Busy Hands.....

Are happy hands...... 

Working in the studio today....my Cottage Charm pouch finish is coming along.  Another one for the table at the Prim Stitchers Society Retreat.  Remember the Merchant Mall at the Retreat is open to the public.

Here it is all finished......love how really prim this turned out!

Happy creating! ~Nan

Just a Sneak

Here's a Sneak.....

Spring Tail Feathers will be one of my new designs released next month.

I'll be bringing the model and chart to our PSS Retreat!

Keep thinking Spring...It's got to show up soon, right? LOL
Smiles, ~Nan

More Stitchin'

Just what's in my hand today.

Stained up some WDW Tin Roof linen and picked out some muted overdyeds.

This is my Cottage Charm design, but not sure how I'll finish it.

Hope you're have a creative day too!
Smiles, ~Nan

Smokin' Needles

Lots of finishing going on these days up in the sewing studio.

I am working like crazy to get as many pieces finished for the table at Merchant Mall

for our Prim Stitchers Retreat in Williamsburg VA next month.  

I'm sharing a table with Teresa from Teresa's Primitive Treasures.

A local cross stitch shop, Valley Needleworks will also have a table along with many of my other friends.....Elizabeth Talledo from Dames of the Needle,  Lori from Notforgotten Farm, Kathy Barrick, Bonny Woomer from the Nebby Needle...and the list goes on.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I designed and stitched these five stars with the thought of making a pinkeep....but it turns out it really wanted to be a ditty bag......You may find it odd, but my pieces usually end up telling me what they want to be, even if that's not exactly what I had planned for them.......LOL
Still have some work to do on this....but it's coming along nicely, I think...

I am truly excited about this retreat and hope to see and meet many of you there.
The Prim Stitchers Society is such a wonderful, inspiring, supportive and caring facebook group....If you're so inclined, please ask to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/primstitcherssociety/

 Have a great week and happy creating! ~Nan

Irish Wish

~*~ Happy St. Patty's Day ~*~

My Irish wish for you!

Looky Looky!

If you didn't know.....I belong to a wonderful stitching group on Facebook called "The Prim Stitchers Society".  I will be attending their first ever retreat at the end of next month in Williamsburg VA., along with many of my fellow designers and stitching friends.

There will be a Merchant Mall open to the public, on May 1st and 2nd from 12:30 to 5:30, in case you are interested in attending and stopping in to say "Hello:)"

I am hoping to have a few new released charts for sale, along with some of my handmade pieces and maybe even a kit.

Here is the beautiful flyer our Prim Stitcher Sis, Ridgely had made up for the event!

I am so excited to meet everyone and to join so many of my fellow stitchers, to do what we all love most....stitch, shop, eat and hang with friends.  Hope you can stop by to see all the goodies for sale and chat with us.

Smiles, ~Nan

Last Day to Hop!

Can you believe it's the last day for the Buttermilk Basin Hop?

This has been lots of fun.  As my first time to participate in the Hop, you have all made me feel very welcome.  Thank you for the many emails and comments on my Tulip Hop Needlebook.  I have already seen some of you stitching this and can't wait to see your take on the finish.  I'd love to see photos of your creations!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Wrapping up the Hop is artist, Sheri from Calico Moon.  She has a wonderful project AND recipe you just won't want to miss.  Please follow this link to visit her.

https://www.facebook.com/ShopCalicoMoon

Happy Weekend!

Smiles, ~Nan

Hop this Way!

Sorry this didn't show up earlier....You just never know how things are going to go on Friday the 13th....LOL

Today is Stacy's day.....Hop on over to Buttermilk Basin to see the wonderful

pattern and recipe she has posted. 

http://buttermilkbasin.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow is the final day for the hop...it's been wonderful.

Closing it out is

March 14 * Calico Moon

Smiles, Nan

My Turn to Blog Hop

I am so excited to share with you the project I've created for the Buttermilk Basin's Spring Thyme Blog Hop.   

I just love Spring!  Everything is new, fresh and green again.  I'm really looking forward to all of our Spring bulbs popping in the gardens.

With that thought and inspiration in mind, I created this...

"Tulip Hop Needlebook"

Model was stitched with one strand of floss over two linen threads.
Pattern Stitch Count: 59 by 21. 
Finished size: approx. 5" W by 8"H (open)

DMC Color Code

O ~ 830 Dark Golden Olive

B ~ 502 Blue Green

Supplies Needed

1 piece of 30ct Natural linen 6" x 9"

1 piece of backing fabric 6" x 9"

1 piece of wool 4" x 3"

1" vintage lace 5" long

floss

spool thread

walnut crystals (optional)

Finishing instrucions

If you want to stain your linen, do so before you begin to cross stitch your piece.  Spray or soak the linen with water.  Mix up a batch of walnut crystal mixture.  Use a sponge brush to randomly brush the linen with the staining mixture.  Let air dry or dry with a hair dryer for a faster result. Repeat if needed.

