Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my blogger friends. I wish you joy and happiness, as well as health and energy. I am still anxiously waiting for the arrival of my Scarlet Letter samplers. I think they will probably be in on Wednesday. Until then, I'm working on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." It's a lovely sampler by Heartstring Samplery.

Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year

I decided that I needed something to enhance my waning enthusiasm for stitching. I'm not sure what happened, but I couldn't get going on what I once so dearly loved. I blamed it on everything, from work to worry and anxiety about everything. Whatever it was, I couldn't get that enthusiasm back. Happily, I happened on Plum Street Samplers' blog where Paulette mentioned Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year. I clicked on the link and came across what really intrigued me, a year of working on a Scarlet Letter sampler. I have often looked at the beautiful samplers but felt they were too much for me. Well, I decided to join Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year. It should be an opportunity to meet wonderful new people. I ordered two beautiful samplers. They haven't come in yet, so the pictures are from the Scarlet Letter website. I think this will be so much fun. Hopefully, you will too. The first sampler is SDW A German Band Sampler, circa 1710. I love the different animals that are on this sampler. I ordered the chart instead of the kit because I want to look for a fabric to stitch this sampler on. I haven't decided if I will use cotton or silk fibers yet. My second sampler is Margret Lawrance, A Scottish sampler, dated 1823. It has an illuminated alphabet which reminds me of William Blake, the poet, who engraved illuminated alphabets. I ordered the kit with 35 ct. fiber and silk fibers. I am so excited to receive both of these samplers.

 

http://scarletletteryear.blogspot.co.uk

Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year

 

SDW, A German Band Sampler, circa 1710 

Margret Lawrance, a Scottish sampler, circa 1823

 

 

http://www.scarletletteryear.blogspot.co.uk

Mom's Handmade Ornaments

My dear mother always made handmade ornaments for my son John for Christmas. I wanted to show you some of the ornaments as they are on our tree this year as every year. I really think the stocking is beautiful. My mother used silk ribbon embroidery to embellish the stocking. The snowman is just adorable and is an added highlight each Christmas. Mom sewed it and added some fun clothes to Mr. Snowman. The Santa has always been my son's favorite. He's a friendly Santa made of felt with added decorations. My mother was an excellent seamstress. She could upholster and also made many of our clothes, including suits for my father. She also quilted and was a cross stitcher, as well as a needleworker in other mediums, including embroidery, candlewicking, and crewel.

 

Old-Fashioned Snowman and Gnomes

This is a comforting image of an old-fashioned snowman and gnomes. We don't have any snow, so I think this is the closest we will get to a White Christmas.