Tailgate Antiques

Today, my partner in crime aka Carmen and I went to the Tailgate Antiques Show at the Hendersonville Expo Center.  The exhibitors/dealers have beautiful rooms set up with antique furniture, rugs, quilts, samplers, etc. We attend these shows to get our creative juices flowing, to learn about antiques and drool.

Aplogizies for the hanging side ways photo--I was taking photos with my new cell phone and my cell phone and I are still in the getting acquainted phase of our relationship. 

Ken and Sue Zippel from Country Corner Antiques were two of the nicest people.  They specalize in antique samplers!  We spent lots of time drooling in this booth looking at Adam and Eve samplers.  Samplers stitched on 45 ct linen, samplers with quirky angels. 

Next weekend is The Gathering.  This is a new to us event.  Hopefully, my cell phone and I will be in a more cooperative relationship by next Saturday.



Thinking Ahead

While Miss Callie Mae and I have been decorating for fall I have been thinking ahead to Fall 2013.  I found this forgotten kit in my stash and think it would be a great addition for fall decorating and a nice addition to the tombstone angels. 

A stop at the LNS for Gentle Arts roasted marshmallow and Weeks linen fibers has been all set to begin stitching.

Favorite Fall Films

I have been known to sleep with all the lights on and nail the windows shut after watching a scary movie or reading a scary novel.  Suffice to say AppleJack is not pleased.  There is no scary movie watching at Thistle Manor.  One of my favorite Halloween Films is It's The Great Pumpkin with Charlie Brown.



"On Halloween night, The Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch and flies through the air with his bag of toys to all the children. "

"If I only had a brain."

Another one of my favorite fall/Halloween movies is The Wizard of Oz.  Wish I had a nickel for every time I had said, "if I only had a brain."  There are so many great lines from this movie.  I have watched this movie so many times, I can almost quote the script.  Another one of my favorite lines is "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore." 

"That's Fronkensteen"

I'm getting comfortable in the stitching chair, pulling out my stitching stash, and singing along with my favorite fall movies.

Liberty Hill has joined the party

The fall decorating party at Thistle Manor

Liberty Hill 2010

Salem House for Halloween

Harvest Moon, candles in the window and pumpkins

Tombstones

Liberty Hill First Colony Tombstone (the wire handle is one of my favorite things)

And just in time for fall 2012 is Halloween Jack, his face is too scary!  I found the owl scissors and thought they would work with scary Jack.

Caramel Apple Cider in the CrockPot

One of my favorite things about fall is Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider.  My tastebuds love this hot delicious drink, my budget does not.  I found this recipe on Pinterest. 

4 cups apple cider
3 tablespoons caramel syrup (the ice cream topping)
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
4 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Use a 2 quart slow cooker.
Mix all ingredients together, stir and cook on low for about 4 hours


As the ingredients simmer, the house smells delicious.  This is a great drink to serve for fall gatherings.

Fall Comes to Thistle Manor (Part II)

JennyBean
Halloween Sampler

Shakespear's Peddler

I love fall!  The cooler temperatures, wearing sweaters,  hot apple cider, pots of soup simmering on the stove.

Curse of the Raven

Carriage House Samplings

Children and adults are filled with the excitement of fall and Halloween parties.

Visits to the pumpkin patch and corn mazes.

The colors of the leaves--yellows, oranges, reds--are vibrant and beautiful!

Pumpkin pie, Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin candles

Walks to the woods searching for bittersweat

Plum Street Sampler

My Pretties

Chessie and Me
Crow on Pear Wool Applique

Crimson leaves from my favorite tree

Crimson leaves from the oak leaf hydrangea

Fall comes to Thistle Manor

Blackird Designs

Midnight Watch

(the cat reminds me of Callie Mae)

Jo Morton Country Spice 

Black Cats

Blackbird Designs

Midnight Watch

Hooked rug version

(Yes, I really liked this design)

Let the decorating begin!

Good things in small packages

Witches have been known to fly all twelve months at Thistle Manor, not just Halloween.  And this Witch has included a place for Callie Mae to fly with her on the broom stick. 

One of my favorite magazines filled with samplers both old and new.

