Colonial America meet the 21st Century

Colonial Gathering Club Kit #3

Plum Street Samplers

Cotton Bird

35 count Old Mill Java by R & R 

Fibers by Classic Colorworks

I finally put the final stitches into Cotton Bird in the wee hours of the morning--it's the time of day Miss Callie Mae and I enjoy the most.  One of my goals for 2014 is to stay current with the club projects--this one required much discipline and iron will determination to finish.  

As I was stitching Cotton Bird, I kept thinking about how I wanted to finish this project--my cupboard is running over with pillows and I wanted something different than a pillow.

I have decided to finish Cotton Bird as a purse.

Cotton Bird, the design will be featured on one side of the purse.

 Colonial America meet the 21st Century.  The purse is for my Kindle--the finished size of the design is a perfect fit!

The fabric was inspired by a quilt from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln designed by Kathy Hall with Jo Morton for Andover Fabric.  Since Paulette, the designer lives in Nebraska seems only right to choose some coordinating fabric from Nebraska.  The cording which goes around the purse is DMC 3768--it's the same color as the small blue flowers in the fabric.  

I'm glad I didn't wimp out and finished the kit.  I'm also pretty pleased with myself for finally finding the perfect purse for my kindle.  Two of my favorite things joined together:  reading and stitching.  Life is Good!

Of course, I have my next project selected.  I'm hoping with the St. Charles Needlework Market coming up August 15-16 the girls at R & R and the fourth kit from the Colonial Gathering Club will be shipping later in August or maybe even September.  

I had hoped to stitch a small project in between kits.  This design is by La D Da and is called Birdy Stitching Roll.  Lori Markovic released this design at the 2014 Nashville Needlework Market.  Am planning to stitch Grandmother Bessie's name inside this stitching roll.  There is another stitching roll by La D Da called Stitcher's Roll--thought it might be fun to stitch and include the name of Bessie's sister Maggie.  Oh the plans of mice and men.

Lori stitched Birdy Stitching Roll with 30 count "Straw" linen by Weeks.  I didn't have any of this linen in my stash so I am using 30 count Cocoa and NPI silks instead of the overdyes.  

It's hot, there is a Tom Hanks movie marathon on the tube and I have my tumbler of Diet Pepsi poured, the makings of a great Sunday afternoon stitch-a-thon.

Colonial Gatherings

Look what AppleJack picked up for me at the LNS shop today!  It's The Strawberry House (Academy) kit #2 of the Colonial Gatherings Club.  Betty, the finisher is awesome!

  I always know her finishing is going to be exquisite when the shop owner begins the conversation with "she's just outdone herself."  AppleJack painted the box for me with milk paint and I found some Jo Morton fabric in my fabric stash which I thought would work.

On Friday, the mail man delivered kit #3 Cotton Bird.  This is the second design by Paulette at Plum Street Samplers.  I ripped open that package from Dying to Stitch faster than a child opening presents from Santa at Christmas.  

35 ct. Old Mill Java linen from R & R and Classic Colorworks Floss--yum, yum.  Classic Colorworks Floss is new to me and this is my first time stitching with it.  With colors with names like Avocado, Cherry Cobbler, Persimmon and Old Money it's hard to go wrong.  

I couldn't wait to thread my needle and sink those beautiful colors into the linen.  This is a truly enjoyable piece to stitch.

I have been racking my brain thinking about how I want to finish Cotton Bird.

I'm thinking about finishing it as a purse (like the one above)using some stash fabric on one side and the design on the other side?  What do you think?

I found this fabric in my stash (yep, Jo Morton, she's hard to beat)and think it might work.

No, I haven't forgotten about Harry Tyler's lion.  There is still stitching to be done but he's coming along.

Check out the cool fabric I found at the quilt store for the backing.  

2014 is going to be my year of Colonial Gatherings!  I have so many in-between projects I want to stitch to add to the Colonial Gatherings kits it's hard to go to sleep at night.  Maybe I'll just stitch a little later and pay the price in the morning.