From Our Hands ~ Creative *Classes with Rebekah L. Smith*

Mom and I had our first class with Rebekah L. Smith.

Everything she does has that distinct Rebekah look!

Even her supplies including this basket of ribbon are gorgeous!

We had homework to do ahead of time for her Wooly Box class.

I chose to use my favorite ~ Rustic Wool Moire Thread on mine.

I switched the sunflower and flag on mine and changed up some of the embroidery stitches.

Rebekah's finished sample on  top and my piece ready for class in the bottom.

With Rebekah's thorough and gentle teaching we were done in no time!

Here we are - me, Rebekah and Mom with finished boxes!

So much fun!!!

Mom and I are both so pleased with how our boxes turned out!

I've decided that my House Box is perfect for storing my growing collection of

Rustic Wool Moire Threads!

And here is our entire class with all of our boxes.

Rebekah's next book, Seasons of Wool Applique Folk Art, is coming out this summer

and will contain the instructions for making your own Wooly Box!

While Mom and I were working on our Wooly Boxes, my Bittersweet Sister, Linda was taking a full day class with Lori Ann Corelis to make a fabulous jointed mohair bunny!

Of course I had to take a peek.

I loved seeing the feather weight machines humming away...

But this was way beyond my abilities, I will just admire from afar ;)

I have to give a big shout out to Marly of Samplers and Santas!

I've loved and followed her blog for years. Earlier this year, she had a giveaway for two of her wonderful paper mache boxes that I have been coveting for quite some time ~ one box to keep and one to give away. I won! And Mom was the recipient of the second. The boxes were perfect for our classes. Mine fit my 5 spools of Rustic Wool Moire thread that I use for Rebekah projects, a pair of stork scissors and a tin of pins perfectly!

Thank you ever so much Marly for your generosity! We love our treasured boxes! 

On the second day, Mom and I took another class with Rebekah ~ 

Wooly Sewing Basket 

(complete with matching scissor holster)

To add to the fun, this class was also taken with Julie Kursave of the wonderful Wool Applique and Bits and Bobs groups on Facebook! Such fun to meet an online friend in person!

We didn't finish our Wooly Sewing Baskets in class,

but finished them soon after.

Here is Mom's:

I love how she added buttons - perfect!

And here is mine:

I had a lot of fun with the embroidery stitches.

I should have added the scissors for the picture.

Two projects finished from the retreat!

Always a good feeling!

I also took a class with Stacy Nash, but realized that I haven't taken a picture of my finished project...

That will have to be in my next post...

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

~Ephesians 4:32

Blessings, Patti

From Our Hands ~ Creative *The Venue*

From Our Hands ~ Creative was held at a new venue this year:

Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Wow! What a stunning hotel!

It is only a year old, but is modeled after the mid-18th century home of a local settler.

The attention to detail is phenomenal.

All week I planned to sit in one of these rockers on the front porch and do a bit of stitching and people watching, but the week flew by and it wasn't to be...

The woodwork, trims and furniture and fixtures were all gorgeous - such attention to detail!

I think that this is the prettiest hotel hallway and door that I have ever seen!

The room that Mom and I shared. 

The rooms all have hardwood floors - love it!

The bathroom was beautiful and I loved the tilework on the floor!

This is the back of the hotel. 

The one story room is where most of our events occurred and 

had so many windows and wonderful natural lighting.

An hour after we arrived was the Meet and Greet - 

a chance to meet and talk with the teachers, 

meet fellow students and see our class projects up close.

The pictures we saw of our class projects were pretty, but they are even prettier in person!

It was fun to see the projects we would be making, but also the other projects as well.

Each one so inspiring and making your fingers itch to stitch!

Luckily after dinner we would reconvene for some open stitching!

We also picked up our name tags and a surprise ~

a wonderful little extra project from Rebekah!

Isn't this little bag darling!!

