Today's stroll piece continues with a "March" theme. It's from the series, A Year in Chalk by Hands on Designs. I made the complete set for my daughter for her birthday last year. I mounted them on acid free board, finished off the backs and then attached velcro so they can be changed out monthly. I found the easel style frame at Hobby Lobby.
I worked on the Beekeeper's Cottage a bit yesterday, but didn't get to far. I'm hoping to work more on it today. I have found a new show that is great to watch while stitching, The Great British Bake Off. I love how low key these Brits are while producing some wildly creative baked goods. The only downside is I start feeling immensely hungry!!!
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship. Sorry for the big "space" can't get rid of it!
Stasi
I'm cheating a bit this morning. I'm posting a piece my daughter stitched for me in 1998 (when she was 20). I had already stitched this for my Mom and framed it exactly the same way. Since I don't have access to my Mom's (without a drive to Baltimore) I'm sharing the one I have in my possession. It is Very Victorian Shamrock Sampler by Eileen Bennett and a lovely sampler it is indeed (said with a bit of an Irish accent)!!!
I'm moving right along on my challenge piece; it's a quicker stitch than I thought.
I've also started the finishing on the Beekeeper's Cottage Etui--now that is not going as smoothly/quickly as I'd like. I started with the base, cut all the pieces (using templates provided) from the poster board, started to assemble and they didn't fit. Had to do some calculations, run to Hobby Lobby for more poster board and re-cut the pieces. Then I had to put it down!!! I'll have to re-check the other pieces I cut out and adjust accordingly. This is something I bought on the second hand market, so I didn't have the opportunity to take the actual class and can see I'm going to have to pull on the knowledge I've amassed from all my finishing classes. :) Wish me luck!!!
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi
I will be wearing my green today in honor of my Mom's side of the family. Her grandparents, surname of McNamara, were Irish immigrants who both died in the flu pandemic of 1918. Her father, my grandfather, and his three siblings were split up and adopted by three different families. One of the siblings was an infant girl that somehow found my grandfather late in life and they were able to reconnect. Sadly, we don't know the history about that side of the family but I do feel my Irish roots.
I'm sharing two small Irish related pieces ( I don't recall their exact names) from Lori Birmingham and stitched in 2003. I do remember that they were kits, done on banding and a quick stitch!
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| Needleroll |
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| Scissor Fob |
Today I'll be wearing this shirt, which is a little inside joke on my Dad. My maiden name is Codd but my Dad's family traces back to England, a fact of which he is very proud. So we always had some "gentle" ribbing going on between our Irish/English heritage, mainly that the English side came over on the Ark and the Dove and the Irish side on a "potato" boat. So, when I saw this shirt and read that Codd is actually an Irish surname, I had to get it. Tee-hee!!!
So I hope you'll be wearing your green today; they say everyone is Irish on March 17th!!! We'll be off to Cracker Barrel for an early dinner of corned beef and cabbage for my hubby--me, I can't stand the stuff! :(
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Slainte!
Stasi
The countdown to Saint Patrick's Day begins with a few Irish themed pieces. This is part of another Shepherd's Bush Fold series from 2001. (I came across these as I was doing some more unpacking recently). The frame came with the series so you could just pop each month in and out. Up today is, okay I'm sure you figured it out, March. Isn't the pot of gold button cute?
I was able to start the Spring challenge for the All About Smalls FB page last night. I'm doing Garden Birds by La-D-Da.
If you're in the Northeast, I hope you're thawing out. It's sunny here with a beautiful blue sky...but chilly!
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi
I worked on the finishing for Quaker Sewing Case, over the weekend but couldn't quite manage to complete it. Yesterday afternoon I was able to sit down and "get 'er done". I am taking two classes with Catherine Theron next weekend, and wanted to be able to take this with me for show and tell. I really love the colors of the bargello.... so bold and rich, and the inside so delicate. I stitched as called for, but added an extra perimeter of stem stitch, done in black wool, around the exterior edge. I could see linen threads peeking through after joining and found it distracting. So here you go:
The stroll piece for today is My Pinkeep by Marie Suarez. I stitched this in 2010 as called for. I love this piece and its little pouch. I'm always on the lookout for the ivory piece but to no avail--makes a nice, quick gift idea.
Today starts the first day of the spring challenge on the FB page All About Smalls. I have chosen Garden Birds by La-D-Da, a tool book kit. The goal is to have it stitched and finished by May 20th, so wish me luck!
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi
Ever hopeful but no snow here, though I did see some mixed in with rain on my way home from Woodlawn yesterday. I left around 8:30AM with a friend, Mary Ann, to drive to Alexandria and tour the needlework show at Woodlawn. It was smaller than in the past but you were allowed to get "up close and personal" with the exhibits....no touching or photos allowed however. There were some magnificent pieces and it really is a shame someone doesn't photograph them and make a slide show on the web for all to see. So many stood out but I'll relate a few of my favorites. There was a HUGE blackwork piece that was a "map" of the counties in Great Britain. Each county was represented by a different blackwork motif and it was phenomenal!!! I also saw the original piece that Theresa Baird designed for the Queen City Sampler Guild in Cincinnati and it is spectacular. Another piece I really liked was a surface embroidery piece with an "under the sea" theme; it was so bright and colorful and FUN! There were a lot of lovely smalls and beaded jewelry. A truly amazing stitched exhibit was done, not on fabric, but rather leaves and acorn tops. Very interesting! The one thing I couldn't understand was why someone would take the time to stitch caricatures of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump--that one has me stumped, but was amusing!!! We had a delicious lunch there at Woodlawn and then headed over to In Stitches. This is a great shop and filled to the gills with a wonderful array of stitching charts, fabric, canvases and accoutrements. Here is what I bought; the blackwork book was inspired by the piece at Woodlawn.
After our shopping spree, we headed back down the highway with a quick stop at the Russell Stover outlet; sadly, no tins!!! Then arrived home around 5:00ish. A long day, but a very enjoyable day!
Now on to the Stroll! Today's piece is an old Heart in Hand piece called Friendship Angel; it was a limited edition kit that included the tin wings.
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi
A new week--can't believe we're halfway into March AND we've been in the new house for 6 months! We've been painting up a storm and I've started to hang some of my stitched pieces. We're down to the two spare bedrooms, a bath and the stairway...then we're done!
Today's stroll piece is Needles and Pins by Milady's Needle, stitched in 2006. Now I can honestly say that I've been "lucky in love" and this saying has not applied to me, but I still found it amusing!
Off to the Woodlawn Needlework Show and In Stitches...looking forward to getting inspired!
Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi
