Swap Gifts From A Friend

My friend, Ivonne of  The Crackling Crows

and I decided to do a swap of stitcheries and my gifts 

arrived the other day : )  To say I LOVE this needle book

is a true understatement.  It is so pretty and stitched

so beautifully.  How totally adorable is this?

I will truly enjoy using it and thinking

of my wonderful friend.

And not only did I receive this, but also one of her wonderful banners.

It is so primitive and the color is perfect.  I can't wait to find

just the right spot to display it.

Ivonne, I love, love, love everything and 

appreciate all the little details you put into my gifts.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

BTW.... I am loving the pecans you sent too!!!!

Smiles,

~Nan  

P.S.  I used the pics Ivonne took because she just takes the best photos.

~A LA D DA Finish~

Boy, I really love how this finished up.  I am really happy with the colors.  DMC 3750 and 3012.

Stuffed nice and tight with sawdust. It's looking really nice in my antique Albany slip bowl.

It may just have to stay there :) 

Backed in a dark blue reproduction cotton fabric

and stained with a walnut crystal solution for that "been around 

awhile" look.

I am enjoying the hot (but in the shade) weather, out on the back deck.

Bill is grilling and it's almost time to chow down.

I've been stitching for Fall, so check back.

Have a great afternoon. 

~Nan

The Pattern is called Letters and Leaves and I found a link to the free 
pattern here 

~Little Keepsake Boxes~

I just love making these little boxes. I stitched up a few for

my TDIPT Mercantile listings the other night and thought

I'd post a few pics of them here on my blog.

It's fun picking out a motif to stitch and then coordinating the

paper or fabric to cover the box in.  

 

I like to decorate the undersides of the lids too. 

I think it's a nice touch and a bit of a surprise.

Hope your day is filled with little surprises.

~Nan

Primitive Hornbook

I purchased this beautiful hornbook from my blog friend in Italy, Argante.

Her website is The Primitive Hare and she has all kinds of goodies for the primitive stitcher.

She makes these in Black or Natural and you can also purchase them through ABC Stitch Therapy.

  I wanted to design a simple cross stitch piece especially to go on this wonderful hornbook.

It's stitched on stained 30 ct linen with DMC floss.

BTW... Don't you just love her bunny tag.

If your interested in this soon to be released pattern, drop me an email.

On another note. It's rain, rain rain, here in Philly.  I'm kind of glad cause the gardens could use it.

And it's just another excuse to stay in and stitch !!!

Happy Saturday All.

Thanks for stopping by.

~Nan

 

A New Addition

Along with a great deal of other things, I collect gameboards.

I have made a few of my own, but love collecting ones done by other folk artists.

Here is my lastest addition.  I purchased it from my TDIPT sister, Pam of GoldieLoo Woodworks

I love everything about it.  The colors are wonderful and don't you just

love how it folds in half?

I placed it on my antique grain bin in my dining room for all to see.

If you love signs and gameboards, I recommend you check out the website.

Just click on the link above.

Hope your day is filled with things you love.

~Nan 

Another Quaker Six Mains

I wanted to stitch this part of the Quaker Six Mains again, but finish it into a ditty bag this time.
Here is the link for the freebie pattern http://www.amonamipierre.net/amapshop/lire/index.php?rubid=34

I got the finishing idea from a bag Nancy of Moon Pie Primitives did a while back.

Thank you Nancy for the inspiration.

I'd never done a bag finish like this and thought it was really cool.

I used reproduction fabric that I stained with walnut crystals.

It ended up pretty big, measuring over 9 x 7.

Thank you to all of you who gave me suggestions for attaching the sampler to the hornbook.  I thought of using small black box cut tacks, as some of you said, but my husband said they would rust over time.  He later said that maybe if clear nail polish was applied to the nails before hand, they'd be ok.  

I ended up purchasing two products and the combination seems to be working well.

They are glue dots that are acid free and won't leave any residue.

So far the sampler seems to be adhering to the hornbook very well. I think these dots will come in handy for future projects, but I may try the nail polished black tacks on the next one.

Thanks again for all your comments and suggestions.  I greatly appreciate your input.

Happy Stitching

~Nan

My First Hornbook

This is my first hornbook.  I cut out the wood, sanded, stained, painted and waxed it.

The pattern is from a freebie called Quaker Six mains.  I used over dyed floss and stained the linen with walnut crystals. 
I really like these and I think it's such a cool way to display needlework.  Let me know your thoughts on this.  I haven't attached the stitched piece to it yet.  I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it, so I'd love any advice or suggestions you may have for me. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Smiles,

~Nan   

Happy Birthday *AMERICA*

A Happy 4th of July to everyone.
Hope your weekend is full of fun,

family, friends and fireworks!

~Nan

A Non Stitching Post

Here is "MY BABY"

I was on vacation this week and got 

a lot of stitching done, but also got 

my baby washed and cleaned 

inside and out.  

Yes, my 2010 Wrangler Unlimited is

my pride and joy. Isn't she a beauty?

I just had to show you all.  Hope you 

don't think I'm a bit off.  I always post

about stitching, which is very dear

to my heart, but I just wanted you to 

see what else gives me a whole lot of joy.

So.....without further adieu. Taddah....

Here is her new surf decal.

It's so awesome and I just love it !

We love the islands, especially Maui,

so I thought this was fitting :)

Hope you have a Happy 4th

filled with fun, friends and family.

~Nan