"DESIGNS THAT REFLECT OUR
AMERICAN HERITAGE"

Welcome to my blog. I'm probably very much like all of you who love the needlearts. My life revolves around family, friends, home and all things that help to make for a more contented life. When time allows; cooking, gardening, decorating, and collecting are my joys. I look forward to sharing all of these things with you. I also hope to keep you up to date on what is going on at Homespun Elegance, in regard to the needlework designs and the "Plain & Fancy Wares" that we offer.

Wishing you "Many Happy Stitches".
Sandra

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

New Stuff!

 Good Evening Everyone!
I'm beginning to feel like the person who
"cries wolf", but after another visit to the
Doctor today, there just cannot be many more
 days left.  Hollis' due date is July 27th -
tomorrow.
Consequently, I have decided to release my
last two designs in "A Halloween Year" a
few weeks early.  Along with that will be
"Haunted Hill House".  I think we are all
thinking cool Autumn days anyway thanks 
to the incredible heat wave that we are
suffering through.
These publications will start shipping
tomorrow to our AUTOS and our 
distributors.
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"Haunted Hill House"
Features my new Brown-Dot
frame and Olde Brass "Star Pumpkin"
button.  Both sold separately.
"Spooky"
 Features my "Ghost" charm and
Olde Brass "Star" button.  Both
sold separately.
"Not I"
Features my "Pumpkin" brass charm
and Olde Brass "Star" button.  Both
sold separately.
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I hope you see something you like.  I really
hate to see the "Halloween Year" come to
a close.  It has been a fun collection.  I will
be starting a new collection sometime in
the coming months, but I haven't decided
on the theme yet.
Back to work to get these designs ready for
shipment.  Hope you have a great evening.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra









Monday, July 25, 2011

A Winner and Another Peek!

Good Evening Everyone!
First of all I want to thank all of you who took
your valuable time to comment on my Blog.
So happy that you like my designs well 
enough to want one.
So here is the winner ~~
Ronda!!
I will be emailing you in just a few minutes.
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I am working very hard to finish my 
CINNAMON STICK SANTA
for this year.  He is not one of the free-standing 
Santas of old.  I haven't been able to muster up 
the energy in recent years to tackle another one.  
 This one is really different from all the others. 
 Don't you think we all need a change now and then.
Hope you are intrigued by what you can see.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Many Merry Stitches, 
Sandra

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Sneak Peek

Good Evening Everyone!
Well, it is Saturday night and I am still in
Fredericksburg.  So what am I doing, working
as much as I can before I'm in Richmond.  
It is almost time to publish the last two designs
in "A Halloween Year".  This has been such
a fun collection to do.  It's a little stressful to
commit to something when you are promising
to design something specifically each month,
but I made it and am proud of the collection.
So, sometime in August these two designs
will be available.
My annual Cinnamon Stick Santa is next
 on my long list of things to work on.  So,
off to find my needle.  Have a great night.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Sneak Peek

Good Evening Everyone!
Not quite done, but enough to give you a
glimpse at the stitching and a peek at the
frame.  
"Haunted Hill House"
for your Halloween stitching pleasure.
I will be releasing this along with the
last two designs in the 
"A Halloween Year"
collection.  A Sneak Peak will be
available for them really soon.
That's all for tonight.  
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A Give Away

Hi Everyone!!
I'm still in Fredericksburg.  No baby news yet, 
so I thought I would do a "Give Away".  You
must be a follower and leave me a comment.
 The winner will be picked from the comments
made by Sunday.  Just be aware that if I am
not here, the announcement may be a little
later coming, but I'm sure you will all 
understand.
Of my three 20ll Annual Ornaments I will
let the winner pick the one they want.
To refresh your memory, here they are.
"Jingle - Jingle" Sampler Ornament 
 "Peace and Cheer" Santa Ornament
"Snow Babies" Snowman Ornament
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Good luck everyone!!  Maybe thinking
about Christmas ornaments will make us
feel a little cooler.
Many Merry Stitches,
Sandra

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Coming Soon!

