Market 2018

Oliver

Stacy Nash Animal Cracker Crumbs series

Mystery Stash linen

Gentle Arts Shaker fibers:  Black Licorice, Carriage Black, Endive and Lambswool

Nashville Needlework Market 2018 has come and gone and what a market it was!  Those designers just keep getting better and better!  To see some of the goodness of market watch Kitten Stitcher on Flosstube or Needle in a Haystack.  There are other Flosstube's about market, I just haven't had time to watch them.  Local Needlework Shops are having market days and their websites are brimming with new things.  

Isn't Oliver just the sweetest little guy?  He has a very lovable face.  Lady Dot Creates with her wonderful ribbons, pom pom trims and rick rack will add more goodness to Oliver.  I have some rayon ribbon to add: Black Licorice and Jack.  I found an old rusty bell in my stash which I will also add.

La D Da

Fraktur Scissor Block and Fob Kit

Lori (La D Da) always adds the nicest touches.  

Both Oliver and the Scissor block were very quick and easy pieces.  

It's a rainy day in Nashville--a great day to stitch.  What next?  Maybe one of the strawberries from the Blackbird Girls, Deck the Halls.

Colonial Gathering

Christmas Gathering 2014

Colonial Gathering Club from Dying to Stitch

Designed by Paulette Stewart (Plum Street Sampler)

35 count Creek Bed Brown, R & R Reproductions

Gentle Arts:  Piney Woods, Country Redwood, Chamomile, Oatmeal and Deep Forest

This little snow bird was singing from the stash to be completed.  

The Nashville Needlework Market begins in four days!  Samplers and seasonal, linens, fibers, waxers, ribbons and collaboration between designers and shop owners will be revealed.  My shopping list grows longer, my wallet grows thinner, the designs are better, it's a great time to be a needleworker.  

President's Day

Monday, February 19th is President's Day.  In honor of George and the rest of the boys, I thought I would change the Valentine's Day decorations to more of a colonial theme. 

This is not Mount Vernon, but it reminds me of Mount Vernon, such an interesting place to visit.  This piece if from the Colonial Gatherings Club.

My colonial lady--she is a Goode Housewife piece.  Isn't it wonderful Kathy and Anne are re-releasing the Goode Housewife designs?

Harry Tyler's lion

Another Colonial Gathering Club piece, this one is from Paulette Stewart, Plum Street Samplers.

Do you think George slept under a woven coverlet?

or a quilt?  While he was freezing his hiney off at Valley Forge, I hope he was grateful for either one and appreciative of the hands who made the coverlet or quilt.

During my time off during the Christmas holidays, I listened to Hamilton (29 cds).  Listening to the story of Alexander Hamilton and his life and contributions opened and changed my mind.  There are not enough adjectives to describe Hamilton and our forefathers.  They were brilliant and flawed.  Hamilton's story made me realize politics (dirty politics) has been a part of our country's story since the very beginning.

President's Day is also a time to remember the ladies:  Martha (Washington), Abigail (Adams) and Dolly (Madison) and the women who made a selfless contribution to the USA.  

How will you be celebrating President's Day?  Stitching, hooking, quilting, watching the Olympics, dreaming of spring?

Jo's Little Favorites III

Guess who is releasing a new book in March?  

A pineapple--I'm in trouble

I have the perfect fabric already picked for this.

A girl can never have too many star quilts.

March has the makings of a very busy month:  the Nashville Needlework Market, a new Jo Morton book, March Madness with Lisanne Miller and spring gardening.  I better catch up on my rest and be ready to hit the ground running with all these events.

Out of Step, Out of Season

Stacy Nash Primitive Designs

Goode Stitching Witch Sewing Tray (September 2015)

35 count Dames of the Needle Linen Dirty Ewe

Gentle Arts Threads:  Straw Bonnet, Garden Gate, Carriage Black, Heirloom Gold

The last day of January 2018 it is still winter and I am stitching fall pieces.  Go figure!  Am trying to stitch up my pieces which will not be framed (am tired of looking at the empty boxes).  The Goode Witch with the tiny waist has a ribbon for her waist--I found it while I was organizing projects.

Tomorrow's Heirlooms 2017

La D Da

October 31

32 count Zweigart Copper Penny

Weeks Dye Works:  Onyx, Caper and Cognac

An almost finish--some more border work.  Lori (La D Da) mounted this piece onto a craft board.  

Who knows what out of season piece I will stitch next--Thanksgiving, 4th of July.

Igolochkoy

Karen Amadio Gates

Folk Art Designs

Punch Needle Miniatures

#105 Stars and Stripes

I did it!  I finally finished my first punch needle!  This is probably one of my oldest WIP's.  In 2017 I set a goal for myself to learn/improve punch needle.  

