Quick Post on a Sunday...........

Well I'm coming off a very busy week with visits from both my daughters, son-in-law, grand kids, and parents. The grand kids stayed for almost a week along with their Aunt Jess. We hung out a lot at the house just playing with them, due to the heat, but we did manage to squeeze in a couple visits to a pool, ice cream forays, trampoline jumping at a neighbors house, fireworks and a visit to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Aquarium. Here's a couple pics to share:

At the Aquarium in front of whale jaw bone

Face painting by Aunt Jess

Now on to some stitching news. I stitched this piece back in 2004 and it has been patiently waiting for me to frame it. I even had found the perfect frame back then, but just never got around to it. I have to admit I hate the mounting part!!! I had a wonderful framer back in Cincinnati, but have yet to "trust" my pieces to some one here in West Virginia. So I finally broke down and got the mounting done, bought some glass and put it all together. Here are the results:

Don't you just love the sunbather?

This was a Birds of the Feather chart, stitched on one of their hand dyed fabrics with Weeks Dye Works fibers. The photos don't do justice to the "boldness" of the fibers. It's a fun piece and I'm so happy to have it ready to hang on the wall!

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

Stasi

Happy Fourth of July...in stitches!!!

Some patriotic/Americana stitching that resides in my house..........

My oldest daughter stitched this for me back in 1992 when she was  14

Happy Fourth of July to all.....hoping you're enjoying wonderful picnics with loved ones and gearing up for some spectacular fireworks displays!!! Here's to the red, white and blue!!!!

Two down............

Summer is definitely here with temps in the 90's,  high humidity and an occasional thunderstorm thrown in. I can remember when thunderstorms helped to cool things off; now they only seem to add moisture to the all ready "moist" air! I am very  happy to just stay home, indoors,  in my AC during these hot spells . I'm pulling whatever I can out of the freezer for meals, so I don't have to go out to the grocery store! :) I've never dealt with the heat well. I can remember many days, as a child,  spent on our huge wrap-around porch reading, playing paper dolls or jacks. It was coolest there and most pleasant!

Well, on to some stitching! I've finished the second side of my box, summer, for the Tall Year Square. It was stitched on a beautiful green (my favorite color)  linen and features a tiny frog. I'm kicking myself that I didn't think to make it a blue frog as my hubby always sang the old Peter, Paul and Mary song "I'm in love with a big blue frog". It would have made the piece even more special, but I will not be taking it out as it is over one and would be a real bugger! ( We'll see if this eats at me enough that I do actually "rip-it" out and do it in blue--stay tuned)!
Anyway, here is a pic:

I finished  this piece from Cherrywood Designs awhile ago and forgot to post. I absolutely loved the saying and stitched it on a gingham fabric with my own color palette. I added a few charms and found a frame to fit at Hobby Lobby. You can't see it too well but there is a gold needle through the "S' in stitcher at the bottom.

 Now on to a lovely gift I received from a dear friend. I recently met up Paola at the Betsy Morgan classes at Salty Yarns. We have become friends after first meeting at a Betsy Morgan class over 2 years ago. We quickly realized we were kindred spirits and shared the same passion for stitching. We have been communicating via e-mail ( I always wanted a pen pal) and meeting up when she manages to visit the states. On this visit she gifted me with this beautiful stitched piece which I wanted to share with all of you. It is so lovely and I am touched by her generosity. She is a fabulous stitcher and finisher!!! I will let the photos speak for themselves! Thank you Paola for the lovely gift!

The front--note the beads on the dragonfly and leaves

I love the beaded mattress pincushion  and the beautiful pin at the top

This is a close up of the beautiful ribbon used as the edging. I know Paola told me its name but I can't recall--sorry!

Off to my stitching chair to work on "autumn"!

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

Stasi

One Down.................

...and three to go! I have the "spring" panel of the Tall Year Square stitched. Now on to summer--quite appropriate since it officially just began. I do hope, however, I have autumn and winter completed before they actually get here!  

And here is the pincushion for the Tall Year Square--that was our pre-stitch piece and I managed to get it together during the class. It has four sides, one for each season and will rest nicely in the bottom of the box when completed.

 

Here is the pre-stitch for my other class with Betsy Morgan, Gathering for Winter

Isn't this an adorable pincushion....and it's made out of an empty perle cotton spool!!! I just love the autumn colors!

