I first saw the finished piece called Quaker Diamond in one of my Facebook groups for cross stitch. I went in search of the chart but could not locate it anywhere so assumed it is/was Out of Print. I posted in another group that I was In Search Of this chart and another stitcher was able to locate it for me. Once the chart arrived, I realized the alphabet was stitched over 1 thread which is hard on my eyes to see.

I selected a piece of 28ct cream Monaco that I had in my stash as the fabric and a hank of Mo’s Coral silk floss that I had just purchased. I started stitching the first part of February (not sure of exact date) and love it so far. May be another story when I get to the over one part.

I finished the easy part – stitching over two. All that is left if the over one for the alphabet, date, and my initials.

March 9, 2022 – Finished the over one stitching on this one. Messed up the spacing in the center but decided I was not going to frog over one stitches with one strand of silk floss. I can live with it.

I used a simple frame I got off Amazon. Not quite as elegant as mu usual custom frames but much less expensive.

My Heart Can Rest by Blackbird Designs was released in 2020. It was influenced by an original antique French sampler that is pictured in the leaflet.

Every house where love abides,
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home, sweet home.
For there the heart can rest.

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

The chart calls for 36ct Heartland by Picture This Plus but I chose to use 16ct Fog also by Picture This Plus. I used all the called for colors:

• Classic Colorworks Balsam Fir
• Classic Colorworks Barn Door
• Classic Colorworks Dirt Road
• Classic Colorworks Fool’s Gold
• Classic Colorworks Gingerbread
• Classic Colorworks Jakey Brown
• Classic Colorworks Mossy
• Classic Colorworks Peanut Brittle
• Classic Colorworks Pelican Gray
• Weeks Dye Works Pine Needles
• Weeks Dye Works Used Brick

The stitch count is 170w by 157h which makes the finished size 10 5/8 by 9 7/8.

Started Stitching: September 15, 2021
Finished Stitching: October 2, 2021

As charted, the bottom of the design contains a name and date. A number of us are changing and adding a verse. I graphed the words “Where Love Abides My Heart Can Rest.”

I decided to add my initials and Jims.

Now to decide on a frame for this one.

July 2022 Framed and ready to hang.

When I first saw this chart in one of my cross stitch groups I KNEW I had to stitch it for a dear friend who had recently lost her husband of seventy years. Two Hearts One Love is by Victoria House Designs, a new designer to me.

I chose a piece of 16ct Ivory by Zweigert from my stash and the called for DMC colors (152, 407, 950, 3012, 3046, 3722, 3781, 3782, 3790, and 3858). The stitch count is 125w by 150h which made the finished piece approximately 7 7/8 by 13 1/2.

I finished stitching this last night (9/15/2021) but forgot to not when I started, sometime the end of August. Now to decide on a frame.

I decided to try a new place to order frames from, The Rusty Roof on Etsy. The rabbet depth on their frames is not as deep as I like but since I was not going to use glass and most of them were for smaller pieces, I figured it would work. I ordered one of the distressed wood frames in the color Espresso.

I pinned the stitched piece to a piece of foam core covered with a light weight cotton batting. It just fits into the frame with just enough room to use the point driver to hold everything together. I will then cover the back with brown kraft paper than when spritzed with water, dries taut. Rather than adding hanging hardware, I am using a black wrought iron easle.

I first saw this stitched piece posted in one of the Facebook stitching groups I belong too. The one on the right hand side was the one I was particularly interested in. It had been stitched in a yellow floss with dark brown and light brown accents.

At one time it was a free chart but I had no luck finding it so contacted the designer, Marjorie Massey to see if I could get a copy. She indicated it would take a couple of days to convert it to a pdf file and would be 16Euros. I sent her the money and she sent me the chart . It does contain both of the charts pictured above. You can order both charts from her by sending an email to

lepassecompose62@gmail.com

I decided to stitch it on 14ct white aida with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

• Summer Marigold for the border and the alphabet at the top and the numbers
• Traditional Sunflower for the various motifs
• Autumn Bark (dark brown accents)
• Weathered Tan (Lighter brown motifs.

Started stitching on June 4, 2021

September 2022: I decided to mount his one on a fabric covered matboard and then mounted on a board I got from Michael’s and painted. It is now ready to hang.

One of the cross stitching Facebook groups I belong to is Homespun Needlework, Cross Stitch and Samplers recently had a give-away for the chart La-D-Da Quaker by Lori Markovic. When I first saw the chart I knew I wanted to stitch it so entered the give-away and surprisingly won one of the three charts. I even knew that I would be stitching it with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads although the model was stitched with Needlepoint Silk. DMC colors are also given. The model was stitched on 36count Parchment linen by Weeks Dye Works. Since the project uses all full crosses, I selected a piece of 16ct cream aida that I had in my stash.

My choice of fabric and floss is shown above although I will be adding/changing colors as I stitch.

Started Stitching: February 21, 2021
Finished Stitching: December 8, 2021

Colors Used: Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads

• Border – Chestnuts
• Lettering – Roasted Spice
• Motifs -Roasted Spice – Russet – Arizona Sunset