"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

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Trunk Show

Hi Everyone!
I am announcing a Trunk Show of my work
at 
Stitcher's Stash 
in Fairfax, Virginia.
10409 Main Street
703.218.3131

Lehmer and I drove the Trunk Show to this
lovely shoppe this morning.  We persevered through
the horrible traffic on 95N.  It just seems to get
worse and worse.  We finally made it and
hand delivered everything to this lovely shoppe.
If you live in the area, please try to stop by.
My models will be there until the end of the 
month, and I am scheduled to be there for
a "Meet & Greet" on August 24th from 
11:00 to 4:00.  I would love to meet anyone
who can make the trip to Stitcher's Stash.
This is a wonderful shoppe filled to the brim
with many, many wonderful patterns and
all the "stash" you need to complete your
projects.  Hope to see you there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is what it looks like when I am getting
ready for a Trunk Show.  All the models with
the product for each one, laying all over the
place.  Once every design has its publication
with it, then we do an inventory, and then it
is packed up, and in this case, loaded in
my car.  Usually it is shipped to the shoppe.


Doesn't this look like fun?  It's fun when it is all
packed up and delivered.  Please wish me luck
for a successful Trunk Show.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

New Scissor Fobs

Hi Everyone!
Taking a little break from getting ready for a new
Trunk Show.  Pulling together everything has given
me a headache, so I thought I would come chat with
you for a few minutes.
I have two new Scissor Fobs/Floss Tag to offer you
this week.
"COURTSHIP"
 "SUNFLOWER PROTECTOR"
Both of these designs are prints of my
original artwork that has been decoupaged
on adorable wooded pieces.
These new fobs are 3" long X 1 5/8" wide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note that the ring for your floss is not
included, but the cording is supplied.
$11.50 + $1.50 shipping.
These will be available in my ETSY shoppe soon.
In the mean time, you can just call or email
me.  I take Paypal, checks, Mastercard, and
Visa.  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I usually do, there will be a cross stitch design
to go with these fobs, not yet, but I promise
there will be.
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Friday, July 26, 2013

In My Garden

Good Evening Everyone!
You might remember that back in the Spring I told you
Lehmer and I were killing my overgrown (30+ years old)
flower beds.  Well, it was a lengthy process and Lehmer
did most of the hard work.  It is really strange to look
at the beds now and see vast areas of mulch.  I did
plant a few perennials and will do more in the fall,
but now it is too hot and dry to do more. 
Even though it looks very sparse indeed, it looks better
than the weed infested snarl of plants that was there.
It broke my heart not to dig up and save dozens of
mature perennials, but you know what, if I didn't
work I could have done that, but sometimes you just
have to give in and say "I just can't do it all" and 
that is what I did.  Now, it is so nice to be able to
walk in the beds and deadhead the plants without
fear of the dreaded copperhead moccasin which
is abundant in our area.
As promised, here are some pictures.  Do you like
to decorate your gardens? I do.
I think it is a very similar thing.  I've been collecting
garden "stuff" for years and love moving it around
the garden every spring.  The only difference between
decorating inside and outside, is that I like colonial
colors inside, but outside I like pinks, whites, and blues.
Here goes ~~~~

 Boxes and boxes of stitched models are stored
in the little shed.















 Mint for my tea.  I found out many years ago
that mint needs to be confined to a pot.








 The upstairs of the garage is where I store most
of my inventory and other Homespun Elegance
stuff.  I make dozens of trips up and down
those stairs every week.  You would think I
would lose some weight.








Now you can see where I spent a lot of time
this Spring.  With this heat we are dealing with,
I only go out when I have to and that is to 
water my poor plants.
Anyway, there it is.  By next summer I will have
filled in with some more plants in the two beds
and it will look a lot better.
Hope you enjoyed my little garden tour.  
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Will Be Ready Soon!

Good Afternoon Everyone!
I am stitching and designing the day away, but
decided to take a little break and show you what
will be ready for the August TNNA Show.
These are a little more than "glimpses" ~ all
stitching is finished, but I haven't framed, finished, or
added any embellishments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is
"PEACE TO ONE AND ALL"
and
continuing with my 
A Halloween Year II Collection
"Casting A Spell"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please let me know what you think.  I am really
excited about how they turned out and hope
you will want to add them to your ever
growing stash pile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Friday, July 19, 2013

Marking Sampler Update!

