Salty Pumpkin....(335)

Today's Stroll piece is Salty Pumpkin, a beaded fob by Fern Ridge. This was a class I took at Salty Yarns' Jamboree in 2009. It's my first attempt at peyote beading, though I had done quite a bit of bead weaving on a loom back in the 70's. 

Friends, I'm not sure if I'll be posting the next few days. We are heading out of town this afternoon to be with a dear friend who's battle these past three years with brain cancer may be coming to an end. If you don't hear from me, know I will be back and will catch up with my Stroll posts when I can. I will also extend the drawing time frame to make up for any lost days. Thanks!

Don't forget to enter my drawing...here are the details from the 11/22 post..good luck!!! 

"I just realized today is my 500th blog post....330 just this year--wow!!! To celebrate I'm going to have a giveaway. For every comment left between today and November 30th, you can enter to win the framed piece, Out of the Box by The Trilogy; it's tiny and can fit almost anywhere. Or, if you'd rather do some of your own stitching, you can enter to win the chart Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow  by Carriage House Samplings. Just leave a comment and state which item you want a chance to win. You can have one entry per post through the 30th and I will pick the winners on December 1st." 

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Hello, My Name is.........(334)

...Stasi and today's Stroll piece is my name tag for Guild functions. It is the Sampler Name Pin from Nostalgic Needle. I did mine over one on 40 count linen to go in one of the tin frames from Twisted Threads; that made the finishing quick and easy--just mount on a small piece of foam core, lace, and pop in with some double stick tape! I did have to adapt the original pattern a bit so it fit, but it all worked out just fine!

I realized yesterday I forgot to share an adorable "bee" mug I bought when we went to Jamestown. Now I need another tea mug like, as they say, a hole in the head, but I couldn't resist. It has it's own brewer, a beehive and little bees inside the cup and on the saucer.....and since I love honey in my tea, it was perfect!!!

As for my current stitching, here is where I am on the ABC's de la Brodeuse; I've had trouble putting it down because it's just so fun to work on, but I have to stop now and move on with Christmas stitching. I've decided on the ornaments for the grandkids (I'm being hopeful and doing 4 this year) and have a couple gifts to stitch.

That's it for this fine Sunday! Hope you have a great day and thanks or stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Don't forget to enter my drawing...here are the details from the 11/22 post..good luck!!! 

"I just realized today is my 500th blog post....330 just this year--wow!!! To celebrate I'm going to have a giveaway. For every comment left between today and November 30th, you can enter to win the framed piece, Out of the Box by The Trilogy; it's tiny and can fit almost anywhere. Or, if you'd rather do some of your own stitching, you can enter to win the chart Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow  by Carriage House Samplings. Just leave a comment and state which item you want a chance to win. You can have one entry per post through the 30th and I will pick the winners on December 1st." 

Stasi

A Little Quaker for Breakfast ..... (333)

Oh, you thought I meant oats!!! Sorry, I couldn't help myself; feeling a little "corny" this morning. No, the Quaker of which I speak is the Quaker Sewing Case by Catherine Theron. This was a class I took in 2007 at Sampler Makers in NJ, but I didn't actually 'finish' it until this past March. I love the colors in this and the bargello.

Hubby and I got out for a "walk off the Thanksgiving goodies"  hike yesterday morning. Upon arriving at our trail, we found this sign waiting for us.

Good thing we had brightly colored jackets!!!

 I'm going to sign off now and eat my daily dose of Quaker oatmeal....yes, I do really eat this for breakfast! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Don't forget to enter my drawing...here are the details from the 11/22 post..good luck!!! 

"I just realized today is my 500th blog post....330 just this year--wow!!! To celebrate I'm going to have a giveaway. For every comment left between today and November 30th, you can enter to win the framed piece, Out of the Box by The Trilogy; it's tiny and can fit almost anywhere. Or, if you'd rather do some of your own stitching, you can enter to win the chart Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow  by Carriage House Samplings. Just leave a comment and state which item you want a chance to win. You can have one entry per post through the 30th and I will pick the winners on December 1st."

Stasi

Footprints...(332)

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We did things a little different this year and ate at noon (we had an attendee that had another dinner to go to at 2:00) and feasted on seafood, oysters Rockefeller and stuffed salmon, rather than turkey and ham. I have to admit I missed my stuffing/dressing though! We then went to Bass Pro Shop where the kiddies got to walk right up to Santa to express their wishes and even got a free picture with Santa. A number of Uno games ensued along with a huge consumption of pumpkin bars.....very low key day....very enjoyable!

