A winner!

Hi everyone.  First off, Random.org chose Melissa as the basket and hook winner.  Congrats!  Please email me with your address and choice of natural or dark and I'll get it in the mail ASAP!  As I was working on the Santa, I was thinking of other ways to use this as a stitchery display.  Santa looks good and the basket could be filled with greenery.  A floral design and filled with flowers hung on a door.  A Halloween piece filled with curly willow.  A wide linen band with a name....oh just stop it.  Second, thank you all for the birthday wishes.  It's almost over!  Third, Gold Santa had an accident.  It seems his boat was two stitches off course and the frogs jumped in and sunk it.

After the frogs were gone, I wondered why I just didn't add two rows of green and make it a bigger boat!  Oh well, we're back on track. 

I wanted to show this shepherd's hook.  This is how mom liked her hooks - a grapevine or ivy garland wrapped around it.  We cleaned out the shed and I found this one.  This looks great in the fall with a garland of autumn colored leaves and a pot of bright mums.

I'm done.  Have a great weekend and thank you again for the well wishes and birthday wishes.  Much appreciated!  Thanks for visiting and to all who participated in the offer.

Show and Tell

Hiya.  Just wanted to show a few pics so I'll try to keep it short.  Jill at Purple Peacock stitched my freebie with some changes and I love it.  I never saw a rocking pincushion before!  And check out the scissor pocket on the back.  Is this cool or what???  Looks like a peacock needle minder at the top too.  Great job Jill!

Here's Malabar finished into a pillow.  And my haul from this morning.  Sorry to say the Olde English Shoppe is closing and now offering 30% off so I was glad to visit them this morning and grab a few items.  The top wall unit and small right are theirs along with the darling strawberry.

 

The two wood boxes are from an antique shop in Volant that I visited for the first time.   I left James Creek (with a basket of course) and she said go across the street and up a little to the yellow house.  So I left the shop and started walking in this heat and barely made it up the steep hill!  I really need to get in shape.  What a wonderful shop - a little bit of everything and lots of vintage.  Cottage House Antiques. 

Then I stopped at the Quilting Bee in New Wilmington and got a few fat 1/4s.   James Creek is having a Colonial Festival Saturday with Kathy Graybill, Michael Treharn, Ginger Cazan, Black Horse Floorcloths, a blacksmith, colonial cooking, rug hooking and more.  This is the monster basket I came home with.  You can see how large it is compared to the one Lucy was in.  I was a happy girl.  Unhappy about a wonderful shop closing, but happy with my cheap self for actually making purchases.  I promised my sister I would get new counter tops for her kitchen and bath (bad timing with mine being done) so I was trying to pull the purse strings tight.  Well, some times pulling too tightly causes breakage.  Hey.  It's birthday month - let 'em rip!

But let me tell you.....that wasn't the end.  I came home to find this on my doorstep.

 I couldn't believe it.  Ann from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets (Hole in the Basket Primitives) had sent me a birthday gift with the sweetest card, telling me how much she enjoys my blog!  ME!!!  I was stunned when I opened the wrapping.

STUNNED!  Look at my gifts!!  I adore this pillow with its satin stitched spools, and love this design.  The mason jar basket couldn't be a more precise weave.  She actually fits the basket to the jar so well, that it doesn't fall off, but can easily be removed.  Look at the inside, the bottom, and check out that roping detail on the edge..

The amazing thing - how perfect it is for my new display cubby!  I planned on running a wire across the front of this and Ann's gift is absolutely perfect for it.  Plus, look how nicely the pillow fills out the smaller box I just bought along with my new strawberry.

Man did I hit the jackpot today.  Ann, I can't thank you enough for your generosity and your work is fantastic.  Such attention to detail and perfectly done!  Here's the back of her piece and Malabar, we both used the envelope method.  She made it special with buttons, and I lazied out with a row of stitches.   I'll be back tomorrow night with the winner of the offering.  

If you want to see more of Ann's work, check out her Etsy shop here.  Believe me, you will not be disappointed - superb quality.

