Abe & George

 

 

Just a quick post to share a weekend finish.

I shared the stitched pieces last week. This weekend I took a few moments to put them together.

 

Prairie Schooler

Book #160

"February"

 

 

I finished them as two little pinkeeps filled with crushed walnut shells.

 

 

I used some of my precious antique fabric to back them.

I love those antique fabrics, but some are quite fragile. These shredded a bit while finishing.

 

 

I used a quick herringbone stitch along the seams.

 

I have a little Valentine wool project that I hope to finish soon and I really need to stop getting distracted and focus on my March 1st offerings!

Time is ticking :)

 

"Do not those who plot evil go astray?

But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."

~Proverbs 14:22

 

Blessings, Patti

 

How I spent my Presidents Day Holiday

I don't think that you want to see the piles of laundry, piles of dishes and just plain piles of stuff that I cleaned on my day off :) but I did have a finish...

"Anne Wilson"

by Tina Woltman of Early Workings

You can view her lovely designs here. 

Stitched on Osnaberg fabric in a primitive manner.

And yes, I still am unfocused...

I recently purchased a wonderful Abe Lincoln pattern from Joyce Reed Folk Art and was ever so tempted to start it.

Isn't it awesome? But I knew I couldn't start another big piece without some finishes first...

Then I remembered this design in my stash:

The Prairie Schooler #160 "February"

That little Abe Lincoln seemed like something I could stitch in a day...

and so it became this:

Yes, I couldn't just stop with Abe, George was begging to be stitched as well :)

With Notforgotten Farm's Farmhouse hand-dyed linen and WDW "Onyx" they became two prim portraits.

Of course they aren't "finished" yet, but hopefully this weekend.

It was a nice day off.

Back to busy season at work and the deep freeze in temps.

And back to trying to get some items finished!

No more unfocused starts for me... today :)

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

~Romans 8:38-39

Blessings, Patti

Unfocused...

Lately I have been unable to focus.

I usually have one cross stitch project and one wool project going.

Now don't get me wrong, I have plenty of WIPs (works in process) that get pushed to the side, but I usually try to focus on a project or two at a time.

I think it might have something to do with busy season at work. I worked 40 hours of overtime in January, which is like squeezing in an extra week. I'm on par to do the same in February. I think when I get tired, my mind drifts and I just keep flitting to new ideas without finishing anything.

 

I have three cross stitch Valentine projects in process and the big day is already over. 

I also have three projects started for March 1st offerings that I didn't want to show yet :)

I also have three wool projects in process. Two of them are way outside my comfort zone!

I am fortunate to have the Presidents Day Holiday off from work and decided to stay home. So I think that I need to pick a project and see if I can focus today!

In addition to all of the above, I found a new series calling to me...

Have you seen Hands On Design's "A Year in Chalk"? You can peek here.

Well, since I have been unfocused, I started that one too.

I picked up the suggested linen and started stitching.

The linen doesn't look too dark in this photo, but I started stitching and realized that I couldn't see it at all.

If I sat in my stitching chair with a strong Ott light, I could struggle through. But as you probably know most of my stitching is done in moving vehicles - trains, buses, subways/els and/or water taxis.

This was definitely not going to work for me.

I was peeking at the Nashville Sneak Peeks on Needlecraft Corner, and they suggested 16 count aida in "Shadow" from Picture This Plus. Needless to say, I ordered it immediately!

They were quick stitches and I was able to stitch them while on the move.

I think that since the fabric is so dark, it doesn't even look like aida.

The mounting boards will be available at the Nashville Show and then I will be able to consider them finished :)

Hey, I guess I have focused a little in the past two months. 

After all, these are stitched!

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

~Jeremiah 3:13

Blessings, Patti

Valentine's day is coming soon...

 

Calendar BOM by Buttermilk Basin

 

Valentine's Day is sneaking up on me!

I just realized that I still have five projects in process for that special day.

I better get focused or I won't get any of them done in time!

 

 

Stacy Nash & Buttermilk Basin

 

I have plenty of Valentine décor out from previous years, but I always like to add at least one new finish.

 

This year I think I got a bit distracted and started too many at once :)

It's hard when there are so many lovely designs to choose from.

 

Maggie Bonanomi & tiny Stacy Nash heart at right

 

This one still comes out even 20 years later.

 

Although I love primitives, Valentine's Day and the Victorian Era just go hand in hand.

 

Stacy Nash

 

I stitched this little family tree a few years back and am so glad that I included the little crown and "o" for Orion :) It makes me smile to remember our beloved pup.

