Eliza Ann Sarah Shrimpton ~ Her Work aged 7 years & other news...

I recently acquired this simple sampler

and thought I'd share her with you all ~

Eliza Ann Sarah Shrimpton  Her Work aged 7 years

measuring approx. 11 1/2" x 15" and stitched onto loosely-woven homespun linen.

a subtle alphabet above a lower central motif of a potted flower, flanked by trees with birds atop.

a couple of crowns, 2 little dogs and her name & age ~

Once I removed her from the frame, the backside of the sampler revealed beautiful thread colors:

purple, acid green, cobalt & indigo blue....

faded coral threads that were once a vibrant purple ~

Worked by tiny hands, the somewhat large stitches are worked 2 over 2 on the linen, 

I believe it to be  22ct (11ct)...uneven weave, and the threads worked look to be wool/silk...

neat & tidy for such small hands

 the edges of the sampler were turned back and stitched with green threads, 

...pulling the linen's edges for a very pleasing effect ~

frame is not original to this sampler.

 there is no date or provenance to this sampler,

so I can only speculate on when & where it was made...

any suggestions?

tiny holes and some broken linen threads are apparent,

but otherwise a sweet and charming work of heart & hand ~

~ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ~

I'm thinking of replicating this sampler 

and others in my collection to offer as patterns for you to stitch as well ~

will keep you posted on that!

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IN OTHER NEWS ~

*I will be updating our CLASS Schedule (link on sidebar)

and wanted to let you know that the Winter Classes are going to be awesome!

I LOVE holding classes in the shop during the colder months ~

the woodstove will be piping, the kettle will be whistling and what better way to spend a day than to be in the good company of like-minded friends??

Our first class will be held November 23rd and will be a

 beautiful Burlap Wreath class project taught by Nancy Bauer ~

she will also be teaching us how to make our very own 

soothing healing balm for our chapped winter hands

(More info & details to come SOON!)

AND

*Preparations are being made for our upcoming

Christmas Open House

which will be on Saturday, December 7th 10:00 ~ 3:00

we will have wonderful, fresh primitives, new rug hooking kits & wool, handmades & needfuls.

Refreshments will be served, 

and I'm thinking Santa & Mrs Claus will be here to greet you again!!

and lastly,

... I wanted to thank all of those who are voting for the Hallowe'en Challenge finishes!

I TOLD you they were awesome!!!!

I will be in the shop today ~

if you're in the area, stop on in and visit for a while :)

*Blessed be, my Friends*

 ~ Lori ~

Hallowe'en Freebie Challenge Photos and voting begins!

Hello Friends & Folk!

....are you ready for this???

I am sitting here in awe of the talent that is out there ~ 

...each & every one of you should be extremely proud of yourselves with your finishes!\

We received 20 entries in our little freebie challenge, from all over the world!

USA, Italy, Finland, Spain, South Africa, France & Germany!!!

Below are the photos of the entires, and under each photo is it's corresponding number.

On the sidebar at the top of this blog is where you will cast YOUR vote for your favorite finish...

remember that the winner you decide on will win a $50.00 gift certificate from our Etsy shop!!

so grab your glasses, a cuppa somethin' and a drool rag ~

and let the voting begin!!!

**remember to click on each photo to enlarge it for detail**

#1 ~ jar sleeve

#2 ~ small pillow w/ hanging pumpkin

#3 ~ pyn pillow/work station

#4 ~ hanging bag w/ pennies

#5 ~ project bag

#6 ~ spell book

#7 ~ applique pillow

#8 ~ frayed edge ornament

#9 ~ quilted runner

#10 ~ witch's hat

#11 ~ purse/bag

#12 ~ project pouch

#13 ~ pillow w/ wool

#14 ~ table mat

#15 ~ pillow w/ insert

#16 cat doll w/ pocket

#17 ~ small hanging pocket

#18 ~ mixed media wall hanging

#19 ~ framed mixed media

#20 ~ recipe card holder

the contest will end promptly at 6:00 pm on

October 31st  HALLOWE'EN!!!!

and the winner will be announced on this blog November 1st ~

my thanks to all who entered and to you all for voting!

HAVE FUN!

*Blessed be, my Friends* 

 ~ Lori ~

My New England Roots ~ Part IV and the Hallowe'en Freebie Challenge!!

