The Finishing Touch

Hello friends - I'm back for a quick evening post - it seems this is the quietest/easiest time of day to sit down and visit with you! Our household is on a crazy schedule at the moment and I am finding it a bit of a challenge. I thought I would stop by tonight and share some recent needlework finishes I completed for a favorite customer. This is the last of the needlework finishing for a little while and I will be back to cutting project bags and custom sewing orders later tonight. These needlework pieces were all for one  wonderful customer...and she is GREAT to work with - a box of needlework arrives with the instructions of "do whatever you think" - these are my favorite type of orders that make the time in my studio rewarding and fun. I truly adore orders like these, as I get to choose all the backing fabrics, shapes, and embellishments...and truth be told, that is my favorite part!! I had fun picking coordinating fabrics for the backs, picking trims (thanks to Lady Dot Creates) and making the twisted cord...and, as always, adding the finishing touches...

One piece I should share about is the needlepoint pillow (shown in upper right corner and below). I normally do not finish needlepoint or canvas pieces - they are definitely not my specialty...but this was a unique situation and the piece was in remembrance for a family member. The stitching wasn't quite complete and there were a couple stains - but I got it cleaned up, pressed and blocked the best I could. The original idea was to trim the pillow with piping or cord around the perimeter, but once I had the pillow created, I really liked the look without any edging. I sent photos to the stitcher and we agreed it looked good without. I was quite pleased with the end result. It is always rewarding when something special turns out as imagined.

I hope you enjoy these images...and maybe you will be inspired to pull out your most recent cross stitch piece and do a little needlework finishing yourself. Designers/details are listed with the images when available...fabrics in the photos are used for backing...

Needlepoint Canvas by Bucilla
(I do not have a title or year)

Needlepoint Pillow Back

Let It Snow - Threadwork Primitives

Jingle All The Way - Just Another Button Company (I think)

Jingle All The Way - Ornament Back

Family Mittens by Cricket Collection

Grand Olde Flag by With thy Needle & Thread
My finishing idea - model is flat finished.

Grand Olde Flag Hanging

Summer Stroll by Just Nan

Spell of the Moon by Backbird Designs

Tom Turkey Sampler by Heart in Hand

Love Sampler by Heart in Hand
My finishing idea - valentine/letter holder - model was framed.
I 💗 this!!

I am now headed down to my cutting room to prepare project bags until my husband gets home from work. Yes friends, the sleep schedule is insane here and the struggle is real...my daily routine is completely out of sorts. I'm guessing I have over a hundred bags to cut, so I have plenty to keep me occupied...plus I'm listening to a great book (I LOVE Audible) that will keep me company (along with the dogs - they love the cool basement floor!). I have more creative things to share with you, so I should be back another late night this week...

Books and Blessings

I have gotten a bit behind on my blog posts...and I have so many creative and inspiring things to share with you! I have been doing more stitching and sewing - having lots of fun in my studio...plus I am celebrating a birthday this month and I have received some really artistic and crafty gifts I can't wait to tell you about...each and every day has been full of beauty and surprises.

Last Thursday, I received a bright and cheerful gift in the mail from my fabulous friend Elizabeth - a lovely needlepoint scissor case! This triangular, pink and orange poppies scissor case was just what I needed to see during this long, hard winter. Inside, there is a ribbon to attach a pair of scissors - and I found the perfect pair in my collection...I just love this...

Then I got to start off my weekend right with "Friendship Friday"...yep, it was time for lunch with my BFFs Mary and Lorrie...and this time Kimber was able to join us too! We met at a local restaurant for a little food and fellowship (always my favorite Friday of the month). I had no idea the girls planned to celebrate my birthday, so when they showered me with gifts, I was a bit emotional and overwhelmed. I feel so blessed to have these three beautiful, strong, inspiring women in my life - they are all truly incredible. We enjoyed a long lunch and it was exactly what I needed. I have to share just a few of the creative gifts they had for me...

Lorrie made me tear-up with a unique stitched pocket watch...I just adore the little woman with a crown (Give Love by The Little Stitcher) that is Cross Stitch over-one...and the two vintage buttons are a great accent. I placed it on a piece of Valentine fabric my friend Mary gave me...

Lorrie also gifted me with an incredible book that she just knew I would love - The World of Wooden Bobbins: The Story of Old Wooden Textile Bobbins by Graham Fellowes (Editor), David Harban (Photographer) - ISBN 10: 0964672006 / ISBN 13: 9780964672000. This book is an excellent resource for bobbin collectors, as it contains extensive history and particulars...plus, there are more than 300 images (many color). It is extremely detailed, while remaining easy to read...and I have found it quite interesting to look up the bobbins in my collection and read about their history and uses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in wooden bobbins...

I also received a wonderful book from Mary - Sonoran Borders: Threads of Friendship by Vickie LoPiccolo Jennet. This beautifully illustrated book follows the fictional journey of two young girls, Feliciana and Emily, who met in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Territory more than a century ago. Although their time together was brief, their friendship spans a lifetime through correspondence and a shared love of needlework. The book includes 11 inspiring projects with unique finishing ideas...and now that I have had a chance to look through this fabulous book, I must have the author's newest release A Schoolroom Alphabet: 12 Cross-Stitch Projects Based on an Antique Handkerchief...it is definitely going on my wish list!

