Day To Play

Took the day off, so to speak, and played hooky.  Well, from cross stitch anyway.

I decided to decorate a bit more and just do some creating in a different medium.

I can honestly say, if had to work in something other than cross stitch, I'd be up to my elbows in working with wool every day and loving it.  I am a huge fan of Maggie B. and I thought I'd play a bit.  I picked a small and doable piece from her book Nature's Offering.

"Acorn and Leaf Needlebook"

I put my own little spin on it and used a real acorn cap for the top.  I collected a whole bunch of these last year in hopes of creating something with them.  See, you just never know. There's a lot of hand stitching to this project, but today was such a slow and easy day, I had time to just breath and stitch at a comfortable pace :)

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I lit one of my favorite candles and the wonderful smell of Banana Nut Bread has filled the house and makes it feel even more like Fall.

 This is my most favorite hooked rug made by Kimberly Bouffard

I'm pretty sure this is a Notforgotten Farm design.  Coolest pumpkin ever.  I make sure to put this out every year.

Here are a few more pics of what's around the house.
The gameboard below was purchased from a very talented artist on Etsy.
Here's the link to his shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JohnnyUNamath

 

 

 Can you tell how much I love my friend Ivonne's banners?  They are in every corner of the house.  Still have plenty of pieces to unpack and display.  Yep, this is my favorite holiday, so it will be Fall/Halloween OVERLOAD at our house.  No biggie, hubby is way use to it by now :)

Hope your day was full of creativity and all the things you love.

Smiles, ~Nan

PUMPKINS FOR CATHEY

Happy Blogaversary Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co.

Sending you lots of Pumpkin love today and know that we are all thinking of you.

*****

Thank you to our bloggin' friend Daffycat for this GREAT idea!

Visit her blog to see what all the pumpkins are about today.

Hugs, ~Nan

Another Stitcher's Finish

Happy Monday.  I'm having a slow and easy day.  These don't come along too often, so I thought I'd take a little time to blog.  

Bonnie sent in her finish of Beggar's Night.  She stitched it on R & R 40ct Rook and substituted DMC 919 for the 301. 

Bonnie made it flat by using a piece of warm and natural batting in the middle and hung it on her Halloween clothes line :)  She also included her initials and date on her piece too.  Love the idea of a clothes line. Thanks Bonnie, it's wonderful!
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The weather has gotten much cooler in Philly these days and I thought since I had some leisure time I'd cut some of the hydrangea and sedum Autumn Joy for the house.  They are wearing such beautiful colors right now.

I've also started to decorate for Fall/Halloween.  I'll try and take some pics and post them next time.  I have so many wonderful artist made pieces and I love putting them all over the house.
Now, what to do with my afternoon......maybe a nice salad for lunch, out on the deck since it's such a nice day and probably a bit of stitching.
Hope your day is slow and easy too!
Smiles, ~Nan

A Stitcher's Finish and A Little Sneak

Got an another finish to show you!  This time it's Myra's version of Beggar's Night.

It's makes me smile to see so many of you stitching this design.  You guys are the best!

Myra stitched this on 32ct coffee stained linen with DMC, but also personalized it with her initials and the date......Love that!  Super job Myra.  I'm so glad it was a fun stitch for you.
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I've had lots of emails about the new "Wintertime" design I've been stitching.
More smiles.......
Anyway, I thought I'd give you a little sneak at it.  I'm done stitching and now just have to work on the the finishing next.

It's all done in Gentle Art threads on 32ct R&R Apple Brown Bindy linen.

Thought I'd use some of that wonderful linen I was just gifted!

Happy stitching and thanks for visiting.

Smiles, ~Nan

Feeling Honored

Looky what came in the mail the other day....

my copy of the November issue of 

Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine.

I was absolutely giddy to see my "Primitive Welcome" pattern that I was asked to design for this issue.

The folks at CS-N always do such a super job at presentation.  I really love how they have it displayed and I was very honored to be asked once again to be apart of this wonderful magazine.

x x x x 

I have been stitching a new little design for Winter.

So far I love the colors and like how it's progressing. 

Here's a sneak peek of what I've got so far.  I still have a bit to go.....a few

deer, a border, etc. 

