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

Kindness Matters Big & Small

This month the artists of  TDIPT Mercantile are sharing the love with a heartfelt charity fundraiser.

We are participating in our TDIPT Charity “Kindness Matters Big and Small" and will donate 100% of the proceeds from an offering to charity. This time around, Make a Difference Rescue in the Metro Detroit area and Branch County Humane Society in Southern MI will be the recipients of the charity in our hearts.

 

I still have one offering available - this sweet little dachshund pinkeep. (Orion not included ;)

I can't tell you the incredible and wonderful love that our sweet rescue dog has brought into our lives.

 

Click here to see all of the TDIPT offerings this month.

 

I had to share this outtake photo - my model was getting bored with the whole photo shoot.

 

I was having such fun with this piece of cutter crazy quilt that I decided to make another sewing box.

 

 

It is available for $37 plus shipping.

Feel free to email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com if you are interested.

 

And don't forget... there is still time to enter my Valentine giveaway. Click here. 

 

^" Love is patient, love is kind."

~I Corinthians 13: 4

 

Blessings, Patti

A Valentine Giveaway

I've always loved Valentine's Day.
Not in a romantic dozen red roses and diamond earrings way,
but in a decorated shoebox, handing out little handmade cards, childlike kind of way.
The joy of something little ~ handmade and heartfelt.

In that frame of mind, I would love to pay it forward and share this little Winding Vine Designs handmade heart sewing box and antique brass skeleton key. What good is a heart without a key to it :) I might just include a few other goodies too while I am at it...

I love the variety of fabrics in this old piece of crazy quilt and the wonderful embroidery, too.

The inside is lined with a vintage velvet.

 

As always, this giveaway is open to everyone. You can either leave a comment on this post or send me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Valentine Giveaway" in the subject line so I can keep track.

To reward my followers, you will have an additional entry if you are a follower. Just note it in your comment.

And to earn a third entry, sign up for the TDIPT Mercantile newsletter and also note it in your comment or email. You can sign up for the newsletter here. The charity event starting over at TDIPT Mercantile tomorrow night is going to be fun!

 

 

So in your comment or email, please tell me ~ what do you like to eat on Valentine's Day? I remember the first year we were married I made a heart shaped meatloaf for dinner :) Maybe I will do that again this year....

I will pick a winner on Valentine's Day. Good luck to each of you!

 

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

         ~Ephesians 4:2

 

Blessings, Patti

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Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!

It is exciting to start a New Year not knowing what it will bring...

 

My plan for today was to start taking down the Christmas decorations, but the energy level has been low. I think that I will wait until the weekend.

 

Instead I have added some new items to my Etsy shop and have done a few chores around the house.

I think it might be a good day to start a new wool project as well.

 

Be sure to stop by TDIPT Mercantile if you have a moment...

The artists have updated their offerings.

 

Hope you take a few moments to do something that you love today ~ a very good way to start a new year :)

 

Blessings, Patti

Off on an adventure...

Where does the time go?!

September came and gone and already several days into October!

TDIPT Mercantile is now updated once again with lots of wonderful Autumn offerings:

Click here to see them all.

 

You can view my remaining offerings by clicking here.

 

 

Tomorrow I am heading out on an adventure with some kindred spirits!

Heading to a place I haven't been before.

The projects are packed! The clothes I'll throw in a bag in just a bit.

I'm sure I'll have some lovely photos and stories to share.

And hopefully my kindred spirit friends won't say, "what happens in Iowa stays in Iowa." ;)

 

"As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart."

~Proverbs 27:19

 

Blessings, Patti

September is here!

When September arrives, it brings thoughts for me of apples and acorns and thoughts that autumn is near.

The TDIPT Mercantile artists have again updated their offerings and they can be viewed here. There are two new artists this month that you won't want to miss.

 



 

Thank you for your response to my offerings. My "Merry Autumn in the Country Pillow is still available and you can view it here. 

 

I hope that you enjoy this final holiday weekend of the summer!

Blessings, Patti



July Offerings...

It's hard to believe that the Fourth of July is right around the corner...

And time for the TDIPT Mercantile first of the month artists to update their offerings.

Stop by to see all the artists offerings by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your wonderful response to my sewing boxes!

You can click here to see more of my Early Flag Pillows and Wrapped Votive Candles.

Blessings, Patti

It's Strawberry Season!