Mary also gave me a Thirty-One Round-About Caddy filled with tons of treasures and goodies...yes, she spoiled me, as she always does! I really like this sturdy caddy with numerous pockets - it is extremely versatile and I can think of a half a dozen uses for it...plus it is black and white polka dot...too fun!!

I have so much more to share - but I will save some for another day...just wait until you see what my extremely talented friend Kimber made for me...and I received two more packages in the mail today (which I will save and open later in the week). My heart is full - I am feeling extremely blessed and beyond spoiled....

A Tea Party at ABC Stitch Therapy

I am finally back with another post about my recent teaching trip to New England. It has been a few crazy days playing catch-up after traveling for most of the month...I still have a pile of correspondence and various work tasks to accomplish, but things are slowly getting back to "normal". As of this afternoon, the to-do list is completely out of control, but I hope to get a handle on it over the next week...in all reality, I could really just use a day or two off to catch my breath and get some much needed sleep - but right now, that is not an option.

Today I wanted to share with you a little more about the New England Stitcher's Retreat that was held at the Enfield Shaker Museum (The Great Stone Dwelling House) last weekend. Marie (owner of ABC Stitch Therapy), Tricia (the shop manager), the entire staff at the shop, and Gail and Jackie (the marvelous hosts for the weekend) made sure everyone had a phenomenal time. Every little detail was taken care of, including: little gifts each day, special treats and snacks (some warm right out of the oven), a fun "Yankee Swap" game where everyone got a stitching prize...and even a tea party at the shop! I was able to spend lots of time with each attendee (my favorite part of my job!) - and I was happily surprised to see each of them in the classroom extra early in the morning...and each staying late well after class was supposed to disperse...and many stayed up with me until the wee hours stitching, giggling, and laughing - many finished their scissor fob and some finished their fob and pinkeep (or got a really good start!). The entire dwelling house was full of enthusiasm and smiles and it truly filled my heart with joy!

Earlier in the week, I shared some photos of the Dwelling House, the classroom, and the Enfield area with you - today, I thought I would share some photos of ABC Stitch Therapy...including the grand tea party! Marie recently moved the shop to a new location, just a "hop, skip, and a jump" from her previous building...and the new shop was incredible! There are lots of windows and good natural light - and TWO floors - when I walked in a was completely astounded. Standing in the doorway, there was a "mecca" of threads to my right...linens and fabrics with a cutting table straight ahead...and cross stitch charts, kits, accessories, and notions to my left...with models EVERYWHERE...upstairs was needlepoint heaven, with hand-painted canvases galore. If you are a needleworker, this shop is definitely worth a trip! So here are some photos I took of the shop (with Marie's permission) and a few photos of the tea party (as always, click on the photos for a larger view)...

ABC Stitch Therapy - Grantham, NH

Thread "mecca"....

Looking down from the upstairs level...

Stairs to the second level...

Needlepoint Canvases (Upstairs)

Me surrounded by beautiful needlepoint canvases...

Teacups for the tea party...

I'm pretending to serve the tea...check out all the wonderful treats....

Sharing a cup of tea with my dear friend Ruth (Sis, you look happy and beautiful!)...

My English Breakfast Tea and plate...
(a scone, an apple spice petit four, a roast beef tea sandwich, and a fruit tart)

I think you can see why I love teaching at the New England Stitcher's Retreat - the events, the shop, the food, the area, the accommodations - everything was a treat! I have to thank everyone who worked on the event planning - the hard-working and happy hosts (Jackie and Gail)....and all the attendees who made the journey to Enfield, NH - I hope to see you all again next year!!

In the next day or two, I will share some photos of my sightseeing with you...including some from King Arthur Flour...and a few from Delectable Mountain Cloth in Brattleboro, VT. To see all sorts of additional photos from my trip to New England, check out the albums on my Facebook page...and smartphone users can check out my Instagram album (user: BRDGIRL)...

For The Love of Needlework - Part 2

Here are a four more pieces my grandmother stitched...these four are a little smaller and are already hanging in my home....I truly treasure them! The top two with the butterflies are crewel embroidery...and the bottom two are needlepoint. I love the fluffy seeded dandelion in the first picture...and her french knots are immaculate...plus these are so nice and springy (which is welcome with the piles and piles of snow we have on the ground). The floral needlepoint pictures are amazing - the photos do not do them justice - the background area (dark navy) is stitched with Mosaic stitch...and each and every stitch is perfect. I feel so blessed to be able to have these AMAZING pieces in my collection...

For The Love of Needlework - Part 1

Today I finished unpacking my grandmother's needlework...and I was knee deep in styrofoam packing peanuts and bubble wrap! The UPS Store on West Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas did a FANTASTIC job of packaging and shipping these heirlooms...if you are ever needing to ship something from Las Vegas, I HIGHLY recommend them (super friendly and fantastic to work with!). There are 10 framed pieces and one that has been removed from the frame, as the mounting/stretching needed to be redone. Two small pieces are crewel embroidery...there is one cross stitch piece on Aida...and eight large pieces of needlepoint. As I unpacked each piece, I studied and admired them, as if for the first time. Unfortunately, I could not find dates on any of them...which saddens me, as I would like to know a little more history. Since there are so many, I will share them over a couple days...keep in mind, all of the pieces (except the crewel) are framed with glass, so there will be a bit of glare...here are five very large needlepoint pieces....my favorite being the top right one shown. It is obvious the hours and hours of time and love that went into stitching each masterpiece....