Showing posts with label needlework accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label needlework accessories. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Finishing Fever

Today's very quick post is all about needlework finishing. My holiday finishing deadline was September 30th, so sure enough, towards the end of September the orders started rolling in...so this week, I am living in my studio, trying to get a large pile complete. The pieces shown today are all for the same client...and again, these are not my designs or my stitching - just my finishing work...

I should also add - all trims and velveteen backings are from Lois at Lady Dot Creates...she has the very best finishing supplies...you can find her products on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ladydotcreates

Design info is listed with the images, if I have it available...

ABC Pinkeep by With thy Needle & Thread 

F is for Friend Thread Board by Heartstring Samplery
(adapted and finished as a pin disk)

Cape Cod Keeps by Plum Street Samplers

Primitive Crow by Threadwork Primitives

Be My Friend by The Scarlett House

Spooky Tin by J. Designs, LLC/Designs by Julie

All is Calm Thread Keeper by Romy's Creations

Those are just a few of the pieces I have been working on in the studio this week...lots of beauties that are ready to ship back to their stitcher! I will be back with more fun and creative finishes soon...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

February, Finishing, and Friendship

I blinked and February was gone...in fact, the entire last month has been a whirlwind. Things have been humming along in my studio...I've been stitching a couple more new magazine models, doing all sorts of needlework finishing, sewing custom bag orders, and quilting...plus, I designed and created another fun new sample for AccuQuilt last week. My studio is overflowing with creative projects, which is such a blessing!

Although things have been a little hectic here, I am hoping for a little break, as we dropped Garin (our German Shepherd puppy) off for formal training this past weekend - he will be gone at puppy boot camp for the next three months. It is a big mix of emotions, as I  miss him already...but I know his obedience and command training will be stellar upon his return (he is getting the same training Schatzi received as a puppy). Truth be told, I needed some time to get caught up on work deadlines and projects, as Garin seemed to be a full-time job (as any GSD puppy owner will tell you!)....but I am already missing him desperately and will be counting the days until May 19th when he returns home.

I also celebrated my birthday in February and was able to enjoy a lovely lunch with two dear friends. I received some incredible gifts (that I will share in a future post) - lots of creative, stitching, sewing, and quilting gifts - my favorite! To everyone who sent me wishes via mail, e-mail, and social media - thank you - my heart is full.

Today's photo inspiration is a selection of needlework finishing I recently completed for a wonderful friend and customer...she trusts me to finish her pieces however I see fit, so each piece is a joy to work on - I get to be creative and finish each piece as I would my own. Just a note - these images do not depict my stitching or my designs, just my finishing work....

"Be Rich in Good Deeds" by Little House Needleworks 


"F is for Friend" by Heartstring Samplery (Special Club Kit from The Silver Needle)


"Traveling Stitcher" by Little House Needleworks
Pre-made Pouch and Needlebook from Elegant Stitch


 “Be My Friend” by the Scarlett House (Special Club Kit from The Silver Needle)


Finally today - here is the last photo I took of Garin when we dropped him off in Minnesota...but don't worry, we will be receiving weekly updates with photos and videos while he is at puppy training camp!

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Fourteen Fabulous Finishes

Hello creative friends - Garin is on a short time-out in his kennel (hopefully taking an afternoon nap), while I catch up on some pressing work/chores. I just finished packing up a few orders and answering some correspondence, so I thought I would quickly stop by and share some needlework finishing with you. These pieces were all stitched by the same incredible needleworker and I just did the finishing. I will put designer names/titles in the photo captions, just in case you are interested. This great group of items was quite fun to work on and several pieces definitely challenged me...some were limited edition kits that included finishing materials...and others, I chose the supplies, doing my best to make the pieces resemble the model images. I am really happy with how each and every piece turned out...and I think the stitcher was quite pleased too. I put them all in a large box when complete and it was like Christmas day watching my friend and customer unpack each one! I still have well over fifty needlework pieces to finish for clients, so I will have more fun photos to show you soon. For now, enjoy these images...and I hope you will be inspired to pull out your most recent cross stitch piece and do a little needlework finishing yourself...