It is Strawberry Season here on Winding Vine! We’ve had a hotter than normal spring in Chicago, so the strawberry crop isn’t as big as usual. I’ve only picked about 5 pounds so far and it is quickly winding down. But a hot spring is good for the raspberries and the bushes are loaded with flowers! The strawberry folk art crop has been productive J and I can't thank you enough for your enthusiastic response to my TDIPT Mercantile offerings!

My offerings may be gone, but please stop by the Merc and see all the offerings from the other TDIPT artists. Click here to see them all...

It will be a busy, busy weekend! Senior Prom and 8th grade Promotion Dance are both tonight and High School Graduation is Sunday - I better keep my tissues handy!

Blessings, Patti

A Belated Update

The artists at TDIPT Mercantile updated their offerings on May 1, but my page was a bit delayed.

I had such fun creating these Butterfly Pinkeeps and seeing how each coverlet piece would turn out. I love the timeworn, threadbare look of the coverlets and the antique cream wool blanket. And the glass headed pins make perfect antenae.

You can click here to take a peek at my offerings.



My recuperation is going more slowly than I had hoped.

You know you're not feeling good, when you still don't have a desire to pick up a needle :)

I have ideas swirling through my head, but just don't have the energy to actually create them yet.

For those waiting for purchases, I am hoping to package them up this afternoon after my nap and find a volunteer to take them to the post office tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience.

Blessings, Patti

Snippets & scraps

This month one of my TDIPT Mercantile offerings will be created from my collection of antique woven coverlet pieces. I treasure these works of art created by hand over 100 years ago. I don't own pristine coverlets, but rather pieces that are threadbare, well worn and loved.

I keep them folded on a shelf in a spot where I can admire them fequently. Ocassionally, I decide to use a part of them for my creations. Carefully cutting my pieces as close together and as close to the edge as possible so as not to waste any of it.

Still as the shapes are cut, there are inevitably some snippets and scraps. As I encountered them, I found myself trimming them into tiny little hearts in whatever shape might fit. Now I have this group of sweet little coverlet hearts and my mind keeps trying to think of what to do with them...

They aren't very sturdy... I'm not sure if I could stitch them to a base. I don't like to use glue at all.

And so my mind wanders...

"I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on."
 

Blessings, Patti

April arrives ~ no fooling!

It feels like March arrived and left on a wisp of spring wind.

So quickly I almost didn't realize that it was here.

With the arrival of the new month comes the arrival of new offerings on TDIPT Mercantile.

Be sure to click on the link to see all of the lovely offerings.

When creating my offerings for the month, in addition to spring and Easter, I was thinking of how Easter is early this year. What decorations would I like to display after I take the Easter bunies down?

I decided to focus on April Showers.

(We've had two days now of April Showers, so the lighting for my photos wasn't the best.)

But those April Showers are so necessary to enjoy all the May flowers :)

I've had several inquiries into the Stacy Nash peacock pieces in the last post. These were from Stacy's Country Sampler Girls Club - The Country Sampler Velvet Sampler Bag - with the Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin in 2009 and a class piece that she taught at another shop (I can't recall the name) in 2009. I thought that they made such a nice set.

"rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances."

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Blessings, Patti

Happy 5th Birthday TDIPT Mercantile!

It is hard to believe that a new month is already here!

Spring is on its way!

And with it is a brand new update at TDIPT Mercantile!
Be sure to stop by and see all the lovely offerings.
You can see my Easter table mats here.
The Birthday celebration has begun! And will continue through March 22nd!

Be sure to stop at the TDIPT Blog to see the wonderful prizes available and all the ways to get your name into the big giveaway!

I'm so thrilled to be a part of this group of fantastic artists! They have all been a blessing to me! Good luck in the giveaway! I hope to see familiar names on the winners list!

Blessings, Patti

Happy Leap Day & Bedcover status

Here is my current status on my Maggie Bonanomi Boxwood & Berries Bedcover. I'm happy with how it is coming along. I have one more border on the top and the bottom and then comes the part that I am not sure about... the quilting and backing. It will be a new experience for me!

I was so excited to hear from several Boxwood & Berries classmates after they saw my status. It seems like most of us have picked up the project again now that the holidays are over. I would love to share photos of my classmates projects as well, so please share your photos with me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com It is so much fun to see, how we all start with the same project, but each comes out a bit different.

