Mother's Day Sale

Sleeping Angel????

I was sitting here stitching and happen to look over at my buddy and she's sound asleep.  I bought her a blanket to cuddle up with on the couch and she loves it.  She digs around and pulls and tugs until she has it just right and then collapses into a deep sleep.  About the only thing that will wake her up is the doorbell.  She goes absolutely insane when someone rings it.  Of course our grand daughter knows this so when she visits she rings it over and over again.  Gotta love her!!!  LOL

Hope your week is going good so far.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

My New Needlework Accessory

Have you ever had an idea come to you that you just can't shake?  Well I have and you're seeing it here.  I love those old time tool carriers and I thought what a great idea that would be for my stitching items.  It could sit right beside me on my couch and everything would be handy.  Well I found them in plastic but I hated how they looked.  I wanted one made of wood.  I found some on Ebay but they were antiques and quite expensive so they were out.  I found one down at Hobby Lobby on saturday but it was about 2 feet long....too big.  By now I was beginning to feel like Goldilocks and the 3 bears.  LOL

Then I came up with the idea of making one and so my story begins.  I laid awake saturday night in bed with this thing going around and around in my head.  I was thinking of all the different ways of making one of these and how I would go about it.  I woke up Sunday morning with a plan!!!

What you see above is my new little carrier.  It's 7" x 8"....just the right size.  I made the long sides soft so that they can expand if I need them to.  All the finishing was done by hand....including all the stitching of it together.  I should of taken pictures of how I did this and I promise if I make another one....I will.  It took about 4 hours work.

I am back to working on Fallen Roses.....I'm so close to the finish that I can taste it and I'm also working on a crocheted shawl.  I hope whatever you are working on has not been visited by that pesty frog!!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A finish and some goodies!!!

I hope everyone's week is going good so far.  Mine hasn't been the greatest but it will do.  I did get to finish a pincushion and I've added to my fabric basket.

The above design is a freebie from Yvonne at Papillon designs and it's called Byzantine Gem.  She called for a floss color, two metallics and two beads.  Well you know me and how I love to change a pattern so I decided on 3 different colors of silk.  One is a varigated (around the outside) which is called Cherry Cheesecake from HDF and the other two are solids to match.  I did use two beads and for some reason in my picture, the burgundy ones are showing up red but trust me, they aren't.  They are such a dark burgundy they are almost black and the other bead is gold.  I bought some chiffon ribbon in a dark gold and ruched and attached it around the outside.  I love how this little design turned out but I really don't need another pincushio.....you'll find it in my store.

Then I went to Sewing Studio this morning and got into some trouble.  :o)  I came across this stunning set of fabric done in creams and black and the subject is old movies and music.  I love it!!!!  Now I have to find the perfect design because I'm seeing this as a needlework set.  If you have any suggestions....I'm open to ideas.

Then I saw this beautiful fabric in pinks and greens and I knew it was coming home with me.  I then started looking around the Sulky threads and found this pink and green combo that matches perfectly.  I see this done in a geometric design....just have to find it.

Am I the only one who does this?  I go into fabric stores and my mind starts seeing different projects made out of the fabrics I'm seeing.  Alot of the time I have the finishing fabrics and trims bought before I've even looked for a design to stitch.  Am I backwards???? or is this normal????  Let me know if you're the same way because I really don't like feeling alone in this.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Phlox box is finished

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Well this is finished and I'm not sure about something.  I am not going to use any matting around the design because I want the beautiful fabric to show so I'm thinking about stitching a border.  Suggestions?  I don't want anything to complicated because I still want this design to be the focal point.  Decisions....decisions.....

Well I've started stitching on the Papillon SAL.  I'm loving the 38ct. gander linen and stitching will all these wonderful silks on it.  I think this is going to be a fun stitch but a lllllllooooonnnnnnggggg stitch.  LOL

I went to my LNS yesterday and picked up the new BBD Loose Feathers booklet.  There's a box in there that is calling my name and I will be starting that next week.  I've gotten the linen for it....WDW Sheeps Straw....and I just have to pick out my colors.  

I'm hoping that all of you are having a wonderful Sunday so far and that you are stitching away like mad.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Choices for the new Papillon SAL

I'm not sure how many of you are aware, but Yvonne of Papillon is starting a new SAL which will take 24 months.  I know.....I know.....24 months????  I'm crazy!!!!  but something about this is calling me.  She's calling it Around the World in 80 Stitches.  I'm thinking that by the time this has ended, I should know how to do every specialty stitch out there.  So if you're interested, check out her website and join in on the fun.  The price is 2 euros and you get the 24 months of installments.  If this is anything like her other 2 SAL's, it should turn out fantastic.  Now for what I'm using....

