August 15, 2012

Happy Birthday to my Mom!!!!  This is the first birthday in a long time that we have not spent together.....my Mom is off to visit friends and family in Texas for her birthday this year. 

Last weekend we were able to take her masterpiece needlepoint finish off to Tomorrow's Heirloom's for framing.  My Mom had an envelope that was written by my Grandpa to my Grandma in the 1930's transferred to canvas.  At the time, my Grandpa was working in Chicago and my Grandma was still in their hometown of New Carlisle, Indiana (one of my favorite places on Earth!).  This was before they were married.  My Grandpa had such beautiful handwriting.  This is such a treasure!  This envelope represents three of the most important people in my life.....just pure love.

I can't believe my Mom is 71 today!  She sure does not look it. 

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!  I love you very very much!!!

As Abraham Lincoln once said:"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

September 2012 Small

I didn't want you to miss out on seeing this month's small over on the 2012 Year of Smalls blog.  Isn't this one just fab???

This month's small was selected and stitched by Patti.  Isn't Miss Fancey just perfect????  This is Fancey's Sunflowers by Pineberry Lane.  I just love Pineberry Lane!!

 Patti stitched hers without the bottom part that lists the year 1799. 

Aren't these DMCs just Gorgeous!!!!!

If you are interested in kitting this project up, just pop on over to the smalls blog....see link in upper right hand corner.  

Thanks Patti for a perfect pick for the upcoming fall season.  I know we are all excited about some cooler temperatures!

Interview with Linda

 

Here is the interview with Linda Crowe who selected this month's beautiful small, Acorns and Sunflowers by Beehive Needleworks over on the 2012 Year of Smalls blog.  Linda has her own blog, Keeper of the Crowes, which showcases her stunning stitching!  Click here to visit:  Keeper of the Crowes

Q:  When and why did you start cross-stitching?

A:  It seems as though I’ve been cross stitching forever! Actually, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have some kind of needle in my hand, but cross stitch was just “it” for me!!!  I think it’s in my genes.  My mother knitted, hooked rugs, did various types of needlework and painted. Her father did leather tooling in New York in the 1800’s. He created and executed the designs used at that time in furniture making.  I just like that connection to the past. The funny thing is, no other female relatives in my family can even thread a needle!! LOL!

Q:  What is your stitching schedule like?  Every day?  only when you feel like it?  

A:    I stitch each morning for about an hour, then again in the late afternoon, and in the evening when my schedule allows.

Q:  How has your stitching changed over the  years?  (charts, linen, etc.)

A:  Well, I stitch on linen and prefer 36 or 40 count. I do silk conversions whenever I can. And, thanks to my stitching buddies, my awareness of so  many different designers has expanded greatly. Oh, yes, my “stash” has “ expanded”, as well.

Q:  Could you tell us about your dream stitching day?  (stitching or shopping or whatever this means to you)

A:  Fortunately I get to live my dream stitching day every time I get together with my stitching group. No one has more fun than we do!!!   

Q:  Could you tell us some of your favorite designers?

A:    Oh my gosh, there are too many to mention. But, if you ask me who I would buy sight unseen, that would have to be Blackbird Designs and Brenda Gervais.

Q:  What are some of your favorite pieces you have stitched?

A:  I can’t seem to put my Shepherd’s Bush “snowmen” away. They stay up all year!!!  I love all my patriotic designs, but my favorite designs that are being displayed at the moment are Let Us Be Truly Thankful the American Edition from Heartstring Samplery and Land of the Free by BBD.  I also love my Springtime Social  piece by Brenda Gervais.( I know it’s a favorite of yours, too, Laura.) The new Christmas Garden design by BBD  and The Birds & The Bees by Carriage House Samplings are also among my favorites. 

  

Q:    What made you pick this month's small?

 A:  The early style of the design just really appealed to me.   I love sunflowers and the fact that they are two toned, with those acorns and in that urn!!! It was a “no brainer” for me!! 

Q:  Do you believe in stitching on one piece at a time or do you switch around a lot between pieces?

A:  LOL!!! Laura, you know me too well.  Yes, I like to stitch one piece at a time. 

Thanks Linda!  It is fun to get your take on stitching!  

Interview with Karin

Over on the 2012 Year of Smalls blog I try to get an interview each month with the stitcher who picked that month's small.  I am a month behind which means that in short order two interviews will be posted.

The first one is with Karin who picked the small for July which is The Crown's Sampler by Nicky's Creations.  Please pop over to the smalls blog to learn more about our little project.  In the meantime, please enjoy some stitching talk with Karin who now lives in Illinois but is a Dutch girl from Holland.

