Slow Stitching

Stitching has been rather slow on the home front. I like to share finishes, but don't have anything that is near completion. Life is busy at work and at home, so my limited stitching time has been curbed even more.

It doesn't help that I have been flitting back and forth between mediums - wool, cross stitch and even an English Paper Piecing project that I haven't touched since last summer.

So instead of sharing finishes, I thought I would share projects in process.

I am so excited that I have signed up for another Rebekah L. Smith class at Wheaten Woolens in Davenport, Iowa! I had such a wonderful time last year that I shared a series of three posts.

You can find them here:

Part 1 - The Shop and Class

Part 2 - The Home

Part 3 - The Progress and The Shopping

I've decided that I must absolutely finish last year's class project before this year's class in June,

so my progress is what you see above.

On the cross stitch front, I have been working on Stacy Nash's "Ann's Sampler".

36 count is a bit small to work on when traveling by train and bus on my daily commute,

so my stitching is slower than usual. But I think it will be worth it in the end.

As usual, I've made a few of my usual tweaks, but I don't want to share those until the finish ;) 

so these are just a few cropped peeks.

And yes, the English Paper Piecing has been pulled out once again.

"Stars in the Garden" by Yellow Creek Quilt Designs.

The central motifs are all finished and I working on the outer pieces.

Here is my last status picture of the same project taken last summer.

I've gotten so far that I really need to finish it! :)

Last month I had a post that included one of my favorite photo bombers.

I was surprised to receive several comments that people were happy to see Mr. Peanut as he hasn't appeared on my blog in a while. Sometimes I think people might get tired of pet pictures. I take photos of them quite frequently and since some of you asked...

Here are a few:

Peanut and Leia catching a few rays of sun during the dreary winter.

While they have such different personalities like most brothers and sisters,

they still love to snuggle!

Whenever they get a chance!

Since "finishes" still seem a ways away, I guess I'll try to share more progress in another week or so.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

~Colossians 3:12

Blessings, Patti

Market Night ~ Spring 2017

Tuesday was Market Night at Inspired Needle Ltd.!

I don't know how Cathy does it!

She shops all weekend, travels home on Monday and is all set up and ready for shoppers on Tuesday!

And Tuesday night I was ready to shop ;)

Cathy was also hosting a trunk show from Ink Circles.

Ink Circle designs are mesmerizing to look at.

"Spring Snow" really caught my eye.

I loved the colors and symmetry.

These bees and butterflies were so pretty.

And isn't "Arranging for Orchestra" unique?!

These two Halloween pieces are perfect - I love the hypnotic designs

and the unique hand-dyed linens.

Well, I tried so hard to be good!

But there were so many wonderful things from market.

I did my best to restrain myself, but a bag still came home with me.

Three wonderful charts that I couldn't resist.

 

Three colors of hand-dyed rick rack.

(You know I love my rick rack :)

 

And three new kits.

I could have done much more damage, but I am trying to pace myself.

I have a quick trip coming next week for Spring Break.

I can't wait to share...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessings, Patti

A Little Antique Therapy

Before I start a new post, I just want to give a shout out to Mary Anne F.!

Mary Anne, you are a no reply blogger that won my little giveaway. Please send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com by March 6th so I can send your prize out. Thanks!

Every now and then the antique bug hits and I need to visit an antique mall to do a bit of browsing.

Mind you I already have a bin of antiques that I couldn't find room for in my house, that I am challenging myself to repurpose for offerings this year. But it still doesn't squelch my desire to go picking now and then :)

Just the browsing inspires me... I loved the vignette above!

It's interesting what grabs your attention - pincushions, of course.

This well dressed rabbit even with his smooshed nose is so sweet.

An entire bassinet filled with pyrography boxes - be still my heart!

This booth had a travel theme and I loved the hearts cut from maps - genius!

Ok, I'm sure that no one that reads my blog would have looked at this twice!

But the sight of it brought many memories flooding back...

My sister and I had a toy box just like this! Of course I had to send this picture to my Mom and sister right away. And was so relieved to hear that it is safe and sound in my sisters basement filled with old toys for the next generation :) That made me smile!!!

So try as I might, you know that I couldn't leave empty handed...

Who can resist old buttons, a heart cookie cutter (especially since this was in February) and a pincushion.

The tatted button on top was so sweet, and then I turned it over

The original coloration was so pretty.

