Where does the time go? On August 28th, our daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Greg, celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. Tom and I tried to convince them to take a trip and let us babysit Haiden who is now 19 months old. They didn't want to leave Haiden for that long, but decided that they would at least go out to dinner and let us take care of Haiden for the evening.

Here they are ready to go out to dinner. A very nice looking couple, in my humble opinion.

Haiden is very much at the "Mommy" stage, so we entertained him in his bedroom while Mommy and Daddy made their departure.

Dinner went well....

After dinner, he had a little pout on his face and his eyes looked teary--I think that's when he realized his parents weren't there. Tom quickly took him over to the sofa to read. (Tom claims that he read each of the 7 books at least 3 times each--a slight exaggeration, but not too far from the truth). I don't think Haiden normally would have sat still that long, but he had had a very full day and not much of a nap.

Next Tom laid Haiden down, and as you can see he was fast asleep.

When Carolyn and Greg returned home an hour later, they were surprised to see Tom reading and me stitching, and Haiden asleep in his bed.

Sunday was a beautiful day, so we headed downtown.

I love this photo of Haiden looking at his refection in the "Bean".

And then, all too soon, it was time for us to leave Chicago and drive home to Cincinnati. It was so hard to leave this sweet little one!

Anne's A Needleworker's Sampler Huswif (a class piece) wins a ribbon!

I've been busy this week working on a new model, a sampler, and also getting kits ready for upcoming classes in Michigan. Yesterday I cut lots and lots of silk threads and dupioni silk for A Needleworker's Sampler Huswif. This is one of my most popular classes.

A Needleworker's Sampler Huswif uses 27 different stitches. It can be made into a huswif or framed as a sampler. It can be made into a huswif or framed as a sampler.

It’s always great to get photos from stitchers who have been in a class. Here are a few photos of A Needleworker’s Sampler Huswif finished both ways.

Anne C. from Virginia took the class with the Loudoun County Sampler Guild in Leesburg. She finished the project as a huswif. Last year Anne entered her pieces at the Woodlawn Needlework exhibit in Alexandria, Virginia and won a ribbon. Congratuations, Anne!

Anne M. of Massachusetts took the class with the Mayflower Sampler Guild in Duxbury. She framed her sampler. Here it is along with her needlebook.

(views of the needlebook front and back covers)

Thank you, Anne and Anne, for sharing photos of your beautiful work! Hopefully, you two will inspire others to complete their projects and send me photos.

A Needleworker's Sampler Huswif is available only as a teaching project. You can see the inside of the huswif and needlebook, and also read a description of the project here.

The Delaware Valley Sampler Guild choses A Petit Sampling Etui (a limited edition collaboration project) as their 2009 guild project

Every year members of the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild chose a project as their guild stitch-along. I was delighted to learn that this year they chose A Petit Sampling Etui. Members are stitching the six blocks this year, and then in January or February of next year, they'll do the assembly together as a group.

Lynn Davis of Pennsylvania has already finished her stitching as you can see from the photos below. The first photo shows the four sides of her etui. The second photo shows the etui top and bottom. You can see that on the bottom, Lynn personalized her etui with her initials, the initials of her guild (DVHS), and the current year. (You can click on the photos for better views.)

Thank you, Lynn, for sharing photos of your beautiful work. With so much stitching, this is quite an accomplishment! I hope you'll send another photo when you get your etui assembled.

You can see a photo of the assembled model of our etui in my post from Friday, August 14, 2009 or at my website.

Remember Me Sewing Pocket by Carol

I'm sorry I've been a bit negligent in updating my blog. I've been busily working on a new model--a small needlework box with the working title of My Needle's Worke Box. The box measures just under 4 inches square. The good new is that I have completed the stitching; next comes the assembly and writing the directions. I hope you'll like my endeavours.

Several weeks ago Carol Presley sent me some photos of her Remember Me Sewing Pocket accessories. Carol stitched her pieces on 40-count Edinborough Sand with Weeks Dye Works Currant. She wrote, “I really love how they came out. They are so small!!"

You may remember from other posts of the Remember Me Sewing Pocket (click on the product title in the sidebar on the left side of the page to see other versions) that the project includes three pieces: a pocket, a needlebook, and a scissors weight.) Carol stitched the scissors weight and chose to turn the design for the needlebook into a little pincushion with a sweet tassel on one corner. Isn't that darling?