Sunday was a most beautiful day for us to enjoy shopping at the 

Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT ~

The weather was PERFECT...

the crowds were great and there were a ton of vendors, 

...so I spared you the repetitive shots of booth-after-booth

and instead tried to capture the big picture for you in these below:

below are snaps of my plunder from the flea, 

and from Linda's shop (see previous posting) ~

black mid 1800's highchair with painted design, maple child's potty chair and a sweet oxblood red shelf that was a gift from my friend Joey Smith who was vending at the flea!
Thanks again so much Joey, was a delight seeing you again!

punched tin witches hat light (needs rewired) for our bath, a grey graniteware milk can w/lid,
a handcarved birdseye maple spoon shelf (that will hold my collection of rug hooks)
and two turned wooden spindles that I couldn't live without....one on right is from an antique highboy...

tattered silk lined sewing basket, and red/cream overshot coverlet runner (from Linda's shop)

heavy wooden scoop (Linda's shop), small pewter pitcher and another lidded sewing basket from the flea mkt.

super-cool & big stenciled & feather stuffed sofa pillow ~ love the old letters/type

little Autumn trinket box made by Stacy Bear ~
(she's sitting on a paper mache pinecone)
... bought this at the Honeyspot Antiques Mall in Stratford, CT)

small Oxblood red painted & grubbed hanging key basket (from Linda's shop)

All in all, it was a wonderful trip home to CT ~

perfect weather the whole time I was there.

...visiting my family, relaxing and just taking a break 

from my hectic schedule is what seriously refuels me ~ 

and I now feel refreshed and recharged 

to start another round of creative work & designing for you!

The drive home yesterday was wonderful, 

( being Columbus day there wasn't alot of traffic on the roads )

....I stopped in PA for lunch, 

then zipped down I - 81 heading for 

H O M E

(what a wonderful word...)

so here I am!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, on to the next order of business (read: FUN)

the Hallowe'en Freebie Challenge!!!!!

I have received a bunch of emails from contestants with their unique finishes of my little freebie ~

all I can say is WOW! there sure is alot of talent out there :))))

...since today is the 15th, and last day to get your photos to me of your finish, 

I will post all of the contestants photos here tomorrow....

(if you're not finished with yours yet, you'll have until midnight tonight to enter)

then I will add a poll on my sidebar where you can vote for your favorite finish!

don't forget, the winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate for use in my Etsy shop!!

so, if you haven't finished yet, or think you might want in on the fun 

~ now is your last chance to play.

Hoping you all have a wonderful day ~

*Blessed be, my Friends*

 ~ Lori ~

My New England Roots~ Part III ~ Newtown, CT (Sandy Hook)

Yesterday,

my sisters & I went for a drive

up to Newtown, CT...

to visit a dear Friend,

 Linda Manna

at her beautiful shop:

 

www.countrymillprimitives.com

 Linda recently moved her shop from Sugar street in Newtown, CT to

this wonderful old painted lady downtown ~

 

 

now located at 5 Glen Road, Sandy Hook CT

the minute we drove up and parked, we knew we were in for a treat ~

look at that porch!

Linda has such an eye for floral arrangement and decorating....

she is SO talented :)

 

step inside and take a deep breath ~

 

as soon as you enter, her shop hugs you like an old friend ~

making you feel warm & welcomed.

 

Linda has a knack of making you feel like you've been her friend for years though,

with a sweet smile and cheerful manner ~

 

l - r, my sister Sharon, Linda (behind counter) and my sister Louisea
 

 her shop is reflective of her love of New England, and her pride in her community ~

every nook and cranny holds wonderful goods and needful things!

 

 

 

antiques, primitives, folk art & handmades ~

all waiting for you...

 

Linda's talented hubby makes wooden items for the shop

such as shelves and cupboards too.

 

textiles, candles, room sprays ~

tin lighting, rugs & drieds for the season fill the shop.

 

 

Elegantly displayed items pop against the old house's architecture and paint choices...

just LOVE this look!

 

LOVE that sawbuck tale in the center of this room ~

pewter and old dry paint....perfect!!

beautiful Keeping Room

see the tin ceilings???

Country Mill will be holding their Christmas Open House

 the First Saturday after Thanksgiving...

please put this shop on your list of destinations to see while visiting Connecticut ~

I assure that you will not be dissapointed!

THANK YOU Linda ~
for always being so nice to me and for your friendship ~
much xoxoxox to you!

 

Tomorrow, I am heading up to New Milford, CT

with my sister Louisea to scour the

Elephants' Trunk Flea Market!!!

woohoo

cannot wait to see what I will come home with :))))

 

*Blessed be, my Friends*
 ~ Lori ~