And I had a splurge *sigh* just couldn't help myself:

I love cameos! I have a few from our trip to Italy a few decades ago.

Her face is so pretty and I loved how they updated it with fresh water coin pearls and iridescent stones.

A new favorite necklace of mine!!!

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Romans 8:38-39

Blessings, Patti

~March Offerings~

Greetings! I am having fun so far on my year long challenge of repurposing antiques!

My first two offerings this month feature old whisk brooms picked up at estate sales. Both whisk brooms are based on designs by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm. The whisk broom sleeves are backed with sweet calicos that I picked up on a recent road trip and feature a wool applique heart. The whisk brooms measure approximately 10.5 inches by 4.5 inches.

~*Both brooms are sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

My final offering this month is based on a design by Jenny Hoffman for Country Rustic Primitives. Since my name is Patti, I felt the need to have at least one St. Patrick’s Day offering! This pinkeep pillow measures approximately 5 inches by 5 inches.

It is backed with the same cotton print as appears on the front and features a wool heart shaped pocket for your scissors with a ribbon tie to keep them safe and a wool four leaf clover for luck. This pillow, like all of my offerings, is completely handsewn.

~*Sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

Blessings, Patti

Final February Finishes & A Winner

For most of the month of February, I have been working on

"Where The Heart Is"

a design by Rebekah L. Smith and kitted by Attic Heirlooms.

The design took a bit longer with all the blanket stitches and embroidery stitches, but is definitely worth it.

It also has multiple layers and keeps building up.

With the unusually warm February weather, I was even able to work on it for a bit outside while the pups enjoyed running in the yard.

Finally it was time to add the scalloped border.

Once it was blanket stitched, the last touch was to add stars, back it and add a tag.

I was so excited when it was completed, that I wanted to take a picture right away.

Of course my helper/shadow came running to help:

Peanut, you are a very handsome boy, especially with your haircut,

 but we can't see the whole mat.

My son had to hold him for me to take the picture :)

Here it is completed!

And tagged. I always like to add something that was happening while I stitched it.

I also had a cross stitch finish

"Endless Hearts" by Threadwork Primitives

And now it is time to pick a winner of my little giveaway.

It was so much fun to read what type of needles you like - lots of fans of John James and Bohin needles! Also mentions for DMC and Hiroshima needles and Primitive Gatherings needles too. There were mentions of sizes too from #10 milliners to straw needles. The Clover Black Gold #10 needles came up a few times for English Paper Piecing. I probably shouldn't admit that within 15 minutes of trying a black gold needle I snapped it in half. I guess I'm a bit rough on my needles! Maybe I should give them another try. It's fun to try different needles since it isn't a big investment. I have to say, that like others who posted, I usually have a tendency to use whatever needle I grab first for handsewing, EPP and wool, but I now find that I just can't cross stitch without my favorite John James Petite ;)

Thank you so much for the 38 entries! I wish that I could send each of you a pack of new needles! Today's winner through random.org is #5 Mary Anne F! Mary Anne, you are a no-reply blogger, so I cannot contact you directly. Please send me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com by March 6th with your mailing address so that I can send out your prize.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

~I Corinthians 13:13 

Blessings, Patti

Indiana road trip part 2

Where has the time gone? Has another week really flown past? Oh well...

I tried to be good on our little day trip, but there were so many wonderful items to choose from at House of Stitches! I did limit myself to two new patterns.

Isn't this Plum Blossom linen so pretty and different?

I'm thinking it might be perfect for a spring pin keep.

And I needed to stock up on my all time favorite needle.

They are tiny and very short, so I have convinced myself that they help me stitch faster lol!

Love these new magnetic Stitch Dots and who can resist a Blackbird Design with a house and strawberries :)

Don't you love when you find a design and can go home with all the supplies to start it that very night? I do ;) So very satisfying to start right away even if it isn't finished yet. 

At Cotton Cottage Quilts, I couldn't leave without a Lucy Boston kit - loved the patriotic colors in this one. And the fat quarters in the middle have already been put to work in my offerings for March.

And here is my little giveaway from my day. I loved the fat quarter with the "Blessed are..." and a package of my favorite needles along with a few free graphs. 

Simply comment on this post or send an email to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Giveaway" as the subject and tell me - What is your favorite needle for your favorite needlecraft?

I'll pick a winner on Monday, February 27th.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Blessings, Patti