Carol, I bet your pieces are very tiny. I stitched the pieces for my model on 32-count, and I know how small they are. Yours are even smaller! Boy--I wish my eyesight was as good as yours. Even with my Dazor, I have a hard time seeing on 40-count linen.

Thank you for sharing your work. (I also enjoyed seeing the beautiful whitework piece that is under your pincushion and scissors weight!)

Normally I enjoy waking up early in the morning and stitching for an hour or two before Tom gets up and we start our day. Today was not the case!!

I was happily stitching for about an hour, and then decided to make a pot of coffee. I put the water and beans in the coffee maker, and turned it on to grind and brew. I then went back into the family room to stitch for a few minutes.

When I returned to the kitchen, I found coffee grounds and water all over the counter and floor! Egad!! What a way to start the day! After cleaning up the mess (and what a mess it was), I discovered I had forgotten to put the coffee basket in the brewer. I don't think I'll be making that mistake again any time soon!

This incident was almost as bad as last week when Tom had a box of grits "explode" (his words--actually the lid got caught on something in the cabinet and came off as the open container fell to the counter below). There were grits in the cabinet, on the counter, and on the floor. I'm still finding grits. At least the grits weren't hot or wet, and Tom cleaned up the mess.

Last night I went to the The Queen City Sampler Guild monthly nighttime stitch-in. Carol W., who is not only a good friend but also my framer, brought me my framed Dutch Beauty before the meeting. Wow--did it come out gorgeous!! Because of threatening storms, I decided not to take Dutch Beauty to our meeting, but I did take Mary Wigham.

Dutch Beauty looks much larger framed than unframed! (It measures 42 inches in the largest dimension!) Egad--I never thought I would say this, but I may be running out of wall space. Carol suggested that I put Dutch Beauty on the mantle in the family room. I put it there this morning, and now we'll live with it for a few days and see what we think.

(Click on the photo for a better view. Please excuse the flash glare.)

Look what i just finished!

As promised, here is my completed Mary Wigham.

(Click on the photo for a better view. )

You can't see it in the photos, but at the very bottom I backstitched "Stitched by Ellen Chester in the year 2009--Cincinnati, Ohio". This information will not show when the sampler is framed. I strongly believe that my name and the date should be somewhere on a reproduction sampler.

Several people have asked about my linen and thread choices. I used 36-count Maritime White linen from Lakeside Linens. For the threads, I first pulled the ones listed on the chart. I then traded out most of those threads for overdyed cotton threads that were close to the chart colors. (This was the first time I had ever used overdyed threads on a reproduction sampler.) I love reproduction samplers, and I believe in stitching them as close to possible to the antiques. This is why I didn't make any dramatic thread color changes.

I'll have a plastic pocket put on the back of the frame for the chart, information about Mary, and perhaps some information about me. Sometimes I include an envelop with a little piece of the linen and some of the threads. If the threads are in an envelop and are unexposed to light, years from now one can see if the threads on the sampler have changed with exposure to light.

I"ve done quite a bit of "recreational" stitching this year, so over the next few weeks, I'm going to have to immerse myself in model stitching. I hope you'll like the new projects.

Robbin's A Quaker Pin Cube wins two blue ribbons!

When Robbin Douglas of Massachusetts told me her Quaker Pin Cube recently won two blue ribbons at the Barnstable County Fair, I asked her to send me a photo of the pin cube along with the ribbons.

Robbin wrote, "I know you've already posted picture of my pin cube, but I thought you'd be pleased to know that I entered it in the county fair near where my parents live and it won a blue ribbon and a special recognition award as well. I don't usually enter cross stitch, but I just love these little pieces. Your turtles were the first things to go to the New England fair last year and the pin cube is signed up to join them this year in September. I thought you'd like to hear the judges’ comments, as they reflect on your design and your wonderful stitching instructions as much as my stitching. They said "Amazing Piece. Exquisite Designs. Finishing is perfection. Attention to detail is outstanding; beautifully executed."

"I don't think I could have received as nice an award or as nice comments without the lovely designs and the incredibly thorough instructions that you always give us. So thanks very much. I have so many of your little things I really want to get back to at some point. Oh, I took the cube to my EGA meeting on Thursday and had to check pockets to make sure it didn't walk out with anyone. I'm doing an easy workshop on over-one stitching for the group, and I'm going to bring the cube and the turtles and the Quaker Needlework Treasures to show some of the fun pieces out there as I think people were inspired."

Perhaps you remember seeing other photos of Robbin's Quaker Pin Cube on July 6, 2009.

