I Heart BOAF - Side One

Side one is done! I love everything about this little design/needlecase.

 

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I Heart BOAF

I was thrilled to win this little kit on eBay. I have never seen this design from BOAF before and immediately fell in love. Normally I would not choose to stitch on black, but I think that it is 28 count and with good light it hasn't been too bad. It's called Needlecase Sampler.

Look for a finish soon!

 

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Randje Week 32

Today was a Sip N Stitch Saturday at Stitchville. Since there is always a lot of activity and conversation, I worked on Randje. Last night's lesson is now complete!

Karen brought her Randje. So much fun to see them both!

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Randje Week 31

It's 40 inches long now!

 

 

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Slow Stitching Week

Just a lot of "putzing" going on. Trying to get things done in preparation for next week's guild retreat.

Over the weekend I finished up a little gift. My "Patchwork Pal" at retreat will receive the following stitched needlebook from me. I can't show you the front because It is personalized and I'm not really sure whether or not she visits my blog. I will tell you this though, she likes specialty stitches, so I thought this little design would be perfect. It's the needlebook design from Ellen Chester's "A Lady's Worke Box". It's finished as a Jacob's ladder needlebook.

 

I hope she likes it!

 

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Happy Birthday Toots!

My baby turns 23 today. We celebrated last night with burgers at Red Robin followed by a game of cards. Here she is with Grandma.

She was in Ft. Launderdale this weekend playing for Lady Liberty, the women's development team for the U.S. Australian Football league. Here she is with her other MN teammates.

Happy Birthday Toots!

 

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Tonight's Stitching

More on this super secret project soon!

 

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Randje Week 30

This is a great project to work on when traveling. The 28 count is so easy to see when the lighting conditions are not as good as what I am used to at home. I'm caught up now - until Friday!

 

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Randje Week 29

Catching up on Randje tonight....I'm two weeks behind. Here's the first of two weeks.

Maybe tomorrow I will have time to stitch Week 30!

 

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Secret Stitching

Thank you all for your kind messages regarding my blog anniversary. Thank you for your friendship!

I don't have much to post lately; much of what I am stitching cannot be revealed since it's for the upcoming Needlework Guild of MN retreat. I'm working on the gift for my "Patchwork Pal" right now. Retreat starts two weeks from tomorrow for the early birds.

Here's a little something I stitched and I think it is safe to share. I won't tell you how they are going to be used though.

Aren't they the cutest little embroidery hoops you've ever seen?

I'm traveling this week so I've saved up two weeks of Randje (four rows). Will post during the week as I get them stitched.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

 

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Celebrate With Me

 

I have good reason to celebrate. Ten years ago yesterday I started this blog! What a fun ride it has been. I've enjoyed sharing the joy of needlework with all of you.

In the beginning, I met many new friends by participating in exchanges. It was exciting to receive mail from all parts of the world. Those exchanges also helped me to improve my finishing skills because when I sent an exchange out, I wanted to send my very best. I have a wonderful collection of smalls and ornaments and other stitched items that I treasure.

Then, my blog became my tool for learning about needlework. My fellow bloggers kept me informed of all the latest designs, gadgets, and class opportunities. Aren't we the best enablers?

Today, I use my blog to stay in touch with my friends around the globe. I've had the pleasure of meeting many of you at stitching classes and other events. My blog also helps me to keep track of various projects I've worked on. It's fun to go back and see what I was working on in the years past.

Thanks for your encouragement and for being such good stitching friends! I plan to keep my blog going. Hopefully we can do this again in 10 years!

 

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Nametag - Check!

Have you ever had the experience were you weren't necessarily looking for something and then all of a sudden - wham - it hits you?

I was cleaning through some patterns over the weekend. Was looking through my Prairie Schooler collection. (Mourning their announcement to retire...) I came across pattern book number 131 and it hit me - nametag!

Each year for retreat I try to stitch a nametag that relates to the theme. It's kind of fun searching for the perfect design.

