What a week - strawberries & blackhawks

 

"Let's Meet at the Garden Gate"

design by Stacy Nash

Country Sampler Club Kit

(click here for more info)

What a week! I came down with strep throat last weekend.

On Monday a rough storm came through with winds over 70 mph. Our power was out for 3 hours - during Game 6 of the NHL playoffs! Luckily it came back in time for the best 17 seconds in Chicago sports history!

 

On Wednesday another bad storm came through dropping over 6 inches of rain in a few hour period. Almost all the roads around Winding Vine were impassible due to high standing water. It took me 45 minutes to go three miles as each street I tried was blocked and I would have to turn around.

 

But now it is Friday and Chicago is ready to celebrate!

In 2010 when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup I had a pretty good seat. (click here to see.) But this year the parade never came closer than 6 blocks away. But I did get to see some of the buildings decked out (and a lot of the crowds!):

 

Trump Tower

A six story parking garage.

Go Blackhawks!

 

I have one more strawberry piece that I am trying to finish, but it is taking longer than I thought it would. Hopefully, if I am lucky, I will have it finished to share at the end of the weekend. Wish me luck ;)

 

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

~2 Peter 3:9

 

Blessings, Patti

 

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The Bee Man's Garden

 

"The Bee Man's Garden"

design by Anne Brown of The Goode Huswife" 

 

I thought that I would share this oldie but goodie. I stitched this back in 1998.

Back in the days when my eyes were better and I tended to stitch everything over one.

Those days are over :) But I am glad that I stitched over one when I was able.

 

The stitching measures 4.5 by 4.5 inches.

 

I usually display it with this folky bee skep by folk artist, S. D. Meadows.

 

I hope to be back shortly with a few last strawberry finishes, before moving on to patriotic creations.

 

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

~Psalm 19:1

 

Blessings, Patti

International Quilt Festival Chicago 2013

 

 I am so thrilled that the International Quilt Show came back to Chicago this year after a several year absence. My sister in law, Joy, and I spent a lovely day there.

 

At the exhibit, the quilt above was my favorite. Journeying all the way from Japan, the colors and patterns mesmerized me. I loved the soft neutral palette and those off kilter log cabin blocks.

 

Here is a close up.

This is a border from another Japenese Quilt. The detail in the border alone was striking.

 



 

I loved the trees - a modern twist, yet still the traditional quilt blocks.

 

 

Another favorite - redwork combined with yo-yo's. This combination would never have occurred to me and its works so very well - like flowers surrounding those detailed birds.

 

I am not a quilter, but I truly appreciate the incredible workmanship.

 

The night before the quilt show, I had the opportunity to go to a trunk show and quilt talk by Lisa Bongean for the Northwest Suburban Quilters Guild.

It was such fun to hear her story and see her work up close and in person. It always looks even better than online. She shared a few designs that will appear in her next book as well as in Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine along with the antique that inspired her.

What a treat it was!

 

Of course I was so overwhelmed by the Merchants Mall at the quilt show that I didn't take any photos. Some of our all time favorites were there like Country Threads and of course Primitive Gatherings (where I purchased Lisa's Just Picked Table Runner), but it was so much fun to discover some new designers as well!

 

The ladies at Plays with Wool were so helpful as I had difficulty deciding which kit to buy.

Click here to see their designs and why I had trouble deciding ;)

 

The Little Red Hen had a wonderful full booth that we walked through several times.

I can only imagine that their shop must be delightful judging from their booth! I think I need to find my way to Muscatine, Iowa ;)

You can read more about their shop and designs here. 

The Bizzy Bee Candle Mat and Pin Cushion kits just had to come home with me!

You can see them here. and they carry the teeny tiniest buttons I have ever seen. They are under the scissors in the photo above for use on the Heart in Hand pincushion kit.

They were so friendly that I didn't want to leave their booth! 

 

 

While Bits & Pieces by Joan wasn't a new designer to me, as I have stitched a few of her designs in the past, I now see her pattern company in a whole new light!

What a delight! Joan was so encouraging and accomodating even as I overstayed my welcome in her busy booth ;) Seeing all of her designs live and in person - I wanted them all! Most designs she had in complete kits, even with the frames, and her prices were reasonable.

Click here to see what I mean :)

Thanks Joan for being so sweet as I agonized over my purchases!

(Anyone who knows me, knows how long it can take me to decide lol)

 

So I managed to spend the rest of my budget in her booth. :)

 

It is such a joy to be around people that like the same things that you do and to feed off of each others excitement and enthusiasm. What a blessing of a day!

 

I have been under the weather all weekend, but haven't minded. Just spending some downtime and enjoying my purchases and my memories.

 

Blessings, Patti

Summer Solstice Garden

 

I thought that the Summer Solstice would be a perfect time to share some new things in my garden.

Did you see the wonderful garden markers on Pineberry Lane?! She also featured them on Early Work Mercantile. Well, I fell in love immediately and asked Wendy if she would make a custom set for me for the herbs I have on my garden and she did! Aren't they incredible?

 

I love them! Here they are in place: 

 

 

Two weeks ago my sister and I went down to central Illinois Amish country to visit our parents. It is always so special when it is just my parents, sister and me - just like when we grew up :)

On the way home we stopped at our favorite stop between their house and ours - The Gathering in Gilman, IL

 

There I found the cutest little bugs:

 

A bee bug from an old spring and the cutest little stinger ;)

 

A bulb bug made from a light bulb, silverware wings and washers for eyes.

 

 

And my favorite bug made from an old skeleton key.

 

 

Here they are in their new home in my lavender patch.

I am so glad that I bought the group of them!