Q:  How long have you been stitching and how did you learn how to stitch?

A:  I have been stitching since I was 15 years old. I learned to stitch by myself.  The way I discovered cross stitch is quite funny.  I worked in a convenience store on the weekends and there was an offer from a cigarette brand. When someone would buy a few packs they got a mini kit from Lanarte. One of the customers didn't want the kit and offered it to me. I looked at it and as it was quiet in the store I started it right there and then!  Hooked ever since!
 

Q:   Is there a difference in stitching (shops, designers, retreats) between Europe and America?

A:  There certainly is! Of course there is more availability in America and it seems more popular, although the last couple of years I noticed more is coming out of Europe. Especially the French have more designers getting international interest which is great! Unfortunately there is not a lot of cross stitch everywhere in Europe. Before moving to the US I lived in Ireland for over 5 years and there was nothing!! Even finding DMC was almost impossible. Luckily there was the internet and I ordered everything online. So you can imagine that I was like a kid in a candy store when I moved to the US and visited a cross stitch store!  There were not many possibilities for retreats in Europe. One shop in London, Hanging By A Thread, organized classes with US designers and that was always so much fun!
 

Q:  What is your favorite cross-stitch accessory?

A:  Definitely scissors...I am a collector!

Q:  Do you have a tip for people who would like to try to stitch on 36 or 40 count?
 

A:  Just give it a try! The result is so beautiful and stitching with just one thread is wonderful, no need to worry if the threads are laying nicely. With a pair of readers or a magnifier it will even be easier!

Q:  How often do you stitch?

A:  I try to stitch every night while watching TV.

Q:  Who are 3 of your favorite designers?
 

A:  That is a difficult question....there are so many. I would say Blackbird Designs, Shepherd's Bush and I love reproduction samplers, especially Dutch ones and Quaker Samplers.

Q:   What is your favorite fabric to stitch on?

A:  36 or 40 count Lakeside Linen.
 

Q:  Can you tell us a story of a time that you were truly on a stitching "high?"

 A:  I think it is every time I am together with my stitching buddies:-)

______________________________________

Thanks for the interview Karin!!!

Tuesday Night Stitching

Tuesday night stitching at Inspired Needle sure brought out lots of beauties to look at from my friends!!!!!!  Above are the BBD drums finished by Pat and Karin.  Love them!!!  Pat did hers on the called for linen count and Karin did hers on 40 count.  Hence, the difference in sizes.

Karin was recently in Colorado.  She visited a shop which had this exclusive BBD chart.  So cool!!!!!  Can't believe she already finished it!

And yet another Gorgeous finish by Karin!!!!!  Breathtaking!!!!!!!!

Karin also finished the retreat piece from the Tree of Life Samplings retreat we went on in June.  Gorgeous!

Kellie recently went on vacation in Michigan.  She brought us all back a darling little felted bag.  So cool!!!!!!  So thoughtful!!!

Jayne started Mother's Garden from BBD.  This is stunning!!!!

Another finish from Karin.  This is by Primitive Betty.

Here was an exciting moment.  Kellie has a little secret.  She stitches and stitches and stitches but then does not do anything with her finishes.  She has a ton of beautiful finishes!!!!!!  So, I "encouraged" her to bring them with her to the shop so that we could decide on which she should start framing right away!  Here you see a lay out of finishes that would look good together. 

The garden piece would be at the top and then a medley of Elizabeth's Designs cottages with two Drawn Thread alphabet pieces flanking them.  It will be breathtaking!

I mean, it would be a crime not to frame these right????

 

Lastly, we have two AMAZING finishes by Pat and Karin.  These hearts are just so great.  Arghahahaha!  I just want to go stitch them right now!!!

Thanks to my stitching buddies for sharing all of your work with me!!!

Best Laid Plans!

Well, my plans for an Olympic project totally fell through!!!!!  So, instead of starting and finishing a new project I am attempting to stitch on things that are close to done!  Last night I pulled this beauty out of the stash and it is just a blast to stitch on!!!!

This is Liberty Belles by Little House Needleworks.  For a minute I was stitching on this and was kind of mad because these colonial women were not allowed to vote at the time that is depicted here. (Can you even imagine women not being allowed to vote???) So, I decided to stitch these women and pretend they are suffragettes!!!!  Now I really love this project.

 I finished the stitching on Winter Night's Drum by Blackbird Designs!!!  I used the called for thread.  Instead of putting my name on the drum I put my Grandma's name!!!  Cool!

 This is 1776 by Prairie Moon.  Love it!!!  It is semi-close to a finish.

Having lots of fun watching the Olympics and stitching!!!  Hope you are too!