A Prairie Schooler Year ~ May

My year of Prairie Schooler finishes from over the years continues.

And time just keeps slipping by...

Completed during my "over one" stitching period...

Stitched way back when and I still enjoy it...

Another over one stitchery. This little fob is one of my favorites.

I love the detail and shading in this Canadian Goose.

The fob is two sided and here is the other side:

Can't decide which side I like better!

already this fob is 15 years old...

and this isn't a Prairie Schooler, but I just had to share this favorite for Memorial Day:

Design is a freebie from Plum Street Samplers.

'When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?'

Psalm 56:3-4

Blessings, Patti

We have a winner!

Thank you so much for the response to my little giveaway! There were 54 entries and the winner is #25 Linda M. who said, "I would love to take a class from Barb Carroll for Rug hooking or go to the Country Sampler stitch retreat Looks like a fun time was had with friends Thanks for sharing pictures"

 

Linda, you are a no-reply blogger so I am unable to reach you. Please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with your mailing address by Tuesday, May 31 and I will send out your prize.

 

It was so much fun to read your responses. Many of the retreats that you mentioned are ones that I have been to: From Our Hands of course, Boxwood & Berries, and classes with Country Sampler, Blackbird Designs, Maggie Bonanomi, Stacy Nash, Rebekah L. Smith, Lori Ann Corelis, and La D Da. But many that you mentioned are also on my bucket list: Buttermilk Basin, Shepherd's Bush, Primitive Stitchers Society, Attic Needlework, Primitive Gatherings and at the top of my list: Notforgotten Farm! Hopefully we might even get to meet at one of these retreats in the future...

 

 

I just had to share these photos...

My strawberry patch one month ago, watched over by a wonderful folk art rabbit that I purchased from Ginny Henson last summer.

 

My patch last night - my rabbit has almost disappeared!

My strawberries are growing faster than any year before...

 

I even picked my first pound last night!

I think this may be a record breaking year!

 

And the clematis in the first picture is not even three feet tall yet, but is bursting with plate size flowers! It's a great spring for the garden!

 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

Acts 20:24

 

Blessings, Patti

 

Pennies from Heaven ~ Volume 10

 

Two days after returning from Ohio, my sister and I headed down for a quick visit with our parents.

Mom and I both finished our Maggie Club kit (from Country Sampler) for April.

 

Mine

 

Mom's

She decided to use some variegated perle cotton.

 

Mom being her usual prolific self, has made good progress

on "Flower Baskets" by Wooden Spool Designs.

 

and completed "Jenny Penny" by Little Red Hen. 

 

My sister has been productive as well.

 

She completed this beautiful color block scarf.

 

and finished this gorgeous shawl.

(She finished this on our trip and says that it still needs to be blocked.)

 

I love both the color and design.

 

Pam also finished all of the blocks in this year long afghan sampler.

 

So pretty with all of their detail!

 

Mom also shared her EPP progress. We laid all of the flowers out to get a feel for how many she has created.

 

We debated quilt versus bed scarf. I voted bed scarf, so that she can finish sooner and move on to the next EPP project ;)

 

we also discussed how to finish it off...

 

I worked on some EPP as well - finishing another star.

 

To be a part of "Stars in the Garden" by Yellow Creek Quilt Designs.

 

Next week, my sister and I are headed back down for another quick visit.

I'll let you know if there is anything new to share...

I bet there will be ;)

 

There is still time to enter my little giveaway here.

 

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized."

~Hebrews 6:10-11

 

Blessings, Patti

From Our Hands ~ Creative ~ The End & a little Giveaway

After the Mercantile, we took a little road trip to The Fabric Peddler in Wadsworth, Ohio.

This shop sells a great selection of cross stitch supplies as well as quilting and wool.

They had just received a shipment from Dames of the Needle, so needless to say...

I had a lot of fun shopping for trims, velvet and linen :)

(I did heed my husband's plea not to bring home any more wool lol!)

All of our shopping made us hungry and led us back to Peninsula to check this place out.

Just as fun inside as outside! 

I was too busy salivating to take pics inside ;)

I've never seen such a selection of unusual candy and sodas!

We had to try out a selection of ice cream from Pav's Creamery.

Salted Caramel Truffle was the big winner, but we ate them all ;)

Here are the Bittersweet Sisters before we headed home.

Nicki was missed terribly, but not forgotten.

We sent her a box full of goodies found on our trip that reminded us of her :)

So on to the little giveaway:

Just a few little items...

a few fat quarters from Mabel & Ethel's, a tiny antique paper package of needles from Maumee Antique Mall and a bee's wax heart and a sweet little jar of threads from Rebekah Smith's booth.

So tell me, what needlework retreat is on your bucket list??? 

Please comment on this post or send an email to me at: pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Giveaway" in the subject line.

I will pick a random winner on Thursday, May 26th.

Thanks for coming along on our trip. This giveaway isn't much, but hopefully it will help you feel like you came along...

"Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, 

for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, 

or whether both of them alike will be good."

~Ecclesiastes 11:6

Blessings, Patti

From Our Hands ~ Creative ~ The Mercantile

All too soon it was time for the grand finale of 

From Our Hands ~ Creative ~

The Mercantile!

The day dawned quite chilly and we had a bit of a wait.

But when you are together with other creative souls, talk makes time fly by...

There was even a bit of show and tell!

It was such fun to meet Terry and see her beautiful masterpiece.

Isn't it gorgeous?! This is from an Ali Strebel workshop the week before.

Soon the doors opened and it was time to discover the treasures that awaited inside!

I had seen this lovely chalkboard the afternoon before and should have guessed that it would be the backdrop of one of my favorite folk artists -

Ginny Henson of Heart in Hand Folk Art!

May I have one of everything please ;)

The mesmerizing booth of Heartwells - oh my!

I could have spent an entire day in this booth alone!

Jackie Cessna's Jackieland Antiques.

Here are a few of the textile treasures that I purchased.

And the wonderful trims and needles that Kim purchased.

And some wonderful wools that one of my Bittersweet Sisters purchased.

This is the sweet booth of Donna and Connie

a lovely combination of antiques and folk art.

Kim bought a beautiful antique sewing bird here.

And I bought these darling cards hand made by Connie (and several more which were put in the post before I thought to take a photo...) Connie also gifted me with the precious little boot scissor holder.

I met Connie last year when I purchased a beautiful box crafted by her sister Bobbie. You can see it here. I was so hoping that Bobbie would send more of her boxes to the show this year as I was smitten with them!

Not only did Connie bring Bobbie's boxes, she brought Bobbie to the Needle In!

It was such a delight to meet her, but I am sorry to say that I didn't take a photo...

Bobbie is a master of many mediums and has even appeared on the Martha Stewart Show twice. You can view her appearances here and here.

Well, needless to say, I am not very good at decisions.

So I couldn't pick just one box to come home with me...

Instead I bought two :)

Aren't they absolutely stunning works of art?!

Can you believe that she cuts the silhouettes freehand while watching tv?!

I love the antique papers that she uses...

 They mean even more to me now that I have met the woman whose hands crafted them.

I will treasure them always!

Thank you Connie for bringing Bobbie for me to meet!

It was a blessing to visit a bit with Connie, Bobbie and Donna.

It was also a blessing to meet these lovely ladies!

Melissa (Handicraft Creations), Bobbie (The Evening Stitcher) and Lauren (Rugs & Pugs)!

Such wonderful women and such stunning creations!

I've followed Lauren's blog for so long that I felt like I already knew her.  

I wish that I would have had an unlimited budget!

This wonderful pendant from Lauren was perfect for my Mom for Mother's Day 

and was tied to the top of her gift.

I bought these pendants by Lauren for myself.

The embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13:13

 "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."

A Bittersweet Sister  bought this stunning necklace from Bobbie and I just love it!

Several of the Bittersweet Sisters bought wonderful wool bracelets from Melissa, but I didn't take any pictures :( Believe me they are gorgeous!

It was such an overload of the senses and I missed getting photos of many of the booths and even missed visiting some of them. I ran out of money way too soon LOL!

One of the Bittersweet Sisters bought this ever so sweet bear from Lori Ann 

and this sweet bunny to keep her company :)

This little pinkeep from Lori Ann went home with one of the sisters as well. 

Somehow I also managed to miss the booth of Kelsey A. Smith, 

but one of the sisters found these wonderful treasures there.

I was able to make it to Rebekah's booth and was so happy to find a few treasures to come home with me. 

I love how Rebekah is incorporating antiques into her creations - a treasure in both forms :)

It was such a very special day! And a perfect way to end our trip.

I'll have one more post about our trip that will include a little giveaway.

As you do not know the path of the wind,

    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

    the Maker of all things.

~Ecclesiastes 11:5

Blessings, Patti