Last year Robbin's Quaker Turtles also won a ribbon at the fair. You can see a photo here. You can see even more photos of Robbin's wonderful work by putting her name in the "Google" search engine on the sidebar of this blog.

Robbin's mother-in-law Anne, who lives in England, is also an avid needleworker. Robbin told me that Anne has also stitched Quaker Turtles, but hasn't yet assembled them. Perhaps the next time Robbin is visiting Anne, she can encourage her along the way with the finishing work.

Thanks, Robbin, for sharing your most recent award for your beautiful workmanship and also for the very kind words you said about the instructions. As you know well, we work very hard to furnish very detailed instructions. It is so rewarding for me to see your beautiful workmanship on the finished project.

Good news on my personal stitching. Early this morning, thanks (??) to a sleepless night, I put the final stitches in on my Mary Wigham sampler. I still need to check the piece over to make sure I haven’t left off any motifs or do-dads. After I press the piece, I'll try to remember to take a photo before taking the sampler to be framed.

One of my cousins just sent me this photo taken in January of my Uncle Jack on his 85th birthday which he celebrated in Chincoteague, Virginia. The smile on his face is his typical grin.

A Petit Sampling Etui (a limited edition collaboration project)

After yesterday's post about A Petit Sampling Etui, two blog readers wrote that they are working on this project. "Stitch Witch" and Pat, I would love to see photos of your panels in progress. Pat, maybe you could also send me some photos from your next guild meeting showing your members stitching on their etuis.

I agree there is lots of stitching on this project. I know first-hand because I stitched my own model; then I stitched the panel I designed a second time for the model on the product cover. You'll find that panels 3 and 4 go faster than the first two because they are mainly cross stitch over two linen threads except for the verse on panel 4. On my model, I put the panel I designed on my etui front.

There are several other options for finishing this project if you don't want to make an etui. One idea is to frame the panels individually, or you could put several together in one frame. Another idea is to get your framer to make you a small casket or box with openings on the four sides and the top. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Here are more flower photos from my recent trip to Texas.

Look at the wonderful place I found to stitch and enjoy the flowers. I'll pull up another chair if you care to join me. I'll be working on Mary Wigham this weekend. I have only two motifs and her name left to stitch.

What will you be working on ?

A Petit Sampling Etui (a limited edition collaboration project)

Just a reminder that the next on-line needlework show will take place October 7-12, 2009. I'm working on three new designs that I hope to have ready.

Earlier this year, I along with with my friends Louise (Cherished Stitches), Pam and Susan (Praiseworthy Stitches), and Clara (The Stitching Parlor) released A Petit Sampling Etui. This special collaboration project is a limited-edition of 2000 charts. When these charts are gone, no more will be available.

Each outer panel of the etui is a small sampler. These samplers can be assembled into an etui following the detailed assembly instructions in the package. Assembly photographs are included. The samplers can also be stitched and framed individually or together on a single piece of linen.

The top and bottom panels of the etui feature motifs from the side panels. Inside the etui, the heart theme from the outer panels, is carried through with the wool needlepages, pockets, scissors, and thread rings. The side panels are joined with silk gussets, closed with silk ribbons, and fastened with a button closure on the top. The etui measures approximately 6 inches square--a generous size for holding your needlework tools.

It has been wonderful to hear from some needleworkers who are currently working on this project. I have even seen some in person. I know of one guild that is doing this as their 2009 guild project. Hopefully, I'll have some photos to share shortly.

If you don't have this project and want it, I suggest you don't delay because our number of remaining charts is getting low. Your local shop can order the chart for you through Praiseworthy Stitches by contacting them now or at the on-line show in October.

My life has been a blur over the past few weeks. I returned home from Texas at nearly midnight on Saturday, August 1st. Then on Friday morning, I received the news that my Uncle Jack had died. Within a matter of hours, I did laundry, went out and bought a new black dress and shoes, packed, cancelled the mail and newspaper, made hotel reservations in Virginia, and ordered flowers to be sent to my Aunt Frances. Whew!

We were on the road by mid-afternoon on Friday. Our plans were to drive as far as we could and then find a hotel for the night and finish the drive on Saturday. We started looking for a hotel at around 9:30pm only to find they were all full. We later found out it was because the Pittsburgh Steelers were having training camp in the area. How relieved we were to finally find a place to stay just before 11pm.