Good Evening Everyone!
Hope all of you had a great weekend.  We got
back from Richmond this afternoon with a new
computer in tow.  Thanks to my very talented
son, everything has been transferred to the new
computer, so we will be up and running tomorrow.
It certainly makes life interesting when two 
computers decide to stop working in about
the same week.  Thank goodness the one I
use for graphing and text was fixable -
also thanks to Cameron.
We made a quick stop at Hollis' on the way
home.  No news there.  Still waiting anxiously.
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While I had a few minutes, I thought I would
show you what will be available in about two
weeks.
"Cradle Of Christmas Joy"
Baby's lst Ornament 
Dedicated to Avery
Note that I changed out the toy
soldier for a doll.  Now you can
stitch this for a little girl as well.
"Crows 'A Plenty"
This design was adapted from an
applique pattern that I did a few  years
ago.  If any of you are interested in seeing
it, just let me know.
Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend.  Ours
was busy, busy as usual.  I'll be in touch.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra



Saturday, July 16, 2011

A Finish

Good Morning Everyone!
Just wanted to share with you a wonderful
finish of my "Delivering Liberty."
Carol Inglis did a beautiful job of 
stitching and framing.
To read her delightful blog, go to
http://stitchingdream.blogspot.com/
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I
am still putting the trim on 
"Crows 'A Plenty".  It is a long way 
around this one.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Friday, July 15, 2011

More Sneak Peeks

Good Evening Everyone!!
I'm beginning to feel a little panicked.  Hollis
has been told by her DR. that she can go any day
now, and when that happens I will be out of here
and I do not know when I will be back.  So you
can only imagine what kind of dilemma I have.
I'm trying to prioritize all of my new things.  Do I
finish graphing, finish stitching, send things away to
be stitched, photograph what has already been 
stitched, or just call it a day and start over tomorrow.
Then I think, I might not have tomorrow.
So I decided to write to all of you and show you
a few more new things that are almost ready.
So, here goes ~~~~
"CROWS 'A PLENTY"  
and
"Haunted Hill House"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS 
~~If any of you live anywhere near Alexandria, Virginia,
there is a wonderful shoppe -- In Stitches.
You really must go sometime, but I especially want 
you to go now, because I have a Trunk Show going on.
Hope you can make it.
~~JUST CROSS STITCH has a Special Edition soft 
cover book about to be released, full of great
Halloween designs.  I was honored to be asked to
contribute a design to this publication.  It should
be a great addition to the stashes of all
Halloween lovers.
~~And, last but not least, Lori from Notforgotten Farm
has asked me to send her a Trunk Show for her
Gathering Of Primitive Friends.  This will be held
at her farm, Saturday, September 17th.  A goode
time should be had by all.  
~~"Fancy Fridays" are going to be postponed for a
while, just until Avery arrives and everything
settles down a little.  My mind just cannot deal
with an additional thing.
I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend.  I
am heading upstairs to make "Crows 'A Gathering"
into a pillow.  It is going to be trimmed with that
wonderful new chenille trim from
R & R Reproductions.  It is just the perfect color.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Sneak Peek

Good Evening Everyone!!
Just wanted everyone to know, just in case
they have a need, that there will be a 
"Baby's First Christmas"
ornament.
I wonder why I would be doing such a thing!!!
Thought I might share with you a little
peek into something I have been working on.
It won't be long now.  When he gets here,
you can see the rest.  Note that there will
be an ornament for a little girl too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So many things to do, so little time left.
When Avery arrives, I won't be at
Homespun Elegance for a while.  Still
don't know how we are going to cope
with that situation, but it will work
out somehow.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra  

Monday, July 11, 2011

Size Clarification

Good Afternoon everyone!
I had some emails wanting to know about the
size of my "Autumn Rounds 'A Plenty".
They are about 1 1/2" high and 1 1/2" in 
diameter.  To show you better, I photographed 
one of them with a quarter.  I think you
can now see how little and cute they will be.
I used linen banding, but you can simply use
linen of your choice with the edges pressed
down.  
Still working on the Annual Ornaments, so I must
get back to work.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Sunday, July 10, 2011

