The Workshop at Thistle Manor

The Primitive Hare

Valentine (Freebie)

Here is Lydia's companion piece.  I think Grandfather Valentine would approve of the Weeks Lancaster Red.  (When he arrived in America, he lived in Lancaster County Pennsylvania).  A very fun stitch.

My linen dilemma--the fabric on the top is R & R Reproductions 18 Century Brown, the linen on the bottom is R & R Reproductions 18 Century Coffee Bean.  One of my many telephone calls this past week was to Dyeing to Stitch (home of R & R Reproductions), I was hoping they had 18 Century Brown but no luck.

This is the 32 count Examplar by Lakeside.  Not my first choice, but . . .

Isabella Fox
The postmen and women are working hard making Christmas deliveries.  This is an awesome sampler and I am itching to begin stitching.  So many fun elements in this design:  Adam and Eve, the border, the motifs.  Am putting this sampler on my priority list for 2013.

This is a very busy time of year for workshops all over the world.  There is shopping, decorating, baking, and special deliveries.  I have been working on another UFO which is getting close to completion and if I can manage a few more hours in the workshop, will have another finish to share.

Lancaster Red, Linen, and Drama at Thistle Manor

Lancaster Red

I will have a photo to share tomorrow, I have finished stitching Valentine by The Primitive Hare.  The  Weeks Lancaster Red is just the perfect red for Valentine's, Merry Christmas and primitive lovers.

Linen

Grandmother Bessie always taught me to have a Plan B.  Plan B has been in overdrive with  the linen for Hannah Breed, my chosen sampler for Nicola's Year of red with the Scarlet Letter.  I had decided on using R & R Reproduction 18 Century Brown.  The piece of linen I had in my stash was not large enough.  I have burned the midnight oil searching the web for this linen.  I have made telephone calls coast to coast and north to south.  No luck.  Today while at the LNS, I picked up a fat quarter of 32 count Examplar by Lakeside Linen.  Unless I am able to local 18 Century Brown, Hannah will be stitched on the Examplar.  AppleJack is rolling his eyes at me and telling me I am over thinking.  

Drama at Thistle Manor

We have had some drama and excitement at Thistle Manor.  One of the many wonderful things AppleJack does is maintaining Thistle Manor.  He is very organized and methodical and with the change in seasons he goes through his maintenance check list.  As he was checking the heating system, he detected a problem with the thermostat.  The heating/cooling technician confirmed there was a problem.  After checking the outside heating unit, the technician told AppleJack we had a bigger more serious problem than the thermostat.  Carbon Monoxide gas was being leaked into the house!!!!  This kind of drama and excitement I can do without.  So. . .we are very thankful the problem was found.  Heating technicians will be installing a new unit on Monday.  

Christmas Quilts

When life gives you scraps--make quilts!  Several years ago Sis was spring cleaning and sent several bags of scrap fabric to Thistle Manor.  

I had some toile fabric in my fabric stash which worked nicely for the backing.

The long arm quilter did a fabulous job with the feather design.

Scraps from corduroy pants--warm, soft and colorful.

The oak leaf quilting design works well with the fallish colors of the quilt.  I found a piece of flannel in my stash which is soft and warm with the corduroy.  

As soon as these gifts are wrapped, AppleJack will be loading them into his sleigh and making a special delivery.

Lydia Emaline Shultz Tudor

Pineberry Lane

Lydia Broome Sampler

Lydia apologizes for the delay in her debut, her seamstress had a big work project with a bigger deadline.  

The Primitive Hare

Valentine Freebie

Since Great Grandfather "Valentine" Shultz is such an integral part of Lydia's story, The Primitive Hare freebie Valentine will be Lydia's first companion.  The linen is 30 ct over dyed from The Primitive Hare, the fiber is Lancaster Red from Weeks and the backing fabric is flannel from the LQS.  Work on Valentine has already begun (not enough stitched to show photo), the Lancaster Red is an awesome color--the perfect red for Valentine or Merry Christmas.  

Fabric Auditions

It has been a quiet and peaceful day at Thistle Manor.  Taking advantage of the peace and quiet, I decided to start the fabric auditions for Hannah Breed.  There were four linens which made the initial selection.

• R & R Reproductions 32 ct Sheep's Straw
• R & R Reproductions 35 ct 18 Century Brown
• Weeks Dye Works 35 ct Straw
• Weeks Dye Works 35 ct Havana

The Weeks Dye Works 35 ct Havana was eliminated because some of the fibers got lost on the fabric and the R & R Reproductions 32 ct Sheep's Straw was eliminated because of the thread count.  I was having a difficult time choosing between the R & R Reproduction 36 ct 18 Century Brown and the Weeks 35 ct Straw.  I phoned my partner in crime/enabler/consultant/friend, Carmen for guidance.  Carmen made a great suggestion:

Place one half of the fibers on one of the fabrics/linen and the other half of the fibers on the second fabric/linen and see which fabric/linen works best.  Choose the fabric/linen which makes the colors "pop." 

This was great advice.  Doing this, gives instant results and makes the decision much easier.  So. . . which linen made the final cut?  The R & R Reproduction 35 ct 18 Century Brown.  Yes, when I placed the fibers on the linen, I could instantly see the colors pop and the bling.  I had to order a couple of the fibers and as soon as they arrive, stitching will begin on Hannah.

After all these years, Hannah Breed is going to become a reality! 

Hannah and the Runner Ups

The past couple of days, I have been "studying" Hannah Breed.  While "studying" Hannah, here is what I have learned:

• Hannah worked this sampler when she was nine years old
• The stitches used on the sampler are Cross, Eyelet, Satin, Long-Arm Cross, Herringbone, Rococo, Lazy Daisy, Straight and Florentine.
• The reproduction sampler was worked on 25 count, natural, unbleached evenweave linen and is approximately 10" x 22"

WOW!  Hannah was 9 years old!  (Gulp) I'm feeling intimated Hannah.

Nine different stitches and you were 9 years old.  Okay, Hannah, now I am feeling really intimated.

Time to locate my girl big britches.

First, runner up:  1800 Gift Pincushion.  Cross and satin stitches.

Second runner up:  M. Quertier

A lovely quaker sampler

There is a tie for Third Runner Up between Jane Atkinson and

Elizabeth Short

and last but still in the running is Tudor Pincushion.  Stitched on 30 ct linen in tent stitch over one thread.



Diligence, The Scarlet Letter

Diligence

Wisconsin

Home of The Scarlet Letter

(Photo Country Home magazine August 1989)

Diligence

(Photo Country Living magazine August 1993)

(Photo Colonial Homes magazine June/July 1999)

Premier Issue of Fine Lines Magazine Summer 1996

(featuring The Scarlet Letter)



Since joining Nicola in celebration of her red letter year with the The Scarlet Letter, I have been digging deep into my stash.  Hannah Breed is the sampler I have chosen to stitch.  While I was searching for Hannah,  I discovered my file on The Scarlet Letter.  Step 1:  I am a Scarlet Letter addict groupie. 

Through the years, several magazines have written stories featuring The Scarlet Letter.  Yes, I savor each  article and photo and hope Marsha has shared a design or two. 

Nicola has generated a new excitement with sampler enthusiast.  Other stitchers like myself are digging into their stash, starting to stitch new samplers and resurrecting other samplers.  Following the progress, encouraging and cheering, sharing finishes, and seeing framed pieces will be a good motivator. 

Now. . . I need to order some silk fibers and decide on linen for Hannah.