Finally, I wanted to share two recent gifts I made for some special people in my life. This first was a CA Wells kit I managed to snag on E-bay. It says "Stitching by the Sea" and I thought it quite appropriate (tongue in cheek) for Sally down at Salty Yarns for her birthday. 

Next up is a gift for my friend from Luxembourg, Paola. I was able to see Paola at the Betsy Morgan classes and spend a lovely weekend with her.  It's the American Hornbook by Dames of the Needle. I thought it would remind her of her "friends" across the pond.

Well that's all she wrote folks! Thanks for stopping by and your" twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping...............

Well I am finally getting back to posting on the blog, after having to get a new computer, familiarize myself with Windows 7 and find the time to do so. Time truly does "slip" away and before you know it...two months has flown by. I finally got around to finishing one of my Sherri Jones classes and will be sharing it now. It's the Hare Pyns piece and I am so happy to have this "under my belt"! It was a LOT of stitching; backgrounds are completely filled in. I estimate approximately 81 hours just for the stitching, not including time spent putting it all together. I do love the colors--what do you think?

The class with Sherri was fabulous--my first ever! She was very patient, especially when I realized I had a major problem!!! I had decided, in my infinite wisdom, to add a few columns of the bargello stitch on the back so it was symetrical. Of course never thinking it would affect the finished project, was I surprised...more gobsmacked as Tabitha would say.... to find I was about 3/8 short fitting in the inside panels. Sherri graciously gave me some new lining fabric and ribbon and I went home and  re measured, cut and put together the inside panels. All's well that ends well as I managed to get it all worked out and put together  without anyone the wiser.....except anyone who reads this. So without further ado:

Hare Pyns front, pincushion and wooden accoutrements

Hare Pyns back

Hare Pyns inside, needle book at top, pincushion at bottom (guess I need to add pins) Note- vintage glass button for closure

detail of inside with teeny, tiny button from my friend, Paola

Inside view

scissor sheath and fob with hare scissors

Up next is finishing the Blue Ribbon Box class piece form Sherri and stitching two new Betsy Morgan classes that I took recently. More on that to follow soon.............hopefully!

Thanks for stopping by and your twisted threads of friendship!

Stasi

Down By the Sea..............

I'm off to Ocean City, MD tomorrow morning for my much anticipated classes with Sherri Jones. Of course, I'm heading down a little early for some  R&R and shopping therapy. Boardwalk, Sunset Grille, Wockenfuss, Anthony's etc....here I come!!!  I'll need the boardwalk to help walk off the extra calories from the other places!

But first, I'm stopping at a book sale in Hagerstown. I went there for the first time 4 years ago and found the first 12 issues of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine. I had literally been looking for them for 15 years, in hopes of not having to pay the astronomical prices they can go for on E-bay. So when I stumbled across them for 50 cents an issue, I could hardly contain myself. I wanted to scream, jump up and down and do a "happy dance". Instead, I quietly hugged them to my chest with a "cat who caught the canary" look on my face. I haven't found quite the treasure since, but am always hopeful. The funniest part of this story is a friend of mine found 10 of the 12 the very same day at a book sale in PA for 10 CENTS an issue!!!!!  An amazing coincidence!!!

So, I will try to post some photos when I get back..or possibly there...if I have time.

Now, on to my last minute preparations!!!

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

Stasi

Quick Update

I wanted to share the photos of my finished stitching on the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box.
I had it all stitched except for the bottom of the cushion. I decided to dedicate it to my Mom and was looking for a quote to put on it. Couldn't find one I liked so I put "Mom ....a blue ribbon winner" ---thought that tied in with the name of the box. I've also put her full name on it. Now that has been taken care, I can post the photos.

These are the pieces that go on the sides of the box to hold the smalls and wonderful scrimshaw pieces in place

Needle case (left) and Pyn case(right)

Pyn cushion

So, I'll be heading to the beach in a week for my finishing classes. Can't wait to get there and smell that salt air. Classes are Saturday and Sunday, but I'm going a bit early to relax, visit with friends, shop and .....stitch on some new projects! 

I also wanted to share my finished Barbara Jackson piece, The Tea Time Basket. This was an on line class through The Shining Needle Society. The pictures don't really do it justice as it was hard to shoot the basket properly, but here goes!

Basket and scisor holder

Basket and pincushion

View of inside

Pin cushion and scissor fob

Don't you love this little tin I found in an antique store? It will reside in the basket.

Thanks for visiting and your twisted threads of friendship!
See you on the flip side!

Stasi