Botanical Sewing Pocket....(181)

I just love the colors and design in today's Stroll piece. It is Botanical Sewing Pocket by Chessie 'n Me, stitched in 2012. This was stitched on the over dyed gingham linen, though it's hard to see. I did add the JABCO button for closure and the sunflower button and bee pins inside. I feel I somehow "switched" the direction it closes, but can't recall for certain (darn this ole brain of mine).

I've been alternating between the stocking and the Stitcher's Heart piece. Here's where I am on that.

The weekend is supposed to be HOT-HOT-HOT!  My plan is to stay inside and stitch my heart away. I wish you all a fun, yet safe, holiday weekend..hopefully a 4 day one for most of you.

It's hard to believe that June is ending today...the Stitch Stroll has been going on 6 months now--that is truly unbelievable to me! I hope you are continuing to enjoy my needlework 'medley' ; it is an honor to share my passion with you. I'm thinking about starting out July with patriotic pieces and ending with 'Christmas in July' ...stay tuned!!!

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

Stasi

Blue Ribbon Box Part 2...(180)

Here are the smalls from the Blue Ribbon Box.....needlebook, pin keep and pincushion. I added my Mom's name and the verse "Mom- a blue ribbon winner" on the back of the cushion.

Another band has been completed on the stocking.

Thanks for the suggestions as to where I may find Anchor floss...stitchers are the best!!! I hope I won't be needing it, but will be at the ready if I do.

Hope you are all having a beautiful day and getting ready for the holiday weekend.

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

Stasi


 

Blue Ribbon Box Part 1 ....(179)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I'd love to open some windows but..........the tree clearing continues...and I think closed windows are in order...drat!!!

My Stroll piece today is one of my favorites.....the Blue Ribbon Box by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods. This was a class I took in 2013 at Salty Yarns. I'll share the box itself today and the smalls tomorrow. I dedicated this piece to my Mom, so her name is the one on the pincushion (which you'll see tomorrow). I don't always get all the scrimshaw pieces but I felt they really were "necessary" for this one.

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

Stasi

A Wreath for all Seaons.....(178)

Greetings all! I'm sitting here at my kitchen table enduring a second day of what sounds like a helicopter buzzing LOUDLY over head!!!  They are taking down tons of trees behind us to make way for new houses. :(  Hubby thinks it is a very large chipper that they run the tree debris through; whatever...it is VERY noisy and non stop! Perhaps a trip to the store is in order today!

Today's Stroll piece is from a Leisure Arts book, stitched in 1992. The book title had "heart" in it; I googled and couldn't come up with the exact title (book is called Great Works of Heart). This was a project I organized for some ladies in my neighborhood in Cincinnati. I had hoped it would turn into a monthly stitching group, sadly it did not. I finished my set and can't remember if anyone else continued with theirs. It consisted of a heart for every month that hung in the center of a small grapevine wreath. Definitely a product of the times...very country cute!

I got another band on the stocking done. I'm not sure what I was thinking but decided to use Anchor floss since I had all the colors on hand. I think I may run out of some and I know not many shops carry it anymore. If anyone knows of a source and can let me know, I'd appreciate it---trying to be a little pro-active.

 
Hubby painted one of our guest rooms over the weekend and I had seen this idea on a friend, Vikki Reed's,  FB page. I thought it was a good way to display the purses I had made years ago and, since my grand daughter sleeps in this room, that she might like it. 

 The second one down is a beaded bag I purchased in Berlin, MD a couple weeks ago. I just loved the delicate flowers in the center...not sure if machine or hand sewn, but the purse says "made in France" and is from the 60's. It is in great shape!!!

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

Stasi

And the Winner is......

I only had two people express an interest in the Summer piece, so I just flipped a coin.

RJ, you are the winner. Please e-mail me your address and I'll get the piece on its way. I can't wait to see what you do with it!

 

A Little Par-ee! ......(177)

Today we'll take a little stroll to Paris.....one day in person...hopefully!

The Stroll piece today is an old freebie chart from Blackbird Designs called Souvenir de France. I stitched it in 2010 and finished as  pincushion.

I didn't get any stitching done yesterday as I was busy working on a sewing project and baking. I made some zucchini bread and tried to make it more healthy by substituting honey for sugar and coconut oil for vegetable oil. I've yet to try a piece but hubby said it was "okay"....not a ringing endorsement!!!

Then, in the evening, I got engrossed in the Netflix original, The Keepers. It is extremely captivating and terribly disturbing!!! I was in a girls Catholic high school in Baltimore at this very time and kept thinking...this could have been me! We've got three more episodes to go...these women are so courageous ....I hope they find peace and closure!

Stasi

 

Bees Galore......(176)

Yesterday's Honey Bee Festival was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure what to expect but we were very pleasantly surprised. They had a number of working hives, info on pollinating plants, a honey extraction demo and lots of cute bee crafts! Our grand kiddies made pipe cleaner bees (I am the proud recipient of one), could have their face painted and earned a free honey straw for getting a checklist stamped. I even got to chew some fresh honeycomb and "pet" a drone bee (drones don't have stingers) !!!

