Today's Projects

 I just thought I'd check in to say hi.

Today was really a lovely day.  

Sunny and warm, but not too warm.

Perfect for gardening and I still have

plenty that needs tending to.

Here were today's projects....

Planted some pots and the window boxes 

on the shed.  They look pretty wimpy right

now so I hope to show you them in a few weeks.

Got the fountain working and filled

for our fine feathered friends

Yep....still need to weed.

Taking it one day at a time :)

Planted a bed next to the deck with 

Frilly Russian Sage and Impatiens.   

These should fill in nicely and the 

sage will come back every year....I hope anyway :)

 Installed a new iron trellis for the 

Clematis Vine.  Should be very 

pretty once it starts blooming.

x x x x x

I also did some finishing work, printed charts,

 worked on the instructions for a new chart

 and even did a little chatting on the phone

with a few friends.  Not a bad day!

Hope your day was full and filled with 

things you love too.

Smiles, ~Nan

This Day

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me. -Lee Greenwood

Thank you.

Many Blessings,

~Nan

♥....How Cool....♥

Just wanted to share this cool find with you.

It's a needlework organizer/clipboard

from Needlework Press.

 

It's about 13" by 9" and 1" deep.

It has a clipboard lid, but the lid slides

open for storage, for things like your 

chart, floss, scissors, etc.

Like I said, How Cool !

I just called to purchase one from

Dyeing to Stitch, after seeing it on

their blog.

They just got them into the shop again

 after selling out after Nashville Market.

 I think this is going to come in so handy

and can't wait to get mine and 

start using it.  Plus, it's so

pretty and as you may have guessed

I love anything with an alphabet

on it :)

~*~*~*~*~*~

I played around a little bit this

week with my Civil War Needlebook design.

I stitched it again, but this time

I finished it by attaching it

to a blue ticking pillow I stuffed

with wood shavings. 

I really like it and it's just another

way to get creative with the pattern.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy Memorial Day!

May it be spent remembering

all the men and women who
served so bravely for

this great country of ours.

♥♥♥♥

Thanks for stopping by.

I wish you all a happy and

very safe holiday weekend.

~Nan

Please Send Prayers

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims 

and everyone affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. 

Cherish your friends and loved ones today and always.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I was not going to post today,  but I just needed to take

 my mind off of all the devastation and utter sadness.

I spent time on the phone with a few very good friends

today and that helped, but I finally just needed

to get out of the house and away from the tv.

So I took some stitching and went out to sit in

the garden.  Even though it was very humid,

it was good to be out with nature, the birds

and clear my mind.

~*~*~*~*~

Here are some of the ever changing garden

views.  Everything is just exploding because

of the warmer weather we're having.

 It's amazing.......a few days ago there was only one Iris

open.

Now they're in full bloom.

As you can see I still have some clean up to do, but

they love decaying leaves.  Free fertilizer!

The Hostas are so full now and not even close to 
being all filled in.

My faithful Palace Purple Heuchera

next to the mop Hydrangea.  

Will it be more blue this year or more purple?

We will see.

Only a few Allium this year, but 

still lovely to see.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope you enjoyed my garden pics

and thank you to my friends for calling today

to chat.  You know I love you dearly.

Big hugs to all.....

~Nan

Best Laid Plans

Hello my friends....

I'm sorry this post is so late, it's 

been that kind of day.

I know I promised yesterday

to show you the 2 new patterns

I've been working on.  And I guess

late is better than never ; )

So without further adieu.....

"Lancaster Co. Coverlet"    

  I created this adaptation from a piece of

an original coverlet from Lancaster Co.

dated 1861.

It's stitched on R & R 35ct French Vanilla

using WDW and GA floss.

I thought it would be different to 

mount it onto some stained matka.

I love how it turned out and 

decided to find a place for it on our

fireplace mantel.

x x x x x
Here is the mini sampler you've
previewed me stitching.
"Love for Labors All" 

Really one of my favorites.
I think this turned out quite sweet.
It's stitched on R & R 32ct Apple 
Brown Bindy using GA and 
Crescent Colours floss.

This sampler has some specialty
 stitches in the line borders.
Chain, Algerian eye, back stitch and
cross stitch over four.  

        x x x x x 
These designs will be on there way
to my distributors soon and can also
be purchased in my Etsy Shop

  Thank you so much for your
wonderful comments and emails.
Hope it was worth the wait!
Smiles, ~Nan
               

Looky what came in the mail today!

My dear and very sweet friend Nancy,

from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

sent me some of her new floss colors, 

fresh from the dye pots.

Along with a little note to make me

smile!

She dyed 18 more colors today that

you just have to check out.

Russets, which I LOVE,

more greens and blues.

I see some floss shopping in

my future : )

Thank you so much Nancy

for the wonderful surprise and

your kindness and thoughtfulness.

 Love ya. 

x x x x 

I do have a bit of a surprise for you,

but you'll have to wait till tomorrow.

I'll be revealing my mini sampler

that you saw a sneak of in a few 

previous posts, along with another 

finish.

Yes, I've been busy too :D

x x x x

I also want to show you

a Stitcher's Finish that 

Bonnie sent me a picture of

 the other day.

 

She stitched "A Bee's Blessing"

on 45ct. linen over 2 threads and then  

walnut stained it.    It came out to 

be 3 1/4" w x 2 1/8" h.

It's mounted on a wooden oval disk

backed with gold wool and trimmed

  with chenille.

What a great finishing idea.

Wonderful stitching Bonnie and I love

the staining too.

   Thanks for sharing it with us.

Many smiles,

~Nan  

              

Sophia Waters

Finally got her done.

And I just love her .

~♥~

~Sophia Waters~

R&R Reproductions ~ Sophia Waters

 I'm really happy with how the staining

came out on her.  She looks very old

and loved.  Click on the pics

to make them larger. 

~*~

I've been asked recently to share my 

technique on staining.

  I usually stain my linen before 

I begin to cross stitch my piece 

because I like to use a

lot of over dyed floss.  Even though they 

may say color fast, it's still possible for 

them to run and ruin your finished piece.

 Spray or soak the linen with water. 

Mix up a batch of strong instant coffee 

or walnut crystals with some water. 

Use a sponge brush to randomly brush 

the linen with the staining mixture. 

 I blow dry the linen to set the 

staining and it's faster, but you could 

also let it air dry. Repeat if needed. 

If you're using DMC floss you can stain 

your piece afterwards if you choose.  

~*~ 

 I hung her on my large antique bucket

bench in our sunroom.

I think she looks great hanging

among all of my garden prims

and mason jar collection.

x x x x x

By the way....I took a few more

pics of our bloomin' garden.

Front Side Yard

First Iris to bloom!

   Before I end this post I would

just like to say thank you to all

who purchased my Civil War 

Needlebook kit.  I am truly amazed

and very touched by your response.

I'm all sold out, but there may still

be a few left at Dyeing to Stitch.

Many Smiles,

~Nan