Occasionally in spring, we get a delicious taste of summer (such was the case in March).  And summer always makes me long for Deephaven and a visit to Grand Aunt Katharine Brandon’s house with Kate and Nelly.  Oh, to explore the drawers of Aunt Katharine’s desk and wonder about the queer keepsakes: bits of sea shell and pebbles, withered flowers and a few small samplers.  There was a little package of letters tied with “a very pale and tired looking blue ribbon” from a long lost love which we dared not read out of respect for Aunt Katharine (God rest her soul).  The letters from her boarding-school girl friends, however, we did read and always felt particularly drawn to the small bundle tied with black ribbon and marked in Aunt Katharine’s pen, “My dearest friend, Dolly McAllister, died September 3, 1809, aged eighteen.” 

Now, before I continue to unfairly draw you off course, I must confess that I have never actually been to Deephaven.  It is merely a novel written by Sarah Orne Jewett in 1877.  However, I do Miss Jewett great injustice to call any of her stories "merely a novel."  To me they are exquisite masterpieces!  Those of you who have known me for some time already know how much I love her writings.  They speak to my soul.  I feel like I know the characters and places ~ I have read them so often.  I feel as though I have indeed been to Deephaven (and Dunnet Landing and Green Island, not to mention old Abby Martin's place) many, many times.

The reason I am telling you all this is that this month brings the release of two new patterns ~ both inspired by the words of Miss Jewett.  The first is a set of miniature marking samplers (above) ~ perhaps those tucked in Aunt Katharine’s escritoire!  Please visit my Early Work Mercantile page where I have one set of finished samplers for sale.  And, of course, you may find the pattern under Featured Items (right) as well as on Pattern Mart should you like to stitch a set for yourself.