Holly Days ~ Part 3

"Country Sampler Winter Tidings"

Design by Stacy Nash

for Country Sampler Girls Club

I'm still leaving and coming home in the dark, so still struggling with photos.

I truly enjoyed this sweet stitch.

I added a linen rickrack trim to the seam.

Isn't she sweet? I love her "toffee" dress and sprig of holly.

I had fun with the little red holly berries.

I had some wool leftover from my most recent Maggie project,

so I thought I would add a sprig of holly to the back.

Now it matches my wool mat :)

Since there are a few days left in January, I thought I would continue on with my Holly fest and pulled out this WIP.

"Holly" by Notforgotten Farm

Let's see how much I can get completed before February 1,

when Valentine stitching will be my theme of choice...

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Blessings, Patti

Holly Days Part 2

Earlier this month I sent my Mom a text to show her what I was working on that day:

Maggie Bonanomi's "Holly Table Mat" for the Country Sampler's Girls Club.

Mom responded with this texted photo! She was working on the same thing!!!

We must have some mental telepathy?!

So an unintended stitch along!

It's fun to do a stitch along - our texts for the next week or so go something like...

"Are you adding any leaves?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"Are you adding any extra berries?"

"Oh good idea!"

"What thread are you using to blanket stitch around the edge? Black, red or green?"

Mom is much quicker than I (and much more precise! I'm always in a hurry to finish.)

This was a status pic that she sent while we were discussing backing.

And this is Mom's version completed.

Gorgeous Mom! I love the veins in the leaves! And the extra leaves!

And this is my finish.

It's so hard to get a decent picture this time of year - it is pitch black out when I leave for work in the morning and pitch black out when I return at night.

Unfortunately the flash leaves glare.

 

Here is another try.

I had fun with the berries having each stitch meet in the center.

Say Mom... What are you working on tonight? ;)

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

~Philippians 2:3-4

Blessings, Patti

A Final Holiday Party

Last Sunday our once a month Stitch Club gathered to celebrate the holidays at Cathy's house.

We were originally scheduled for mid-December, but had to postpone due to a snowstorm.

Cathy was kind enough to leave up her decorations for our party.

Her home is a true winter wonderland!

She has quite a knack for putting things together beautifully.

Love those bottle brush trees!

Isn't this arrangement she created so pretty?

A sweet winter welcome.

The EPP gals (including me) were quite taken with the hexie holiday Wheat Thins that Aileen found!

This was my favorite new finish of Cathy's!

Isn't it drop dead gorgeous?!

A beautiful rainbow with a hint of Christmas.

<3 love="" p="">

And take a look at this finish:

Stitched by Susan and finished by Jan.

Jan had just finished putting the trees together and delivered them to Susan at our party,

Susan shared this great photo as soon as she got home.

Her vignette is now complete!

Thank you Cathy for being a gracious host!

Thank you ladies for the perfect pass around gifts that I forgot to take pictures of!

Thank you Aileen for the awesome present!

Looking forward to seeing you all next month!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

~Phillipians 2:14-16

Blessings, Patti

Holly Days

The "holidays" may be over, but I am still enjoying "Holly Days" ~ stitching holly

both in wool and

in cross stitch. I love holly (variegated holly is my favorite) and try to find some to decorate with each year. I planted a little variegated holly bush, compliments of my sister in law, and I am hoping that in a few years I might be able to do some trimming and decorating.

Although I do associate holly with Christmas, I think my holly finishes might be out through January (provided I finish the two above before the end of the month lol.)

I did have a holly finish at the end of 2016:

Primitive Gathering's

Holly & Berries Table Mat

I decided to use little red buttons for the berries and a red perle cotton blanket stitch along the edge.

Here is where it lives in our front room bay window.

I tried a photo with the light on, but then there is glare.

(Don't you love the vintage candle holder with holly, berries and a cinnamon stick by Norma Schneeman?! *sigh* So sweet!) 

And I didn't show you my final cross stitch finish for 2016:

Stacy Nash's

"Noel Sewing Basket Limited Edition Kit"

I just love how teeny tiny it is!

So happy with how it turned out, that this hasn't been put away yet either.

I'll enjoy it for a few more weeks and then pack it all away January 31,

when I pull out my Valentines.

For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

2 Corinthians 5:7-9

Blessings, Patti

A Gift from the Heart

You may remember this piece from one of my editions of Pennies from Heaven - when I post Mom's finishes. I fell in love with it and suggested that it would make a great Christmas gift.

Guess what?!?! She did!!!

Not only did Mom  make another, she actually stitched four nativities!

For herself, me, my sister and her only granddaughter!

We are all so lucky to call her Mom/Grandma!

I knew that I would never stitch this for myself - too many tiny pieces and different wools.

I love all of the details so much!

And of course Mom's work is perfect!

My sister, niece and I were debating whether the spotted cow or the fluffy sheep was our favorite ;)

Of course, if we weren't emotional enough, the back put us over the edge:

Even Dad thought Mom was crazy to stitch four of these mats.

I will treasure it always!!!

A Very Heartfelt Thank You to you Mom!

We all know that this was a gift from the heart.

I also had to share two other Christmas gifts:

Aren't these just the cutest pajamas?!

My niece found them for me! They are perfect and comfy too!

(and thanks to my Sis, Brother-in-law and nephew too!

All my gifts were awesome, but these were too cute not to share)

My favorite is the yapping pup!

I may have one or two yappy pups at home ;)

And my oldest son gave me these two awesome books!

Can't wait to find some time to really read them cover to cover.

" For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

~Matthew 6:21

Blessings, Patti

~*January Offerings*~

Welcome to 2017!

I am ready for a new year and I hope that it will bring peace and blessings to all!

My offerings this month sold immediately, but I still wanted to share them here…

My first Snow themed offering this month is based on a design by Country Rustic Primitives. It is accentuated with my favorite antique coverlet and a wonderful cream chenille rickrack trim that I found in California – perfect for conjuring images of fluffy snow! It measures approximately 6.5 inches by 7 inches tall. It is backed with the same antique navy and cream antique coverlet. This pillow, like all of my offerings, is completely handsewn.

~*“Snow” cross stitched pillow is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

My other offering this month features a simple sentiment appliquéd using an antique ivory wool blanket applied to the antique coverlet background as used above. Completely hand-stitched, it is backed with the same antique coverlet. It measures approximately 4 by 9 inches.

~*“Snow” applique pillow is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

Ideas are already flowing for next month...

Blessings, Patti