Today's Stroll piece is another oldie but goodie, Footprints. I did this for my hubby back in 1986. I can't recall the designer but think it was a Leisure Arts leaflet. (Edited to say this chart was by a designer called Seaside Designs.)

We are going to be "paying this piece forward" as we have a friend we know will appreciate it in his new house; it was Rich's idea, so he's okay with it. I'm not sure I ever mentioned this before but my son-in-law, his brother, father and Rich have been building a house for the last year. They started a year ago today and it is now sitting and waiting for it's final inspection and move in. It has been an incredible journey from digging the trenches for the foundation to adding all the final touches like ceramic tile and appliances. Some parts were subbed out, like the roof shingles (pretty steep pitch), lot grading and siding. But these 4 guys did pretty much everything else, including putting up the trusses; it has been quite a learning experience. The house is for my SIL's Dad and fingers crossed, he'll be able to move in soon. Here's the finished project!
 

Don't forget to leave a comment for my current drawing.....info on 11/22 post!!!

 Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Day for Thanks...(331)

Happy Thanksgiving...a day for being thankful and feeling blessed! I am thankful for many things...my wonderful family, my health, my many stitch related opportunities and you, my friends!  

To start off I'm sharing a piece my daughter had stitched as a shop model for Twisted Threads and I bought. It is  A Lizzie Kate design called Thankful Sampler ....perfect for today!

 My Stroll piece for today is a Whiskey Creek box, but I can't remember the name and couldn't find it with a quick google search. I'll try to do more research later, but no time now.  :(   It is stitched on perforated paper and then made 3-D with mat board.

Top

Bottom

Sides

 Don't forget to enter my current drawing--details on the 11/22 post. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving Day and hope you can squeak in a stitch or two! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
PS This is a little pair my Mom gave me years ago....can't believe I haven't lost one of those tiny pumpkins...they are NOT attached!!!

 

Under the Sea.....(330)

Today's Stroll piece is my own...and possibly only attempt at "designing"...and I'm not sure you'd even call it that! :) Back in the mid 70's, my hubby took up scuba diving; he even taught it for a number of years in Baltimore. This was when I was in my needlepoint phase and I wanted to stitch something for him. However, as you can imagine, no scuba charts were readily found. So I resorted to tracing a photo of a scuba diver out of a Life magazine and then graphing it out on scientific graph paper. I then graphed out the diver's flag and found some sea related charts to fit around the central motif. The number at the bottom was his Open Water Instructor number from the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools. Here is the outcome:

 On a side note, when we lived in Cincinnati, Rich volunteered at the Cincinnati Zoo cleaning the manatee tank, so he got to "swim" with the manatees there!

I'm going to share a seasonal piece of needlework that I did not stitch, but was able to purchase when Twisted Threads closed. It is  Autumn Arches by Bent Creek. I think my daughter may have stitched this as a model for the shop, but can't confirm. :(

I just realized today is my 500th blog post....330 just this year--wow!!! To celebrate I'm going to have a giveaway. For every comment left between today and November 30th, you can enter to win the framed piece, Out of the Box by The Trilogy; it's tiny and can fit almost anywhere. Or, if you'd rather do some of your own stitching, you can enter to win the chart Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow  by Carriage House Samplings. Just leave a comment and state which item you want a chance to win. You can have one entry per post through the 30th and I will pick the winners on December 1st. Good luck to all and thanks for your "twisted threads" of friendship! Hope you're not too busy today preparing for the holiday!

Stasi

This is My Town......(329)

Early doctor appointment for hubby (doc says he's very pleased), followed by wound care and a little physical therapy, Costco, Publix, a hike and I am finally sitting down at the computer. Whew!!! But I have what I need for Thanksgiving and can relax....at least today!

For my Stroll piece, a little nostalgia.....a piece I did in 1982...back in the day when I stitched on Aida and used masking tape on my edges!!! It's been folded up in a baggie since then, never framed or finished...sad, sad, sad! But I stumbled across it a couple weeks ago and am determined to do something with it. I bought the chart at a local needlework shop, Needlecraft Corner in Baltimore, which was my first cross stitch shop. I don't know who designed it but assume it was someone from the area. It is silhouettes of some of my hometown's landmarks. Anyone from Baltimore.... see if you can figure them out; I knew them all at the time but am not sure of some now.

My hubby always used to say "Batimore born and Baltimore bred, and when I die I'll be Batimore dead". The first two hold true, however we've been away from Balto. since 1983, but it still holds a special place in our hearts.

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi
PS  I have a new secret indulgence.....Stauffer's animal crackers dipped in Nutella  ...don't tell!!!

