Thursday, October 31, 2013

A very Happy Halloween to all.
Wishing you fun and fright 
and much delight:)
x x x x
Halloween Hugs, ~Nan

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

*Sweet Little Limited Edition Kit*


I designed and stitched this sweet Autumn pinkeep and thought maybe some of you would like to make one too.  So, I'm putting together a few kits. 

 I just love the saying "Bountiful Blessings".  
I actually feel that way all year round and not just at Thanksgiving. 
It's stitched on 32ct linen with 1 strand of floss over 2 linen threads and is a pretty fast and fun stitch.  For a nice surprise, on the back, I've added a wool Fall leaf with a brass acorn charm tied to it.
The kit includes:
32ct R & R Irish Creme linen
4 skeins of DMC floss
R & R Cocoa ric rac
Tan plaid shirting fabric
Army blanket wool
Brass acorn charm
Brown hemp string
Color cross-stitch graph
Leaf template
& complete finishing instructions
 $28.00 plus shipping

The kits are limited quantity and will be offered only through me and my friends at Dyeing to Stitch shop.  You may email me at threadworkprimitives@verizon.net

I look forward to your emails and comments.  
Happy Stitching!
~Nan

Thursday, October 24, 2013

~*~More Fun Stitching~*~

Just wanted to show you another piece I finished for fun.  A friend of mine was gifted a Halloween tree to hang ornaments on.  I wanted to make something special for her to put on her new tree.  I can show this to you now since it arrived at her doorstep this week.
Hope it makes her smile when she looks at it!

And this is the back.......
I love to add little surprises to the back of my pieces.
x x x x x 

I also finished my PSS Farmstead piece that I've been working on.  I made a few changes, of course.....I left off the year and also the wording because I plan to finish it into a long skinny pillow.  Besides stitching the Palomino horse, Sunny,  that I'm learning to ride on..... I also added one of the other horses at my trainer's place, Harry.  He's a big brown and white Quarter horse and could pull that sleigh with ease, I'm sure.  My trainer, Ellen and her husband, have lots of animals, including all kinds of chickens.  Some of them lay green eggs.  I was so fascinated by that, I decided to add a chicken to the mix also :)
Learning to ride has been such a fun and positive experience and I look forward to every lesson.  This piece has become very special to me and will remind me of my new buddies, Ellen, Sunny, Harry and the green egg laying chickens:D
x x x x x
Now, it's back to work....(but it's still fun).  I've got my next piece for the Ladies Prim Society with Dyeing to Stitch to finish.  That deadline will be here before I know it and I want it all to be ready for the club release in mid-November.  Can't wait to show you it!
Happy Stitching or whatever makes your heart sing ;)
Smiles, ~Nan

Sunday, October 20, 2013

~*~Some Fun Stitching~*~

I love Sunday's.  They are my lazy day with my hubby.
We cook a big meal or I should say, he cooks a big meal, while I stitch.  We watch football and basically just relax and enjoy each others company.
I have been stitching and lots of it is just fun stuff:)
If you follow my blog, you know that I've been taking horseback riding lessons and the horse I'm riding is Sunny.  
My second heartthrob♥
Anyway, I've been wanting to stitch Farmstead Christmas by Plum Street Samplers since last year.  We all no how that goes ; )  I decided this was a good time and I was showing my hubby what I was going to work on and he suggested I change one of the horses in the sampler to Sonny.......What a fab idea.  See why I just love him so much? :))))  Now, I was even more inspired to start stitching it.
Here's my progress so far....I couldn't wait to put the stitches in Sunny and his fence.
So far I'm loving it.  I'm thinking of stitching an "S" in the wreath for him too.
x x x x x x x 
The other piece I stitched up was "Wicked" by The Primitive Needle.  This was a freebie. 
My friend, Rita, stitched this design last year and I did the finishing on it for her.  
I made it into a flat fold ornament and hung it from an old skeleton key.  I liked the way it turned out so well that I wanted one for our house. So this is how I will finish mine also.
x x x x x x x
I'm working on a bit of a surprise piece too and hope to tell you more about it in a few weeks.
As you can see my hands are always busy doing what I love.
Have a great week and happy stitching!
 ~Nan

