THE BUZZ FROM THE HIVE

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Greetings...and a couple spring Stroll Additions (498-499)






I hope each and every one of you had a pleasant Easter with family and/or friends. Ours was very low key....I spent the weekend working on an order for project bags and Q-snap wranglers for Salty Yarns. 



Then dinner at my daughters, followed by an evening of Call the Midwife, Les Miserables and Killing Eve. 

I have been getting quite a bit of stitching in the past couple weeks and hope to have a marathon stitching weekend upcoming (more about that later).  We had driven to Baltimore to pick up my parents and bring them here for a visit...that's two days, one up and back, of 6 hours in the car. I worked on my A Year of Celebration, March and April. If you recall, March is a do-over as I didn't care for it on the 18 count fabric. So, I decided to do them all on 14 count perforated paper. March only needs the background stitching finished and April is about half done. They are much smaller now and will work better on the box I have in mind for finishing.

Here is March on the 18 count

Here they are on the perforated paper
 I've been working on Quilting Bee and am down to the last few motifs on the bottom edge. I can't wait to get this finished and framed.





I saw a kit for sale on FB that I jumped on and am so happy I did. It's The L.H. 1818 Quaker Sewing Pocket by The Good Huswife. It is much larger than I thought, but I love the simplicity of it. There are only two colors called for, both browns and I toyed with the idea of changing that, but think I'm going to stay with them...again, I love the simplicity. So anyway, I had to put in a few stitches; the bag is pre-made and there is a slit on the back where you stick your hand to work .... it's a little awkward but I'm trying to do the sewing method and keep the needle on 'top' as much as possible.

 


 I've been working on A Stitch in Time at my Tuesday morning stitch group and here's where I am with that. Yes, I've had to stitch the same motif twice...once for the needlebook and once for a pinkeep.


I'm up to date on my iStitch SAL.......

 

.....and managed to make two project bags for me. The fabric for the alphabet one was given to me by a friend and the bee one just makes me smile! The little bee was one of a set of knitting gauge counters but works perfectly as a zipper pull.






I did manage to squeak in two finishes for Easter/Spring. The little bunny is Spring Frolic by Homespun Elegance and was forwarded to me by our friend Vickie who had received it from our friend Robin. What kind and thoughtful friends we have here in blog land!!! Thanks ladies...and I have forwarded it on to a friend who expressed interest. I stitched this on a 32 count mystery dark green fabric and changed all the colors to work. I added the button for the tail and finished in a heart shape with pop-pom trim.


Now this next finish was inspired by Janice Wright Greene on FB. I had seen her version/finish of one of the 'rows' by Bent Creek and loved the idea. You unfurl for the holiday/season to display, then wind it back on the wooden spool to store....doesn't take up much storage space and looks so cute spread out. I had the right size spool to work in my stash and found the most beautiful shade of blue banding at Salty Yarns in March. Here is Easter Row done on 27 count banding with added JABCO jelly bean buttons. I did change all the colors, again, to work on the banding shade (it's a dark robin's egg blue) and sewed it onto the spool. The large egg on the end was a pin JABCO gave out at one of the Markets. I see more of these in my future!!!








And as Bugs Bunny would say...."and that's all folks" !!! 

I am off to Salty Yarns tomorrow for the weekend; it is the Delaware Valley Historical Sampler Guild semi-annual retreat. Since I am an away member I can attend and I have wanted to go to one for years. I have met many of the ladies at events at SY and they are the nicest, and very talented, group of stitchers. I am looking forward to an enjoyable weekend of stitching and sharing with them in the lobby of the Lankford Hotel. Now, I'm off to pack!

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

Stasi

9 comments:

  1. Oh my Stasi I don't know where to begin. There is so much beautiful stitching to see today. I love everything you have done. The stitches on perforated paper look super and I agree I like them better like that too.

    The bee motif is outstanding and can't wait to see it all done and framed.

    The sewing pocket is an awesome find and will be such a beautiful addition to your other stitches.

    A Stitch in Time is looking SO good. I bought that one for Mary last year and am anxious for her to start it. Hint...hint!!!

    Your SAL is a treasure! Your bags are wonderful! I love the pattern from Vickie from Robin and the finish is great. That button tail is just too cute.

    I must be talking too long because a big grey line came up and I think it is telling me stop. LOL!!! Hope this posts. RJ

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  2. Me again. I just wanted to tell you how much I love Easter Row too. What a pretty and creative finish. RJ

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  3. The Quaker Sewing Pocket is a really neat project. Sping Frolic turned out so wonderful the way you stitched and finished it. I am happy you passed it on again! Easter Row is darling!

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  4. Super post to read and see, Stasi! Your HE rabbit looks super. I like your stitches on the perforated paper and I know you are happier with them. You have made fabulous progress on the bee sampler. What a great idea for the Bent Creek Rows. Love it on the banding! Did you stitch it over one or two? Look forward to seeing the sewing pocket all stitched up! What fun bags you have created! Have fun at Salty Yarns!

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  5. Love that Blue Flower Bee.
    What a treasure you found with The Goode Huswife,
    That little scroll frame is so cute!
    The Bunny looks great on the dark fabric, and what a great idea with the banding.
    I checked out Janice' FB page.
    OMG! Those spools!!!
    Have fun at Salty yarns!
    Marilyn

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  6. Stasi, you have been BUSY! Wow! I love everything you posted, but especially the bunny heart finish. You have a great eye for choosing floss colors to use on dark fabric. That is a skill I am still trying to acquire. I joined a fabric-of-the-month club and the selections I received lately have been mostly dark. I'm struggling to figure out how to use them. I usually choose light- to medium-colored neutral shades, but I love the look on dark linens. The correct threads seem to "pop." But the wrong colors can be overpowered by the dark linen. It's hard to find a good balance, but you have got that nailed!

    The spring string finish on the spool is simply genius.

    I hope you are having a wonderful time at your retreat!

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  7. A couple of finishes??? Oh my, you have outdone yourself with this post!! I just love that little rabbit that is making the rounds!!! I love it on the dark fabric and your color changes really made him pop. The Easter banding is gorgeous and oh, that Bee!!! I must start A stitch in time soon, it's so pretty on that fabric. The monthly series is so cute on it. Have a wonderful time at Salty Yarns!!! PS: you should use your stitched calendar for a header for every post!! This way we get to see all your work....

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  8. Wow, have you been busy! Thank you for taking the time to share pics of these wonderful finishes! Have a great time at your 'sampler' retreat.

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  9. Oh, my--you have been as busy as a bee, Stasi! I love that sweet bunny heart so much and it looks wonderful on the fabric. And what an interesting idea to roll the Easter banding on a spool--very easy to store and no wrinkles! Love both of your project bags and the little bee pull is perfect for you.

    Am wondering if you like Les Miserables on PBS? I've been taping it, but haven't watched yet...

    Hope May is another stitch-filled month for you, Stasi! (Sorry to be so late with my comments--we were traveling!)

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