Whatcha Working on Wednesday and a winner

 

 A finish!

An abbreviated version of "Spring Bird" by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm 

finished as a little pillow in a tombstone shape.

Lori and her husband, Peter also created the sweet robin threadholder available in their Etsy shop.  

 

 I backed my little pillow with a great vintage springtime fabric and edged it with vintage rick rack both found at an estate sale.

 

 

Now in my hoop: "Queen Bee Needle Poke" from Little Stitches Handwork Club by Notforgotten Farm.

And another of Lori and Peters' threadholders (I'm addicted!)

 

This stitch has been a bit of a challenge for me. A smaller count linen than I am used to ~ a bit difficult on moving trains, buses and water taxis, but I am determined to see it through and finished ;)

 

I know that I am going to love it when it is done!!! 

 

Thanks to all that entered my little Downton Abbey giveaway!

It is so hard to pick a favorite character and I agree with all those named:

Dowager Countess, Cousin Isabelle Crawley, Anna, Cora, Mrs. Hughes, Tom Branson, Mary and even Isis!

I even liked Thomas Barrow when they occasionally showed the soft heart that dwelled deep inside his often mean exterior...

 

Thank you to the 25 entries! And the winner via random.org is Ann, who said, "Mrs. Crawley always held her tongue when she encountered the Dowager... Grace under fire and a working woman too boot." I love it :)

 

Thanks Ann! Send me your mailing address and your little Downton Abbey tea sampler will be on its way...

 

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

the Lord Jesus Christ,  who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control,

will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

~Phillipians 3:20-21

 

Blessings, Patti

Wooly Fun Done and more to come...

 

 "Chalkware Cat Sewing Caddy"

design by Rebekah L. Smith for

 From Our Hands ~ Creative 2016

 

I have now finished two of the class projects with two left to go...

I always dislike trying to get two eyes to look alike, so I used antique abalone shoe buttons for the eyes :) 

 

 The back has a little pocket for storing supplies.

 

 And on the front, the flower and face are stuffed and could be used as pincushions.

(Oops! I just remembered that I was going to use pins for the whiskers... I will need to rectify this ;)

And the little orange chest lifts up to store needles.

 

Good thing that I have finished both Rebekah class projects, as I recently received this in the mail:

 

Wool from Rebekah for another class that I will be taking with her tomorrow!

 

 

My homework is done and all 41 pieces are ready to go!

I will leave in the morning with the rising sun!

It will be a long day ~ drive to Iowa, take the class and return the same day ~

but I am up for the challenge ;)

 

Can't wait to share with all of you!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
~Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Blessings, Patti



Pennies from Heaven ~ Volume 11

 

Last week, my sister and I headed down to our parents for a quick trip.

Yes, Mom has been at it again - quickly finishing some major projects!

 

(Please excuse the photos this time. It was storming out and some were taken at night, so the photography is not good, but let me tell you that the creations are all stunning in person!)

 

"Garden Bouquet" by Kathi Campbell of Heart to Hand

This quilt is stunning in person!!!

 

I think that this is my favorite block :)

 

and yes, Mom completed not one but two quilts!!!

 

 

"Flower Baskets" by Wooden Spool Designs

Another stunner!

 

A favorite block

Those tiny French knots are like seed beads and really set off the blocks.

 

 

Beautiful work.

After we chatted for a while, Mom thought it needed something more and pulled out some shell buttons.

 

The buttons aren't sewn on here, but I think it can now be declared perfect!

 

 

My sister also had a finish. She shared the blocks last time, but now they are all sewn together and complete. Her beautiful afghan is ready to use on the occasional chilly summer night ;)

 

I made slow progress on my hexies - creating the paths and slowly sewing my stars and flowers together,

 

 

I laid out all my completed pieces to figure out color placement.

 

I think I'll be working on paths for a while...

I haven't picked this up since our return.

Pam and I are headed back down in two and a half weeks, so maybe I can work on my hexies again then...

Who knows what Mom is working on next! LOL!

 

There is still time to enter my little Downton Abbey giveaway here.

 

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

~Ephesians 3:17-19

 

Blessings, Patti

Are you a Downton Abbey fan?

I am!

And the thought that this wonderful series is truly over, still has me a bit stunned.

Thank goodness for DVD's!

I recently was blessed to spend a lunch hour fully immersed back in my beloved Downton Abbey!

The Driehaus Museum is housed in the Nickerson Mansion built in 1879.

Lucky for me this museum is just a short stroll from my office.

Last month the museum was host to a fabulous exhibit, "Dressing Downton"!

This mansion was the perfect setting for all of the fabulous costumes that I have come to love.

From Lady Sybil's maternity outfit on the right

to Lady Rose's outfit when she met the dashing, Jack Ross.

