New for Nashville Market 2022

Barb's Birds came about as a way to honor Barb Adams of Blackbird Designs. As most of you will know, Barb passed away the morning of July 4, 2021 after a short battle with esophageal cancer. One half of my proceeds from the sale of this chart will be donated to the esophageal cancer research work at Johns Hopkins University. 

The stitch count is 71 x 108. The model was stitched on 40 count Vintage Navy Bean from Lakeside Linen. Threads used are both Gentle Arts (GAST) and Classic Colorworks (CC): 

Cherry Cobbler CC, Cidermill Brown GAST, Cinnamon, Faded Rose GAST, Ginger Snap, Heirloom Gold GAST, Old Blue Jeans CC, Old Hickory GAST, Picnic Basket GAST , Piney Wood GAST, Ruby Slippers GAST, Schoolhouse Red GAST, Slate GAST, Tennessee Red Clay  CC, Tiny Vine CC, Vanilla Custard CC, Weeping Willow CC, Wood Rose GAST. A conversion to DMC is given in the chart.

The birds in this piece are from samplers from many parts of the globe, England, Mexico, Scotland, Belgium, France. But the little redwing blackbird in the upper left-hand corner, that one is just for Barb.

Retail cost $10

Rebecca is a reproduction sampler from England. We don't know much about ten year-old Rebecca except that she loved flowers and she had exquisite taste. 

The stitch count is 229 x 320. The model was stitched on 40 count Parchment from Weeks Dye Works. The antique was also stitched on 40 count linen. Threads used are Au Ver a Soie 100/3, Belle Soie (BS) and Gloriana (GL):  Schoolhouse Red GL, Sister Scarlet BS, Coral Red Light GL, Lacquered Gold GL, Tanager Green GL, Weathered Vine BS, Summer Gold GL,   100/3 in color #037, Brick GL, Petticoat Blue BS, Birch Brown GL, Vanilla Pudding BS, Coffee Bean GL, Walk the Plank BS.  

I recommend two skeins each of the Sister Scarlet, Schoolhouse Red, Lacquered Gold, and Weathered Vine.

A DMC conversion is given.

Retail cost $20 

Helen is a reproduction sampler from Scotland. The prominence of red and green, the illuminated alphabet, the arcaded pansy band, and the trees at the bottom with the red flowers all tell their story.  

The stitch count is 202 x 283. The model is stitched on 46 count Mocha from Weeks Dye Works. The threads used were from Belle Soie and Gloriana: Schoolhouse Red GL, Weathered Vine BS, Old Crow BS, Love Dove BS, Sister Scarlet BS. I recommend two skeins each of Schoolhouse Red and Weathered Vine.

A DMC conversion is given.

Retail cost $20

 What an idyllic world it would be if we could always have fresh cherries and the company of man's best friend. 

The stitch count is 78 x 86.

The model is stitched on 36 count Hogbristle from Fox and Rabbit.

Threads used are all from Classic Colorworks: Apple Fritter, Blackbird, Brandied Pears, Clay Pot, Ginger Bread, Ginger Snap, Meadow Green, Mossy, Pine Needles. 

A DMC conversion is given.

Retail cost $10

This sweet sewing set is themed on the Robert burns song, Ca' the Yowes. Ca' the Yowes is a love song from a young man to his shepherdess sweetheart, his bonnie dearie. My favorite version of the song was sung by the late, great Andy Stewart. you can hear the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0rpv9vxbU8

The set includes a pinkeep - with the shepherdess, her dog and a rose bush on one side and a field of sheep on the other, a needle book, a thimble shoe, a scissors case, as well as the purse to store everything.  In addition to the charts, there are 17 pages of step by step instructions with color photos highlighting the process. There are clear, easy to follow stitch diagrams for the specialty stitches used; Victorian Step Stitch, Chain Stitch, French Knots, Overlapping Elongated Cross, and Four-sided Stitch.  Sources for all of the specialty materials are given, purple linen, silk dupioni lining fabric and pewter antique reproduction buttons. 

The set needs a stitcher's quarter of 36 count Vintage Sand Dune from Lakeside Linens and the following Gentle Arts threads: Cast Iron Skillet, Hyacinth, Crystal Lake, Moss, Country Redwood, Oatmeal, Endive, Picnic Basket, Garden Gate, Woodrose, Grape Arbor, DMC 3829 and AVAS 100/3 in #378 

Retail cost $30

This has been one of my teaching pieces. It was developed for a retreat where the theme was History Lessons. What better lesson to learn than what a mess we made of things with a bloody war. My hope is that we can better learn how to resolve our conflicts without shedding one another's blood. 

Huswifs such as this one were important on the battlefield. Supply lines were uncertain at best and being able to mend a tear before you lost a precious article of clothing could be a matter of life or death. These sewing kits were made by mothers for their sons, wives for their husbands, young women for their sweethearts, and members of countless women's aid societies for men and boys that they didn't even know. They were made of whatever was available; scraps left over from a shirt or dress or a piece salvaged from an otherwise worn out garment. 

I made this huswif in honor of my g-great grandfather James Gilbert Palmer of Rio Wisconsin. He was a member of the calvary. There is a prayer for God's blessing and safety for the owner of the huswif stitched above the name. That prayer is private and hidden from view when the huswife is closed. When closed you can see the soldier's name and his home town on one side and the flag he is fighting for on the reverse side. 

I am thankful that the end result of this war was an increase in freedom and justice in our nation. My focus when teaching this piece was not which general fought on which battlefield, but the sacrifice that normal people made. The thousand acts of bravery and compassion found in the midst of the horror and chaos of war.

The design uses 32 count vintage Sand Dune from Lakeside Linens. The threads used are Gentle Arts in the colors; Brown Bear, Country Redwood, Forest Glade, Freedom, and Oatmeal.

The chart includes seven pages of finishing instructions with color photographs illustrating step by step just how to finish your huswif. 

Also included in each chart are a Civil War era bone button and a vintage uniform button to use in finishing your huswif. 

Retail cost - with buttons $24