Hi Everyone!
Are you melting like I am?  So over this disgusting
weather.  We are suppose to get a break from the
heat in a day or so, but it will probably come along
with some nasty storms.  I'll take it as long as the
wind isn't too bad.  The yard to screaming for a good
watering, but there is no point in doing that now.
My potted plants are OK because I'm watering
about every other day ~ so so far so good for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has been a while since my last post.  I don't know
where the time goes, but it does.  Faye has been
on vacation this week (lucky thing - but she deserves
it), so I'm holding down the fort alone and not
doing it very well.  Unfortunately, the first thing to go  
when I'm running out of time is the Blog, but I
must fill you in on the progress I have made
on the
MARKING SAMPLER.
Slowly but surely I am moving along.  I only
get to work on it for a very little while at night.
At this rate it will be a few more months
before it is finished, but I love it.  It is going to
be fantastic hanging over the bed in my
guest bedroom.  Cannot wait.
This is where I was when I first shared it.
 And this is where I am now.  I cannot wait to get
to the next row of letters.
This is the antique sampler.  I didn't choose a
fabric as yellow/gold as the original, because of
where I want to hang it.  But since it is only one
color you will be able to make it whatever you want.
Another interesting thing about this sampler is that
the J, K, W, X, and Y are missing.  I am not a
sampler historian.  Does this give a clue as to
how old it is or where it was stitched?  If you
know, would you please share.
The original post was on June 20th.  So you can see
 it has taken me nearly a month to get this far.  Pathetic,  
I know.  In the original post, I said if you
"comment" each time on the Blog when I do an
update, you will be put in a drawing for a copy
of the design and something else. So, if you wish to
try to win, just give me a quick "comment".   
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

They Are Ready and A Winner

Good Evening Everyone!
I hope all is well in your world.  I am very busy
and very hot.  So tired of this humid, nasty
weather.  We are suppose to have storms this
afternoon.  Hope it brings some cool relief
for me and the garden.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
 THE WINNER 
 of my tin pinkeep box
and scissor fob is
~Michelle~
I have sent you an email. 
I hope you enjoy them.  I just
need for you to send me a
shipping address.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~PROCLAMATIONS~
VACATION TIME
Faye is going on vacation next week and I
will be here only a few days myself.  Therefore,
if there is anything you need, you must get
in touch with us tomorrow to insure
shipping on Thursday.  I know this is always an 
inconvenience to everyone when we
go on vacation, but we have to
take a break every now and then.  This is
coming at a bad time because we sent
out new designs today, so if you see something
 you love or think your customers want,
get in touch with us tomorrow.
NEW DESIGNS
A HALLOWEEN COLLECTION II
~MAY~
"Batty About Halloween"
HOMESPUN WEE ONES
COLLECTION
"What Are Boys~"
 "What Are Girls~"
The frames shown are also available from me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hollis and I are really excited about our new
collection.  Of course, we have to thank little
Avery for our inspiration.  I hope all of you
Mothers and Grandmothers will like what 
we are offering you tonight and in
the future.  It is going to be a lot of fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra









Sunday, July 7, 2013

July 4th Celebrating

Good Afternoon Everyone!
I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th.
We certainly did and I want to share some
pictures of our very quaint celebration.
Hollis' husband, Paul, had to work as usual,
but Avery, Hollis, Lehmer, Cameron and I
took in the "olde" fashioned 4th in
Ashland, Virginia.  This is a tiny little town
located between Fredericksburg and Richmond.
Randolph Macon College is there.
It is a wonderful little place, full of old homes
and great shoppes.  Haven't been shopping
there for a while, but I'm sure it is still
great.  There are a number of "antique
shoppes" which qualifies it as a place to
go if you have a chance.
This was truly an "olde fashioned" 4th.
No motorized vehicles in the parade, just
children walking, on bikes, and in wagons.
Lots of adults walking dressed in their
patriotic garb.  Quite a contrast to
what goes on everywhere else.
After the parade, they had music in
front of the decorated Community 
Center.  Lots of good food for sale,
including $1.00 slices of apple pie.
Then we went back to Hollis' and had
a delicious dinner.  Her strawberry,
blueberry, and white chocolate sauce trifle
was fantastic.  This has not been a dietetic
weekend.  Monday will begin another diet
for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some pictures of our fun 4th!
 Our house decked out for the 4th
 Avery enjoying the parade!
Don't you love his glasses and his
patchwork outfit.  So cute! 

Patriotic garb was everywhere~
 Here is the band in front of the 
Community Center~
Flags were everywhere~
 Hollis' Trifle
We ended the day with sparklers for Avery.
He loved them.  No fireworks this year.  He
does not like loud noises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's my little picture show.  Hope you
enjoyed it.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra