A Bird, a Basket, and a Squirrel...

Today was a rather gloomy day, but inside my studio has been bright and cheerful! I have been stitching all evening, working on another new design/model for Just CrossStitch Magazine (for an autumn issue). I also was blessed to spend my afternoon with some wonderful, colorful fabrics, as I cut and prepared another 45 zippered project bags for sewing. Orders have been coming in steadily and I am grateful for more happy time in my studio....just wait until to you see the all the special needlework finishing I have been working on for my clients...some absolutely gorgeous pieces!!

I have plenty of completed projects to share with you, as time allows - but today I thought I would share some creative eye candy from my recent birthday...I will provide details with the photos, if they are available. 

These top two images are of an incredible mixed media bird - I wish I had more information for you - unfortunately, I do not have the artists name (if you know, please do drop me a note!)...but it really is spectacular! It was created with all sorts of materials and sits on (what looks to be) a vintage candle holder or stand. It is quite large in size and I had a heck of a time photographing it, so you could see the details....my images don't even come close to doing it justice. I haven't found the perfect home for it just yet - I have been auditioning places...right now it is on a shelf in my sewing room, where it is continually bringing me joy...

How cute is this stitched squirrel?!...and the round, concave tray is to die for...
plus I was given all sorts of little sewing gifts to keep in it...

So first - the basket - it is a Mini Organizer Basket from 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets
https://www.etsy.com/shop/1803ohiofarmbaskets
It is incredible quality, a lovely size, and the PERFECT gift!
The "sew" piece on the front is a needleminder from one of my
favorite artists, Michelle L. Palmer - her pen and ink works are FABULOUS!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MichellePalmer
You also see a scissor fob and three packages of hand-dyed rick rack...

How gorgeous is this framed piece?! - I ♥ it!!
The rick rack spools are from Riley Blake Designs.

 

Quiltfolk magazine - SWOON!
I received a couple back issues and a subscription...if you are not familiar
 with this magazine (each one is like a book and is advertisement free - high
quality paper and cover - no patterns), it celebrates the people and the
stories behind the stitches - it is BEAUTIFUL!
https://www.quiltfolk.com/

Stationery and Sewing Tin Set by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet
You can find it here: https://www.fatquartershop.com/red-stationery-and-sewing-tin

Needle Case Slide Top Tin from Clayworks by Kim Detmers
Yes, the top of this tin is (3D) polymer clay and it is LOVELY!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Claybykim

So those are just a few creative things and artists I wanted to share with you - thank you to my dear friends and family that gifted me these heartfelt presents! Each one brings me joy and inspires me to create...

The Simple Things

Isn't it interesting how the simple things can make us happy? Even though I *need* them for work, when stitching/sewing/quilting/crafting supplies arrive, I am giddy! It is a blessing to have a studio filled with the best materials and tools for the job - sometimes, I have to pinch myself to make sure this is not a dream...I really get to be creative and artistic on a daily basis. So, when my work supplies arrive I am always excited (maybe a little too excited)...for example - the colorful cotton threads seen to the right - I always look forward to replenishing fibers for hand or machine sewing...I mean, just look at that rainbow...

...and zippers - not too many people would get excited over a package of zippers...but when a box of 200 colorful zippers lands in my mailbox, I am over-the-moon! Yep, it is like I won the lottery when zippers arrive...

...and fabrics...who doesn't love new fabrics...fat quarters, charm packs, yardage, jelly rolls, you name it...linens for cross stitching or cotton prints for quilting...any and all fabrics make my heart happy!

Notions and storage solutions are another instant smile. Who else gets excited about needles?? - a new package or container of needles arrives (for hand or machine) and there's a BIG smile...and what about new scissors or tools - they are "happy dance" worthy! New tins, bins, boxes, or adorable storage solutions and I am in heaven...

