over $200 later and I have cleared space and made some money to boot. Such fun, the only problem is I use my trade credits and bring home more stuff so that extra space I cleared is already filled.

Living in a Sampler World

I made this as a tribute to the sampler makers of old. I wondered what it would be like to be a real person living in a world of samplers so I cut out a photo of a real Victorian lady and another of a lady I found on an antique sampler. They are chatting near a sampler tree and sampler house. The sampler lady holds a sampler bird and there is a sampler butterfly in the tree. This was my first attempt at something like this and I learned a lot and have made notes of what I would do differently but I think it turned out nice and I have it sitting on top of my piano.