The first year I attended retreat the theme was "From Acorns to Oak Trees - Growing with the Guild". I stitched the Quaker Workbasket Acorn as my nametag.

In 2013 the theme was "Sisters of the Heart". You might remember this one. The design is taken from a Birds of a Feather pattern.

Last year's retreat was themed "Embrace the Pace" (think tortoise and the hare). This sweet design from Handblessings was perfect!

Now we are just a few weeks away from this year's retreat. The theme this year is "Stitching the Fabric of Community." In all of their communications they have included an image of overlapping hands to designate this theme. It's going to be a celebration of friendship.

So now back to Prairie Schooler - when I saw the pattern in my stash this design just kind of jumped out at me. It think it works, don't you?

One of the next things on my list is to prepare gifts for my secret stitched. We exchange four times during the retreat. Have participated the last two years and have had a blast with it.

 

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Pre-Work - Check!

Yes, I'm starting to get things ready for the annual Needlework Guild of MN retreat. I have a bag set aside and I'm adding things to it as I get them ready. At the moment I have a bag of charts which will go in the "stash reallocation" basket.

As of today, I have all of my pre-work for classes ready. I'm taking three classes, two with Betsy Morgan and one with Michelle Roberts. The two Betsy classes had pre-stitching.

You've already seen this one, but I'm sharing it again for a reason. I want to show you two of my recent antique shop purchases. The pre-work is for Betsy's Helix Etui.

What do you think of my little pincushion? Saw a picture of one of these on Etsy. It's one of the smaller dolls from a set of Russian stacking dolls. Insert wool ball in the bottom and voila! Instant pincushion!

Underneath the stitching is a hand stitched placemat. The edges are hemstitched and there's a little bit of hardanger in each corner. One of my friends from guild always brings a white towel or dishcloth with her when she takes a class. One time she started working on her class project and the table hadn't been cleaned properly. She ended up getting oil or grease on her stitching. Never again! She now puts a towel down on the table where she is working. I might use this for that purpose. May as well do it in style, right?

Here's my pre-work for Betsy's Edinburgh Reticule. I believe this will be the needlebook when finished.

On to my next project. Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

 

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Pre-Work For...

...a Betsy Morgan class that I will be taking at the Needlework Guild of MN retreat! Counting down the days. 27 to go...

 

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Shepherd's Fold Update

I took off of work on Friday to run some errands, get a jump on weekend projects, and to do some general putzing. If time permitted I wanted to get some finishing done. One of the projects that I wanted to finish completely befuddled me and so it's on it's way to Faye for her to work some magic. I did have time to work on another project though and I'm pleased to share the results with you.

A few months ago I saw a picture on Facebook of a finished Shepherd's Bush box and I just couldn't get it out of my head. The box was lined with fabric and there were pockets on the sides. The pincushion design was used for the bottom of the box. Put my thinking cap on and thought long and hard about how I was going to do this and then dug in and did it.

Here's the top of the box (you've seen this before).

And here's the inside of my box...

 

The sides are lined with fabric and I have seven or eight pockets which will hold thread winders and other little doo-dads. The pincushion design was used to line the bottom of the box.

Here's my scissors fob which you've also seen before...

 

I wasn't a big fan of the needlebook finish. I wanted the entire design to be seen (didn't like that it was folded). Have debated about this for a long time. Ended up with a pin keep finish. I added a piece of wool on the back so that I still have somewhere to put needles. The ribbon rouched around the sides of the pin keep are from the pincushion! Here's the front...

Here's the back...

 

One last look at the accessories thus far...

I need to get busy stitching the Needleroll and then I think there is one more part yet to be released. I'm glad I made these change. I love this set!

 

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Randje Week 28

Have I told you how much I am enjoying this project? :) This continues to be an easy, satisfying stitch and I look forward to it every week.

Rows for this week are in and I'm all caught up!

Someone asked how long this piece will be when finished -- it will be about six to seven feet long!

Thanks for stopping by...

 

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Me Again

All caught up now. To think I almost skipped this row. I really like it!

Three feet long now!

 

 

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