The fabric is 38ct. Gander in the color Nacre which is a little lighter than flax.  My 3 greens are: 1 Splendor for the darkest green and 2 Waterlillies for the medium and light greens.

The pattern calls for 8 floral colors but I've decided to go a different direction.  I've chosen one hand dyed Gloriana for my main floral color and then chose blues and golds that are in the hand dyed.  These are either Splendor silks or HDF silks.  The pattern also calls for a metallic which I have chosen silver and two beads which are a silver and a blue.  

I'm open to any suggestions about changes on the blues and golds but the greens are a lock in.  The only thing I wish was different was that the Gloriana had a little burgundy in it but I can live without it.  Please don't be afraid to tell me what you think....I have thick skin.  :o)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Edited for website link:  You have to join her newsletter and then she will send you information on the SAL.  You can get to the newsletter from here:  http://papillon-creations.com/welcome_frame.php

Update on Phlox Box

I've been making some great headway on this design and I'm loving it.  I can't make up my mind if it's the fabric, design or the silk fiber I'm using.  The name of the fabric is Baroque and it's a 32ct. from Picture This Plus and the fiber is a HDF silk called Beleaved.  It's one of Vikki's Premium silk fibers and I only have to use it one ply on the 32ct.  You can find this Ink Circles design in the newest issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework.  I love Tracy's designs and this one is no exception.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter filled with family, friends and chocolate.  I made a family favorite....Chicken Corn Soup and homemade bread.  If none of you have ever heard of this soup, it's because it's a Pennsylvania Dutch favorite and was taught to me by my mother who was Pa. Dutch.

The recipe:

1 Whole chicken cooked in large pot of water

5 hard boiled eggs

1/2 cup chopped celery

parsley

10 cans of corn or about 6 bags of frozen corn

egg noodles

After you have cooked the chicken, remove it so it can cool.  While chicken is cooling, add your corn and cut up hard boiled eggs and celery.  Take about 2 cups of egg noodles and place them in sealed plastic bag and smash into small pieces and add to soup mixture.  When chicken is cool enough to touch, tear up into small pieces and add to pot.  I then let the soup simmer for about 3 hours stirring occasionally.  If you like a creamer soup, add a few cans of creamed corn instead of regular corn.  Enjoy!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

An Easter finish....

I've never made a necklace in cross stitch, but this little one from The Primitive Jewel called Bunny's Bloom caught my eye.  I stitched it on 32ct. cream Belfast linen using Weeks Dye Works.  The design came with the black wooden holder with black cording to make the necklace part and all I had to do was mount it on it.  I'm not sure if I'll keep it as a necklace or turn it into a scissor keeper.  It was fun to stitch and if you're looking for a quick gift, I highly recommend all of her designs like this.

I want to take this time to wish all my followers a very Happy Easter and may your weekend be blessed with family and friends. 

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A gift, a finish and some beauty....

First off, I want to thank all of you who entered my giveaway.  I love thinking up ideas for them and then to see all of you who love the idea....well it's very satisfying for me.

I have a friend who lives in the hill country of central Texas who sent me these stunning pictures of the blue bonnets in full bloom.  I can't imagine all these beautiful flowers laid out in fields so that it looks like a blue carpet.  Such lucky people who get to enjoy these.

Then Jenn, who knows how much I admire her embroidery, decided to make me this stunning pincushion for my birthday.  Every side has a different flower on it that has been stitched in silk on a silk background.

She also included a little beehive on the top and scattered some honey bees thru out the designs.  And then to top it off, she couched gold around each of the panels.

I love how this turned out and I thank my lucky stars I have a daughter who is this talented and has decided to share that talent with me.  Thank you Jenn.

Remember me posting awhile back about ordering some fabric from Nina and her enclosing two of her hand dyed threads.  Well I used them on this Jardin Prive design and I think they turned out stunning.

It's been stitched on 32ct. off white linen and the whole time I was stitching this I kept seeing a pincushion. As you can see, that idea just didn't last long and I decided a needlebook/scissor keeper was a better choice.  

As you can see from the picture above, there are two pages for your needles and a pocket for your scissors or whatever you decide.  I loved stitching this design but I have so many of these types of books that I've decided to put this one in my store.  So if you are interested, you'll find it there.

My next project is in the newest issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework.  It's called Phlox Box by Ink Circles and I'm stitching it on a Picture This Plus linen with a HDF silk.  It's very different and once I get some of it finished, I'll post an update picture.  

I hope everyone has had a great weekend so far.

Blessings as always,

Barbara