They make me smile every time I walk to my back door :)

 

I received these antique bee catchers as a gift from my SIL, Joy, a few years back and I have been enjoying them in my backyard ever since. While at our favorite store in Arcola - The Olde Brick Wall - we saw new reproduction ones with timer taper battery candles inside. What a great idea!

Time to clean them up and bring them inside I think ;)

 

Well enjoy the longest day of the year!

I am heading out in just a minute to enjoy the International Quilt Festival in Rosemont, IL!

I will report back soon...

 

Blessings, Patti



Little Stitches Handwork Club #2

 

"Strawberry Basket pinkeep and emery"

design by Notforgotten Farm

Little Stitches Handwork Club Kit #2

 

I am so enjoying this club! Perfect not too big projects to stitch and enjoy :)

I love the basketweave design. And you know I love strawberries!

The best news yet... Lori Brechlin is designing the next kit now! Can't wait!

You can take a peek here.

And learn more about Lori's club here.

 

Since we are still in strawberry season,

 



 

 

I couldn't help myself. I had to start another strawberry themed project :)

 

Blessings, Patti

The Antique you have always wanted...

Here I am!

So sorry for the long delay in posting a winner to my little giveaway.

Last week I had a personal emergency, last weekend I took a quick trip with my sister to visit our parents, and this week was a lot of overtime preparing for a big meeting today (along with spending 1 and 1/2 hours on a train stuck in a station due to a big storm that never materialized).

But enough about that.
 



 

It was so much fun to read about the antique that you have always wanted. I realized that I have a lot of items on my list and most of them are the same as yours - antique quilt, sampler, sewing bird, trenchers, oh the list can go on and on.

My favorite answer was an antique farmhouse to live in! I never thought that big :) but that sure is a great idea!

 

Thank you to the 41 comments and emails.

The winner is:

#22 Paula (no blog)

Paula, I have sent you an email. Please send me your mailing address and I will send out your package. (Faster than the time it took me to post a winner ;)

One thing that I have noticed is that as we acquire an antique that we have always wanted, it seems that another item gets added to the list lol!

Are you wondering about the photos on this post?

Well, I just acquired an antique that I have always wanted!

 



 

A spinning wheel!

I think that I have wanted one since college, but always thought that they take up so much room I could never own one. Well this little beauty is a mere 29 inches tall and 25 inches long! It has all its pieces and parts and even came with a bag of extra pieces and parts - extra distaffs, flyer assemblies, spindles, etc. It works like a champ and is the perfect size. Once you get the treadle going and the wheel is spinning, it is such a joy to watch. It needs a tighter drive band as it occassionally falls off, but I really wanted it for the looks :) I bought it from a local antique shop. The dealer said that she bought it 25 years ago from a 94 year old woman whose parents brought it to Chicago from the east coast.

After I bought it, I carefully loaded it in the car. When I went to take it out, it fell apart!!! But as I took my time, I realized that it is designed to fold up for storage - Phew! Disaster averted! 

An antique I have always wanted is now checked off my list!

 

I'm hoping to have another giveaway of something handmade and patriotic at the beginning of July - I better get busy!

 

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"

~Philippians 3:20  

Blessings, Patti

Spring at Hollyberry Farm

 

Those of you that have followed my blog for a while know that I am not good with large projects. My sttiching time is limited and I like to stitch something fairly quickly, finish it and move on. A large project could take me five years or more...

 

 When I saw "Spring at Hollyberry Farm Sampler" by Stacy Nash,

I knew that it was a must stitch. But I also knew that I couldn't stay with it and stitch the entire piece. So I picked my favorite motifs including some pieces of the border and stitched this:

 

I'm not good with solid stitching of large blocks like in the house, but this garden shed flew by for me with the interest and color changes in stitching the bricks.

 

 

 

I'm pleased with the result and am so happy to have a finish. Spring isn't even officially over yet ;)

The framer suggested the frame, it has a little detailing to it that you can see in the first picture, and a "burlap" mat which I am really happy with.

 

On to the next project!

Thank you Stacy for always continuing to inspire me!

 

"Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

~1 Thessalonians 5: 12-18

 

Blessings, Patti 

 

p.s. There is still time to enter my little giveaway here.

A peek at June...

 

My planned post for today was to share my offerings for June...

But my mailing list friends gave me such an overwhelming response and I have sold out.

Thank you ever so much!

 

I thought that I would share a few photos anyway.

If you would like to join my mailing list, please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com and I will add you for my July update.

I have plans on what I would like to create already...

 

Strawberry season has arrived here on Winding Vine. One of my absolute favorite seasons!

I started a little strawberry patch when we moved to Winding Vine 18 years ago. It has been such a joy ~ some years yielding 10 - 15 pounds in my tiny urban yard. My strawberry patch was decimated last summer due to the draught so I am rebuilding the patch this year. I am trying a new variety of everblooming strawberries that produce fruit all summer long. We will see how that goes…

  

My very first online offerings five years ago today were strawberry themed and I have made it a tradition every June since…

 

 

I hope that you have enjoyed my peek at June. 

And I hope that strawberries are beginning to ripen in your corner of the world.

 

There is still time to enter my little giveaway in the post below...

 

"THE Strawberry blooms upon its lowly bed,
Plant of my native soil!--the Lime may fling
More potent fragrance on the zephyr's wing,
The milky Cocoa richer juices shed,
The white Guava lovelier blossoms spread--
But not, like thee, to fond remembrance bring
The vanished hours of life's enchanting spring;
Short calendar of joys for ever fled!
Thou bid'st the scenes of childhood rise to view,
The wild wood-path which fancy loves to trace;
Where, veil'd in leaves, thy fruit of rosy hue
Lurk'd on its pliant stem with modest grace.
But ah! when thought would later years renew,
Alas, successive sorrows crowd the space!"

 ~Helen Maria Williams

 

Blessings, Patti