Everyone was getting into "bees"

 On to my Stroll piece. This is a piece called The Sampling, by Bent Creek stitched, in 1999. It was originally a LE kit that came in a hand painted papier mache "house".... I know I have the box somewhere but can't put my fingers on it. I love small pieces in wide frames--- do you?

 I stitched week 10 of the Blue Band SAL last evening and am up to date.

Hoping for a relaxing Sunday for us and for you. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Summer time is here......(175)

Summertime.....and the livin' is easy.....

Here's a little piece form Ewe and Eye and Friends called Patchwork Garden. It was a Black Sheep Night kit and stitched in 2001. I've never done anything with it, it's still unframed and not really my cup of tea. So.....and this just came to me as I'm sitting here typing.....if anyone would like it, just leave me a comment and I'll have a drawing for it Monday morning. I also posted this to my FB page.

I got some more done on My Stitcher's Heart.  I love these colors!

We're going to a farmer's market this morning and then to a Honey Bee Festival put on by a local beekeeper's association. Hoping to get some local honey and learn a bit about pollinating plants! We're meeting the grand kids there so should be fun!

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

Stasi

Coverlet Candle Mat.....(174)

Today's Stroll piece was a club kit from Dyeing to Stitch in 2014. It is called Coverlet Candle Mat by The Scarlett House, stitched as called for. Not sure I'd ever really sit a candle on it, for fear of wax dripping, but it looks nice on the top of an old sewing cabinet.

I got another band stitched on the stocking.....

and a cover made for my Dazor light.

It's rainy here today...a good day for some indoor projects!

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

Stasi

A Day Late and a Dollar Short....(173)

I wanted to post this yesterday as my Stroll piece, on the first day of summer. I was hoping the winter theme would make me experience a wave of cold weather nostalgia. Hoping it will work instead today; it's going to be in the 90's!!!

This was a recent finish, Winter Thyme by Hands on Design. I did change colors up a bit to use ones I had on hand.

 I finished the stitching on my All About Smalls challenge piece, To the Beach, another by Hands on Design. Next, to finish into a tin topper.

I'm hoping to stay home today in the A/C and work on a project, but I may need a run to JoAnn's.

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

Stasi

A tiny Souvenir......(172)

So, last night we attended our first swim meet for our granddaughter...talk about organized chaos!!! It was crazy with all the parents lined up around the pool, kids everywhere waiting for their 45 seconds in the spotlight....and our little Cora, so excited we were there...instructing us on exactly what lane she'd swim in and where we needed to stand for our best view. They mark the kids up with markers on their arms so they know what race they're in, because once the meet starts, it goes bang, bang bang!!! Some kids had sayings on their backs that said "eat my bubbles"!!!  😊  My daughter had drawn a mermaid tail on Cora's back. All is all, it was a fun and encouraging experience--everyone cheered for all the kids.

On to the stitching front.....my Stroll piece for today is a teeny tiny, itty bitty band sampler. It is called Souvenir and was a Make it, Take it kit from Jackie du Plessis stitched in 2014.  The finished sampler is 3/4 " X 4 3/4 "  and folds up into a little metal trinket box. It was stitched over 2 on 36 count linen and is a series of bands of different stitches.

Drats.....I can see where I dragged the pinkish thread down to a lower band...didn't notice that before!!!!  Ugh!!!

Got a little more done on the stocking last evening.

 Now I'm going to sound like Amy over at Thread in Hand blog but I do have bathrooms to clean and laundry to wash. Hope you're having a nice day wherever you are!

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

Stasi

 

 

And the Smalls ....... Part 2 (171)

Strolling along today with the smalls from This One's for Betty.   First up (left to right) is a pincushion, button pocket and thimble bag. Note the opening in the back of the button bag for storage.

Fronts

Back

 Next, (clockwise from left) is a needle book, waxer box and scissor fob.

Fronts

Backs

These all fit into the etui I showed yesterday!

I worked on my daughters stocking last night and almost got the next band completed...just need to add some yellow flowers. I've been thinking about her a lot this week as she's finally on her honeymoon. She and hubby are teachers and, though they got married last October, this was their first opportunity to go.

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

Stasi

This One's for Betty......Part 1 (170)

Just got back from a quick visit to Baltimore with my parents, siblings, niece and nephews. Always good to see everyone!

My Stroll piece today is a class piece from 2011 with Betsy Morgan from Willing Hands. It's called This One's for Betty...an Elizabethan Spot Motif Etui. I'll share the Etui today and the smalls tomorrow. I'm showing from all sides with a close up of my favorite section- the whitework. I jut love those twisted buttonhole stitches (sorry if I'm not remembering the correct name and I'm too lazy to go find the chart.)

View from Top

Side View

Other side view

Close up of whitework

Bottom

 I've managed to get two more of the Samsarah calendar pieces stitched on my road trips and a good start on My Stitcher's Heart. 

I love the colors in the Stitcher's Heart piece!

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

Stasi