This Year's First

First design release, that is.   I hope you like it.

I wanted to design something with my friends in mind and I love the Quaker style very much.  

I thought it would be nice to do a sort of keepsake with a pair of initials on it....yours and a friends. 

I know there are many of you who exchange stitched gifts and how wonderful it is to receive a piece from a friend made especially for you.  My favorite kind of gift!

This has been in the works for some time and I'm so pleased to finally show it to you.

"Quaker Friends"

Design stitch count is 123 x 79.  Both models were stitched using The Gentle Art - Wood Trail. 

The framed piece was stitched on 35ct Abecedarian Blend and the pinkeep was stitched on 40ct Broomstick Brown.  Both from R & R.
The chart comes complete with a full alphabet so that you may personalize your piece.

I'd like to take a cue from Paulette of Plum Street Samplers, who in a recent blog post, suggested fabric substitutions.  I thought it was a wonderful idea.  It's not always necessary to use what it has been designed on.  There are so many color choices available out there and who doesn't like having choices.  Here are a few I think would perhaps work well also.
R & R Creme Brulee or Weeks Dye Works Parchment for the lighter linen and
Lakeside Fawn or Weeks Dye Works Cocoa for the darker linen.  If you see a color that looks good to you, do it and make it your own!

I'll be getting these charts off to the distributor.  So, Quaker Friends will be available from your local needlework shop soon.

I'm almost done with the new piece I've designed for The Ladies Prim Society and hope to be showing it to you soon.   I am truly thrilled with this one:)   Don't forget.....the club is open to extra members this year, if you're interested in joining.  I hope you will. 

My head is full of ideas and I have some new designs in various stages right now.  Looks to be a fun designing year ahead. Thanks so much my friends for your support and for taking the time to drop by today.  Happy Stitching to you.
Smiles, ~Nan

First 2014 Release Coming Soon

Happy Monday all......Finally got a chance to take a sneak peek picture of my newest design.  Hope to release this very soon.   Just have to do a final "once over" on the instructions.   

 This is probably one of my favorite pieces EVER.....

I've called it "Quaker Friends".

 A sweet keepsake to stitch for yourself or your best stitching pal :) 

I had a lot of my friends in mind when I was designing this.  To all of you.....Thank you.  

You always keep me inspired and feeing loved. 

Smiles, Nan

Thank you for making this year so special. 

Wishing all of you a new year full of joy and many blessings.

Happy New Year my friends!

  Smiles, 

~Nan

Wanted to Share this News

I wanted to share the exciting news with all of you.  I'm feeling very proud to be published again.  

This time in Craftways

~A Cross Stitch Christmas~Handmade Memories~
(which can be ordered from your local needlework shop)
I was asked last year, by the managing editor to submit a design for the Folk Art chapter in their next Cross Stitch Christmas hardback book.  I couldn't wait to get designing and I knew I wanted to make it very special.   I received my copy and I was just blown away by the stunning job they do with layout and photography in this book.

Here are some pics of my "Bright Be Thy Christmastide" pattern.

  (click to make them bigger)

I took this picture before sending the model off to the publisher.

I love how they pictured it in the book.  I'm no photographer, so it's much better in person:)

And here is the cover.

This was a wonderful Christmas gift this year!

x x x

Thank you for all your sweet comments on my previous post.  I'm so glad you all liked the Holly freebie and it makes me very happy to share it with such appreciative blogging friends.  You keep me inspired.  I hope to see some pics of your finishes in the future. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, my friends.

~Nan

Christmas Creations

These past few weeks, I've been having fun creating.  The other day I finally put the last stitch in the Christmas pieces I've been making.  If you got a chance to read my previous posts....my plan was to list them for sale in my Etsy shop.   Well, a friend saw them and called to ask if she could  purchase them.  AND if you know me, I can't say no to a friend.  I still wanted to show you what I created in hopes that it will still be of some inspiration to all the creative stitchers and finishers out there.

I reworked my "Holly Sampler" pattern so that it would be square and fit on this hanging bag finish that I wanted to make.

I used the motif from my "Be Ye Merry" pattern for the fabric covered box and added some special touches inside. 

I think my most favorite of the three is the sawdust filled holly pinkeep.  It's just so simple and prim......my favorite kind of piece.  I love the black and khaki striped homespun ticking that I chose to use.  I just recently purchased this fabric and I'm sure I'll be using it again on something soon.

x x x x x

As a little holiday surprise from me to you.....here is the holly border pattern

I stitched it with WDW Bullfrog and GA Country Redwood

using 30ct R&R Reproductions Old Mill Java linen.  I had some scraps leftover from a previous project and it just happened to be the perfect linen color.

The pinkeep measures 6 1/2" by 4" with the center ticking being 3" by 4"

I used the same ticking on the back.  I left a 1/2" seam allowance on all sides of the stitching before sewing it all together.  It's really quite an easy finish and hope you'll give it a try.

x x x x x 

There's still plenty to do around here to get ready for Christmas.  I'm off now to run some errands and do some last minute gift shopping.  Thank you for following along with me and I'm always so happy to hear from you and see your comments.  Enjoy these days leading up to Christmas and Happy Stitching.  

Smiles, ~Nan

A Stitcher's Finish

Happy Sunday All!

Things are very busy around the Lewis residence and like most of you, we are trying very hard to decorate, shop and make preparations for Christmas.  It seems like Christmas has come very quickly this year.  

I did want take some time this morning and show you another stitcher's finish.  

Vonna sent me this picture of an ornament she just finished using one of my freebies.

It is part of her 25 Days of Christmas with the Twisted Stitcher.  Here is a link to her blog where you can see more of her beautiful finishes.......thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com 

She stitched this on 28 ct. Lambswool using the suggested DMC floss.

She added little evergreen boughs with berries and pinecones and even attached a cute little tag.

So sweet and such a wonderful and different finish.  Love it.  Thanks so much Vonna for sharing it with us.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week and that we all get lots done.  I hope to be back soon to show you a few things I've made for the holidays.  I have such fun creating!

Happy Stitching my friends.

~Nan

A Stitcher's Finish

My sweet friend, Linda, whose blog is Keeper of the Crowes, sent me a finish this week and I just couldn't wait to share it with you.  She stitched "Be Ye Merry" and it's finished into a pinkeep, much like the original design, except she added ruching.

In one word.....G O R G E O U S......

 And I love how she placed it in her new lollipop handled carrier that she just found this past Autumn.  So pretty with the greenery.

I found it a real coincidence, since I just happen to be stitching this same design this very week.  I've found myself with a bit of down time between projects and I thought I'd try and make a few finished pieces to sell in my Etsy shop this month.
I use to love doing that when I belonged to the "To Dwell in Primitive Thymes" online group and I miss it sometimes.  Here's what I have so far.....

Usually, when I stitch a design again, I like to mix it up a bit.  It gives me a chance at a kind of "WHAT IF"........ I plan to finish this differently too. 
 I used overdyed floss this time around.  Forest Glade, Lancaster Red and Heirloom Gold.  My good friend, Pat stitched her version with these colors and I loved it so much I decided to use her choices for this.  I love how it looks on this dark WDW Cocoa linen too.
x x x x
Well, a big thank you Linda for stitching and sharing your beautiful piece with me.
I'll keep you posted with my stitching and finishing progress.
Have a wonderful week my friends!
~Nan