Threadwork Primitives - Vintage Mini Pinwheel (2)
Threadwork Primitives Stitcher's Mat
Threadwork Primitives My Work

Threadwork Primitives - Stitcher's Mat

Threadwork Primitives - My Work

Scattered Seeds Samplers - Happy Hearts Rejoice (round)
Scattered Seeds Samplers - Harvest Waiting (left)
Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket (right)

Scattered Seeds Samplers - Happy Hearts Rejoice (round)
Scattered Seeds Samplers - Harvest Waiting (left)
Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket (right)

Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket


Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)
Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)

Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)
Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)


Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)
Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)


Lizzie Kate - Be Silly (top left)
Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe (top right)
Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion (center)
Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure (bottom left)
Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine (bottom right)

Lizzie Kate - Be Silly (top left)
Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe (top right)
Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion (center)
Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure (bottom left)
Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine (bottom right)

Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe

Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine

Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure

Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion

Lizzie Kate - Be Silly

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Stitch Pink - "A Journey"

When Just CrossStitch Magazine contacted me last year about the possibility of designing a special breast cancer awareness project for the October 2015 issue - I didn't even have to think about it...I had several ideas in my sketchbook ready to expand on and I was immediately "all in". Those of you who read my blog regularly know I have done quite a few designs and quite a bit of fundraising benefiting breast cancer awareness/education over the years...and I was excited to work on a piece that could reach such a large audience. I was actually stitching this model back in January and shipped it off to the magazine in March...so I was super excited on Friday when my model was returned along with a couple copies of the newly released magazine.

You can find my very special "Stitch Pink" project titled "A Journey" starting on page 57 of the magazine (Volume 33, No.5 - October 2015). The main design is mounted in a 9.5" square whitewash tray by Sudberry House (#68002), but is definitely suitable for regular framing (or would make a lovely pillow). There are also three coordinating needlework smalls to complete the set - a pin pillow, a scissor fob, and a heart-shaped wool fabric needlekeep. I cross stitched the model with Weeks Dye Works Hand Over Dyed Embroidery Floss on 32-count Buttercream Linen from Lakeside Linens; however, DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Floss conversions are provided and this design would look lovely on an array of fabric colors. Sudberry House has a variety of tray options and colors available...and a larger (11.5" square) tray available for those who would like to work on a different count of fabric.





I have had quite a few questions asking if this design is my Komen 3-Day fundraising design for 2015 - and I can happily tell you, no, it is not - as always, I have something extra special planned for this year's exclusive fundraising piece and I am hoping to share it with you very shortly...and I thank you for your patience! I know it is late coming out this year, as the walk is quickly approaching (Team Twinkle Toes is walking in Dallas in November)....but just like the subject of this blog post, my life continues to be "a journey"...and just like me, the model is still a work in progress. It will be available soon (I have been diligently working on it every evening) and I hope you will find it has been worth the wait... To the handful of you who have already made a donation on my fundraising page (we have corresponded and you know who you are - I have a list!), I will be e-mailing the chart to you as soon as it is ready - and I truly thank you for your support and encouragement!

For now, I have a pile of customer sewing/quilting to do this afternoon...then a training walk this evening...then back to model stitching. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and make time to do something you enjoy!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Saturday Smiles

I'm not sure where the last couple weeks disappeared to....seriously, has anyone seen them? Although my days seem to be a blur, my business is busy, which is a HUGE blessing! We've had snow...Thanksgiving...and I have been working on piles of projects (including: needlework finishing, custom sewing/quilting projects, cross stitch designs/models for JCS magazine, a design/model for a major quilting magazine, new designs and projects for AccuQuilt, new Blue Ribbon Designs cross stitch and quilting patterns, and Etsy pieces)...and if I can make time, I may be able to work on a few gifts before Christmas (although, doubtful - dear friends please be super patient with me - Christmas may pass me by before I come up for air!). As always, my list is long, but fortunately, I LOVE most of the tasks that need to be done...and if I didn't have my growing list, I would surely forget something...so, I apologize if my blog has seemed neglected - please know, it is on my list daily too...

Here is a quick photo tour of my blurred days...including some things that are making me smile...

A look out our back window...

Miss Schatzi LOVES the snow - she will play in it for hours...
here she is watching over me while I shovel and snow blow...

Custom sewing...

A surprise gift from a very dear friend...

The Thanksgiving chef (Travis's mother)...she made an
AMAZING meal!

Custom sewing/quilting for a customer...

Custom sewing/quilting for a customer...

Custom sewing/quilting for a customer...

Custom sewing/quilting for a customer...

Fabric inspiration - two of which are lovely gifts from friends...

My new favorite beverage cup from my "sister" in New Hampshire...
because it IS all about the squirrel...and who can't use "advice from
a squirrel"...this makes me SO happy!

So there you have it...a very quick weekend wrap-up. I'm having fun in my studio - keeping up with my dear friends and family - enjoying the winter weather...and I am even able to wear "real" shoes and walk daily again...I am happy and blessed!