* * * Let It Snow * * *

This was just the beginning.

It was actually a perfect day.  We were warmed 
by the fire, we had lots of hot tea and we even popped popcorn and drizzled it with some warm butter.

I got in some stitching too :) 

 It's still snowing like crazy out there, 
with no sign of letting up.  
Oh well, I guess more shoveling tomorrow.  

That counts as exercise, right?

Got to work off that buttered popcorn!

Stay Warm

~Nan 

A PEEK AT MY NEW STITCHERIES ON T.D.I.P.T MERCANTILE

Very Excited about TDIPT Mercantile

Hello Friends. I am excited and happy to announce that I am now a proud member of TDIPT Mercantile ~ To Dwell in Primitive Thymes.  For those of you who are not familiar with TDIPT, this is a group of artists that hand make and sell primitives and folk art.  New items are listed every 1st and 15th of the month.  I invite you to view my newly stitched items for sale along with many other very talented artists.  http://www.tdiptmercantile.com/ Thanks and a very happy holiday season to all.

Cupboard Hangers

I just finished these 2 cupboard hangers today and got them listed in my Etsy Shop. The first one is a BBD stitched on khaki linen.  I added some rusty bells and fabric tie to the wire hanger.  The perfect size for a stocking stuffer :)

The second one is stitched on natural linen and has a brown hemp hanger.  This is one of my own designs.  I am very happy with how these turned out.  

 

I've had a lot of time to stitch over the holiday and I have enjoyed every minute of it, but tomorrow is back to work :( 

Hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend.  Happy stitching!

~Nan

A Few More Finishes

Here's a ditty bag I stitched using a pattern from Pineberry Lane.  The fabric is a really soft brushed cotton homespun.  I love the simplicity of this design and it was really fun to stitch. I might stitch this again into a pinkeep.

This is a Homespun Elegance design that I made into a pinkeep and stuffed with sawdust.

 I finally got this finished up.  This is called My Heart is true from BBD.  I used thick red ticking for the pinkeep underneath.  I think this is very French looking.

 

And lastly is a strawberry fob I finished up yesterday for a very good customer.  This was a freebie pattern I got off the internet a while ago.  I think the  blog was AuryTM.

I used weeks dye works thread of cranberry, moss and olive and topped it with some old army blanket wool and a button.

I'm still stitching so there will be more to come.  Thanks for taking a peak.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  

~Nan

Christmas Reveal

Well, I finally had some time to post the new early style stitcheries that I've completed.  I used a new line of fabric from Moda called Rouenneries, in a faded red.  It's such a beautiful fabric that I tried to use patterns that I thought would complement it. The first is a table mat that I made by adapting a Stacy Nash pattern called Be Ye Merry.  I added a little pocket to hold scissors or maybe a sprig of boxwood. I stitched the finished piece onto Rouenneries toweling from the same Moda line.

I covered this little box with the Rouenneries fabric and stitched a little pinkeep for the top.  This is a Country Rustic Primitives pattern. Done on 36 count R & R linen so the stitches are very tiny. 

 

Next is an adaptation of another pattern by Country Rustic Primitives.  I used the same fabric to back this pinkeep. I stitched this on 30 count straw by Weeks Dye Works.

 

Thanks for taking a look.  I have more  to show you but I better get some of the chores done.

Happy Stitching !

~Nan

 

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

~Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~

Wishing you a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Christmas Stitching

I just wanted to show you a few pinkeeps I stitched up for a customer.  I am fully into the Christmas spirit now and practically stitching non stop.  I've completed quite a few Christmas stitcheries and have plenty to show you.   Just need to get some good pics taken and I'll post them soon.

Happy Stitching.

~Nan

Thanksgiving Banner

I just had to show you the banner I purchased from Ivonne Brown of The Crackling Crows
She makes the most amazing banners that she hand stencils and threads with aged ribbon. It arrived and I wasted no time getting it hung. This is in my downstairs hallway and you see it as soon as you enter our home. I just love it so much that I ordered one to display for Christmas, which reads "DECK THE HALLS". If you get a chance check out her blog. She's just as nice as they come too.

