Something Old, Something New, Times Two

      We've been having way, way too much of this lately.

             Thankfully Dean, my snow removal guy, shows up after every storm to clear my paths and driveway. Bless you Dean!
         
          I worked on two old projects since my last stitching post. First up, Butternut Tavern by Stacy Nash. I'm not happy with the Lexington Green used in the alphabet. It just melts into the pear linen. I think I should remove the Lexington Green and sub another GAST that will show up a bit better on the linen. What do you think?

Butternut Tavern - Stacy Nash Primitives

           I've also spent some time with Manifesto. It's going to be gorgeous when completed... but it's definitely going to take a very long time to reach the finish line. The sky... I've spent several nights filling in that sky. The sun was a lot of fun to stitch.

Manifesto - The Scarlet Letter

          Now for the Something New. I've mentioned before that I'm currently enrolled in an on-line class, Cabinet of Curiosities, and we are studying, in-depth, 17th Century stitching techniques. The satin stitch is used often in embroidering the motifs. I thought it would be helpful to learn more about the shading technique or needlepainting technique to make my satin stitched motifs more lifelike. 
       I receive Mary Corbett's e-newsletter and was excited when she told us that a needlepainting class was going to be offered. I waited patiently for the registration day to arrive and quickly got my registration in for the course.
       This is the project for the on-line course which is being taught by Margaret Cobleigh.

     Here is my progress on my strawberry piece. Not bad for a newbie to this needlepainting technique. Margaret is a fantastic teacher and very responsive to our questions and in giving tips to help us improve our surface embroidery stitching.

          I have to thank my friend Michelle, Cozy Egg, for my second Something New. She's a big, big fan of Tula Pink. I've always been drawn to reproduction Civil War era quilting fabrics and the more muted colorways. But... something about Tula Pink was calling to me... and calling very persistently.
          Look what I ordered and started this past week.

          Margaret, Days of a Sampler Lover, and I are doing a Quilt Along. Of course she'll be way ahead of me, but she'll be there to encourage me to keep on making those hexies. This is my first venture into English paper piecing. So another 'newbie' project for me.
          I'm hoping this is the jumpstart I need to get back into quilt making again. It's been way too long since I've worked on a quilt.

           I'll close today with more photos of our snowy corner of Iowa. I hope you're all keeping warm and out the path of the numerous storms that our sweeping our country.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Darby and Pumpkin Daily

(this moment) and We Have a Winner!

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Darby and Pumpkin Daily

 Congratulations woolwoman... you're the lucky winner of the Corgi Cottage 100th Blog Post Giveaway. I've sent you an e-mail and as soon as you provide your mailing address the box will be on the way to you. 

      The pups wanted me to thank you for letting them keep the yummy pumpkin treats. They'll be a human treat in the package for you as a replacement.
            

woolwoman said...
Your Jane is lovely but I understand how you could get bored with her and need a diversion. I'm not familiar with the SL sampler you chose - they are coming out of the woodwork on the SL blog. it looks pretty so far and Manifesto - WOOOOOOO - you are brave ! Love the giveaway opp = please enter me but I don't have any pups in my life nor grand pups nor neighbor pups - so give them back to the corgi kids if I should happen to win. Thanks again - Mel

I Couldn't Decide and a Giveaway

     I had a hard time deciding what to focus on when it came to my stitching since the beginning of the month. I was all over the place and I'll share with you what I've been working on.

I added almost one line of verse and the butterfly and bird on the berry bough.

Jane Atkinson - The Scarlet Letter

       It wasn't long before I grew bored with Jane A. and decided that what I really wanted to do was start a new sampler that featured a bird. It was a toss up between Sarah Harvey and Sarah Pain and Sarah Pain was the winner.

Sarah Pain - The Scarlet Letter

       Sarah P. is being stitched on a piece of 36 ct. mystery linen with both AVAS and NPI silks.

      Nicola, Stitching by a Cornish Sea Shore, invited me to participate in a relaxed SAL. A bunch of us will be stitching Manifesto by The Scarlet Letter. We are to designate one day a week for Manifesto and post our weekly progress photos on  Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year. Manifesto is a new release by Marsha and it will be a labor of love for us all. The sampler is 600 stitches wide by 381 stitches long. I started my piece this past week and am stitching it on 38 ct. cream Bellazia linen with an assortment of silks.

The Manifesto (photo  from The Scarlet Letter)

My Start.... I have a long way to go!

       I would like to devote my Sunday stitching time to needlework smalls. Yesterday I started Butternut Tavern by Stach Nash Primitives. It's being stitched on 40 ct. Lakeside  Pear with GAST as charted.

      I know my readers are anxious to see the last it's Finally a Finished Finish that will be part of my 100th Blog Post Giveaway. Here it is... a sweet needlecase. The Birds of a Feather was a kit I received from Brenda S., in February 2012, in a giveaway win package. I think it's wonderful that I'll be passing along my giveaway win to another lucky giveaway winner!

      In addition to the sweet needlecase the luck winner will also receive the following gifts:

 

      Yes, there is a box of Emma and Owen's favorite doggie treats... Wet Nose Pumpkin treats. Emma was feeling very sad when she realized that she tore the corner of the packaging of the Olde Colonial Designs tiny Christmas tree kit. She wanted to help me put together the package and bit down a bit too hard on the kit. Thankfully only the packaging and a tiny corner of the paper was damaged. She's hoping the lucky winner has a sweet pup (she really doesn't understand why the winner wouldn't have a pup) that will enjoy the pumpkin treats as much as she does. 
      In addition to the treats, the package will also include a Quality Chick T-shirt from the Decorah Hatchery, a leather embossed lined journal, bunny thread drops, Colonial Designs Christmas Tree and Thread Pallette kits, Ewe & Eye & Friends - Flower Scissor Companion kit with pink scissors and a Pick n'Thread.       
      The Giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you may live, and the winner will be announced on Friday, February 15th, as part of  the weekly (this moment) post... which will be my 100th post. Leave a comment on this post only if you would like to participate in the Giveaway. You don't have to be a Follower... but it would be nice if you were! Good luck!

Laurie

Finally Finished Finishes Thanks to Faye

      I had a stack of unfinished finishes and no desire to do the finishing myself. Thanks to Faye, Carolina Stitcher, my finishes are finally finished.

Pineberry Lane - Fancey's Sunflowers - Wooden Pinkeep Tray

Plum Street Samplers - Turkey Love,  Halloweenies, Happy Haunting Freebie

Plum Street Samplers - Halloweenies

Pineberry Lane - Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth- Good Will to Men

Chessie & Me - Scarlet's Christmas Sampler- Ditty Bag

Blackbird Designs - Little Red Hen Sampler - Table Runner

Pineberry Lane - Wool - Project Bag

Excuse me... Can I come in?

      There is one more Finished Finish but I'm holding off on posting a photo. Only two more posts and I'll have reached my 100th Post. I think it's time for a Giveaway. I'll have to put my thinking cap on and come up with a worthy collection of goodies to celebrate this milestone. My last Finished Finish will be a part of the package. Hope I have you hooked and you'll be back to check out my 100th Post Giveaway.

Laurie

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Darby and Pumpkin Daily