That's it for show and tell boys and girls!  Enjoy your day!

Malabar

Hiya.  Just wanted to show you Malabar Farm finished.  

 I planned on using these fabrics shown for the backing and pocket, but since I left off "Malabar Farm" at the bottom, it became a 6" square.  Uh-oh.  Before I sew it together, I need to make a trip to my craft store!   I'm willing to bet I'll find a 6" square box.  I really like this fabric and the entire project looks really nice with my dried oranges, so ......  I'll probably end up stitching it into a pillow.   But the craft store is Starbuck's neighbor.  Need I say more?

In addition to leaving off the bottom name, I added a little backstitching to the flowers - just thought they needed it - and the peacock's head comb is done in knots.  I used 32 count something, the recommended GAST Gingersnap, but changed to Evergreen for the centers, Peacock for the vase, and DMC 830 for date and stems.  The scissors - ??? - a piece of gray I found on the floor.  I didn't have but one of her chosen colors, so I just looked at the photo and used what I had that seemed closest to her design.

That's it!  I'm working on Gold Santa but am looking for  another small.  I also wanted to thank all of you for your well wishes.  I was adjusted by my chiropractor yesterday, although he can't touch my neck, and Advil is helping as usual.  The ankle was fine, but is now starting to hurt and swell even more.  It looks like I swallowed a  pierogi whole and it slid down to the ankle.  Halupki thighs and pierogi ankles. 

Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Not another offer!

Yep.  For how you patiently stuck with me and Lucy, your sweet and encouraging comments, and because even though I proudly display my Bitch Banner, I'm basically a nice person.  A gift for you!  Now don't get your skirts flying too high because it's just a basket.  Now lower it a little more.  It's not a hand made ash splint basket, but a cheapo-but-nice-to-display stitchery basket.  And I'll throw in the hook Mark made so you can hang it from your handrail bracket at the bottom of your stairs if you prefer.   This size is about 7 1/2" wide at the top tapering to about 6 1/2" at the bottom, and 11 - 12" tall without the handle.   And if you accidentally step on it or sit on it, it will break.  Trust me.  This is what it looks like with Frances Bliss, and hanging from the bracket.

You will have your choice of natural, or dark stain, shown here with my still waiting for ears to be painted rabbit gourd.  Poor thing has been sitting there for quite some time.  I'm sure the baskets can be painted with brush or spray if you would like a color or aged look.  Leave your name on this post only to enter.  Random will pick a name on Thursday June 21 at 9 PM EST.

Bonnie Olson sent me these photos of her amazing work on The Vierlande Winders' Keeper which was an online tutorial from Amy Mitten.  So much to take in!  Look at all the details, little pockets for the winders, the center opens for needles, drawstring lacing ending with the little stitched balls, and the tiny pinball.  If you want to see more detailed photos of the project, visit Amy Mitten's site.

Congratulation on a magnificent piece of work Bonnie!

I probably should have shown my wimpy stuff first.  I decided to stay with this 32 count (third start), and I spotted a small but bright yellow spot that wasn't there before.  At least I didn't see it, and I can't imagine how I would have missed it.  It won't come out, so I tried coffee staining over the area to hide it, and decided I will just continue on, age it more, and live with it. 

My birthday is this month and I almost didn't make it to 61.  I wanted to clean my parents' shiny black stone (which has grass clippings stuck all over) and put a 7-day candle in for Father's Day.  I went to the cemetery this morning with a bucket of water, a spray bottle with soapy cleaner, the tall heavy brass candle holder, a 12" tall glass candle, my keys, and a lighter.   As I was walking, I stepped into a deep hole that was hidden in the grass, twisted my ankle and went down, and couldn't stop it with my hands full.  I don't remember what hit, but my left shoulder and right arm are numb.  Did I worsen my neck or twist my back?  Don't know.  But my ankle is better and I was extremely lucky that the 16" long spike attached to the bottom of the candle holder didn't pierce me.  It never occurred to me until I started sinking it into the ground that this huge spike could have ended it all!  Yikes.  I came home, took Advil, hung my head to relieve neck pressure, and then got a chuckle from this.

