Trash, treasures and tomatoes

 Cleaning out closets has got to be one of my least favorite tasks.  Merging, purging, donating, downsizing, decluttering and rediscovering some lost treasures.  AppleJack saved this cookie tin for me, it was the perfect way to display my tomatoes.

A Little of this, a little of that

 This is Lady of the Lake, she’s a work in progress.  I hope to have her completed for the next Gathering.

Nashville had a storm blow through last Friday, March 3.  This is approx 250-300 yards from my house.  It was really scary.  I lost shutters and siding, lots of yard debris to clean up and a giant limb took out my split rail fence.  Thankful my home is still standing and intact.

Lucy always has a watchful eye on me.  She had some serious health issues and am thankful she is much improved.

Catherine

 

Catherington 1882 Needlework Press

40 count Old Massachusetts linen by The Primitive Hare

Gloriana Schoolhouse Red

Catherine Bright Price Plemmons was born November 25, 1837 in South Carolina.  Catherine's parents were Tobias Bright and Rachel McElrath Bright.  Her siblings were Rebecca, Tobias, Sarah and Mary.  The family moved from South Carolina to Madison County, North Carolina.  On August 7, 1858, Catherine married my Great Great Uncle, William Franklin Price.  

 To avoid prosecution and persecution by the North Carolina Home Guard, William joined the Army of the Confederate States of America.  He became part of the 2nd North Carolina Infantry, Company B.  He was killed in an ambush on July 1, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.  At the time of his death, William and Catherine had one son, John and she was pregnant with their second child.   

Catherine married Levi Plemmons on July 5, 1865.  Catherine and Levi had five children:  Jesse Sylvester Ray, Merimon Fletcher, Steven, Mary Elizabeth, Merrit R., and Harley.  Catherine and Williams sons became wards of their paternal Grandparents, Daniel and Nancy Price.  I have often wondered why these children lived with their Grandparents.  Was Catherine financially and emotionally unable to provide for the boys?  Was there a disagreement between the families? My Great Great Grandparents Daniel and Nancy lost two sons in the Civl War, William and Phillip Fidella.  William a soldier in the CSA and Phillip a soldier in the U. S. Army.   Perhaps these two grandchildren filled a void in their lives and helped them deal with the grief and death of their sons.  

Catherine died April 7, 1921 and is buried in the Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery in Madison County, North Carolina.  She died from valvulitis, an inflammation of the values of the heart probably caused by rheumatic fever.

This sampler was stitched in remembrance of Catherine.  Historians have described Madison County as the most disputed and fought over part of the mountains during the Civil War.  This sampler is a reminder to me of the strength and resilience Catherine demonstrated during her life.  

Rug Show from the Historic Franklin Rug Hooking Retreat

 

This rug is a wedding gift--what an amazing gift.  This photo does not even begin to do the workmanship in this rug justice.

Folk art!  This guys eyes are just the best.

I think this is Tom Turnkey--an adaptation of Lori Brechlin, Notforgotten Farm

My Country

Most appropriate for upcoming Thanksgiving--my favorite holiday.

ahh Spring

Tennessee is having a typical spring:  pleasant and in the 70's one day, and freezing cold the next day.  A light dusting of snow on the daffodils is common.

My Grandmother Bessie who was a great gardener always said, the colder the winter the prettier the spring.  Maybe 2020 taught us to look at things differently.

My neighbors shook their heads last year, when I decided to re work a garden bed in August!  Yes, I must admit it was hot, hot, hot.  

And when I am feeling discouraged, this flower rewards me and gives me courage to carry on.

Iris, sometimes called the poor man's orchid.  My father swore Iris could grow in concrete.

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just been super super busy.  Yes, I have stitching to share, some rug hooking and even a little quilting.  
 

The Winter which has lasted a week!

It rarely snows in Nashville.  The average snow fall is 4 inches a year.  Temperatures rarely dip below freezing.  That all changed this week.  It started with freezing rain and ice which covered the roads in 1-3" of solid ice, followed by a 3-4" of powdery snow and temps which haven't reached above freezing in a record setting seven days.  For my friends who are chuckling, I salute you and your winter surviving skills.  The entertainment for the week has been watching cars attempting to driving up and down the street, without getting stuck, stalled or taking out the neighbors mailbox. The happy side of this:  stitching.  

My Dear Hearts

Blackbird Designs 

32 count Weeks Dye Works Aztec Red

Haunted Stitches Needle-book

Stacy Nash

37 count Legacy Sotema Linen Russian Tea Cake

Cats on Parade

Blackbird Designs

40 count Weeks Dye Works Havana

Redwork Stitching Pocket & Chatelaine

Stacy Nash

40 ct Olde Massachusetts linen by The Primitive Hare 

Because I had finally finished the stitching on three projects, I treated myself to this new start.  It's all about the finishing on this one.  

In the spirit of practicing my year of the D (destash, declutter, donate) I found this design languishing in my stash.  Noel has been there a long, long time.  Notice she is on burlap and not linen.  Here is a clue to her age:  she was purchased at Joan Moshimer's shop in Maine!  Instead of shopping for wool, I visited by wool stash and found wools which will work.  Hopefully, the only wools which will need to be purchased are the nighttime blues for the background.  

The Nashville Needlework Market as I know it and love it has been cancelled for this year.  My wallet and my budget are thankful.  This gosh awful pandemic has taught me many things, shown be many things.  Am grateful so many have returned to the needle arts (stitching, quilting, rug hooking, wool appliqué).  I have so many wonderful designs, linens, and fibers in my stash--it has been fun to rediscover them and give them some much needed time and attention.

Todays goal:  Dig out.  The sun is shinning, today's high 38.  My to do list grows longer and longer. The good news: there is a high of 60 forecast for next week.  The bad news:  no one will be able to fit into their spring and summer clothes.

 Let Love Rule

Modern Folk Embroidery (Jacob de ????)

Mystery Linen from Stash

Gloriana Schoolhouse Red

Lady Dot Creates (chili) 2021 is going to be the year to stitch from stash.  Like most needleworkers, I have many charts, linens, and accessories in my stash and it's past time to stitch them.

 

Tied with Heart Strings

With Thy Needle and Thread (Brenda Gervais)

My version/conversion 

One of the many things I do which drives my partner-in-stitch-crime nuts is changing colors.  I change colors for many reasons:  I don't have the called color, the color doesn't match my backing fabric or I just don't like the color.

My Dear Hearts

Blackbird Designs

32 count Aztec Red 

AVAS 

Am trying something new with this stitch.  Carol, the Saltbox Stitcher stitches the border first.  Carol says this gives her landmarks.  It also lets you know the size of the completed stitch.

Token of Love

Pineberry Lane

Am hopeful, I can finish the Blackbird piece and start this, another design patiently waiting for me.   I found some pinkish velveteen which has also been in my stash.   While I'm not a pinkish kind of girl, I think it might work for Valentine's.