Monday, October 14, 2013

What a Nice Surprise

I'm sure a lot of you are seeing pictures of the Dyeing to Stitch Retreat that lots of lucky stitchers got to attend down in Virginia Beach.  I was unable to make it,  but wanted to personally stitch something special for Ann and Pat to have as a giveaway door prize during the banquet.  I had no idea who had won my creation until my blogging buddy Faye, 
of the Carolina Stitcher blog sent me the sweetest email and picture, letting me know how thrilled she was with her win.  Imagine my surprise and delight that someone I knew had won.
I used my pattern "Love for Labors All" to create a long drawstring bag.  Above is the picture Faye sent me.  She has it tucked in her pie safe all snug and illuminated by candlelight.  How pretty it looks and how happy I am that it found such a nice home :)  Thank you Faye for your kind words and for bringing such a smile to my face with your email.
 x x x x
I also designed a pattern especially for the Retreat called "Celebration Sampler"
I've had a number of emails asking me how the pattern can be purchased.
Since this was for the Retreat, Dyeing to Stitch will be selling the charts in their shop, so give them a call.  I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help out.
x x x x
Feels like a day off for me with the post office being closed for the holiday.
Thank you to everyone who purchased my new design "Wintertime" and for your wonderful emails and comments.  I've been busy packing up orders and I'll be shipping the second round out tomorrow. 
Until next time, happy stitching!
~Nan

Friday, October 11, 2013

Wintertime Release

A very happy Friday to you all.....
Thank you to all my friends and followers for your patience while getting this new pattern ready for release. Your emails and comments are always so heartwarming and so supportive.  You have no idea how much they mean to me. 
Here goes...... I still get butterflies when I release a pattern :), but
I'm so happy to show you how it finished up.
"WINTERTIME"

I decided to make this into a hanging pinkeep.  It's stitched on the most beautiful 32ct Apple Brown Bindy linen by R & R Reproductions.  The colors on this worked out beautifully for me. 
All Gentle Art.....Country Red, Forest Green, Sable and Mustard Seed.  
I did provide a complete DMC conversion in the floss key.  It's hard to see in the picture, but I added a small jingle bell on the sides and used plaid homespun for the hanger.
I'm still very much in the Halloween/Fall mood, but I will find delight in hanging this in the house come December.
I've added this new design to my Etsy Shop.  The charts will be on their way to my distributors later today and should be in shops soon after that.
  Another new design is in the works!
Enjoy your day! Happy Stitching and thank you for stopping by.
~Nan

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Stitcher's Finish

I thought I'd take a break from printing!
I got two finishes from Robin to show you!
First is Pride & Glory.  Robin stitched this on 32ct Castleview linen with the called for DMC floss.  This is something she did for an exchange.  Instead of framing it, she made it into an ornament.  How adorable......I want one :) 
 

Next she stitched Happy 4th.  This was stitched on 32ct Aged Lace linen and she again used the called for DMC floss.  This one she's keeping and it will find a home on her wrought iron tree next year!
Robin told me she thought they were both a fun stitch.....Great!  That's what it's all about, right? :)  Thank you so much Robin.  They are both wonderful.  Love them as ornies.
x x x x x
Stop back tomorrow if you have a chance.  I've dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's.
I'll be posting and releasing my new design "Wintertime" tomorrow, so I hope you'll check back.
I just loved stitching this one.   The floss colors really worked out for me and the R & R Reproductions Apple Brown Bindy linen was perfect and such a joy to stitch on.
Until then, have a great evening!
Hugs, ~Nan

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Lots to Show and Tell

A surprise box arrived the other day from my dear friend Elisabetta, in Italy.
I opened it and everything was wrapped so pretty.
I just kind of took it all in.  I was so surprised and very excited.  I carefully opened each pretty little package.
Lookie, lookie.....She gifted me an "Old Crow" pinkeep and a wonderful little heart bag with a matching fob floss ring.  Look at the sweet crocheted edging.   Oh my!  She also sent a wooden crow floss holder made by Isobel of The Primitive Hare.  

Gosh, I just love everything Elisabetta and I'm so touched by your thoughtfulness.  I truly appreciate all the time AND stitches that you put into making these beautiful gifts for me.
I will certainly cherish them.  I hope one day I will get to meet you and your lovely family.  Thank you so very much my friend ♥♥♥
x  x  x  x  x 
Next.....remember the sneak peek I showed you about my new design "Wintertime"?  Well, it's all completed and I just need to do one more check over to make sure everything is correct.  I should be able to post the finish by the end of the week and get it listed in my Etsy Shop. WOOT WOOT!  I really  love how it turned out and hope you will too.
x  x  x  x  x
And finally, if any of you follow me on facebook, you know that I've take up riding lessons.
Here's a pic of Sunny and I.
My lessons are every Tuesday morning.  So, I'm off to see my new pal and teacher, Ellen, my buddy, Mimi and of course, Sunny.  Afterwards, us girls are going out for some lunch and I'm sure some laughs.
Be back soon!
Smiles, ~Nan