CAT NIP

CAT NIPPED!

Don't forget - this post for entries - state that you want to be entered - make sure I can contact you.

Right now it's time for more Advil - thank you for visiting - have a great week!

Moving on

Hello all!  Thank you so much for the comments on Lucy.  I honestly had my doubts more than once that she would ever be completed.  She will be framed but until then....guess what? 

 I went to a primitive show at The Hidden Den in Salem, Ohio last weekend and found this.  It's very large - 24 x 25 on the inside.  Now, I don't have to tell you where this is going.  I planned on it just taking up wall space in a bedroom until I was pressing Lucy and thought.....hmmmmm..







 

It will take me some time to decide on the type of frame I want so she can stay here for a while. 

I also found this cupboard which I adore.  It's very long (37") and narrow (12"), perfect for a sampler on the door. 

Eliza Pumroy was my first thought and if too wide to fit between the door's frame, I can always hang it inside with the door open.  It was my first visit to that shop and to Bridgewater Primitives in Alliance, Ohio.  Yowser.  I was in heaven. Over an hour drive from here and I will certainly visit again.  I took photos and will sneak a few more into future posts.

 

I'm not a fan of Facebook and its invasive practices, but I think you can find this shop there.  Lots of textiles, antiques, hand mades, large wood pieces,  great scents, with helpful and welcoming service.

After a wasted two days searching for BOAF's Gold Santa, I finally found him.  I knew he was in a clear pocket with the others but tore the house apart and couldn't find him.  Luck would have it, I dropped a Dove chocolate between my end table and the sofa arm.  It fell right into a canvas bag that is hanging from the table, and holding exactly what I was looking for.  See?  When I organize and actually have something where it should be, I still can't find it.  

I started Malabar Farm twice, and I'm still not happy with the fabric count. 

I don't have linen higher than 32 and I will search through them for what appears to be a tighter weave.  I know 32 is 32, but is it just me or do some same count fabrics appear to have a smaller stitch?   I actually considered over one on 25 count (did you feel a shift in the universe) but the holes in the linen look too big.  I'm really getting weird.  Aida is something I've used only a few times but I'm seeing quite a few pieces on 18 count, aged, and looking damn good.  I don't have any - no store around here has anything other than 14 count.  I plan on placing a chart order soon and will probably add a piece to the order along with a (gulp!) 35 count piece of linen.  AUGH!!   

I also don't have but one of the required colors and there isn't a DMC option, I'm too lazy to look up a conversion, so I chose my own.  The peacock is that gorgeous Gingersnap.  I have a few other things to mention but don't want to make this longer than it is, and really need to get moving outside. 

 I bought the cats a canvas fish filled with catnip hanging from elastic, hung it from the 2' shepherd's hook, and Nitwit is having a ball. 

Enjoy your day - which is already the middle of June - stay safe, and thanks for visiting!

A letter to Lucy

The young ambitious girl, who stitched her first design
through all my samplers had never before, entered in my mind.

But you my dear were different, and gave me such a fight

I knew there was a reason, so I gave it all my might.

Could I complete a large design without setting it to flame?
There’d be no excuse and if I fail, only myself to blame.

Temptation reared to taunt me, that fire glowing bright
but I held fast and stitched ahead, much to my delight.

Did Mom meet you in heaven, and whisper in your ear

it’s time for me to learn patience, in this my 60th year?

Some say that family also stitched and completed this for you
were you trying to tell us that the story isn’t true?

 Or maybe if you failed to finish, you came to sit with me
and encouraged me to the very end, so completed it would be.

Why ever I was chosen, the reason will never be quite clear
but what I’ve gained from your devilish help, I’ll always hold so dear.

A vision of a giggling girl, tall with dark brown hair
was happening so frequently we soon became a pair.

For this you taught me Lucy, have patience, don’t live in haste
To rush through life without a pause would truly be a waste.

I thank you for this Lucy and was honored to be worthy
I’ll miss you and I wish you well, in your eternal journey.


Love,
Marlene