This is the back--not great, but acceptable.  The finished piece measures 3" x 3."  It was a learning piece.  I used the Igolochkoy one strand punch needle.  My two biggest challenges:  the small needle made my hand cramp and keeping the weavers cloth drum tight in the hoop.

There is lots of detail in this guy and this may be more challenging than my skill level, but he would be a great piece for fall Thanksgiving.

It is a super cold (14 degrees) super snowy day in Music City and finishing one piece has given me motivation to return to my sheep project.  Holding the Cameo needle is not as challenging as punching with the Igolochkoy.

AppleJack spray painted and distressed a cigar box for me.  With the addition of twisted cord and quilt batting it will be finished just in time to celebrate President's Day in February.

2017 Year in Review

Time seems to move at mock speed.  I begin each day with great intentions and look at the clock and realize the day is almost gone.  Time is precious, use it wisely has become my new mantra.  For those of you who participate in stitch mania I applaud  you--I am to cowardly.  For others who have chosen BAP monster projects I salute you.  Looking at my to do list, it seems achievable, until distractions start eating into my time.

Needlework 

M. Quertier 1799

Scarlet Letter

House on Pumpkin Hill

Stacy Nash 

The Keyskeeper

The Primitive Hare

Poinsettia Stocking

Blackbird Designs

April Bunny

NickysCreations

Casting a Spell

Blackbird Designs

Berry Days at Thistle Down Farm

With Thy Needle and Thread

Quilting

Half Square Triangle Challenge
Jo Morton

Gardening

Tinny

Basketmaking

Zinnia Basket

Wool

Whale

Prairie Road Designs

Snowman Ornament

Primitive Gatherings

So. . . I can either beat myself up or be thankful for the projects I completed.  Am so very thankful M. Quertier is completed, she was a big project and has been in my stash for years.  M. Quertier along with Faye's beautiful Quaker sampler wall has given me motivation to stitch another Quaker sampler.  

Is very cold here and I have spent much time in my stitching room cleaning, sorting, organizing and prioritizing projects.  Time well spent.  Year in Review can be painful or it can be a motivator.  

2018 Goals. 

Needlework:  

Finish Margaret Cottam Mystery Sampler by La D Da, Emma Lerch by Scarlet Letter and Heaven and Nature Sing by Kathy Barrick.  All three of these pieces are more than one half stitched.  I allowed by stitching ADD to kick in and not finish them.  All three of these pieces sing to my heart and deserve to be finished!  

New starts:  Either Quaker Handework by Brenda Gervais or the Companion Quaker sampler to Beatrix Potter.  Have fallen in love with the concept of having an "Ackworth" sampler wall.

After working in my stitch room, I am putting myself on a self imposed budget and diet!  Market is just a few weeks away and I need to carefully and thoughtfully think about my purchases.  Clubs are great, the mailman and I have a special relationship--he makes me smile when he delivers a club piece.  I need to concentrate on finishing the club pieces I have instead of accumulating more inventory!

Quilting

Jo Morton is releasing Jo's Little Favorites III in March.  Yes, I have preordered a copy.  I have three Jo Morton quilts in progress:  Churn Dash, Court House Steps and Stars.  Sad to say, all three of these projects are more than one half completed.  All three of these quilts make my heart  happy and deserve to be finished!  Jo's Little Favorites III contains the instructions for completing a pineapple quilt--a quilt I have always hoped to make.  

During my organizational efforts, I discovered a large stash of red, white and blue fabric and am going to complete another quilt of valor:  Laundry Basket's flag quilt.

Wool

Only one completed wool project in 2017--that is dismal!  Shelby's Fat Cat was a 2016 Christmas present.  I spent time at the July Beat the Heat event purchasing wool and have not pulled one piece of wool!  Liseanne Miller is coming in March for a wool event at Montgomery Bell State Park called March Madness.  There will be incredible rugs and projects to motivate me and Liseanne there to guide me with tips, techniques and color selection.  

Penny Rug--I have pennies cut and sewn and this is a great carry in the project car.  During my lunch hour I can sew pennies.

Maggie Bonanomi is releasing a book in June (?) called Pure and Simple.  Maggie's books are great and can be enjoyed on so many levels.  (Yes, I have preordered)

Punch Needle

Not one completed punch needle project!  Disappointing.  I am determined to improve my skills and complete the two projects which I have started:  Shepherds Shade and Stars and Stripes.  Stop thinking everything has to be perfect and just do it!

Gardening

There is purchased lumber sitting in our garage for raised beds.  We had intended to build the raised beds during my Christmas break--the weather had other plans.  I am not a wimp.  The thought of being outside when the temps are below freezing and it is so cold I cannot hold a hammer is not a happy thought.  Next Year (my garden) received more care and attention in 2017 than in previous years.  The garden rewards me with beautiful flowers--she deserves my time. 

No judgement please--this is am ambitious list!  The list was made to give me direction.  The next two days will be filled with football, projects, and hot soups on the stove.