I think we each went to bed with happy smiles knowing that the fun would continue 

with our first day of classes in the morning!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~Colossians 2:6-7

Blessings, Patti

From Our Hands ~ Creative *On our Way*

On our way to Yellow Springs, Ohio, Mom and I decided to stop and stretch our legs in Greenwood, Indiana at Back Door Quilts. I have wanted to stop there for a while after seeing their wonderful booth at the International Quilt Show in Rosemont, Illinois.

I had read on their Facebook page that the owners were at the Paducah Quilt Show, 

but that the shop would still be open. We weren't sure how much would be missing for their booth, but let me tell you This is a BIG Quilt Shop and it was absolutely chockful! :) 

As you walked in the door, it was hard to decide where to start!

Inspiring vignettes the moment you walked in the door!

Some required a closer look ;)

So many beautiful models!

Mom and I found the wool room quickly

With a large selection of models, patterns, wool and accessories.

Even a few wool designers that were new to us.

I was excited to see models from a favorite designer ~ Carried Away Designs.

This was a good stop for stretching our legs!

Back Door Quilts has rooms for different mediums ~

From embroidery

to English Paper Piecing

Little quilts from Red Button Quilt Company

And large quilts too.

And oh the fabrics!!! 

So many different styles at every turn!

Well, we had miles to go before we sleep, so it was time to make some decisions...

Mom purchased:

Mom purchased some wool felt, a pattern from a new to us designer,

 and a wonderful Hexie Needle Case kit.

And I bought "Wool Eggs" pattern by Eweniversity, a mini charm pack of Bee Inspired fabric, some wonderful rick rack and measuring tape trim and another  Hexie Needle Case kit.

It was a wonderful first stop on our trip.

You can visit the website for Back Door Quilts here and their Facebook page here.

If you are ever in the Indianapolis area, I would highly recommend a visit!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

Blessings, Patti

~*May Offerings*~

Greetings! Here on Winding Vine, April flew by like a flash!

Mom and I attended “From Our Hands ~ Creative” needlework retreat in Yellow Springs, Ohio last week. We had homework to complete before our classes. So unfortunately, I was unable to repurpose any antiques for this month. But I already have many ideas that I am hoping to complete for June! I have decided this month to sell a few of my previous workshop finishes including one that I finished just days before heading to Ohio. 

My first offering this month is from Stitch Camp 2014 with Stacy Nash at Country Sampler. This one of a kind sewing book has been tweaked as I tend to do. I added a sweet little goat and “Grace” to the front of the book.

On the back, I’ve added a little heart to contrast with the beautiful hand-dyed velvet.

The inside of the book contains a matching velvet pinkeep and a wool heart scissor pocket.(Scissors not included.) The inside also contains an antique French ticking tag saying “Stitch Camp, Spring Green, Wisconsin, Summer ‘14". If you would like, I can switch this tag out for another. This book ties shut with a matching antique gold ribbon and a matching hand dyed velvet berry dangles from the book binding.

When closed, the sewing book measures approximately 5 by 7 inches. 

~*Stitch Camp Sewing Book is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

My second offering this month is a one of a kind Civil War Sewing Basket. This was a Stacy Nash class at last year’s “From Our Hands ~ Creative Retreat” and is a reproduction of an antique sewing basket that Stacy owns. The basket measures approximately 5 inches tall and 8.5 inches across. While I followed the pattern for the two cross stitched sides, I chose to add a wool applique tulip to another side and a pentagon shaped pinkeep with a few hand-dyed pins to the final side. This nice sized sewing basket would be perfect to keep by your sewing chair to hold your favorite needlework supplies.

            ~*Civil War Sewing Basket is sold. Thank you ever so much! *~

My final offering this month is a pillow created at Country Sampler’s Star Party in 2013.

This Maggie Bonanomi design features a tiny antique tintype. It is stuffed with sawdust and has such a great old feel. The front is a wonderful color of velvet.

It is finished with a mattress pillow finish and herringbone stitches over the seams.

The flowers, stems and leaves are made of linen 

with an antique mother of pearl button center and old ribbon.

It has such a wonderful old look!

~*Think of Me pillow is 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