My Newest Find!

I collect a lot of vintage items, but my favorite things to collect are anything that has to do with stitching......gosh, I wonder why....LOL.  I have a fascination with spool cabinets and have a few in my collection.  I recently came across this one and decided it really needed to come live with me.

I loved that it was a Pennsylvania piece, since that is where I live and that the seller had all the history on it .  It has been in his family for as long as they can remember.  It was used in his grandfather's coal company store in Western Pa.  The Company started in the early 1800's when the 1st Sam Wallwork came over from England and worked his way up through the mines and eventually started Wallwork Coal Co.

This beauty is made of oak and has the sweetest original drawer pulls, great patina and the markings of a well used but loved piece....it will be well loved by me also:)

I'll be back in a few to post the 2 new Fall designs my busy hands have created.

Love this time of year!

Wishing you a wonderful week full of all the things that make you smile!

Happy Stitching too....

~Nan

A Love of Punching!

As you my know, I have recently been learning to do punch needle.  With the help of some good punching friends....Thank you Theresa Meloon.... and watching some great Youtube tutorials.....Thank you Lori Brechlin, I've been quite inspired by my new love of punching!  

Finished my little punched oak leaf into a pyn pillow. 

Kind of mixed media...punched wool, linen with cross stitch and fabric accent. 

 Even added a little brass acorn charm.

 

Trying to get ready for my Primitive Handmades Mercantile update this month.  It always comes around so fast.  Somehow managed to plan another trip at the same time as this update. 

I'll be headed down to Va to attend Kathy Barrick's workshop given by the Virginia Guild of Needlewomen.  I'm excited about it, but I have lots of homework to stitch before I get on the road.

Wishing you all a wonderful week full of beautiful Fall inspiration!

Smiles, Nan

Big Giveaway!

Click the pic to make larger.

As many of you know, I am part of a wonderful group of stitchers and needlepunchers on facebook called The Prim Stitchers Society.  It's a very positive and supportive group and we are all very passionate about "prim" needlework.

The group, which was formed by our Admin, Terri Hall of http://www.dixiesamplar.com/ , on March 20th, recently reached the 3000 member mark last month.  We've grown extremely fast and we really are like one BIG happy family.  

Well to celebrate that milestone, the group is having a really fabulous giveaway.  So many of the member designers have offered to contribute prizes.  Three winners will be selected randomly to receive a super gift package.  If have not joined in on all the fun yet, now is a great time. The winners names will be drawn today at 6:00 pm.  Sorry, I'm so late posting this:(

Here is the link to join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/primstitcherssociety/ 

Just click the button to join and the admin will add you to our Prim Family!

A few of the members traveled together and met up with other members at The Gathering of Primitive Friends Show, hosted by one of our favorite Prim Stitcher sisters, Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.

We really could not have imagined a better time.

 From left to right .....

Michelle Blanco, Faye Riggsbee, Theresa Meloon, little ol' me, Pat Simon, 

Lori Brechlin, and Mimi Martz.

 Thanks girls...for the best time EVER!

Smiles, ~Nan

Winner of Nina's Giveaway!

Yes, I really couldn't believe it either, but yes, I was the winner of the facebook giveaway for 3000 likes given by Hand made by Nina's.   The prize was.... 13 Nina's Threads, 2 silk threads, 1 silk ribbon in 13mm width, one piece of linen, 2 pieces of ric-rac and laces. All in Autumnal colors.

 I am using the picture from Nina's page as I really doubt I could do these beautiful threads and trims the justice they deserve if I took another picture.  The colors are amazing and I will for sure be using them in a future project....maybe a special handmade for Primitive Handmades Merc.

Please visit Nina's website to see all her beautiful items.

http://ninasthreads.eu/

Thank you so much Nina for your sweet generosity.  I love these more than I can say!

Happy Stitching!

~Nan

Road Trip....Woot Woot

I've been keeping my fingers very busy gearing up for another Primitive Handmades Mercantile.  I have some things made and ready for this month and some for next....Yep, I love to be ahead of the game at all times.  Here's the pile of hand dids on my studio floor.  A little bit of everything. 

The PHM update is Thursday around 9:00.  The timing isn't perfect because I leave on a road trip early the next morning.  But I'll be bringing my laptop with me, as always.  So, I will be able to email about sales, if need be.

 Anyone else headed to Notforgotten Farm this Saturday?  

It's the annual Gathering of Primitive Friends show!  

I'm over the moon excited and will be en route on Friday to meet up with some friends.

Then we'll load up the van and all go together to our destination.  

So many friends from all over are traveling for this event.  I hope to put a lot of faces to 

names and CAN NOT wait to meet all my online prim stitching friends.

I'm excited to finally meet my pal Lori too.  I know it'll be so much fun and I'll be smiling from dawn to dusk.  

The weather is supposed to be perfect that day and I'm sure I'll be bringing home with a few treasures from some of my favorite folk artists!  Hope to see you there and Please make sure to say hi:). 

Smiling, smiling, smiling.....~Nan

Can you say trim heaven?

Yep:)   My sweet friend Elizabeth Talledo of Dames of the Needle/Finger Work and From the Cauldron, sent me a belated birthday gift.  She knows what I love!  I have a few new designs I'm hard at work on and I can see these making it on to them.  Some of my favorites are the Dark Plum, Grunge, Tarnished Halo, Red Velvet Cake and so many more....

Her pom pom trim is the bomb!!! Thanks and love you E.

Happy Stitching and Finishing all,

~Nan

 

Fall stitching....there's just something about it.  The coolness of the air, the beautiful Autumn colors...bittersweet, olive, gold and brandy.  It's always so exciting to make a new start. This is what will be in my stitching hands today. I can't wait to see how this takes shape.  I love the linen, which is Lakeside Lentil and I'm pretty thrilled with my color pallet too.  There may be a change here or there, usually is, but this looks to be a good starting point.

I've been taking it pretty easy lately and I have to admit I've really been enjoying my down time.  I've been playing in the studio and getting ready for the next Primitive Handmades Merc. update, which will be on the evening of the 17th.  I've really had fun and have quite a few things to list....

But, I've also taken up learning to do punch needle. I have to say it was quite frustrating a first, but once I asked lots of questions of those in the know and kept at it, it's turned into something I really enjoy.  I can see myself having a punch project going at all times.  It's a nice change, very different from cross stitch and goes pretty quickly.

For my first try, I decided to just draw out a simple design.  A Prim flower with a few tongues surrounding it seemed easy enough. Here's my piece in progress.

I wasn't loving the bald spots, which you can't seem to see in the picture, but I kept going and after it was done and stained with a walnut staining solution, it looked much better.  The liquid made the fiber mesh together and hide the spots.  I backed it will overdyed wool and stuffed it.  Now it resides in my bowl of smalls and I'm pretty proud:)

Well, I'd better get stitching...I'll be back soon to show you the pretties I've made for my PHM update.

Enjoy your week and as always, Happy Stitching my friends!

Smiles, ~Nan