Betcha Can't Stitch Just One!!!!

Wow, it is amazing how a new idea can spread like wildfire on the internet! I belong to a few stitching oriented groups on FaceBook and there have been some posts in the last couple weeks highlighting pieces stitched and finished in a Tim Holtz pocket watch. I first saw this on Twisted Stitcher's blog back before Christmas and tucked the idea away in the back of my brain. Now, after seeing some new posts about them...I have caught the "bug"!!! These are made for scrap booking but work wonderfully for stitching. The possibilities are endless--you just need to find really tiny designs or be willing to stitch over one on smaller count fabrics. I dove in with an old chart I had on hand of a mermaid. It was one of the Essy breast cancer fundraiser kits (Elegant Stitch) from awhile back. It was called In the Pink and was designed by Midsummer Night Designs. I had stitched the kit and given it as a gift, but it came to mind when I was thinking about small designs to put in the pocket watch. I changed things up a bit, stitching it on a 32 count blue linen over one and just using leftover threads since it doesn't use much. I added a piece of a flat seashell for her "rock" and tan beads for "sand". It's pretty darn cute if I say so myself!!!  These will make great gifts and I'm thinking about a set of the 12 days of Christmas!!!!

I stitched and finished the latest kit from the Colonial Gatherings Club from Dyeing to Stitch. It was called Strawberry House by The Scarlett House. I just loved the colors and this and we got full skeins so I have plenty left for other projects.  Here's the back story: I very happily stitched the piece only to realize I had stitched the small urn of flowers to the right of the house. I remember thinking that I really liked the asymmetry of it all.

 Well the small urn was actually to be stitched as a scissor fob separately!!! But, I really liked the way it looked so I added some old buttons up the side and across the top and made it into a small pillow. I had  some really cool flannel fabric on hand that looks like rug hooking. The bird motifs and color went perfectly with the stitched piece. I thought about adding some rick rack--I had a perfect color to match--but decided to keep it plain. Sometimes less is definitely more! I did go ahead and stitch the scissor fob and sewed it on the back of the pillow. Now I just have to stuff it! 

Well I'm off to work on my next pocket watch piece!! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!!!

Stasi

Sherri Jones Weekend in Ocean City, MD

Going to a stitching retreat in Ocean City never fails to disappoint me. As I drive over the Route 50 bridge into town, I always feel the same sense of excitement I did as a child riding over the "singing" bridge. Memories flood back of our vacations there both as a child and adult with my own children. The salt air envelopes you, the sound of the ocean soothes...and if you're lucky enough to have a sunny weekend, as we did, all is good with the world.

I arrived Thursday afternoon, after a stop at Serendipity Quilt shop in Dagsboro, DE. I had to pick up a book on Baltimore Quilts I won in a raffle during my visit in February. This a such a fantastic quilt shop and though I am not a quilter, I indulge in their felted fool and fat quarters for my stitching. I contained my purchases to these:

Next it was on to the Lankford Hotel, my home away from home, to check/settle in. I shared an apartment with Debbie, who was already there and stitching away! 

Friday morning, I was up bright and early for a walk on the "boards". I walked the whole length--4 1/2 miles at a pretty brisk pace (boy was I sore the next day). But I knew it would be tough to get a walk in before class on Saturday. I was hoping that since I walked so far I could treat myself to a Fractured Prune doughnut, but alas, they weren't open yet.  Here is a picture of the sunrise that morning:

Then it was hanging out in Salty Yarns, visiting with friends and stitching. Friday evening Sara put out all kinds of fabulous appetizers and desserts and we socialized and stitched our hearts away in the lobby. Here's some of the items I added to my stash:

The Shepherds Fold kit

I couldn't resist this since I heard it was named for Mrs. Hughes from Downton Abbey

I  fell in love with this series from Jeanette Douglas but only bought two at this point

I also bought two fat quarters of Legacy linen in Devonshire Cream and Cafe au Lait. I just love the "hand" of this fabric and they had virgin pieces, so I couldn't resist!

