* * * * * * *

Wishing everyone a healthy and wonderful New Year filled

with an abundance of happiness.

Blessings to all of you,

~Nan

* Christmas Pics to Share *

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

What a whirlwind it's been, but such fun too.

* * * * * * *

I wanted to share some Christmas pics with you now that the

holiday is over and I have some spare time.

Of course I love handmades, so the tree is mostly decorated with those and my collection of kugels, another love of mine.  I made a fabric garland  a many years ago that we put on the tree every year.  It's simple and prim and I love the casual look it gives.

Here is our prim feather tree with more handmade ornies, most of these I cross stitched years ago.

I love to hang this coverlet on the pie safe for a splash of red.

We usually have the fireplace going on these cold winter days.

We got about a foot of snow here in Philadelphia during that last storm.

Everything is covered in white.

 * * * * * * *

I'm excited to say I've been doing some designing and should have a few new patterns out by the end of January.  I've also been stitching to my hearts content and will post pics of the finishes as soon as they're all done.

Stay warm friends and enjoy this beautiful season.

Happy stitching,

~Nan

* MERRY CHRISTMAS *

Wishing all of you much love, laughter and happiness this holiday season and though out the coming year.

* * * * * * * 

Merry Christmas. 

~Nan

Xmas Swap

As most of you know, I am a member of a group called To Dwell In Primitive Times or TDIPT.  We do a Christmas swap every year, but this year we decided to have secret swap.  We would all make a handmade and add in a few goodies.  I didn't know who had my name until the box arrived the other day.   It was from Annie of Chickadee Primitives.   When I opened the box and saw what was inside I almost screamed, so I had to show all of you my beautiful gifts.

 

* * * * * * * 

Annie gifted me with her wonderful handmade button snowman. ( Click to enlarge the pics for a closer look)   His eyes and mouth are little buttons and I love his rosy cheeks.  He is just adorable.  She also made a prim fabric covered box filled with xmas potpourri and a handmade baby doll ornie holding some prim candy canes.  I love TDIPT swaps.  They are so exciting and I know all of us in the group are always thrilled with our gifts.  It was so wonderful to see what everyone got.

* * * * * * *

Thank you so much Annie for all the love and time you put into making my swap presents so special.  I love it all !

Enjoy this winter day.

~Nan

At Last Some Finishes

It seems like forever since I've posted.  So much to do with Christmas just around the corner.

I'm so happy everyone enjoyed seeing the freebie finishes.  There are so many talented stitchers.  I love to see all their creativity.
* * * * * * * 

Well, I was finally been able to finish up some pieces that I stitched awhile back.   It wasn't easy between work, shopping for presents and decorating, but I can now say I'm ready for my TDIPT listing on Tuesday night.  Yeah !

Here is St. Noel.  With Thy Needle and Thread.

I cutout a frame of black wool, laid it over the stitched piece and then attached them together with a blanket stitch.  A lot of precise measuring, but I like that the  wool on the front is not pieced together.  It's stuffed with 100% cotton batting.   I love this stuff.  I can't tell you how much I hate polyfill.  It's backed it with the same black wool.

* * * * * * *

Next I finished the Merry Christmas pinkeep by La D Da.

It's backed in a beautiful dark wine overdyed wool and stuffed with sawdust.

* * * * * * * 

I also made a few little hanger ornaments from the Pineberry Lane freebie, Xmas.

They're stitched on Willow Linen with overdyed floss and stuffed with cotton.  They each have a rusty wire hanger,  bells and homespun tie.

I hope to be listing these in my Etsy Shop.

But for now it's the start of another work week, so off to work I go.

HiHo, HiHo, HiHo :D

Happy Stitching.

~Nan

 

Freebie Finishes

I hope everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving.

 I wanted to take this time to thank everyone for the  wonderful  responses I received on the Merry Christmas Freebie.  I appreciate all the comments that were left and got some wonderful pictures of some very creative finishes, that I really want to share with everyone.

* * * * * * * 

First is a fabulous pinkeep by Karen

I love the extra details she puts into her finishing.  Isn't is just gorgeous?

I love it !

* * * * * * *

Next we have Faye's finish that she made into an adorable bell ornament.

How creative is that?  Now that is thinking outside the box !

Great job Faye.

* * * * * * * 

Angela sent me a picture of the finish she made.

It can be used as a gift tag or floss tag.  Wow!

Wouldn't you love to see that gift tag on your present?

It's a present in itself.  Just Beautiful.

* * * * * *
And just in are 2 more beautiful finishes from Aubree.
The first one is finished on a tin.

and the next is a pillow ornament.
Both are just so pretty. 

Well, all I can say is, fabulous stitching girls and such creative thinking.  Thank you for sharing your finishes with me.  I was very excited to see them and they all put a big smile on my face.

Happy Stitching, until next time.

~Nan

Good Wishes For Thanksgiving

* * * * * * *
Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with 

family, friends and good eats.

Blessings,

~Nan 

Revised Wall Pocket

So I showed my hubby the wall pocket I made and his comment was, "How does anyone know there's a  pocket?  You need to put something it in so they can tell there's one there."

You know, sometimes he's so right.

Here is my revised photo of the Merry Christmas Wall Pocket.

I likey much better now ;D
Again, here's the link for the wall pocket tutorial that Robby put together.
http://cashstrappedcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/04/fabric-wall-pocket.html

I also did a bit of long overdue stitching on some pieces that have been lingering in my unfinished pile.  And my pile consisted of 2 things.  If you know me you know I almost always finish what I'm working on before moving on to something else.  But my Stacy Nash Blackhorse was more stitching than I expected and I had to get ready for my TDIPT listing and a few other things.

So that's my excuse for that piece. 

The other piece is this Goode Huswife, Queen's Diamond.  Something I started about 2 years ago.  I started stitching it and was having so much trouble with the fabric when I realized I had started stitching in the wrong holes.  I don't know if you know what I mean, but I find on linen there are obvious x's to stitch in and then there are the not so obvious ones.  Well, I picked a not so obvious one to start in and by the time I realized it, the only thing to do was rip it all out and start over or forge on.   I was determined to go on with it, but could only manage a few stitches now and then because it was NOT enjoyable. Anyway, I put the final stitches in it last night and I'm sooooooo happy.

I love the colors and I think I'll get it framed and hang it to remind me to be persistent : )

Happy Stitching!

~Nan 

MERRY CHRISTMAS WALL POCKET

About a year ago, my friend Robby in Scotland, taught me how to make a wall pocket.  As I contemplated a finish for my Merry Christmas piece, the wall pocket idea came to mind.

You can slip in a few Christmas cards or maybe a candy cane or two.
Here's the link for the tutorial that Robby put together.
http://cashstrappedcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/04/fabric-wall-pocket.html
They're so fun to make.

I really love to do different finishes for my cross stitch pieces.  Framing is nice, but there are so many different ways to display your needlework.  It's so much fun to add a bit of whimsy or surprise to a piece.

* * * * * * *

I also decided to stitch a freebie by Pineberry Lane.  It's a quick stitch that I think I'll make into a small ornament.  I may actually make a few of these.   I stitched this on Prairie Grain Linen with GA Rhubarb for the word Xmas and Ecru for the star.

Well, I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I'll take it easy the rest of the day.

Stitching will have to wait.  Time for some hot soup and a cup of tea.

Hope you are enjoying the day and thank you for stopping by to visit.

Smiles,

~Nan 

INTRODUCING.....

" WOODLAND NOEL"

Now available.  Pattern for this pinkeep is stitched on natural 32 ct linen using DMC floss.

Trimmed in reproduction silver tinsel garland.

How festive!

May be purchase for $9 (free shipping in the US)

through me at nanlewis@comcast.net or also in my  Etsy Shop.

Thank you for all of the inquiries and also for your support.

It is heartfelt and greatly appreciated : )

Happy Stitching.

~Nan

REMEMBER ~ TDIPT Listings and Open House

Don't forget !

Tonight is all the new listings on TDIPT Mercantile

not to mention our Colonial Christmas Open House.

Lots of prizes and all the details needed to enter

right here

http://todwellinprimitivethymes.blogspot.com/

* * * * * * *

Here is a peek at some of my offerings. 

 Oh Christmas Tree sampler Hornbook.  A pattern by
With Thy Needle and Thread.

Thankful pinkeep stuffed with sawdust and stitched with Chocolate Caramel Silk thread. A primitivebettys design.  One of my favorite to stitch this time of year.

A Colonial Christmas Pillow trimmed with antiqued crocheted lace and ric rac.

All done in shades of white and cream.

* * * * * * *

I'll have a few more cross stitch pieces to show you tonight on the Merc.

Hope you'll join me there around 9:30 pm.

* * * * * * *

Happy Sunday friends,

~Nan

More Holiday Stitching

I finished this piece this morning and thought I'd share it with you before I backed and stuffed it.  This design is by LaDDa from the 2009 JCS Ornament issue.  I stitched this on 30 ct R&R Dark Cappuccino Linen.  The words were stitched using the called for Gloriana Silk thread in a color called Winter Woods.  It doesn't look anything like the color in the magazine and did not go with the DMC conversion colors, so I had to improvise and pick colors that match the skein I received.  I was disappointed with the color of the skein, but now that its stitched, I like the way it turned out.

It invokes the word Plum Pudding : )

I want to thank everyone who stopped by for my "Merry Christmas" freebie pattern and also to Maria and Claudine for posting the link on their blog.  I am blessed to have such wonderful blogging friends.  I plan to have more freebie charts in the future.  It was so much fun to hear from all of you.

I'll be spending the weekend working on getting my new pattern "Woodland Noel" together and hope to have it ready for release early next week.   I've had a great response to it and hope you'll enjoy stitching it as much as I did. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Fall weekend and as always,

Happy Stitching!

~Nan 

Christmas Freebie

Hi Everyone.  Thank you for the wonderful comments on yesterday's post.  I just wanted to do something to say thank you to all my blogging friends, so here's the chart for my "Merry Christmas" pattern.   It's a quick stitch for sure.

You may use whatever threads inspire you.  As I mentioned, I used Victorian Motto Sampler

threads in the colors of Antique Red and Thyme, but there are so many great overdyed threads out there to use.

Please remember to always give the designer credit.  I hope you enjoy stitching this and would love to see the finishes.  There are so many talented and wonderful stitchers out there.

Smiles,

~Nan 

Holiday Stitching

My fingers have been busy and I have some pics to show
you of the pieces I've just finished stitching.

This is a design I created last year around this time.  When I first stitched 
it last year I did it in blues and browns, but this year I wanted

 to stitch it again in traditional colors.  I added a few more snowflakes

this time and I think I prefer it in these colors.  

This will be a pinkeep.  I'll back it in some homespun, stuff it

and trim it with tinsel.  I love the look of tinsel trim and can't

wait to see how it looks on this.

Here's last years version in the blues and browns.

* * * * *
I also did up a very simple design using the words

"Merry Christmas"

I love the simplicity of it.  I stitched this on prairie cloth using 

Victorian Motto Sampler thread.  You should try them if you haven't already.

Nancy has some really beautiful colors that you'll find yourself drawn to over 

and over again.

I hope to make this into a hanging pinkeep.  I think this one will look cute with a

few rusty jingle bells on it.

Well, I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.  I'm looking forward

to another stitching weekend.  So much to get done for my

TDIPT listing on the 15th.
* * * * * 

Happy Stitching,

~Nan 

A Different Finish

As I mentioned yesterday I'm doing a lot of finishing work.  I'm getting ready for TDIPT Mercantile on the 15th and wanted to stitch my new design "BE YE MERRY with a different finish.  So here it is.  I hand stitched the sampler on to an Army Green wool bag.  

This is super thick wool and so cozy. I've edged the top in the softest red brushed cotton homespun.  This just exudes the feeling of Christmas to me and I really like the way it came out.   I hope you do too.

It seems the consensus on St. Noel is to use the black and green wool
as pictured in my last post.  Thank you to all of you who left me your feedback.  I love getting input from my fellow bloggers and alway enjoy reading your comments.
I'll be working on St. Noel  this week to ready the finish for TDIPT, along with all the
other stitching I have planned : )
Oh how I love my stitching.
Have a wonderful day !
~Nan 

Morning Finish

Just wanted to pop in and show you this mornings finish.

I woke up early and made some Chocolate Coconut coffee and got to work on the last few stitches that this piece needed.   I really enjoyed stitching this and just love this new design by With Thy Needle and Thread called St. Noel.

I stitched this on 32 ct R & R Ligonier Latte linen and did some extra staining on it for a more prim look.  I stayed with the colors suggested, but I'm not usually fond of stitching with ecru or white, so I changed the pots to the black/brown color.  I'm  hoping to make this into a cotton filled pillow using the black and green wool that I have it photographed on.  I thought of using green wool, but I really liked how this dark color picks up on Santa's mittens and boots and the pots.

Let me know if you agree or if I'm way off base and should go with an army green wool.

* * * * * * 

We'll I'll be in my studio the rest of the day having fun doing some finishing on the stitching I've completed over the last few weeks.  As soon as they're all done I'll get some shots for the blog.

* * * * * * 

Don't forget, TDIPT Mercantile is having their open house.  Pop on over for a chance to win a beautiful handmade item by one of the very talented artists.

Thanks for stopping by and always love to hear from you.

Enjoy the day and happy stitching.

~Nan 

HAPPY NOVEMBER

It's another beautiful fall day here in Philadelphia.

The sun is out and it's cool and crisp.

I'm stitching away on some holiday items.

