Mary and Martha were Quaker Girls....

Here is a picture of that "Mary Busby Ackworth School Quaker Sampler," that I was searching for last week! Funny story about this one that I've found out. Needleprint has a very similar "cut" of one that they are calling "Martha Brady..." But, they don't have this "Mary Busby..." in the full cut.

You can find Mary by chasing it down through the Sampler Guild in the UK...which was kind of fun to see what they're up to in stitching. Or, you can find it through http://www.needlelace.com/Samplersandembroiderykits.html rather quickly. It's sent from the UK for 15 pounds...pay pal.

I just love the palette of colors and the way she visualized the Ackworth Sampler pattern. It's very artistic and "advanced" for her time.

Thanks to Marjo of A Southerner.... (please see her on my sidebar and go visit her!!) who helped me with this search.

I look forward to your comments. It was a happy occurrence for me this week when a regular "lurker" came out and we made friends. Turns out her parents live very close to me, and we're going to meet at our local needlepoint shop in a couple of weeks!!

Please don't just read....please leave me a comment. I really thrive on them.

Hugs, and happy stitching,

Deb

Miami Book Fair International!!! :Q

I'm beside myself, dear stitchy and reader friends. The "Miami Bookfair International 2009" will be here next weekend and my knees are weak. Name the author and he or she will be here! I have to go, even if it's by myself. I'm only a 2 hour drive from Miami going along Alligator Alley from Naples.

Let me tell you who a few of the authors are who will be there, you'll just die!

Margaret Atwood
Joyce Carol Oates
Barbara Kingsolver
Wally Lamb
The author who writes "Dexter"-Jeff Lindsay
Al Gore
Ethan Canin
A. Manette Ansay

Well, there are 3-4 pages of authors!! Go see for yourselves: http://www.miamibookfair.com/

So, of course, I'm going. I just couldn't think of anyone to go with me. I asked Libby, of the made up witch fame, but she couldn't go. And, I asked Elaine, but she isn't well enough....and Elaine said, "There's really noone else who reads at your intellectual level, Deb. So, you have to go by yourself." I'm a little scared, because, as I've told you, I'm somewhat of a reclusive, artistic type...but I have to push myself out of my house and I have to go!!! I especially want to see my very favorites M. Atwood, Joyce C. Oates, and Wally Lamb. If only Anne Rice were coming! :[ But, I'm beside myself as it is.

Please go to the site and see all the goodies there! More on my Gemini split personality and neurotic behavior later.... :P

BTW...I do have another blogsite if any of you are interested. It's my book site called: http://boundtobebookish.wordpress.com Please stop by sometime!

Hugs, Deb

Stitching Update and Books

My apologies to you all for the long blog entry. Skim, if you want. I just have a need to share books and stitching today.

Here is a picture of my latest part on our Quaker Friendship Sampler RR. This one is Sharyn R.'s piece. You can see my stitching on the lower right-hand side. The two large medallions and the tiny one & initials. It's feeling kind of sad that our group is drawing to a close. But, we've decided to make our next project in Jan.: "The Hunt." My camera is soooo off in this picture. Sharyn's fabric is really a vintage coffee color and her thread is an oxblood red hand-dyed color!

Below is the last picture I've seen of my own piece of Quaker Friendship RR so far. I'm so excited to see it in whole when it comes home in December! Didn't everyone do a great job!?

I chose these different pastel and crayon colors,(more pink in the last parts!).

Am I the last to know that Amazon.com has DVDs/movies on demand for $1.99, which you can download onto your computer for several week intervals? I quick like a bunny got my first one today: Middlemarch, by George Eliot. I've seen it before, but I love it. There's always something you missed the first and second times. :] You can also download the movies (and tv shows, BTW) to your portable DVD and MP3 players. Perfect for me. I don't know why I'm just finding this out!!!

I love this DVD movie of Gaskell's, "Wives and Daughters." She is an amazing author and this made to a movie piece is so beautiful. If you like Jane Austen's and Henry James's books made as movies, I think you'll like this one. Dame Judith Dench never gives us a wrong portrayal, but you'll also love these other characters. Same beautiful clothes, settings and landscape to charm...

I'm a huge Anthony Trollope fan. Have you read any of his novels? In this movie you will meet a fabulous cast of characters, you'll find love, humor and angst and delight. There are breathtakingly picturesque interiors, clothing and landscape along with the dialogue. I highly recommend this and any other Trollope books and/or movies you can get your hands on....he's also like Jane Austen, except the male version.

You knew I'd have to come back with a review on this one. It's complicated because I love Anne Rice as an author in her Vampire and Mayfair Witches series' but I wasn't a fan of her latest stories of Christ novels. I prefer the Biblical revelations about Jesus.