New Stuff

Good afternoon Everyone!
Wanted to give you a little "Sneak Peak" of a
cute Halloween/Autumn project that will be
coming your way soon.  
~~ Autumn Rounds 'A Plenty I ~~
These can hang from your Halloween tree or
anyplace you want a little Autumn/Halloween
decorating.  Quick and fun.  No
need for anything but your stitching fingers.
No machines allowed!!
These little ornaments are only 1 1/2" high and
1 1/2" in diameter.  Tiny little things!
Watch for Christmas ones later in the summer.
Hope all of you are having a great summer 
afternoon.  I am spending mine at the computer,
trying to finish up my Annual Christmas
Ornaments.  They should be on the way to
your favorite shoppe this week.  If you cannot
find them, please let me know.
I'll be showing them in their finished
glory soon.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Garden

Good Evening Everyone!
Thought I would share pictures of my
garden before the dreaded Virginia heat does
away with all of my flowers.  Most of my
flowers in the borders are perennials, so I
have blooms here in there as most do not
bloom all summer.  Weeding is something I
really need to do, but between being too
busy and too hot, everything is really looking
a little haggard.  












Show and tell for today is over.  Back to my
stitching.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

ALMOST READY!!

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE!!
So many of you have been asking about my 
~~2011 Annual Ornaments ~~
that I've decided to show them to you.
They are not made into ornaments yet, but
that shouldn't matter to you.  I will let you 
know that they will be trimmed with
R & R Reproductions' new hand-dyed
chenille trims.  I anxiously await the arrival
of one of the colors needed.  I think you
will love this trim.  Oh happy day!!
No more braiding DMC floss as a trim. 
Remember, all of these will include the
appropriate embellishment. 
"Jingle Jingle" Sampler  Ornament
"Peace and Cheer" Santa Ornament
"Snow Babies" Snowman Ornament
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I hope you see something you will want
to add to your Christmas tree.  It is always
such a joy to do these ornaments.  It is
a tradition at Homespun Elegance.
In the near future I hope to add to this
Christmas tradition.  Stayed tuned!!
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Monday, July 4, 2011

HAPPY 4TH

Good Morning!!
"FREEDOM HOUSE"
Wouldn't it be nice if the whole world
could look this peaceful.  Hoping your
little spot in the world is and
wishing all of you a great July 4th.
~~~~~~~~~~
I started cooking some things last night in
anticipation of going to Hollis' for a 
little celebration.  Not too much celebrating
going on for someone who is 9+months
pregnant.  Plus, if that wasn't enough, she
has been suffering with a horrible cold/
sinus infection for over a week.  A little
better this am, so we are heading down.
Cameron is coming too.  So great to
get together.  Unfortunately, Paul is working
and Ashley is in Charlotte visiting friends
and family.  We'll miss them.
The usual picnic fare, nothing is on my
eternal diet, but diets go out the window
on holidays.  I splurged and made an
old fashion peach cobbler.  Nothing like
the smell of butter coming from the oven.
I'm having a Paula Dean moment.
~~~~~~~~~~
I'll be stitching on Christmas designs on
my trip to Richmond.  It takes about an hour,
 so I'll get a little bit done.  Wishing you 
Many Happy Stitches too,
Sandra

Friday, July 1, 2011

FANCY FRIDAY

Good Afternoon Every!
I cannot believe it is already the afternoon.  Today
is suppose to be a designing day for me.  I have
all of these drawings to convert to graphs and
the day is slipping away from me.  I am really in
panic mode.  The list is growing of things to do
and the days are slipping away before the baby
is here.  I know me, once he is here, work is
going to be very hard.  I need to get FOCUSED ~~
Before I head to the basement and the computer,
here is my offering for "Fancy Friday".
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"SUMMER TREATS APPLIQUE"
I made this pillow a while ago.  It is based on the 
cross stitch version, which is available as a pattern.
One day I might get around to publishing it as an
applique pattern, but for now I want to offer it
for sale.  It is made out out Weeks Dye Works'
hand-dyed felted wool.  The back is out of the
same wool.  It is embellished with several of my
Olde Brass "Butterfly" buttons and my"Tiny Black"
buttons.  Colonial Knots were used for the crows'
eyes and the watermelon seeds.  The pillow measures
10" X 8 1/2".
$40.00 plus $5.00 shipping.  
If you are interested, just email me.  I take Paypal,
Visa, MC, money orders, and personal checks.
Have a great weekend everyone.  I'm heading to
the computer now.  Wish me luck!
Sandra