Saturday was the Tulip Tray class with Sherri. She is a fabulous teacher with a good sense of humor. Some ladies got their trays assembled but I like to wait until I get home and can really concentrate. 

Sunday I woke up early and managed to get another walk in--this time just 1/2 the boardwalk.

 Then onto the class The Mermaids Two Tales. We worked on the needle book since the finishing would be the same as the purse. Sherri gave a little history of the mermaid which was very interesting and informative. All these years and I never noticed that the Starbucks "lady" is actually a mermaid with two tales!!! You learn something new every class!!! I'll post pictures of my finished projects once I have them completed.

After class Sunday, it was home to a new adventure--my daughter and her family visiting for a few days!

Many thanks, as usual, to Sally, Sara, Mary, Vernon, Brian and Michael for a wonderful, relaxing weekend. See you in June for Betsy Morgan!!!

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

Stasi

Happy Easter!!!

A beautiful Easter Day it is here in sunny West Virginia. Hope you are enjoying a glorious day wherever you are!

It has taken me a while to post about my weekend in Ocean City with Sherri Jones, but my daughter and her family came to visit for a few days and all my attention was focused on the grand kids (could it be any other way) and getting caught up with work. And, it is going to be a little bit longer, as hubby and I have some yard work planned for today, so I don't have much time.

But, I did want to share some "blasts from the past". I'm going to call these "vintage" as I stitched them in 1983 and the pattern actually was dated 1978!!! They are from a series of Easter eggs put out by The Berry Patch. Maybe some of you recall them!!! You stitched the design on 22 count hardanger and then "glued" them on a styrofoam egg shape. White lace covered where you had to cut your fabric to "shape" around the egg.  One of the eggs was a foray into making my own design. My hubby was an avid scuba diver back then and I designed his with a scuba diver "diving" for eggs. I was pretty proud of myself back then for thinking "outside of the box". So here you go:

They are pretty fun--aren't they??

So, when I was pulling these out to decorate, I remembered I still had a few more kits in my stash. So, I dug them out and made two for Sally and Sara at Salty Yarns as a thank you for a great weekend. Here they are:

Again, Happy Easter to all and more to follow in the next few days about my stitching weekend!

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

Stasi

We All Live in a Yellow Submarine..................

I am so tickled with my new shoes!!! A friend had posted on FB about a new line of Vans featuring the Beatles and Yellow Submarine. I just had to have a pair and this seemed a great way to commemorate a group that was a very important part of my teenage years. These definitely make me feel like doing a "happy dance"! Enough said---here they are!!!!

Even the box they came in is cute!!!!

I have been stitching, working on a mermaid piece by Sue Hillis. I'm almost done with the stitching, just two more of the smalls. This has been a fun piece--lots of bright, happy colors, but quite a bit of over one and LOTS of color changes. I also finished a couple of gifts and will post those after they are gifted.

Spring is definitely here and that means baseball. Here's a pic of my grandson ready to play ball!!!!

I leave Thursday for Ocean City and have already started packing my stitching supplies and show and tell. It feels good to have all the pre-stitching done, although I don't always work on the finishing in class. I need quiet and calm so I can really pay attention to what I'm doing, not feel rushed and avoid mistakes. But I'll be ready whatever I choose to do! 

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

Stasi

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes..................

I know I'm out of season at this point...but really.... who knows...there's another storm blowing across the midwest that just might hit us!!! I'll be ready with my newly completed Hibernation Day  by Heartstring Samplery. I stitched most of this during our snowy winter days but had to put it aside, with only the bottom third left, to get some class pre-stitching done. I went back to it  this week and finished it up!

 I stitched mine on a piece of 36 count Barn Owl from Birds of a Feather that I had in my stash waiting for the perfect piece. I think I found it in this!!! I also changed colors and used a more muted "berry" color. I'm really trying to use supplies from my stash, as long as they work, but won't sacrifice the piece to do that. In this instance I used some GAST, Weeks and Valdani and am very happy with the outcome. I did change up the verse a bit (see March 7th post) and added a row of buttons at the bottom. The heart button was way too bright so I just colored over it with a brown permanent marker and it took it down a few notches. 

Now I need to think about framing--something rustic don't you think?

I am counting the days until my Sherri Jones classes!!! Only 8 more days until I head down to the ocean. Hopefully I'll be posting some finished projects soon after.

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

Stasi

I'm on a Roll....................

..............third post this week!!! I am trying to document all my stitching this way, so I have a record. Now I just have to figure out how to save all the blog posts somewhere!!! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

So, here are the finished pieces for my upcoming class, A Fine and Fancy Tulip Tray, with Sherri Jones. Sounds like a perfect project for spring!!!The  colors are definitely very soft and pastel- pale pink, mauve, pale green and taupe with a bolder gold! Less than 3 weeks to go--I can't wait to get to the beach!!!

This is the darning piece for the bottom of the tray. I really enjoyed stitching this and it's so delicate!

Three of five of the stitched sides for the tray. The first two are in a previous blog post.

Pyn cushion front and back

Scissor Fob

Band for Pyn Tower

Now I'm off to start another project, but it is a gift, so you'll have to wait and see after it's been gifted!

We finally, after 9 years, moved our home office from what should have been a dining room to our lower level. My hubby spent over 5 years (in his spare time) totally finishing our lower level. He built all the framing, put up the drywall, ceiling, did the electrical work, hung lights, built closets, put in door frames/doors, painted walls, etc. The only thing he didn't do was lay the carpet. We have the office, an exercise room and a HUGE rec room. I'll post photos after we get it all organized. I kept suggesting we get someone else to do it, but he told me that was HIS hobby and he wanted to do it all himself no matter how long it took. I'm so proud of the work he did!!!

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

Roll out the barrels.......

.....buttons that is!!! They are the cutest things and used in my latest finish, Tall Year Square, a class I took last June with Betsy Morgan at Salty Yarns (more on that to come).

 I loved stitching this piece for a number of reasons. One, I am drawn to four season themed pieces because I so enjoy living where there are four seasons to the year. I always think that when you start to feel so fed up with the current season/weather, you always know another one is right around the corner. And I do love all four seasons, even this terrible winter we've had. I love the quiet beauty of the snow, spring flowers popping up, lazy days at the beach and crisp autumn days with the bluest skies ever. Two, it was fun to stitch on 4 different luscious colors of linen with beautiful silks and an array of seasonal motifs. Three, after the stitching was completed, it was a challenge to put it all together...and I like a challenge, especially ones I can overcome! And  challenges did present themselves: I accidentally ironed some interfacing on to the right side of one side piece (that was documented in an earlier blog entry). I lost, and still have yet to find, the original four buttons for the sides (luckily I had some that would work because the holes had to be big enough to thread some perle cotton cording through). Had a bit of a hard time with the perle cotton for the barrel buttons--it kept getting caught up on my dry hands and pulling out of position--then when I tried to fix it, it would get worse. Had to start over a couple times with the wrapping. BUT, I persevered and have a lovely finished project. So, with out further ado, here is Tall Year Square!!!

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

 This is the piece opened up--Cording goes through all four sides and you pull it up to close and slide the lid down to hold it all in place.

Top

Bottom

This is a barrel button--aren't they the cutest!!! And not as hard to make as you may think! This was my practice one in class and I got it on the first try. The center section looks like ribbon but is actually perle cotton wrapped very tightly and a buttonhole stitch done in each end. Pretty cool--huh!!!

I didn't change much of anything--why mess with a good thing! But I did add a bee charm to the box tassel and an acorn charm to the scissor fob tassel. And of course the buttons I had to replace on the sides. The one on the bottom is one of the originals so I know I had them at some point--it's a mystery waiting to be solved!!! I also added the blue glass beads to the tie-down cords for the scissors.

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

Stasi