Baby, It's Cold Outside!

You know it is really cold outside when the Chicago River is steaming!

It was below zero last night and our high was 9, not counting wind chills.

I think that it will be a good weekend to stay inside and finish some projects.

The TDIPT Mercantile February 1st update will be here before I know it.

I've started quite a few projects and I think I better start finishing some...

I can't think of anything better than stitching

and watching the Bears vs. Packers game on Sunday!

GO BEARS!!!

(Sorry to my Packer friends...)

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,

summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Genesis 8:22

Stay warm this weekend!

Blessings, Patti

* Peace on Earth *

"Peace on Earth"

Design by Pineberry Lane

"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth the peace that was meant to be."

~Sy Miller & Jill Jackson

This design was intended as a Christmas piece, but to me it is perfect for January - those quiet and peaceful monochromatic colors and the sentiment is always in season...

I decided to finish it as a sewing project book.

Inside the book there are plenty of places to store needles and pins (which I forgot to add before taking the photos.) And a nice big pocket for fabric, threads and scissors.

And I thought that I would add one last snowflake to the back for good measure.

It was a joy to create!


My pincushion got a workout this weekend...
I also had another finish:



"Let it Snow"
"Snowman"
designs by Maggie Bonanomi

More monochromatic tone on tone designs - I love this look for winter.



There is something about the simplicity of this design and subtle color changes that just make my heart sing!

"With God as our Father

Neighbors all are we.

Let us walk with each other

in perfect harmony."

~ Sy Miller & Jill Jackson

I've started about a half dozen Valentine projects for the February 1st TDIPT update.

I really need to focus and finish some rather than starting more :)

Wishing you each Peace on Earth!

Blessings, Patti

Is it wrong to love a snowman? :)

Each year when I take down the Christmas decorations, I suffer from twinkle light withdrawals.

I love how clean the house looks, but can't quite put all the wintery decorations away...

So I leave out the non-Christmas snow globes with a few white lights and greenery...

and I leave out my vintage bottle brush trees for a little winterscape vignette.

And I leave out a few snowmen in wintery scenes.

This year I bought a snowman from Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.
When I saw him I was quite smitten and knew that I had to buy him for my own.
But when he arrived via the mailman and I had my first peek in person,
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

Pictures just don't do him justice. From his hogscraper base to his wool top hat he is perfectly prim and aged in just the right spots. I find myself moving him from room to room, telling myself that I am looking for the perfect spot for him. (Actually I think that I just like to have him near by...) So I must ask you... Is it wrong to love a snowman? I certainly hope not! Soon the first hints of spring might arrive and he just might melt away! So I will enjoy his company in the meantime...

Blessings, Patti

A winner?

Niky of Niky's Creations recently sponsored a fun contest. She offered a free design and invited people to complete it and send photos to her. Then she randomly selected three finishes to win a prize.

I finished my rendition of "Evergreen" as a little needlebook.

I added a few wool squirrels to the inside for storing pins and needles.
I didn't win, but now that I think of it I did...

As I have this lovely needlecase to enjoy!

Be sure to stop by her blog to see the other finishes - wow! The creativity is just amazing!

Blessings, Patti

Welcome 1.1.11!

It's January 1st and time for another update on TDIPT Mercantile!

You can view my offerings here.

"I found that snowflakes were masterpieces of design. No one design was
ever repeated. When a snowflake melted... just that much beauty was gone,
without leaving any record behind."
-Wilson A. Bentley

Snowflake Bentley and his innovative microscopic photographs of snowflakes were my inspiration this month.

I started with a vintage wool scarf and appliqued ivory wool snowflakes on it.

It can be used as a table runner or be worn as a scarf.


I also created another windowsill pillow based on a pattern by The Stitcherhood.
Please be sure to take a peek at all the lovely offerings at TDIPT Mercantile.

Did you enjoy your New Years Eve? We went to dinner with our friends then came back to our house and played "Imagine If" - we laughed until we cried - I love those kind of games - and those kind of friends ;)

They brought us these darling little bowls - aren't they just perfect? I just love them!!!

It is feeling more like winter in Chicago today - yesterday it was 59, today it is 29.

I think that I'll start taking down the Christmas decorations today... and putting up a few winter/snowflake decorations.

Wishing you all a Blessed 2011!

Blessings, Patti