30 ct hand dyed linen from The Primitive Hare and Anne Boleyn scissors.  The scissors are divine.

Good things do come in small packages!

Southern Festival of Books

This weekend on what Nashvillians call Legislative Plaza is the Festival of Books.  If you enjoy reading, it is a great event.  There are a few hundred authors present talking about their books and answering questions.

I went to listen to Gillian Flynn talk about Gone Girl.  Have you read this book?  WOW!  Gillian is currently writing the screen play for Gone Girl.  Reese Weatherspoon will be producing the movie.  Although Reese looks like the character Amy, it has not been announced who will be cast in this role. 



This is Legislative Plaza site of the Festival.  The War Memorial Bldg is the building with the tall columns on the right side of the photo.  Many of the panels, book discussions, lectures, and book signings are held at the War Memorial Building.



This is the inside of the Nashville Public Library, another site for many of the festival events.  It is a beautiful building and won a national design competition. 



This is the outside of public library.

Now, I am faced with a dilemma read or stitch? 

Fall Sampler--Birds of a Feather

The fall sampler is framed and has arrived just in time for the seasonal festivities.  Over the next several weeks and months, family and friends will be coming to Thistle Manor.  The colors just scream fall.

The swirls in the frame are similar to the swirls in the border.

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes on our 25th anniversary.  AppleJack is not in the hubby dog house--he was just being AppleJack with his response.  There are some plans in the works!  

25 years ago . . .

Blackbird Designs

I Thee Wed

On a cool, overcast Sunday AppleJack and me said "I do and I will."  We exchanged our wedding vows in a friends log house in front of a roaring fire.  The event was small and simple. 

R & R Reproductions

To Have and To Hold

Prior to exchanging our vows we sat down with a legal pad and pen.  The legal pad was not for making wedding plans, it was for making life plans.  Each of us made two lists:  what it takes for this marriage to work and the deal breaker.  After the lists were made, there was a lengthy discussion.  Based on the lists and discussion we were either going to get married or . . .

Bargello Sewing Case

Cross Stitch Sampler Magazine Fall 1994

aka The Anniversary of the Anniversary Piece

Like most marriages and couples we have had the highs and lows, the ups and downs, the good and not so good.  We took the wedding vows seriously and our commitment to each other more seriously. 

Earlier today, I asked AppleJack "do you know what today is?"  He replied, "It's Thursday."  We are hopeless romantics!

Two Pinkeeps

Two Pinkeeps

The Goode Huswife 

35 ct Weeks Straw (I think)

Needlepoint Silk 928 Atlantic Blue Range and 696 Polomino Gold Range

Now, where is my needle?

Letters and Leaves

La D Da

Letters and Leaves (freebie)

Overdyed Stash Linen

Gentle Arts Black Crow and Forest Glade

This was a fun easy stitch!  Simple and restful.  Reminded me why I find stitching to be so enjoyable.  Off to the finisher for her to work her magic.

Next on the stitching agenda is Two Pinkeeps by The Goode Huswife.  I love golden oldies!

October . . .National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For those who know me . . . pink is my least favorite color.  For those who know me, they will be shocked to learn there is anything pink at Thistle Manor! To support and promote breast cancer awareness, I stitch pink.  These pieces are from the Elegant Stitch.

At Thistle Manor the annual mammogram is known as The Big Squeeze.  You know that moment, when the technician says "take a deep breath and say pancake."  For me, it is not an enjoyable visit, but a necessary one.  I equate The Big Squeeze with The Peek.  Take as much time as you need to think on this one.

Waiting

While I am waiting for the 30 ct hand dyed linen to arrive for the Pineberry Lane Lydia sampler, I will be stitching smalls.  Letters and Leaves is a freebie design by La D Da, the design has been around for several years and I am just now getting around to stitching it.

I am using some 28 ct stash green/gray linen which I over dyed with my home made walnut concoction.  I am using Gentle Arts threads Black Crow and Forest Glade.  The Black Crow looks more blue than black to me.

Found some great backing fabric in my quilting sash box and I feel pretty confident I will be able to find some trim in my trim stash box.

It's a simple easy stitch, great for watching The Closer reruns.