"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

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Beginning My Autumn Decorating

Good Evening Everyone!
I hope everyone is OK from the effects of the hurricane.
We have had a lot of rain here in Virginia but nothing more
and feeling so grateful for that.  It just seems that there are
more and more awful situations in our country from 
weather issues ~ tornadoes, flooding, fires, and now hurricanes.
Will it ever end?  I so hope that the winter is not going
to follow suit and be awful.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a lighter, happier note, I did a little Autumn decorating
last week and wanted to share.  If you know me at all you
know I love Autumn and October just seems to make
me smile and lift my spirits.
One of my favorite quotes ~
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there
are Octobers".
Anne Of Green Gables
(one of these days I'm going to design something
using that wonderful saying)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I haven't done any decorating out doors yet.  That will
come after the rain has let up, so maybe next week.
Just love finding all the unique pumpkins that
are available now, so I have to go pumpkin hunting~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's my little tour!
My kitchen window~
A felted black cat that I made years ago and still love~
Love these funky reproduction jack-o-lanterns~
A favorite Autumn wreath~just the
perfect colors!
Candle light and Autumn just goes together!
I painted this funky turkey~
Love turkeys and this beeswax one is
the perfect color for my guest bathroom~
Now this is a major acorn~
Tansy Annie, acorns, pine cones, and
nuts.  A sweet little wreath!
Don't you love funky gourds!
I stacked all kinds of Autumn goodness to
make this centerpiece~
Every year I made a stack of pincushions
to mimic a stack of pumpkins~
Gourds on my Keeping Room mantle~
A single baby pumpkin just says Autumn~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoyed my minimalist Autumn
decorating.  Sometimes I think less is more
effective, don't you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~October ~ 
you are so special!
Sandra



Thursday, September 29, 2016

Something New ~ Something For You

Something New ~ Something For My Friends

 Hi Everyone!

Two posts in one month ~ can you believe it?

 I hope all of you are enjoying the beginning days of Autumn. 
 Such a special time of the year ~ I just love it.  In
honor of the days of Autumn, I designed a little
Halloween goodie that I hope you like.  Black kitties
and Halloween just go together, don't you agree?

"BROOM RIDERS"
This little cutie is stitched on 32 Count "Mink"
over-dyed linen from R and R Reproductions.  I 
 finished it as an ornie, using rusty wire for the hanger.  It
 is trimmed with a really neat fiber that I have in my
stash.  It is a brown/black twisted type yarn.  The trim
is available in my Etsy shoppe until it
is gone. 
Here is a close up of the trim~
 The hanger is made from rusty wire that
you can get from any craft ship.
All Finishing Instructions are included.
Wouldn't this be great as a cupboard tuck or
or a bowl filler with some great fall dried goodes?
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
ATTENTION ALL FRIENDS!!!
This is a 
LIMITED EDITION PROJECT PACK
just available in my Etsy Shoppe,
which includes the design and the special
Halloween frame painted by me.  The reason it is
limited is because I have a limited amount of frames.
The frame size is 7 1/2" X 4 1/2" (outside dimension).
The price is
$34.00
(no International orders~I'm sorry)
 which includes the shipping.
If you would like to have one of these, they are 
available in my Etsy Shoppe.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
I hope you are in a Halloween spirit
and will like my new design.
"Many Spooky Stitches",
Sandra


Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Happy To Be Back!

I'm Happy To Be Back!!!

I hope this Blog post finds you all well. I cannot believe it
has been so long since I have shared anything with you, 
but it has and I'm sorry.  
Believe it or not I have been doing some designing but 
obviously not as much as I use to do.  But, I am
happy to report that my Annual Christmas Ornaments
and Avery's Christmas ornament are ready and will 
ship to my Distributors this week.  What a relief!!!

Can you believe that it is time to be thinking about
stitching for Christmas? It is still in the 80's and 90's
in Virginia and has been one of the hottest summers
ever.  So ready for fall ~ not for winter ~ but fall will 
be even more lovely than it usually is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is time to share my new designs and I so hope
you like them and will add something to your
Christmas tree.

ANNUAL SANTA ORNAMENT
"Forget Me Not"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANNUAL SAMPLER ORNAMENT
"Merry Deery"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANNUAL SNOWMAN ORNAMENT
"Snow Merry II"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AVERY'S CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
"Avery's Toy Express"

~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE ~ 
I have decided not to use embellishments
on my ornaments this year.  Just wanted
to make you aware so you wouldn't 
be looking for one.  The good news 
is that there is a price reduction for
each ornament.  Hopefully that will
make everybody happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that is all for tonight.  

Wishing you
"Many Merry Stitches",
Sandra



Tuesday, February 9, 2016

New Designs~Finally!

New Designs~Finally!
Well, I guess you thought I would never do another post
since it has been almost a month.  I suppose I really am
trying to slow down a little~
Thank you for being so patient with me!
I hope the wait was worth it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are my four new
publications.  "Hare In Flight" was shipped to my
distributors yesterday, so it will be available for
your shoppe to order in a few days.
"HARE IN FLIGHT"
is my Spring/Easter design.  There is plenty of
time to stitch this guy.  I can't wait to show it
to Avery.  I think he is going to want the pillow.
This design was first sold in 2001 as a
Limited Edition design at the Nashville Sow.
I decided that it was time to update
and reprint.
The original pillow was stitched on a fabric
that is no longer available, but fortunately
there is a great substitute~
10 Count "Sand" Tula.  The framed model
is stitched on
28 Count "Dirty Linen" Cashel Linen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the next three I'm showing you "little glimpses" 
of the designs.
I wanted you to see them so you might 
consider having your shoppe owner order at
the Nashville show.  They will all be shown there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"FRUIT POT"
I love this design~back to my traditional love
with a little "prim" thrown in.  
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"SASSY FELINE"
Isn't he cute!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bunnies and Berries"
This has been so much fun to do.  You will
receive the large design with the verse, a
pin cushion and a scissor fob.  I hope you love it
as much as I do.
The verse is~
"Where the berries are red and ripe,
Hang upon the brambles,
Where the grass grows thick and tall
Master bunny gambols..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you see something you like.  I certainly
enjoyed designing these for you.
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Better Late Than Never

Happy New Year Everyone!
It has taken me a while to get to it but here is
my annual Christmas House tour.  So many of
you asked for it, so even though it seems like
an after thought, I would love to share
Christmas 
at the 
Sullivan's.
I think you will see that 
I love "vintage", Williamsburg Colonial,
and "primitive" Christmas decorations.
This is very picture heavy, so I hope you
have lots of time. 
Click on each picture to see it larger.
Hope you experience some Christmas joy,
even if it is a bit late!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year wishes
from Avery and his
Grammie!!!