We were on the road fairly early Saturday morning but after crossing the Bay Bridge were delayed due to bad traffic. We finally arrived at my aunt's house mid-afternoon. My brother, sister-in-law, and two of their three children arrived later from New York. In the evening, my father, sister, and brother-in-law arrived from Orlando. Daddy said that he hadn't seen such a large gathering of our family since the last big event--my mother's funeral nearly 4 years ago.

As much as I love going back to the Eastern Shore, during the past few years it has been with mixed emotions. It brings back memories of my grandparents and of my mother who was born and raised in the little town of Parksley. Our roots on the Eastern Shore go back for nearly 400 years when my grandmother's family arrived in Accomack County. My aunt still lives there. My grandfather's family arrived later, but they have been on the Eastern Shore for several hundred years. In the late 1800's my grandfather was the first baby born in Parksley.

My sister had not been back to Parksley in about 10 years. Over the years, our grandparents' home had fallen into disrepair. On my last visit to the shore, I learned the new owners had fixed it up, and we wanted my sister to see it. It's not exactly the same as it used to be, and we certainly miss the boxwoods that once lined the sidewalk up to the front door and the two benches on either side of the small front porch, but it still brought back memories of the wonderful times we spent there as children. The current house owner let us take some photos. The first one is of my brother, father, sister, and me in front of my grandparents' home.
 The current owner had a sign made stating this was my grandfather's house. We politely let her know that the date wasn’t right, and she could find the right year marked in the attic. My mother would have been so pleased to see the house in its present condition along with the sign.

My uncle's funeral was Sunday afternoon in a packed church. As I was getting dressed, I looked in shock at my new shoes. Yes, this is what I saw!

Can you believe the shoe saleslady put two different shoes in the box? The only other shoes I had with me were white sandals. Luckily I learned that Aunt Frances and I both wear the same shoe size, so she loaned me a pair of appropriate black heels.

My father, a retired Episcopal minister, was asked to give a prayer at the end of the church service. Unbeknownst to any of us, he had asked the pastor if he could also give a few remarks. He started by saying how he and my uncle were brought to the Eastern Shore by the Watts sisters (my mother and aunt) whom they married. He then went on to talk about how special my uncle was.

The pall bearers included 5 of my uncle's 6 grandchildren (the 6th is in Japan and couldn't get back), my brother, and two other family members. One of the grandchildren told me my uncle wanted his grandchildren to carry him as he had once carried them. Uncle Jack is now buried next to his in-laws, my grandparents, in the family plot.

After the interment at the cemetery, we all gathered at my aunt's home. And then, all too soon, we started going our separate ways. Tom and I stayed until Tuesday morning. On our way home we stopped in West Virginia to visit my father's only sister who is in a nursing home.

All of these events have certainly brought home the message of how fleeting life is. Cherish those you love and live each day to the fullest.

Thank you to everyone who left notes or sent cards. These meant so much to me.

I'll return to needlework-related posts in a few days, but meanwhile I leave you with this poem about Family Ties.

Family ties are precious things,

Woven through the years,

Of memories of togetherness,

Of laughter, love and tears.

Family ties are cherished things,

Forged in childhood days,

By love of parents, deep and true,

And sweet familiar ways.

Family ties are treasured things,

And far though we may roam,

The tender bonds with those we love,

Still pull our hearts toward home.

(Virginia Moore)

Last night I prepared a blog post about the coming weekend, but things have changed over night.

My dear Uncle Jack, who had been in poor health, died around midnight last night. Poor Uncle Jack had been in bad health for years, and while I was in Texas he was hospitalized twice and in a nursing home in between the hospital stays. Hospice came in on Monday. Although we knew his days were limited, it is still a very, very sad time for all of us.

In light of Uncle Jack's death, I can't bring myself to make a needlework post today. I hope that you understand and will bear with me.

I have so many fond memories, both as a child and later as an adult with my own family, of visiting my aunt and uncle on Virginia's Eastern Shore. What fun times we had when we were all together!

When my daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1974, Uncle Jack hoped she would be born on his birthday, January 27. Instead, she was born at 12:45am on January 28. The winter of 1974 was the only year I know that the US was on daylight savings time in the winter, so I laugh and say Carolyn really was born on his birthday. (And Tom laughs at me when I say that.)

One of my memories with Carolyn and Uncle Jack is when he took us to a 4th of July parade. Carolyn must have been about 5 or 6. I think we saw every fire truck on the Eastern Shore! Uncle Jack was so tickled to have his great-niece with him. (Unfortunately, Stephen had gotten sick and had to stay behind with Tom and my aunt.)

Uncle Jack and I are both early morning risers. The two of us would often meet early in the morning in the kitchen over a cup of coffee. Uncle Jack would work on one of his wonderful ship models, and I would cross stitch, and we would talk while the others slept.

Our grandson (at this time we still didn't know his name) was due in 2008 near Uncle Jack's birthday. Uncle Jack was hoping the baby would arrive on his birthday, and Carolyn (the mother-to-be) was hoping he would be born on her birthday the following day. On the afternoon of January 27, I called my uncle to wish him a happy birthday. My Aunt Frances answered the phone.  She was so excited and said "I guess you are calling to let us know we have a new baby ". "No", I told her, "I'm calling to wish someone at your house a very happy birthday. The next time I call will most likely be to let you know about the baby." Can you imagine everyone's surprise when about an hour later I called back to let them know that yes, we had a baby. We were all so delighted that Haiden was born on Uncle Jack's 85th birthday. Haiden is his one and only great-great-nephew.

Our last visit to see my aunt and uncle was March 2008 after I had taught in Loudoun County. Tom knew that I couldn't go to Virginia and not see my beloved aunt and uncle.

Uncle Jack nearly two years ago with

his first great-grandchild, Kylie.
 Rest in peace Uncle Jack!

Gill's been busy--Acorn Sampler Sewing Case, Quaker Needlework Treasures, Bunnies in the Garden, Quaker needlebook

I have had so much fun this week hearing from stitchers from France, Japan, and now Australia.

Today's photos are from Gill Aldus. Gill is another beautiful stitcher and finisher.

The first two photos are of her Acorn Sampler Sewing Case. Gill wrote that this is her favorite of the projects. She added, "I had a blast putting it together and I show it off to everyone who visits! ;-) "

To see what the sewing case looks like on the inside or to see the project framed, look at it on my website.

The next two photos are of Gill's Quaker Needlework Treasures. Don't you love the gorgeous fabric she chose for her bag and the wonderful leaves on the ends of her cording?

Gill wrote, "The bag and needlebook was a present for a friend who loves Autumn which is what prompted the fabric choice; the needlebook is lined with the same fabric. She loved it!"

Next is Gill's Bunnies in the Garden sewing case, folded up and ready to be tucked in a bag to be taken somewhere. And last, but not least, is Gill's Quaker needlebook. I designed this for the Just CrossStitch magazine's Christmas ornament series. Thanks, Gill, for sharing photos of your lovely work all the way from Australia!

Please continue to leave your comments in the comment section under each blog post or in the guest book. If you’d like to send pictures, just email me. I love hearing from you!

Quaker Needlework Treasures by Chi

Chi, from Japan, recently sent me photos of her lovely work. What a thrill it was to hear from her! Chi did a beautiful job with her stitching, her finishing, and even her photography. I think you’ll agree.

The first two photos are of Chi's Quaker Needlework Treasures. She used Deep Sea overdyed thread from Weeks Dye Works and 28-count Summer Khaki linen from Zweigart.

Next is Chi's Remember Me Sewing Pocket--another lovely job! On this project she used Deep Sea overdyed thread from Weeks Dye Works and 32-count Lambswool linen from Wichelt.Here is yet another project from the talented Chi--her Quaker Pattern Book. The three photos below show you her book folded and then opened to reveal both sides. Chi used Cupid thread from Crescent Colours and 28-count Antique Ivory linen from Zweigart.
And last, but not least, is Chi's Quaker Hornbook. For this project, she used Garnet thread from Hand Dyed Fibers and 32-count Maple Sugar linen from Lakeside Linens, Inc. You may recall seeing Chi's wonderful Petit Carnet d'Ouvrages, Livre I and II on May 26, 2009.

Thank you, Chi, for sharing photos of your beautiful work!

Isn't it wonderful how, thanks to the internet, our world has definitely become smaller? We are easily able to share our love of needlework with others all over the world.

There will be more Quaker Hornbook photos in the next week or so.

Swan Stitcher's Etuis by Francoise

Francoise from France has certainly been busy! She just completed one of the Swan Stitcher's Etuis. The photos below show her beautiful work.

Don't you love the beads she added to the edges and the ribbon closure?

Francoise told me how much she enjoyed this project and also adding her own creative touches.

You may remember seeing some of Francoise's beautiful work earlier with her Bunnies in the Garden.

The chart package for the Swan Stitcher's Etuis has patterns for two different swan etuis. You may recall seeing the other version stitched by Catherine abc also of France.