There are so many great charts to choose

from that I'm having trouble deciding.

I wish I could stitch all day, but I'm off 

to work now to see my little ones

at the daycare center where I work.

They are such a joy to be around.

Well, enjoy this beautiful day!

~Nan 

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN WISHES

 from Threadwork Primitives

Have a Spooktakular Day!

~Nan 

photo from Winter Willow Primitives

Be Ye Merry Finish...

and cross stitch pattern.

"Be Ye Merry"

4 x 6 sawdust filled pinkeep.
Stitched over 2 threads on
32 ct Antique White Linen by  DoveStitch
This is beautiful high quality linen and
is such a joy to stitch on.
~*****~

This pattern will be available in
my Etsy shop and also by direct email.
You can contact me about purchasing the pattern
or any questions at
nanlewis@comcast.net
 ~*****~
Thank you so very much to all of you
who have emailed me about the pattern.
Designing brings my much joy.
I hope you will enjoy stitching this.

 Many happy stitches,
~Nan 

New Pattern in the Works and a TDIPT Open House

 I've been hard at work designing and just finished up 

stitching the model this morning.

Still need to do the finishing, but that's the easy part. 

I hope to have my new pattern printed up soon.

This is a very old traditional German motif and it really 

reminded me of Christmas when I saw it.   

I stitched it in my favorite colors along with the

saying "Be Ye Merry" and added a border.

GET READY !

We are having an open house in November on the 

TDIPT Mercantile with a Colonial Christmas theme.  

Each of our talented artists will be creating something 

special and unique to go with the theme.

So, I thought my new "Be Ye Merry" design would go
nicely with the Colonial theme.

  Our Open House will have tons of prizes!

I will be donating a special handmade, along with these 

amazing artists:

Big Brown Dog Primitives
Boggy Bottom Bayou
Brady Bears Studios
Chickadee Primitives
Country Thyme Stitchery
Crowsnest Pass Primitives
Diamond K Folk Art
Eat Crow Primitives
Enchanted Woods Folk Art
Hot Metal Mama and Nostalgic Folk Art
Meadowbrook Cabin Primitives
Moon Pie Primitives
Nothing Plain by Jane
Old Branch Hollow
Pear Tree Primitives
Prairie House Primitives
The Wooden Acorn
1897 House Primitives

 

Getting entered into the drawing is easy - all you have to do is:

• Join our TDIPT Blog Mailing List (you are already entered in the drawing if you receive our monthly updates)
• Every purchase made from the TDIPT Mercantile from November 1st - November 20th, 2010 will earn you another chance in the drawing!

This is definitely not to be missed.

So don't forget to write yourself a note.

Smiles,

~Nan

TDIPT October Offerings

Tonight's the night !

New offerings from myself and many other

fabulous artists.

These fabric covered pumpkin boxes will be

available this evening, Oct. 14th, on my 

TDIPT Mercantile page, along with a few other

of my creations. 

Hope to see you there.

Thank you to all of you for your comments on my

Fall/Halloween decor.  You guys can sure

can make a gal feel good : )

Smiles,

~Nan

Halloween Decor Overload?

Here are some more pics from around the house.

This is how our fireplace is decorated this year.

It is never the same from year to year.

Above is my paper witch cutout that I recently purchased
from Jan of Big Brown Dog Primitives.  She's also one of my
TDIPT sisters and I just adore her work.

Yes, more pumpkins in my favorite trencher bowl

on top of my biggest and best penny rug.

This is the top of our large antique grain bin.

The top hinges open and there are divided 

sections inside.   Another favorite piece.

The beautiful backgammon board was made by 

my sweet TDIPT sister, Pam of 

GoldieLoo Woodworks.

It's painted the best colors and works in every

season.

This cedar box belonged to my husband's 

mom.  I purchased the Chinese Checker Board

at a craft fair in Lititz, PA many years ago.

One of our hand hooked rugs

and below is a Stein Pumpkin I purchased on a trip

to Ligonier, PA.  What a wonderful

little town that was to visit.

A folk art paradise.

This is an antique bentwood chair that I won at auction

and have in our kitchen.  I love anything with a lollipop 

top and have a large collection of kraut cutters hung

about the kitchen.

This is our sun porch.  The awesome scarecrow
is by my other TDIPT sister, Cookie
of Curds and Whey.  I put his little crow buddy
up in the garden sieve.
We really have some wonderful talented artists
in our group and as I'm sure you can tell, I'm a big
fan of their work.

I hope you have enjoyed taking a peek at 

our primitive home.  Thanks so much

for stopping by and have a wonderful

fall day.

~Nan