 

 

Stacy Nash

 

Well, I have 5 days to focus on those five unfinished projects. Hopefully I will have at least one finish to share on Saturday :)

 

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing."

~2 Thessalonians 1:3

 

Blessings, Patti

When this you see, Remember me...

When I found this wonderful freebie by Lori Markovic of La~D~Da here, I knew that I had to stitch it right away. 

I chose 28 count Farmhouse Linen by Notforgotten Farm (found here) and GAST threads in Garden Gate and Mulberry. It stitched up quickly. 

Some finishes I am happy with and some I love.

This one I love <3 nbsp="" p="">

I made it into a thread board using cardboard as a center and edged it with brick rick rack. I added mother of pearl thread holders on the bottom.

Would you like to see the back?

On the back I added wool applique motifs to mirror the front. The wools are a pretty good match to the threads. Not that you can see both sides at once lol.

I've been fortunate enough to take two classes with Lori and she is such an incredibly patient and supportive teacher. She really tries to make sure that each of us are successful and enjoying ourselves.

Thank you so much Lori for sharing your talents with us and in generously sharing some beautiful freebies. I have my eye on her "tiny sampler" freebie next...

"For the word of the Lord is right and true;

    he is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

    the earth is full of his unfailing love."

~Psalm 33:4-5

Blessings, Patti

Milestones & Comfort Zones

2015 is a milestone year for me. 

I'll be celebrating a milestone birthday, a milestone wedding anniversary and a milestone work anniversary all later this year.

It's given me cause to think... I don't want to reinvent myself, but I do want to expand my horizons, move beyond my comfort zone and try new things...

A few weeks ago, my husband and I tried cross country skiing. I had done it once in high school on a flat field and enjoyed it. This time we tried a beautiful trail (although more challenging trail), but it wasn't for me. I fell. Alot. And I managed to hurt my tailbone so that now three weeks later I'm still very uncomfortable and not able to go back to my normal work out routine. 

Time to expand my horizons in an area I am more comfortable in... stitching :)

  

Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm offers "Freehand" Cross Stitch Patterns here.

They have intrigued me, but they were way outside my comfort zone. 

When I decided to stitch the little red sampler in the hoop above, I decided to try something different. 

I am stitching it on Osnaberg fabric - a slightly uneven weave that is softer than linen. as I stitch, I am not focusing on counting the threads exactly but letting my needle end up where it may. I am not ripping out any stitches. 

As I stitch I am envisioning those sampler makers from years ago... young girls that "made do" with the fabrics and threads that they had on hand. Stitching by candlelight, making inevitable mistakes. Since I stitch mainly on moving buses and trains, I can relate :)

It's been fun trying something just a little bit different.

I'm also working on another project that is a lot different from my usual work, but am not quite ready to share that yet...

We enjoyed the Super Bowl on Sunday with a little party of five.

My oldest son's girlfriend made these awesome football strawberries for the occasion.

They tasted just as good as they looked!

We also had a blizzard here in Chicago on Sunday.

We ended up with 19 1/2 inches of snow.

We ended up with a *Snow Day* on Monday.

But all is back to normal now.

"But I will sing of your might;

    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been a fortress for me

    and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my strength, I will sing praises to you,

    for you, O God, are my fortress,

    the God who shows me steadfast love."

~Psalm 59:16-17

Blessings, Patti

February Offerings

Greetings!

            February is here and with it our first major snowstorm of the year. A perfect day to stay in, watch the Super Bowl, eat junk food and stitch J. For February I like to celebrate the month of love, but I like my offerings to be simple enough to enjoy all year long.

            My first offerings are pillows featuring cross stitch and favorite pieces from my antique coverlet collection. Both pillows are based on a sweet design by Jenny Hoffman of Country Rustic Primitives. These pillows are backed with a coordinating brushed cotton stripe. As with all of my creations, they are completely hand stitched. They measure approximately 3 ½ by 7 1/2 inches. 

~*Coverlet Pillows are sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

My other offerings are “Keys to Love”.  These fobs have a firm wooden base inside and are backed with wool. They are based on a Niky’s Creations design. They measure approximately 2 by 3.5 inches. The antique skeleton key can be removed if you prefer to attach it to your favorite sewing scissors.

~*Both are sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

 If you are interested in purchasing anything, just send me an email at:

pgagliardi9@hotmail.com

I can send a PayPal invoice or I accept checks and money orders.

Now it is time to start cooking for the Super Bowl!

Blessings, Patti