"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, February 23, 2014

A Drawing For a St. Patrick's Day Goodie

Hi Everyone!
It seems that all I do is apologize these days for
not posting, not finishing designs, etc.  So, to
make amends for that, I want to have a drawing for
a "Give Away" that you might enjoy ~
"SHAMROCK BUNNY"
NEEDLE CASE
You should have plenty of time to get this ready 
to display for this special time of the year.
You will receive the pattern, the five "Amber
Pearl buttons, and the "Ladybug" and "Small Carrot" 
brass charms.
All you have to do is be a follower on my Blog
and make a comment on the Blog.  
The drawing will be Friday evening.
Good Luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you love it and don't want to take a chance on
the drawing, just go to my ETSY SHOPPE,
and you can purchase it there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll be back soon!
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Monday, February 17, 2014

Celebrating George

Hi Everyone!
Are you celebrating George Washington
today.  I hope so.  In remembering him, I
thought I would mention the sampler I designed
for the George Washington Foundation
a few years ago.  Part of the proceeds go
toward the ongoing work at the site of
his boyhood home~Ferry Farm~ 
in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"FERRY FARM CHERRY"
 SAMPLER
I am giving you 20% off until
Friday.  Please mention this
special when you get in touch
with me.  If you want to go through
ETSY, I will send you a Request
for the Special Price.
$10.40 + $1.75 s/h
If you would like to read about this project, what
it was inspired by, etc. please go here.
 Hopefully, you will be able to
visit our area one day and visit the site.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you are lucky enough to have the day off today ~
good for you.  Hope you can spend it stitching
the day away.
  I'm doing a little bit of everything.  Tonight I'm going to
be working on scissor fobs.  These are time-
consuming little things to do.  
Not complaining ~ thank you for the many orders.
These are my two new ones.  
$11.50 each + shipping.
They go with my two new designs, "Snowman 
Extraordinaire" and "Spring Frolic".  Both are shown
in the left column.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine Wishes

~HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY~
I hope you are all having a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Mine is getting better now that I am back from
another DR's appointment.  Will it ever end!
Wanted to share a few things with you, first
some pictures of my meager Valentine's Day
decorations.  
Love this olde heart-shaped basket and that wonderful
old velvet pincushion fits it perfectly.  I used vintage
pins to make the heart.  I know you are going to
covet my sheep, but you can't have him.
This heart-shaped basket is filled almost entirely with
family Valentines that my Grandma Rose kept.
She kept every card and letter she ever got.
I know I got that gene from her, and it is haunting me.
I need to start getting rid of stuff, but not this
wonderful reminder of my Grandma.
 Beautiful flowers from Lehmer, Hollis, Paul
and Avery!
 I do love chocolate, but one of my favorite food
groups is really, really good jelly beans, so I got
lots and lots of cherry jelly beans.  YUM!
I'm really excited about that big, beautiful
sugar cookie with the great icing.
Thank you Lehmer!
~~~~~~~~~~~
I wish you all a wonderful Valentine's Day
and I hope it is filled with a few
"Sweet Stitches",
Sandra


Monday, February 10, 2014

New Designs

Hi Everyone!
Just a quick update to let you know what will be
shown at the Nashville Show.  I wasn't able to
finish everything, but that is OK.  I'm just
thankful I could get these done.  I hope you find
something you like.
Here is the information about each one~
COUNTRY SPIRITS COLLECTION
"Snowman Extraordinaire"
CS-84
~Includes the "Carrot" brass charm
Retail $7.50
This was stitched on 30 Count "Dolphin" by
Weeks Dye Works, using a variety of fibers.
The "Dirty White" chenille is available
from me.
The decoupaged wooden scissor fob is made
from one of my little paintings.  It is 
available from me.
Retail $11.50
~~~~~~~~~~~
COUNTRY SPIRITS COLLECTION
"Spring Frolic"
CS-85
~Includes the "Dove" brass charm
Retail $7.50
This was also stitched on 30 Count "Dolphin" by
Weeks Dye Works, using a variety of fibers.
The "Soft Orange" chenille is available
from me.

The decoupaged wooden scissor fob is made
from one of my little paintings.  It is
available from me.
Retail $11.50
~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOMESPUN WEE ONES
"Love You So"
WO-03
All three designs are stitched on 30 Count
"Cream" linen, from Norden Crafts, using a variety
of fibers.   The "White" chenille trim is available 
from me.
$8.50
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
All of the AUTOs will be shipped by
tomorrow.  The Distributors will have them
in time for the show this coming weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A special thank you to Pat Matejcek for stitching
many of these designs.
I'll be back soon!
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra



Sunday, February 2, 2014

Charming Finish

Good Evening!
Just had to share this charming finish of my
"SNOW TIRED" 
design.
A wonderful shoppe in 
San Antonio, Texas~
"Stitches From The Heart"
shared this with me a few
days ago and I just knew you
would love to see it.
So much wonderful creativity in our
stitching world.  I remember years ago
when stitchers wanted to finish their
pieces just like the designers.  Well,
those days are over.  Often the stitchers
are much more creative in their 
finishing than I could ever be.
I know you will love this.
By the way, I have added 
"SNOW TIRED"
to my ETSY shoppe.
Just click on ETSY above if you are interested.
I also have some 10 Count fabric that will be
perfect, since the fabric it was stitched on is no
longer available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm assuming many of you are watching
the Super Bowl.  Not me, too much work
to do.  I did see a few good commercials.
Hope you are stitching while watching.
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Nashville Preview

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to share with you the designs that
I think might be ready for Nashville.
I'm sick and tired of talking about being sick,
but even sicker of being sick.  Hence, the
reason for not being on the Blog for awhile
and for not having my stuff in better shape
for the upcoming show.  This is a really
big working weekend.  Must move
mountains, but before I return to graphing
and finishing, I would like to tell
you a little about each
design in case you are interested.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"DELIVERING YUMMY 
GOODNESS"
What could be better than a cart full
of foil-covered chocolate eggs and
if you use your imagination, those
carrots could be foil covered 
chocolate too~I choose to think
they are.  Needless to say this
design has a way to go, but you can
see the potential, I hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"SNOWMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE"
Continuing my heart series, this design is also
based on one of my little paintings.  A wooden
scissor fob with the painting decoupaged on
it, will be available as well.
Notice my "Dirty Chenille" trim off to the side~
it will be available too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"SPRING FROLIC"
Once again, another design based on one of
my little paintings, resulting in this design
and another wooden scissor fob.
The "Soft Orange" chenille trim will be 
available as well.  It is way too orange in
this picture.  Really much softer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"LOVE YOU SO"
Avery is at it again~influencing my designing.  
One of his first words
was "whooo".  He loved owls and still
does.  The theme for his lst birthday party
was owls.  So I give you, my little tribute
to our adorable Avery.  I think this must
prove that Avery is going to be a trend 
setter.  He was all about owls when they
first became popular.  
I'll be using my "Soft Orange" chenille to
finish one of the models.  My "Heartlet"
brass charm is available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A COUNTRY WELCOME"
Please forgive the crooked picture.  I do so love
this new design.  It has many of my favorite things,
sheep, willow trees (there was the most beautiful
willow tree in my back yard where I grew up),
and pineapples.  The "Pineapple" brass charm is
mine and the wonderful new "Teal" rick rack
from Dames of The Needle will be featured.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it!  I really need to finish stitching
"Delivering Yummy Goodness".
Please let me know what you think of
my new designs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wishing you "Many
Wonderful Stitches",
Sandra