Pat from session #1 was kind enough to send me her status photo:

Isn't it lovely?! Her added pennies and diamonds are perfect! And I love the little bird's twig... off to build a nest, I'm sure. Here she is testing out scallops in deciding how to finish it. Pat says that she will share a finished photo as well - I can't wait to see it! I'm hoping to see others' photos as well ;)

My bedcover is temporarily sidelined as I finish up my TDIPT Mercantile first of the month offerings... Be sure to stop there later tonight as the big birthday bash begins! More on that tomorrow...

And a Happy Leap Day to you!

Isn't this little Leap Day dance card sweet?

Celebrated at "Forest Hall", the name of the dance was:

"Red and Yeller

Catch a Feller"

so fun!

Here's hoping you do something you love on your extra day!

I'll be attending my younger son's band concert tonight - he plays the tuba :)

And then late tonight, I'll be updating my TDIPT Mercantile offerings.

Blessings, Patti

A few finishes...

"Auld Lang Syne"

freebie by Heartstring Samplery

(featuring the initals of my grandparents in memory of days gone by...)

It's been a busy time... Busy season at my full time job as an accountant with lots of extra hours. Busy with the February 1st update on TDIPT Mercantile. Busy with a few special orders.

But somehow I still have to fit in a few finishes to keep myself sane :)

"Mary's Pinkeep"

by Stacy Nash Primitives

a Country Sampler Girls Club Kit

I had a lot of fun with this piece. It was designed with the crowns and an initial under each crown representing a family member. I decided to make it a family tree - the parents above the crown and the child below - the crowns representing my husband, me and both of our sons. When it was just about complete, I realized I forgot a very important family member - our dear dog Orion... so at the last moment I added an "O" in the bottom right hand corner with a crown for him too!

"My Valentine"

Simple Goods Stitched by Jennifer

I am still planning a special giveaway this month. It's just been delayed a bit as I haven't created the item that I plan to giveaway yet... so please stay tuned.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

~Matthew 5:43-45

Blessings, Patti

*Welcome February*

February is here!

With a focus on love and heartfelt sentiments...

TDIPT Mercantile is now updated with new offerings by all of the first of the month artists.

Click here to read about my new offerings.

What a difference a year makes...

Last year on this day we were in the midst of an incredible blizzard here in Chicago. Yesterday we had a high of 60 degrees!

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. " ~Deuteronomy 6:5

Blessings, Patti

This & that, A word & a giveaway

"Auld Lang Syne" free design by Heartstring Samplery (in progress)

This is a busy time of year for my day career as an accountant. Lots of overtime working to close books and prepare year-end financials. Unfortunately, it cuts into my creating and crafting time. I have so many ideas floating through my head and occassionally being jotted or doodled, but little time to actually create them.

It ocurred to me that I haven't had my January giveaway yet and wanted to put that up right away. I also noticed that I somehow I hit 200 followers! I can't imagine that there are 200 people out there that want to see what I do... but somehow there is. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! It somehow validates what I create with my heart and my hands. If time cooperates, I have something special in mind to create for my February giveaway in celebration. For January, I will be giving away the two vintage heart pillows with heart keys ~ one for you and one for a friend (or feel free to keep them both lol) I will pick a winner with a random number generator on Saturday.

Sneak peek - TDIPT Mercantile February 1st offerings

Lately I've noticed many bloggers are starting the new year with a word rather than a resolution. I like that idea. Resolutions come and go, but a word you can come back to again and again during the year. I thought for a while and couldn't come up with a word, but recently one popped into my head and I knew that it was it! "Presence"! Living in the fast paced city of Chicago, I find myself constantly in motion multi-tasking as much as possible. This year, I want to be more "present" in the moment. Focusing on the person speaking, focusing on the task at hand. Not thinking about the next item on my "to do" list or what I rather be doing. I know that it won't always work, but it will be my focus and a reminder...

So for the giveaway this month, as always, either comment on this post or drop me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Word" in the subject line and let me know what word you would like to focus on this year. I can't wait to hear your ideas.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."
~1 Timothy 1:12-14

Blessings, Patti

p.s. Just had to add this! A new Maggie Bonanomi design sighting in the Winter 2011 issue of BH&G Quilts & More ~ "Pocket Posy" wool bag. Congrats to Maggie! And good news for us Maggie fans ;)