 
 

Her Necessaire...(328)

Happy Thanksgiving week.....and before things get too busy, I want to tell you how thankful I am for you taking the time, out of your own busy schedules, to read my blog. A special thanks to those who comment, because it is you who have kept me going this past year. There have been times when I felt like ending the Stroll (it's been much more time consuming than I had anticipated) but then I see the comments and so enjoy the "give and take" between we lovers of needlework. I have made new friends along the way and although we may never "meet" in person, we have made "connections" that are special to me. So thank you one and all; may you have a blessed Thanksgiving full of family love, scrumptious meals, and a side dish of some stitching!

Today's Stroll piece is another Merry Cox class taken in 2006 called Her Necessaire. I just love the colors in this especially the silk fabric with the tiny "checks". The 'book' slides down into the bag with the mounted stitching....Merry is a wonder!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Tea Time Basket....(327)

I want to thank all those who gave suggestions/ideas for my switch plate issue; I did a little googling yesterday and found a birdhouse switch plate cover from Marjolein Bastin, but am also going to think about a 3-D birdhouse to disguise it. It will probably be put on a back burner for now; I've got a lot going with the holidays looming.

I'm a lover of hot tea...black tea with cream and sugar (though I tend to use honey nowadays) please! So today's Stroll piece definitely lured me in!!! It was an online class with the Shining Needle Society in 2012. The project is Teatime Basket by Barbara Jackson. You had the option to get just the chart/instructions, chart/instructions and materials, or charts/instructions, materials and basket. I went 'all in' so I knew I'd have a basket that fit the stitching.  I did my best to photograph it, working my way around the banding. Enjoy!

Scissor fob, tea cup pincushion and tin box

 Wishing you a relaxing Sunday with a 'cuppa' your choice of beverage. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Red Swan Mending Bag ...... (326)

Today's Stroll piece is a class that I took, from Merry Cox, through Criss Cross Row in 2006. It is the Red Swan Mending Bag and its accompanying smalls. A fun, fun piece with interesting construction techniques. I hope you get the idea from the photos. The initials on the bottom are mine, hubby's, two daughters and son-in-law. We made the one waxer in class out of a pair of shank metals buttons. I remember us sitting on the beeswax during class to soften it up! :)

I finally got to a project (non stitching related) that has been on my to do list for awhile (even while we were in WV). I had seen these large tree decals you attach to your wall and then hang family photos on.....a literal family tree!!!  I 'grew' the tree yesterday and now have to hang the photos. It wasn't hard to do, but took a lot of rubbing...I think it was worth the effort. It is approximately 90 X 107 inches and I did it in our eating area (I don't have a dining room). I'll share it again after I get photos hung. Now if I could only figure out a way to incorporate that white switch plate!!!
 

 
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Have a great Saturday!

Stasi

The Queen Bee.....(325)

First, thanks to all for your well wishes for my hubby. He is doing great this morning after the nerve block wore off over night. He is happy to "feel" his arm again and isn't in much pain. The challenge will be to keep him "down", the hand iced and elevated. ....and do tasks left handed!!!

Before I get to my Stroll piece, I wanted to see what you Project Runway followers thought about last night's finale....I was shocked!!! I won't say more to spoil anything.

On to my Stroll.....today's piece is tiny...less than an inch in diameter. I had seen this on Lisa, the Inspired Stitcher's, blog. She had stitched this freebie from Prairie Schooler to go into the Tim Holtz watch. I had found a tiny round necklace at Hobby Lobby and figured if I stitched the piece, over one on 40 count linen, it would fit. I did this in 2014 and have had fun wearing it ever since. I even stitched it a second time for a friend.

 With some down time yesterday, I worked a bit more on the ABC piece.

Errands to run this morning....thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

My Stitching Treasures....(324)

 I am late posting today and will be quick. Hubby had hand surgery this morning and, being a typical male, said it was no big deal and he'd just have a splint on his pinky finger for a few days....NOT! There was some slicing and dicing and he has to keep it elevated and iced for 48 hours and not lift anything heavier than a coffee cup...and he thought he was going on a bike ride this weekend......another NOT! He had a nerve block in his right arm, he's right handed, and can't even feel his arm for 18-24 hours. Now that's good from a pain stand point, but he keeps laughing his head off since it feels so strange and he can't even lift his arm. So, I'm his nurse /maid.. and glad to do it!!!

On to my Stroll...today's piece is My Stitching Treasures Box by Jeanette Douglas stitched in 2004. I treated myself to the box when Twisted Threads closed as my "last hurrah". 

Left side

Right side

That's all for today folks; I think I'm in for a couple quiet, stitching days. Thanks or stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! 

Stasi