This book of Ms. Rice's is a connumdrum for me. It does take one back to her earlier writing style; in that we see more of her attention to architecture, arts, music, books and history. Her story line is interesting. However, throughout we get the pounding drum of angels who assit in coversions or reconversions to Catholicism. Every vignette leads us there. I'm not saying that's bad or wrong, it's just so blatant and it somehow takes away from the continuity and honesty of the story being told. I could see it for the first, main character....but Ms. Rice seems to be telling us her own personal story over and over so we'll "Get" it!

Would I recommend this book? I have to say I would with a 3 star rating, just because the book flows and there's a sort of suspense to it, or maybe I was just caught by the curiosity factor. I would also suggest you wait until it comes out in paperback, or that you get it for your Kindle for $9.99, (which is going to be cheaper than the paperback!). For those true Anne Rice fans of old.....she's not really come back to us, yet, sad to say.
Have you heard of Lisa Unger? I hadn't either until I met a friend at the Club pool who has a Kindle, who recommended her to me. This was a really good suspense novel, fast paced and such an interesting story line. I'm ready to read all of her books after this one. I highly recommend her to my mystery/suspense novel reading friends. If you're lookin' for Vampires....this is not your book. If you like Jody P., you'll like Lisa Unger.

I'm currently trying to add some stitching on my "Beatrix Potter...Ackworth Sampler," and I'm looking for a new chart that is supposed to be an Akworth but isn't sold by Needleprint called, "Mary B..." Does anyone have it, and can you direct me to it to get a copy online?? I can't find it anywhere on my normal shop stops!!

Happy Weekend of Stitching and Reading and Whatever your hearts desire! :]

Deb

Edgar's Giveaway

I'm at it again, aren't I?? Well, who on Earth could resist a giveaway that features Marie? Any of you who actually know me, know that I'm a diehard Marie Antoinette person. She is my ideal of beauty, tragedy and grace. I just love her story and her beautiful life.

Anyway, to the point: Edgar is having a Giveaway that ends on Friday, November 7th. You all need to run over there and sign up for these two DVDs that he's sharing. Both versions are so good! Find Edgar at: http://blacksheepsite.blogspot.com/

I know some of you are asking yourselves, wasn't Deb designing her own Marie Antoinette Sampler? Yes, I was and am. But, do you think I've had time and space to pick it up over the past months??? Nope. I want to, but I've been ultra busy and I just can't. I will in 2010!

Have I told you all lately that you are so dear to me? What would my life be without my stitching and blogging friends?
Hugs,
Deb

Sew Interesting or Knot

You may be asking yourselves: why is Deborah looking so fat? Where is her hair? Why does she have an evil and devious grin on her face? Is that her villa in the window behind her?

Oh, yes!! Deb is dressed for the drama commencing to happen at her next door neighbor and friend, Libby's house. Libby has asked Deborah to dress her for her Halloween party this year!! She believes in Deb's artistic abilities. This is Libby's fatal flaw!! Ya ha!!

Deb is wearing her 6' DH's pink shirt, with black rose and lace stretch tights (sorry Lib didn't get those babies in the pic!!). Those stretch tights look like last year's 'hoe outfit from the Las Vegas strip. Her hair is pulled back in what she fancies is the Hollywood makeup artiste's "do." This style, however, looks grim on her. She comes with tools of the trade. Her face is gleaming with glee....this is a demonic thing which does not look good on Deborah, either...and makes her face look rounder than it actually is, perhaps. Is God trying to tell her something? Get the picture?


Here's a cute before picture of Libby at her kitchen table. I have set out my "creative tools" to transform her from a kindly neighbor into a swashbuckling witch! Or some such! I'm enjoying this because Libby is scared of me, and doesn't wear makeup ordinarily. She jumps and flinches and asks me at every turn what I'm going to do to her. I'm beginning to feel like Dr. Strangelove! I have the laughter in my heart that you only have heard on Saturday morning Vampire and Mummy scary movies when we were little kids.... :] I really can't wait to get my creepy little hands on Libby's pale and clear face!!! 'ah 'ah 'ah
Once the transformation was complete, I suddenly came to my senses, and Libby and I found ourselves laughing hysterically.

This was the best long shot I could get of the finished product of Libby. She and I designed her costume. Sorry you can't see in full her darling pointed hat with the roses and how long her cloak is. We attached this lovely shawl to the neckline of her cape so she could swish it around herself. Libby wanted to be a sexy, not a scary witch! LOL

Oh, my!! The finished witch! She's a fright!

So ends our walk on the wild side in our very peaceloving neighborhood where strange things are apt to happen on occassion. Don't forget my Peeping Tom! Yuck!

Until the next time...Your friend in odd situations this Fall.... Deb

PS: After seeing and sizing up myself in this picture, I went blond again instead of these platinum highlights. I look like my old self again, thank God!!! I don't know where I went trying to grow old gracefully. Damn the white/grey and on with the young and lively generation!!!

Halloween is past. I got nada from the Giveaways. I'm hybernating today. My black little heart is bleeding purple uckky stuff. See you all later, and, I just hope you're happy, Queenie and Daffycat!! Grrrrrr

Your pain laden friend,
Deb/Witch Hazel