Bittersweet Sisters Fabric Challenge

Do you remember a month ago when I mentioned the Bittersweet Sisters fabric challenge? You can read about it here. The challenge was for us to create something with Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm's wonderful Bittersweet fabric.

Well, here is the big reveal ;)

 I created 6 little sewing boxes - one for each of us - filled with a little group of antique textiles for our crafting, a wool heart, and a wooden acorn. I was so thrilled with the plant markers that I bought this past summer from Wendy of Pineberry Lane that I asked her to make 6 bittersweet spoons. I love the way the spoons turned out!

Nicki sure was busy! Look at all the lovelies that she made from her bittersweet fabric!

Wow! I loved them all, but that Bittersweet crafting apron is really something!

Here you can get a better peek.

And look at this! Carla said the Bittersweet fabric reminded her of wallpaper - perfect for this lovely wallhanging. The border fabric looks just like an antique combed wood frame. And that's not all!

She also used the fabric for gifts for all of us!

This sweet little sewing bird box is just wonderful!

The bird is made of the Bittersweet fabric and look inside!

So many treasures! The box itself is lined with Civil War newspaper. And also inside - these wonderful scissors, a spool of our favorite faux suede ribbon, wool acorns, and from the fabric - a thread holder, needle holder with an assortment of Carla's favorite needles all labeled by size and type, and the tiniest little packet of morning pins. Did you notice the vintage pins and antique buttons on the pincushion as well? So many details that I have been frequently admiring and oohing and aahing over! 

Kim made us each this wonderful personalized heart based on a design by our favorite designer - Maggie Bonanomi! It is right at home on the doorknob of my hutch in my dining room :)

and look at this wonderful packaging holding one of the gifts from Wendy!

a soldered charm holding the Bittersweet fabric with sweet little embroidered hearts!

I put it on immediately and have been wearing it almost every day since!

Such a great way to keep my Bittersweet Sisters close to my heart!

And that is not all...

 can you believe that Wendy also stitched one of these wonderful bags for each of us?!?!

This design is by Nan Lewis of Threadwork Primitives who was also a TDIPT Sister of mine :)

And isn't the finishing awesome? 

The finishing was done by Faye of Carolina Stitcher. 

You can read about her finishing of this project here.

Faye, your work is absolutely wonderful! And I especially love the winding vine on the hanger ;)

And I can't forget Linda!

She wowed us all, by creating not 1 or 2 but 5 of these incredible boxes!

(Linda, we think you need to make one more for yourself!)

How incredibly appropriate is this design?!?!

The colors are gorgeous and so is the ribbon trim.

But wait - take a look inside!

The box is lined with our Bitttersweet fabric and wonderful vintage buttons!

Linda also made a soldered ornament of us witches and brought us each back a candle from her trip to Paris. 

(Oops! and the paper tag of us witches is by Carla. Stored in the box so it wouldn't get crushed on the way home.)

I think I am one of the most blessed women on earth to be included in such a wonderful, generous group of talented women. I love you all! I think that I kept putting off this post as it seems to wrap up the Bittersweet Sisters Gathering 2013 and I really don't want it to end. I miss you all. But I guess as soon as we can catch our breath it is time to start planning Bittersweet Sisters 2014.

And if anyone out there is still following along, the fun doesn't end!

Next up is the Country Sampler Star Party and then finally will be the big giveaway of my trip gift bag...

Thanks for letting me share this special time with these special ladies!

"From his abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another."

~John 1:16

Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters 2019 ~ Part 2

The Bittersweet Stitching Sisters spent a lot of time... well, stitching.

We worked on many projects and brought other projects to share.

This is the beginnings of an amazing project that Carla has been putting together for us - a history of the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters.

We met in 2010 which means that next year we will celebrate our 10th year together!

The Bittersweet Sisters worked on a quilting project of love for Nicki's family.

Here is the amazing quilt that Linda made.

Linda finished these lovely smalls for the Animal Crackers series 

by Stacy Nash while we were together.

She also completed this project by Maggie Bonanomi.

Linda received a refresher course from Nicki on lacing and framed this piece during our week together.

It was so appropriate as this was a Boxwood & Berries class that we all took together. 

Hmmmm I should unearth my unfinished piece...

Wendy created this quilting project of love.

And worked on this project for a round robin group that she is in.

Wendy and Carla both brought this quilt kit with and they worked on them both together as a team.

Carla created this quilt project of love.

And she put together these lovely eggs by Prairie Schooler.

Carla shared this fabulous finish from a Dyeing to Stitch retreat with Blackbird Designs.

And she made progress on this sweet design by Notforgotten Farm.

Nicki shared this amazing red sampler that she has been working on

and I love the linen on this new start!

Nicki framed this while giving Linda the refresher class on lacing.

and she still found time to knit on this pretty sock - the yarn has such a pretty subtle sparkle. 

Kim finished this masterpiece quilt project of love!

It's a whopping 108 inches square!

And she also made this neat Tim Holtz quilt top.

Unfortunately I don't have a quilt project of love to share since I don't quilt :(

I worked on this Hands On Design on the right.

Shari, co-owner of The Stitching Niche, was working on the same piece.

She is doing hers on black perforated paper!

I thought that was genius - much easier to see the holes on the black perforated paper. 

It never occurred to me!

I made good progress on mine that week.

I also worked on my Trip Around the World by Primitive Gatherings.

and I made some progress on "Thistles Table Runner" class kit by Rebekah L. Smith.

It is so inspiring to spend a week with the Bitterweet Stitching Sisters - so much talent to enjoy!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

~Psalm 95:1-2

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