Oh, and new dies for my cutting machines...I can't wait to get them out of the packaging and try them out for the first time! New patterns, charts, books, and magazines too - I can't wait to look through every single page...

I found myself wondering this morning if other professions would get employees as cheerful as I am while I am working...hmmmm... I think it would be incredible to be a librarian - every new book that arrived would be intriguing...or a chef - new groceries in stock and I would want to immediately create a new specialty dish...or, working in a plant nursery - that would do it too! Does your job make your heart skip a beat? - if so, I would love to hear about it...

No matter what you are doing today, I hope the simple things bring you joy!!

Cross Stitch for Christmas

It was a peaceful Christmas holiday in our home. We hosted Christmas dinner at our house - and I cooked a huge feast...and although it was only for four people, it was devoured, leaving little room for dessert. I had planned to take some photos of the meal for you and share some recipes - but the only photo I managed to get was of the table before our guests arrived (and it was taken with my smartphone - sorry). After a big meal and a small gift exchange, we enjoyed an afternoon of conversation in front of the fire...and then had dessert. It was a comfy, cozy, and quiet holiday...and when I say quiet, I mean it - I even turned off the phone and the computer for the day - something I need to do more often. After my husband's parents left - I walked Simba to the park (in the snow, ice, and bitter cold), cleaned up the kitchen, then spent the evening watching movies with my husband.

I did finish opening the Christmas package from my dear friend Robin in Virginia...and I just *had to* share the contents with you...because it included not one, but TWO cross stitched gifts! A beautiful ornament...and a gorgeous framed sampler - aren't they both treasures?! I feel so blessed to have these on display in my home...both exquisite reminders of  our friendship across the miles! Robin has a knack for making the perfect stitched gifts...she always picks colors that match my style - and designs that match my personality...and her work is superb. I love that the framed designed is personalized by having the letter "B" and the letter "R" stitched in black...it is so very special! I will be hanging this in my stitching nest, along with the lovely friendship piece my friend Mary gave me a couple weeks ago - two gorgeous stitched samplers from two amazing friends. I am proud to hang their heartfelt gifts among my personal stitching and BRD models. I must say, I am so very blessed....my heart is full. Robin - thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with me and for giving me so much to be thankful for this holiday season!

*UPDATE* from Robin:  the chart for the framed piece is called "Sew Sew" by iStitch Designs - the fabric is 32-count Vintage Buttercream from Lakeside Linens and the floss is HDF silks in Primitive Barn Red and BeGrimed.  I stitched the letters ‘B’ and ‘R’ in BeGrimed (they are my initials, they are your first initial and my first initial and they also stand for Blue Ribbon which was how our friendship began). The ornament details:  the chart is called "Merry Virginia" by Homespun Elegance - the fabric is 32-count Flax and the floss is Weeks Dye Works and DMC.


Remember the fabulous winter scene fabric Robin sent me?? Well, her package also contained several other beautiful cuts - including this unique bluebird panel from the Tend the Earth collection by Deb Strain for Moda...I haven't decided how I will use this unique panel yet - but it will be used for something special!

....and I have one more stitched gift to share with you...this beautiful cross stitched stocking was given to me back in October at the New England Stitcher's Retreat. It was stitched by one of the hosts - my sweet, sweet friend Gail. I met Gail at the very first New England retreat in May of 2010 and we have kept in touch ever since...she has attended all three retreats and is such a joy to be around! This year, when I arrived at the Shaker Dwelling House, she had a placed a fantastic gift bag in my room filled with treats - including this gorgeous stocking (it is about 6.75" H) - complete with a couple presents inside. Many of you know I just adore stockings and teeny tiny packages, so this LOVELY gift touched me deeply! I have been admiring it the entire holiday season and I just had to share it with you...

I hope you are having a magical and heartfelt holiday - filled with family, friends, food, and festivities!

Bird On A Bobbin

A sewing bird pincushion - a 2011 Christmas
 gift from my friend Kimber...