 How wonderful to see all the detail up close and in person!

The backdrop of the mansion was equally stunning.

The tile work in this room was unlike anything I have seen before.

Doesn't it seem like the characters of Downton will walk down this staircase at any second?

The downstairs staff were also represented with Barrow's livery and Mrs. Hughes' outfit.

I was coveting the keys and that belt buckle.

Such attention to detail!

The styles and clothes take your breath away!

(Lady Mary's riding habit when she first meets Matthew Crawley.)

The Dowager Countess' wit rang in my ears as I looked at the clothes that she actually wore.

I love when they include a photo of the outfits in action in the series.

This showing The Earl and Cora attending the Downton Village Flower Show. 

(The frogging on Cora's coat is stunning!)

Such memories they bring back.

(The Earl and Cora attending the hospital's charity concert. Cora's dress made from a rare piece of antique beaded fabric with a stunning velvet coat.)

I can imagine that this mansion has seen similar fetes in its day...

How very thin they are!

(Lady Mary's outfit when Sir Richard visits Downton.)

I don't know which I loved more - the dress with its incredible beadwork or the stained glass and parquet of the setting...

Stories were included with each outfit - some antique, some of antique fabrics and some newly created.

This gown was created from the beautiful edging of an antique 1920's table cloth!

I don't really recollect this scene, but...

The silk cannelle embroidery on this jacket is absolutely stunning on person!

as I looked at these three coats, I thought of the three sisters and where their lives led...

Each one uniquely theirs...

Maybe I should restart viewing the series from the very beginning,

watching for the scenes of these outfits and the incredible attention to period details.

I wouldn't mind going for a bike ride in this practical, yet pretty outfit.

If I squint just a bit, I can see and hear the Dowager Countess and Martha Levinson exchanging their mildly veiled barbs.

All too soon, my lunch hour was over and it was time to head back to the real world.

I guess that this is the closest that I will get to reliving Downton Abbey, 

unless I get to Highclere Castle one day...

If you live near Cincinnati, South Bend, Anaheim, Nashville or St. Augustine, 

you still have a chance to view this incredible exhibit! It is currently on the move...

Thank you for letting me share my long winded lunch time adventure. 

Since you made it to the end, I have a tiny giveaway for a little Downton Abbey tea sampler purchased at the exhibit gift shop. 

Simply leave a comment with your favorite Downton character or send me an email to pgagliardi9@hotmail.com and I will pick a winner on Tuesday, June 14th.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being"

~Ephesians 3:14-16

Blessings, Patti

June Offerings

Greetings!

Strawberry Season has arrived early here on Winding Vine. I think that this is the earliest that I have ever harvested ripe berries from my tiny city plot. I’ve already picked over two pounds and even made some divine Strawberry Cheesecake Lush! Strawberry Season has also inspired this month’s offerings…

 

 

My first offering is “Strawberry Season” Thread Board based on a design by Country Rustic Primitives. This piece is both lovely to display and useful. I added amber mother of pearl rings for holding threads on one side. On one ring I have tied on a sweet tiny little velvet and wool strawberry emery complete with black pin “seeds”. You could easily tie it to a pair of sewing scissors as a fob, if you like.

 

 

On the back I included an army green wool heart pocket for embroidery scissors (not included) and a brown ribbon tie to keep them safe and secure. There is also a red and army green wool strawberry needle and pin keep complete with back pin “seeds”. It has a base of thin mat board, so that it is stiff and can be propped up on a shelf or table.

It measures approximately 5.5 inches by 8 inches (not including the rings) and is completely handsewn.

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

 

 

Antique Strawberry Patch is a Winding Vine Designs original one of a kind creation. It is a cluster of five strawberries each made of some of my favorite antique fabrics. The strawberries are completely handsewn. It measures approximately 12 inches when hanging with the biggest berries “weighing in” at 2 by 3 inches and the smallest at 1 by 2 inches. They are tied together with vintage seam binding ribbon and an antique mother of pearl buckle.

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

 

 

I’ve made two pinch pockets this month as well. Both are made from vintage fabrics – a gauzy white window valance panel and an embroidered table cloth. These pinch pockets are perfect for a small spool of thread, a small pair of embroidery scissors, and even a few other notions. They each measure approximately 4 inches across and 3 inches tall. Items are stored safely inside until you gently press the two corners together to open.

 

 

The pinch pockets are lined with coordinating wool.

As with all of my offerings, they are completely handsewn.

These Vintage Strawberry Pinch Pockets are offered at $25 each.

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

   If you are interested in purchasing anything, just send me an email at:

pgagliardi9@hotmail.com  

I can send a PayPal invoice or I accept checks and money orders.

 

Blessings, Patti