Contest Winner!

The Harvest Market Hop rules changed and shops are free to display new releases. Apparently, Map of Hawk Run Hollow has been posted all day, making it really easy to guess which place names are included. So the winner of a free copy of Map of Hawk Run Hollow goes to Ranae Ehmen of Rockford, Illinois who wrote to me nine days ago. She studied the other HRH's and had at least seven places correct (St. Peter's Church, City Hall, Opal's Boarding House, Black smith shop, Jacob's Gristmill, Olde Burial Ground and others.) Congratulations, Ranae! She stitched and framed Houses and Villages and has started Autumn.  Please see the Map of Hawk Run Hollow here:

http://www.carriagehousesamplings.com/charts/map-of-hawk-run-hollow/

Just in time for Halloween!

Thanks to Beth Wiksen from Louisville who stitched Tomcat Alley so incredibly fast, that it's ready in plenty of time for Halloween. And thanks to my sister, Kathy, who not only taught me how to Punch Needle but gave me a gorgeous punch frame. Tomcat Alley, Punch Needle is ready too!

http://www.carriagehousesamplings.com/charts/tomcat-alley/

http://www.carriagehousesamplings.com/charts/tomcat-alley-punch-needle/

Map of Hawk Run Hollow Contest

The Map of Hawk Run Hollow pulls together many of the fun places that you stitched in the other Hawk Runs. Announcing: The Map of Hawk Run Hollow Contest! The person who can correctly guess as many of the place-names (streets, buildings, etc.) shown on the Map of Hawk Run Hollow by September 12th will win a free copy of the chart! Look to the other seven HRHs for clues. Here's one to get you started: Bailey Bridge — inspired by "A Bailey" from Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. Email your guesses to chsamplings@gmail.com  One email per participant please and no more than 24 guesses each. Tie breaker: first person to have the most correct. Good luck! Marty

(Contest not open to Harvest Market Hop participants please.)

New HRH: Eastern Sneak Peek

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!

New HRH: Northern Sneak Peek

New HRH: Southern Sneak Peek

Stay tuned: Contest coming!

Where in the world is Hawk Run Hollow?

It started within my sister Kathy’s imagination but after multiple super-friendly bird incidents around my house, I’m starting to feel like I LIVE in Hawk Run Hollow. This turkey vulture recently paid my deck a visit, I’ve seen a red-tailed hawk swoop down towards Tim’s head and Anna had a bird flutter on top of her straw-colored hair when she got off the school bus last year. I imagine Hawk Run Hollow to be where animals and people happily mingle.

I see this toad almost everyday in my garden:

And this guy and his 25 friends surround our house:

Anyway, it’s time to present a new Hawk Run Hollow. 

Sneak peeks coming soon!

New Design From Carriage House

Quaker Quilts will be ready to ship in just a few days! 

Thanks to Sherri Berkman for stitching our model ... Cucki Imran for the idea ... Lakeside Linens for the beautiful Autumn Gold linen ... and Needlepoint Silk for gorgeous shades ...

New Design Coming Soon!

I'm happy to report that I tried Cucki Imran's suggestion of using "Air Dry" as a theme for a cross stitch design. The CHS follower from South Africa wrote: "It's so cute and so nostalgic design ... so natural and so prim ... I always love old washing lines and clothes flying in air ... such a sweet sight and simple pleasure." Cucki says that she loves to stitch and her heart is fed by stitching. She started stitching few years ago and is now hooked with her crosses! I added a Quaker twist plus a few animals and Sherri Berkman, of Virginia, stitched it to perfection. It will be ready to ship by July 10th.

 

http://www.martybarrick.com/#air-dry

New Release!

Widow’s Walk will be available next Friday! Kevin Tober of Pompano Beach, FL suggested that I use my painting of the same name as a theme for a new design. Thanks to Denise Thornton for stitching it … Lakeside Linens for the copper linen … DMC and Weeks Dye Works for the floss. Conversions are provided for Needlepoint Silk. Kevin gets the first copy free of charge! I love the frame by Eastside Mouldings. Have a great Memorial Day holiday!

Spot on!

Marly’s Samplers and Santas blog (http://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/) had me thinking about my unframed/unfinished Spot the Horse, which was designed by Kathy in 2009. Beth Wiksen agreed to turn it into a bag along the same line as Marly’s. She modified her template since the entire design was stitched (vs. Marly’s Spot reduction), used black wool, added rick-rack, a beautiful lining, plus, an inside pocket for treasures! It’s amazing!

Please contact Beth about finishing your projects:
Beth Wiksen
4608 Palma Rd
Louisville, KY 40272
502-376-0282

150 years ago today...

Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre by actor John Wilkes Booth the evening of April 14, 1865, and died across the street the next morning.

So glad there are all sorts of remembrances this week. The Smithsonian's American History museum is displaying the carriage that Lincoln and his wife Mary and two guests road to the theater that night.

A riderless horse, led by a soldier, started at Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and wound its way to Lincoln Cottage, where Lincoln and his family stayed during the Civil War.

A link to CHS's "Lincoln":

http://www.carriagehousesamplings.com/charts/lincoln/

Enjoy these 4,400+ Samplers!

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America is compiling all of the samplers stitched before the year 1900. You are welcome to add to this historic endeavor if you own one created before this date. There is no cost or obligation. This is for everyone to research and to enjoy.

www.samplersurvey.org

What an inspiring site!

And here's a link to our reproductions of antique samplers:

www.carriagehousesamplings.com/product-category/reproduction/

Thank you, Marty

Contest Winner!

Kevin Tober, of Pompano Beach, Florida, suggested using my painting Widow’s Walk, which features a house along the Chestertown River in Maryland, as a basis of a cross stitch design. The model is now being stitched!

Kevin, was born and raised in Monmouth Beach, NJ., just a block from the Atlantic Ocean, where “widow’s walks” graced many of the area’s beautiful old homes. He started stitching in 2004 while recuperating from back surgery, and it’s still a way for him to cope with chronic pain issues. Plus, he loves that he’s creating something with his hands.

Thanks again to Kevin for getting this pattern off the ground! He’ll receive the first copy we print, for FREE!

Marty

Two New Designs + Website with Blog

Thanks to Nataly Koplovsky of Massachusetts
for suggesting my painting "Red-winged Blackbirds" for a sampler design!
Please see the result at
www.carriagehousesamplings.com

And "Shenandoah" was inspired by a trip to the 

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, 

suggested by my mother-in-law Pat. 

I'm always wowed by the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Plus, I love this carousel horse on display at the museum...

The new design can be found at

www.carriagehousesamplings.com

Thanks!

Marty

Creativity down to her toes (and heels)

Take a look at this well-heeled stocking! 

Sharon Wulff, from Penn Valley, California, 

added a contemporary heel to 

Carriage House's Pennsylvania German Stocking:

Here's a detail: 

I love it!

Shenandoah Valley

I'm very excited about spending tomorrow in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with Jennifer, Denise and Karen  (and hopefully YOU) at Valley Needleworks! I would love to see you between 10 and 2 tomorrow. There's a door prize, too (but you must be present to enter)!

Valley Needleworks
7969 Main Street
Middletown, VA 22645

540-869-0324