I also wanted to show you the old Ferry Seeds poster that I framed up. I love to take this out and hang it at Thanksgiving. It use to be in a very small oak frame. Somehow the glass broke and I went shopping for a new frame. I love this poster and thought that it deserved something more impressive. Best of all it was half price at Michael's. This hangs by our dinning room table and you can't miss it. It reads "Peter Peter pumpkin eater
Had a wife and could'nt keep her But he succeeded well indeed By planting one of Ferry's Seeds.
Well, back to stitching. I'm working on quite a few things for the Christmas season and I'll post some pics as soon as they're finished.
Happy Stitching,
~Nan

A New Finish and Some Old

I just finished another hanging pinkeep, this time with a little penny rug to hold your pins and needles. As you know, I like to put my own spin on the pattern I choose, so this is my version of an alphabet by Brightneedle. The fabric I choose for this is a very soft, denim blue plaid, brushed homespun that's been antiqued a bit. I will be adding this to my Etsy shop if anyone is interested in it.


These are some of my favorite finishes that I have out for the holiday's and sometimes all year long. This one below is my take on the Settler's Sampler by Told in a Garden. I've used the amish couple and the wheat but added the quilt stars, moon and the word "Harvest" to make it more my own.

This is one of my absolute favorites that I stitched last year and I keep it out all year long. This design is part of a huge sampler by Birds of a Feather, called Happy Hearts. I stitched my husband's first initial and mine in the hearts to personalize it.

And last but never least is one of The Sampler Girl's patterns called Quaker Boo. I love this pattern and since my favorite holiday is Halloween, I just had to have one of these for the house. It's a bit hard to see because this was put under glass and I couldn't get a good shot without the reflection.

Well, I am busy stitching up some orders that have come in but I like add to my blog whenever possible. I have so much fun blogging and getting to know all the prim lovers out there. Have a wonderful day and Happy Stitching.
~Nan

A Few Fall Finishes

I've been a busy stitcher this week and have 4 finished pinkeeps to show you all. The first is a freebie design by Primitivebettys. I love this design and stitched it up right after printing it. I used a light chocolate 32 ct linen by Dovestitch.com and stitched the design using variegated silk thread by The Thread Gatherer called chocolate caramel. The fabric is a brushed flannel homespun in orange plaid.

This one was done using a few motifs from a sampler by Stacy Nash Primitives and I used Caron Wildflower thread for the peacock's tail and fall. I love the effect you get with extremely variegated thread. The color change can really be seen.

I also stitched up 2 more Humble Pinkeeps. This is a Blackbird Design. I did one of these in the past but was asked to custom color this one in gold and deep red. The blue one is just like the first one I did. I ended up keeping that one, so this one is going in my Etsy shop.


Well as always, thanks for checking out my blog and love hearing from you. Happy Stitching.
~Nan

It's A Wrap ~ Basket Bands

I stitched up something a little different this time. This was my first try at a basket band or wrap and I ended up making two of them. For this round nantucket basket I used some tea stained linen and used seam binding for a tie in the back. The patten is part of a Stacy Nash Primitives Sampler but I had to redesign it a bit and make it smaller so that it would fit on the band. I added the ABC to give it more of a school girl sampler feel.


This is the second one I stitch up using some stitch band that I had in my stash. These were a lot of fun and pretty easy to do. And I just love Stacy's fancy peacock.

Thanks for taking a look and Happy stitching.
~Nan

Gift for a Friend

I have met some wonderful people since starting Threadwork primitives and we love to share tips on how to's. I have a new blog friend that recently sent me some prairie cloth just so I could give it a try, stitching on it. She just sent it to me out of the blue because she stitches with it and I had never tried it. I wanted show her how much her sweet gesture meant to me. So, to give her a BIG thank you, I stitched up this ditty bag with her initials on it using some of the prairie cloth she had sent. It arrived at her door last week and she emailed to say she was so surprised and loved it.
I really enjoyed stitching on the prairie cloth and I just couldn't wait to get it done and send it off to her. I was so happy that she liked it.
She is a fabulous stitcher and has a new store opening on Etsy soon, called Old Threads. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us all.
Happy Fall and Primitive Blessing.
~Nan

Some New Finishes

Got a few things finished up yesterday. Here is the lineup.
2 pinkeeps and a fabric covered box with a pinkeep on top.

I reworked this design from the sampler girl.
It was a freebie she did called Quaker Boo.
I redesigned it so it would fit on top of this fabric covered box I made.