Wednesday, after taking in the AQS Quilt Show & Contest, I visited a local antique mall with my dear friend Kimber and her husband Tom. Each year during the AQS Show, local vendors at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall display quilting and sewing items in prominent places in their booths...hoping to "cash in" while thousands of quilters are in the area. Throughout the building, we found assorted antique quilts, textiles, and quilt blocks...along with vintage sewing notions, laces, and trims. Kimber was looking for some particular items...I was looking for some large wooden bobbins...and we both managed to find a few items to take home. Turns out, both Kimber and Tom have a knack for finding hidden treasures and they assisted me in finding quite a few antique wooden bobbins - I  was able to narrow down my choices to four favorites (all very reasonably priced at a few dollars or less)! It seems antique bobbins are making a comeback...and many needleworkers are seeking them out to use with Cross Stitch and Embroidery patterns. Earlier this year my friend Lorrie gifted me a beautiful large wooden bobbin that stands about 6.5" tall and at the time I had plans to use it with a needlework design...but as they often do, my plans changed, when I realized the sewing bird my friend Kimber gifted me last Christmas looked adorable perched on this large spool (shown below). Every time I enter my sewing studio, it is the first thing I see and it brings me joy! So, the hunt was on for more vintage wooden bobbins...and the antique mall did not disappoint...now the challenge will be to find creative uses for each one...

The antique wooden bobbin my friend Lorrie gifted me
with my sewing bird pincushion perched on top...

Friendship and Fabric

Yesterday, I had the most lovely visit with my dear friend Kimber....it was a much welcome break to my hectic schedule. I made the trip out to Adel (my childhood stomping ground) to spend some time with her at Ashton House (her 1885 Iowa farmhouse). We had a lovely morning chatting and catching up...and celebrating her recent birthday. We then ventured out to have lunch at a local restaurant...and of course we had to stop at Adel Quilting & Dry Goods Co. - a marvelous quilt shop located just off the town square. This quaint and cozy quilt shop NEVER disappoints...there is always something fresh and new....and of course I didn't have any difficulty finding a plethora of fun items to take home. This time there were several new fabulous fabric collections from Riley Blake Designs (Good Life Cottons and Polka Dot Stitches)....one had just arrived earlier that day! I was also able to find some wool felts I needed, a fun potholder kit, and several fat quarters. Jacque (who owns the shop) was so friendly and accommodating....and made sure to show us all the new items and shop models - she made us feel right at home....and she was kind enough to let me take a few photos for you (of course I had left my camera at home - I know, I usually never leave home without it - so these were taken with my smart phone). If you would like some fun reading, be sure to stop by Jacque's shop blog - she updates it often and it is always interesting!

Now, truth be told, I had no business going into a quilt shop...we all know I have a decent stash...and on Monday a box from heaven arrived on my doorstep from someone VERY special...this box had yards and yards and YARDS of fabric in it - I was awestruck...beautiful fabrics (from a beautiful friend) and I have ideas galore on how to put it to good use...now I just have to make the time. Plus, if that wasn't enough, Kimber gifted me a bag full of vintage bias tape that she had no use for....various colors and widths...yes, an entire bag FULL...along with a yard of adorable fabric. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world - I am so blessed to have friends that support and encourage my creativity!

Not to be left out, Simba decided he wanted to make a blog appearance...so as I was taking photos of my new stash, he did everything in his power to be in each shot....yes, Simba photo bombed me! Here he is letting me know he deserves more attention than my new fabrics....

                           

I leave Friday morning for New York...I will be spending a few days with members of the Buffalo Chapter EGA. I am very excited for this trip...and Stephanie (the hard working event coordinator) has made some wonderful plans to show me some of the area (how totally AWESOME is that?!), including my first trip to Niagara Falls...so you know I will have a bunch to share with you next week. I am also hoping to take in a local EGA exhibit which should be quite spectacular. I will do my best to take lots of photos....