Can't believe I'm stitching for Winter and it's not even Fall yet, but I like to be ahead of schedule on things.  There's always plenty to do around
the Lewis house :)
Happy Friday all and have a great weekend!
Hoping it's pizza night.....I love pizza on Friday's, but have to check with the hubby :DDD
Smiles, ~Nan

A Stitcher's Finish and MORE Gifts

Just couldn't wait to show you this finish that Pat from Dyeing to Stitch did. She asked me convert the DMC I used to Gentle Art floss on Beggar's Night.

Here's her wonderful stitched piece!

If you're interest, here is the conversion I suggested.
DMC            GAST

Ecru            Oatmeal
     3021            Wood Trail
612             Chamomile
   610             Old Hickory
        3011           Chives                
   3012         Grasshopper
301            Pumpkin Pie

She also chose to trim this with R&R Cocoa chenille instead of the Cinnamon.  I wish you could see all the variegation in the pumpkin pie floss.  It's really beautiful.  Thank you Pat for stitching this and sharing it with us.
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Well, my buddy Ann came back from Market and sent me a surprise box.  She went antique shopping while in St. Charles and got this sweet crow candle holder for me.  She knows me so well.  I put it out immediately.

She also sent more R&R linen, vintage pins and a Halloween inspired kit and chart from Blackbird Designs.  Yep, when I saw this "Away We Ride" chart, my heart skipped a beat.
Ann's a very good listener and surprised me with it.   

Wonderful gifts from a wonderful friend.
Thanks Ann, you know I love everything and they've brought me many smiles.

Hope you all have something to smile about too.
Enjoy your evening!
Smiles, Nan

As hard as it is and much as it hurts,

remembering,

we must never forget.

A Stitcher's Finish

Happy Sunday all.  I got an email and a picture last week from my friend Sharon.

Her blog is http://moosecraftusa.blogspot.com/

I'm sure many of you have visited her blog, but I wanted to post her finish here too.

Here's what she wrote me.....

Hi Nan!  I finally did it!  When this pattern arrived in my greedy little hands, I picked out the linen and threads... and stitched on it every minute I could find!  And, I finally finished it yesterday. :-) This has to be my favorite Autumn design to date.

Sharon used the charted DMC threads, but substituted 32 ct. Foglifter's Blend by R&R because that's what was in her stash.  The wool in the picture is what she used for the backing and it's stuffed firm with wool snippets and finished up at 5-1/2" x 7-1/2"

Well, my dear Sharon, it is really awesome.  I'm so glad you like the design and that it was a fun stitch.  Thank you so very much for sharing it.   It's the first I've seen done.  You sure got right to it and now have plenty of time to enjoy it.  Super!

Many Smiles, 

~Nan

Slow Days Of Summer

How I will miss them.

Taking the day to enjoy the beautiful weather and stitch outside.  I always feel very lucky when I have time to do this.  I've taken inspiration from the garden by selecting a pallet

of faded mauve,  greens and maybe a bit of gray.  I've only just started this piece, but it's feels easy and comfortable, like an old friend.

The gardens have started to fade, but there are some plants that are at their best right now.

I thought I'd take a few pics of them to show you.

The Sedum, Autumn Joy is a buzz with bees and butterflies and even a few praying mantis, which are considered to be good luck.  I always makes sure to say hello to them so they know they are welcome :)

And the Liriope is so beautiful this year with it's purple spikey flowers and variegated foliage.

Even the Hydrangea looks great with it's faded blooms.  I love to cut and dry them

to place in a white ironstone pitcher. 

I hope you are getting time to enjoy what you love on this beautiful day.

Sweet smiles to you all.

Hugs, ~Nan

The Never Ending Birthday - Part 2

Well my friends, I have a few minutes this morning before I really get into my day, so I wanted to post Part II of my never ending birthday :)

As I mentioned in my last post, my friend Mimi and I got together for the day.

Before we took off on our road trip she gave me these awesome birthday gifts.

First, I'll show you my favorite of all. 

She cross stitched and finished this wonderful ditty bag with my initials in beautiful Fall colors.
Handmade gifts always touch my heart and I am so thrilled to have this made by a friends hands.  I will cherish it and it will bring me many smiles.

x x x x 

She also surprised me with this heart handled slaw board or kraut cutter. 

 I collect these and have them hanging all around our kitchen.  I really love it and it's just so prim.  I couldn't wait to find a place for it.

Of course, no birthday would be complete without adding a little fabric and a "wanted" chart to a friends stash :D 

To say the least, it has been a great birthday.  I am blessed with a wonderful, loving husband and many, many good friends, who make my life full and happy.

Thanks for making my day so special!

Smiles, ~Nan