I just love this design by Stacy Nash. This is the second time stitching it. The first one I put into a black metal ceiling tile frame. I really love this with the addition of the black wool on the bottom and back.

This is another freebie design by Stitcherhood. I added an old brown button for one of his eyes and bleached up some black linen for a very faded look. This picture just doesn't do it justice. Very adorable in person.

Finally, this is something I stitched up at the end of Fall last year
and just got it framed. It's from Blackbird Designs called October's Harvest.
Fall is my favorite season, as you probably know.
And I totally adore anything with pumpkins.

Happy Fall Season to all !
Enjoy these cool days.
~Nan

Two Hanging Pinkeeps

Here is the finished hanging pinkeep I promised to show you. Actually, I finished two of them.
I really like making these and will probably be making more in the future because they really tickle my fancy.
The first is a Stacy Nash design and I used a rusty wire for the hanger.
The second is the one I really adore. It's a Notforgotten Farm design and I added a tiny velvet strawberry to it. I changed up the colors a bit and condensed the design somewhat to fit the size I wanted the finished piece to be.
I hope to have most of my finished items listed in my etsy shop by this weekend. As you all know, there never seems to be enough time to get everything you want to done.
Have a wonderful fall weekend and happy stitching.
~Nan

A Raven's Welcome

I am really having a lot of fun in my new sewing room.
Can you tell :?
This design is from Plum Street Samplers called My Pretties. I love ravens and crows. They're what I call primitive birds. I changed the colors up a bit by making the branch a dark brown rather than black as the pattern indicates. It's stitched on stained linen, as usual, my fabric of choice and has black wool on the bottom and some old vintage lace. Firmly stuffed with sawdust and some old cotton. You should be able to click on the picture to get a closer look.
I am almost finished a Halloween Sampler that I am making into a hanging pinkeep. So, check back and happy stitching and happy fall to all.

PA Dutch Inspired

Here is a little hanging cupboard pinkeep that I just got finished. I came up with the design using an old German sampler book and my cross stitch bible book. I love browns and blues so I went with what I love. And even though I live in Philadelphia, the neighboring county is Bucks and it has some beautiful and primitive places to visit. This is the first time I have ever used a gingham linen. I thought it fit well with the design. I coffee stained some osnaburg for the back and stuffed it with sawdust. I added a piece of really great teal and brown herringbone over dyed wool that I bought up in Hereford, Pa. at a wonderful shop called Homespun. I could really go broke when I'm in there, so it's good thing that it's not around the corner from me. It use to be an old country store and has the coolest old apothecaries all around the store. They carry everything a textile artist could need. Anyway, I am wandering. Thanks for taking a look and happy stitching to all.

New Sewing Room

Well, it was a lot of work but we finally got new carpet put down throughout the house. We had to move everything we own into about 3 rooms of our house. We could hardly move around. It sure looks wonderful and it feels so nice under my feet. I have to say, I do like the smell of new carpet. Haven't had that smell in the house for about 16 years.
Bill worked all summer trimming out the rooms upstairs and getting them painted. This is my new sewing room : ) I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. It's really big and I have tons of room for my antiques, fabrics and sewing items. I'm not done decorating it yet, we only just got the furniture moved into this room on Sunday. I still want to hang some prints up and a wall quilt over the drysink. I have a great view of my garden and lots of natural light. It feels so good to be organized again and I find myself wanting to hang out in here all the time now. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions on what it could use or a different layout, please leave a comment. Have a great week and happy stitching.
~Nan

Garden Inspired Ditty Bag

As fall arrives the flowers in my garden have all past their best. But there is one flower that is a real joy to look out on right now and that is my sedum. I guess that is why the variety is called Autumn Joy.
These colors were the inspiration for the drawstring ditty bag I've recently completed. I love the pinky mauves of the florets and the blueish green of the leaves. I used 3 different shades of pink for the berries and stitched it on a misty blue linen that has been stained.

The top section is osnaburg and it's lined with an brown and cream ticking, which I've also stained. I did a little bit of decorative stitching and added a chain stitch to separate the osnaburg from the blue linen.


This was a fun bag to stitch up and hope you enjoyed taking a peek. As alway, happy stitching.
Nan