"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

Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Very Trying Week!

Hi Everyone!
I hope everyone had a better week than I had.
It was a real bear.  I really don't like to be
negative and complain too much on my blog, but
I do want you to understand why my designing /
production level has not been up to par of late.
This past week was just the crowning blow.  On 
Monday Avery got sick and we had to take him to 
the emergency room at 11:00 at night, Hollis had
 some medical issues earlier in the day and then,
I began to suffer with a recurring problem that I
have been dealing with since April.  All is well
with Hollis and Avery is recovering from some
nasty virus/bacterial thing that resulted in two
ear infections.  The way he was coughing and
crying that night I thought he had whooping 
cough and it scared me to death.  Grammie
overreacting, but he was in terrible pain and
so sick.  He needed to be seen immediately.
It is just amazing how quickly they can go
from being OK to that.  He had a slight cough
on Sunday and Monday night it mushroomed.
As for me, I have been dealing with a nerve problem
 in my right arm and wrist (Ulnar Nerve Compression),
that starting with tingling in my little finger and next
finger.  This all began in April.  A few days after
it began I developed an excruciating pain that
went up my arm into my shoulder.  When this
is occurring I can do nothing but try to deal
with the pain.  Working on the computer is
impossible because I cannot reach to the keyboard
or move the mouse without sending it into orbit.
Unfortunately, I am the only one who designs,
graphs, types up the publications, prints them, etc.
The end result of this is probably going to be
surgery of some sort.  I had the nerve study done
and it was inconclusive, so the next step will be 
 an MRI on my wrist and neck.  Everything takes 
forever, I have to wait three more weeks before
seeing the Doctor again.  I am calling tomorrow to
see if they can at least set up the appointment
for the MRI's.
This week the pain has been the worst and lasted
the longest period of time.  Had to start taking
some real hard core pain medicine.
With that, I'm a little groggy but can function.
Sorry to go on and on.  I hope you will bear with
me and be patient if orders are late and my designs
are not forthcoming as quickly as usual.  I will
keep you informed.  Old age is really the pits!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the bright side, my 
2012 Annual Christmas Ornaments
are stitched and ready to be made into ornaments,
so I wanted to share a little glimpse of them with you.
Once again I am the one to put these together.  Never
ending problem here.
The first of my "A Halloween Year" is finished, so that
will be ready to ship soon.
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra



Monday, July 16, 2012

Good Morning Everyone!
Sorry I have been away for so long.  We had a terrible
time getting the "awful ad" off of my Blog.  Cameron
finally had to step in and change my template.  This
had been suggested by several of my wonderful blogging
friends, but I couldn't figure out how to do it.  
It is a very simple look, but I really like it.
My new website will have a similar feel, if I ever
get it finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Also wanted to let you know that I have made some
more "Ewe be Patriotic" scissor fobs.  
My new designs
are coming along.  Will be continuing my popular
"A Halloween Year" series.  The first one will be
ready really soon.  A new sampler, entitled
"Alpha Boo" will be sent to one of my stitchers
this week.  Hollis thought of the cute name.  I think
this has the makings of a new series.  We'll see!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm in Richmond for the next two days and Faye is
on vacation this week.  She is so lucky, but she surely
deserves it.  If you don't get the quick care this week
that you are used to, it's because ever-efficient Faye is
not "in the house".
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, take care and I hope you have time to make
"Many Happy Stitches!"
Sandra

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Help -- Awful Ads on Blog

Good Afternoon Everybody!

This is just a short post to ask you to please ignore
the ugly ads running up and down the left side of
my Blog.  I have no idea how this happened, it
just appeared this morning, and Blogger is impossible
to talk to.  I am so disgusted right now.  I'm afraid
to fool with it because you are suppose to backup
before attempting changes. I cannot backup to my hard 
drive because I am in Richmond.  Just another
computer problem that sends me over the edge and
unfortunately Cameron doesn't do Blogger, so without
Blogger assistance I am stuck.  An email was sent
to them (which took Hollis to find a way to do that)
about my problem, and still no response.
Have any of you had something like this happen to
you?  If you have, would you mind sharing how
you corrected it.  Also, have any of you ever
been able to talk to a real person at Blogger and
if so, how?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Christmas Is Coming

Good Morning Everyone!
Wanted to share with you the first 
2012 Annual ornament
"Snowmen On Parade"
I still have to embellish it and make it into
an ornament, but I didn't think you would mind
seeing it in this state.  Hope you like it!!
The other ornaments are being stitched
and will be finished soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"HANG-UP FRAMES" FOR SALE
Opening on front 4 1/2" High X 3 1/2" Wide
Raw Hide Hanger included
A while ago I told you I needed to let you
know about frames that were left over from
my shoppe or just inventory in general.
I have a limited supply of these so I cannot
use them in publications.  I will put a slight
glaze on each of them for more depth.
The frame shown does not have the glaze.
Blue - 3 in stock
Vanilla (creamy gold) - 1 in stock
Umber (soft black) - 2 in stock
Red - 4 in stock
$14.50 which includes the shipping
(Shipping will be more to other countries.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are interested, please email me.  I take Visa,
Master Card, checks, money orders, and Paypal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I am devoting to some new Halloween designs
and preliminary work on my
Cinnamon Stick Santa for 2012.  So I must get busy!
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Winners!

Happy Belated 4th!!
Avery's first 4th!
I'm so sorry I haven't announced the winners of my drawing.
We have had an interesting week to say the least.  Along
with everyone else in the country, it seems that most of
Virginia lost power.  We are very fortunate to have a
generator that helps with part of our house, so Hollis
and Avery came here for almost a week.  They lost power
last Friday and it didn't come back on until Thursday.
She was here trying to work from our house and was
able to get some work done.  We had electrical cords
running all over the place to put electricity where it
was most needed, while trying to protect a crawling
baby from stuff being everywhere.  If that wasn't enough,
Hollis had driven back to Richmond to work on Monday,
and that afternoon while Lehmer and I were taking
care of Avery, he spiked a fever.  Of course, being the
calm person that I am (Ha! Ha!), I went into panic
mode.  I just didn't know what to do.  I don't know
any pediatricians anymore.  Made several calls and
finally decided to take him to one of those walk-in
offices.  Of course, you don't get to see a real
pediatrician who is up on what is going around.  All
he could do was rule out the obvious things and
say that it was probably a virus.  Hollis called her
pediatrician and they said it probably was a virus and
to only be concerned if his fever went above a 
certain point.  Well, for four days his fever went up
and down like crazy and we all went crazy too.
The good news is the fever broke for the last time
on Thursday and they were able to go home that
evening.  We did manage to set outside for a very
few minutes on the 4th so we can record his first
4th of July.  He was so cute even though he was sick.
So, I hope you can understand why I haven't been
up to date on anything to do with Homespun Elegance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WINNERS OF MY DRAWING ARE ~
Keepers of the Crows
Sharee
NatalyK
I will be sending each of you an email sometime today.
  Congratulations!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stay cool if you can!
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra