Ever done this? And a view and an apology

Did you ever suddenly want to start a new project immediately?

One that you know you have the pattern for, but just need to find it?

Have you searched and searched knowing that it must be really close but just out of reach?

 

Well, I searched and searched and finally found it.

I also found this:

I actually stitched it already?!?! Really?!?!

Oh my! My memory is not what it used to be...

Now instead of stitching, I will be finishing :)

Hopefully sometime soon.

 

I have a rather odd and long winded title to this post. I guess trying to put too many topics into a single post, but I know it will be a bit before I post again, so here we go.

This is the view I saw when I looked out my office window this morning:

 

 

What could it be? Doesn't it look like one of those robots that they use to diffuse a bomb?

Seconds later, a firefighter in full gear and carrying an axe walked down our office hallway asking that we all evacuate to the other side of the building and stay away from all windows.

Oh I guess it was one of those robots...

 

For the second time in two days North Michigan Avenue was shut down due to a bomb scare.  Yesterday it was for an hour, but didn't disrupt our office. We just couldn't head south across the bridge for an hour. Turns out it was a bottle of drain cleaner. Today we stood in a hallway for 2 hours while they dismantled a piece of rebar and a spring wrapped in fabric and taped to a flagpole. Someone's idea of a prank?  Who knows. It's sad to have these things happen. At the same time I think that people are on high alert after Boston and it is better to call 911 and be safe than sorry.

You can see more photos of the process here.

photo from John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2013

 

As for the apology:

After the craziness of this morning, I received a phone call late this afternoon from my youngest son. He had forgotten his keys and couldn't get in the house after school. The dog hadn't been walked since 7:30 this morning and couldn't figure out why his buddy was sitting outside and wouldn't let him out. My husband was attending an evening work function. So...

Checking the time I realized I had 11 minutes to make it across town to the train or I would have to wait 45 minutes for the next train while my son sat outside and the dog was stuck inside.

So I dashed and believe it or not I made it!

Unfortunately my newsletter for my mailing list friends along with all the photos are sitting on a flash drive in my office. *sigh* I apologize as this is my first newsletter after the closing of TDIPT Mercantile with lots of new friends added to the mailing list. I will send the newsletter out just as soon as I can tomorrow.

 

This sure was one crazy day!

 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

~Deuteronomy 6:5-9

 

Blessings, Patti

Little Stitches Handwork Club

 

Are you familiar with Notforgotten Farm's "Little Stitches Handwork Club"?

Lori Brechlin has created a club of sweet little projects.

Perfect for stitching on the train/bus/water taxi. Well, at least that is where I stitched it, but you could stitch it anywhere :)

  

 

I hear the next club kit is on its way shortly. So while I had stitched this piece right away, I figured I better put it together before the next kit arrives.

 

I love the wools that came with the kit and am happy with my finish.

Love those quick stitches!

Can't wait to get the next kit Lori! Your creativity never ceases to amaze me!

 

Blessings, Patti

Dogwood Farms

I was thrilled when the latest Stacy Nash club kit arrived from Country Sampler.

I couldn't wait to get started! But soon I realized this was not to be, as the small count fabric and these tired eyes would not cooperate. But never fear ~ just time to improvise! I pulled out a larger count linen, gently tea dyed it and started stitching.

 

As I completed the stitching, I realized that on the larger count fabric it would be too large to be the "Dogwood Farms Needle Book" so instead it became a sewing book:

 



 

This allowed the entire lovely design to be seen on the front - oh how I love those muted bluish grays and taupes! Jeanne's team at Country Sampler picked the perfect backing fabric for me.

I added a little wool applique to the back.

 

And here is the inside:

 



 

On the top is a wool appliqued flower for storing needles.

And on the bottom a pin wheel, scissor pouch and the rest of Stacy's lovely design.

 

A silk ribbon and antique bone buttons for tying it safely shut.

 

It has been a trying week both for our nation and locally here in Chicago.

The Boston marathon bombing and the Fertilizer Plant Explosion has caught my thoughts, sympathy and prayers. Here in Chicago there has been terrible flooding with my son's high school closed for two days, major highways closed for a time and travel/commuting being extremely difficult. Luckily we have had only a little water in our basement. And although I drove through some rather high water that I had no business driving through, my father's words kept running through my mind - go slow and don't stop for anything and I made it through! Looking in my rearview mirror I realzed that the water was up to the headlights on the car behind me...

The rain has stopped. But it has been snowing on and off all day today.

Will Spring ever arrive???

 

Thank goodness for handwork and the wonderful peace that it brings to my life.

Wishing you a sunny spring weekend in your corner of the world!

Blessings, Patti 

 

 p.s. I was just noticing that I should have pressed it before photographing :)

A little stitching...

"Spring Flowers Pinkeep"

design by Stacy Nash

 

It's been so busy lately, I have had very little time for crafting.

Cross stitching on the train has been about it.

 

 

I've completed the stitching on a few small pieces, but need to put them together before I can consider it a finish :)

 

This weekend I finished this sweet kit from Stacy Nash.

 



 

I love how the pinkeep mirrors my sweet rabbit by Norma Schneeman.

 

Hopefully I can share another finish soon...

 

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

~Psalm 5:11

 

Blessings, Patti

All Good Things...

 

All good things must come to an end.

 

It is with a heavy heart that that we are announcing the closing of TDIPT Mercantile at the end of April. It has been an inspiring and supportive community over the years.

 

 

The good news is that you will still be able to find the TDIPT artists on both Ebay and Etsy simply be searching “TDIPT” on both sites. (Or you can click the TDIPT on Etsy link on the left.)

 

 

As for me, my plans are to continue offering creations once a month – first to my mailing list customers and then publishing them on my blog and Etsy.

 

If you would like to receive my once a month mailing, simply send me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com

 

 

I have put together a few One of A Kind offerings for this final month.

Click here if you would like to get more information

 

Be sure to stop by TDIPT Mercantile - now to see the first of the month offerings and again on April 15th to see the mid-month artists offerings.

 

It has been a tremendous honor to be included in such a talented, inspiring and supportive group of artists. I wish each and every one of my TDIPT sisters continuing success!

 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"

~Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Blessings, Patti