Start to cross stitch your design 1" from the bottom of the 6" linen side and centered.

Once completed, mark your seams on the back of the linen with a pencil line at ½" all the way around.

Place the linen and the backing fabric with right sides together and pin.  Sew along the pencil lines leaving an opening on the top large enough for turning.  Trim all seams to ¼" and snip your corners.  Turn right sides out and press.  Sew the opening closed with matching thread.

Fold your needlebook so there is a 1" reveal of the lining fabric on the bottom.  Attach the piece of lace to the front of your needle book with matching thread.

On the inside, position the piece of wool 1 ¼" from the bottom of the needlebook and whip stitch in place.  Add you favorite pins and enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Here is my recipe....East Oreo Truffles.

This is something my friends and I always have at every stitching get together. My friend Michelle brought them to our first one and they were such a hit, they are a now our get together must have.  Girls, Chocolate and Stitching!....LOL

Thank you all for following along!  I hope you have liked my hop offering and I would like to thank Stacy of Buttermilk Basin for organizing this Spring blog hop.  I was thrilled to be apart of it. 

There are 2 more days of hopping:)  

Smiles, ~Nan

Blog Hop Day 11

It is so beautiful here again today...I even have some of the windows open. 

And I've been so busy up in my sewing studio, that I have totally lost track of time.  So, I am way late with posting the blog hop.  

Before I get to that I wanted to show you the antique sampler I recently purchased.

It's not perfect, but I love that about it.  And..... it looks as if the stitcher lost interest.

Most of us can relate to that and I know lots of us have a basket full of WIPS:)

She measures 18 1/2 by 18 1/2 and has 3 alphabets.  It looks and feels to be stitched in silk. 

and the linen is very silky to the touch also...I'm no expert.....All I know is I love her and all of her charm.  I will treasure this sweet piece for sure.

Well, the hop continues....Next up is Meg from Crabapple Hill and you will not want to miss the adorable Spring Needlebook she has created and her yummy recipe. Just follow the link below:)

http://www.crabapplehillstudio.com/

See you tomorrow!  Smiles, ~Nan

Day 10 of Blog Hopping

It was a gorgeous day here and though still cool, the sun was shining and it was so nice out.  The perfect day to do some errands.  It felt good to ride in the Jeep with the windows down.  

The gardens are starting to come alive.

I've been adding some touches of Spring around the house...I am just so ready

for the weather to get and stay nice.

Well, next on the blog hop today is my friend Lori of Notforgotten Farm.

She has a sweet creation and a wonderful recipe that awaits you on her blog.

Just follow the link below.

http://farmhousenotforgotten.blogspot.com/2015/03/spring-thyme-blog-hop-day-10-my-turn-to.html?spref=fb

Happy Stitching my friends.....

~Nan

More Spring Thyme Blog Hop!

Hope you're having fun hopping along! 

Next up is Pam from Heartspun Quilts.

http://heartspunquilts.blogspot.com/2015/03/spring-thyme-blog-hop.html

You just have to click on the link above to see the sweet project and recipe 

she has posted for the hop.

Smiles, Nan

Next up

Just having a relaxing Sunday....so I'll keep this one short....

Next up on the hop roster is 

http://www.woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com/

Click the link above to see the darling design Debbie has for you.

Still to come....

March 9 * Heartspun Quilts

March 10 * Notforgotten Farm

March 11 * Crabapple Hill

March 12 * Threadwork Primitives

March 13 * Buttermilk Basin

March 14 * Calico Moon

Inspiration and Blog Hop Day 7

It's a bright sunny day here!  I just always feel more creative when the sun is out and shining.  I've been really inspired as of late by old samplers and especially ones with blocking, as I call it.  Here are a few that I found that have inspired a new design that I'm stitching.

MARY FARNAM, POULTNEY, VERMONT, JUNE 1827

Ella Thurstin Thurston New York 1879

Mary Pollock

Dutch Sampler

*~*~*~*~*

Here is a tiny sneak peak at what I've stitched so far......I am thoroughly enjoying this and I've given it a "Friends" theme.
My friends are inspiring too and a treasure to me.

*~*~*~*~*

AND the Buttermilk Basin Blog Hop continues........
Up next is Tara from Sew Unique Creations!
http://www.sewuniquecreations.blogspot.com/

Hope you'll hop over to Tara's blog to see what she's created for you.

Smiles, Nan

Frozen and Hop Day 6

Yes my friends.....it's a frozen oasis here. 

I am keeping my hands busy in the studio and on the computer....getting final preparations  ready for my blog hop day:)

My poor blue surf jeep is covered in white and 

I am enjoying the natural beauty of it all....but hoping this is Winter's hoorah!

Hubby is always on the move...he loves his "TOY".  He not only cleared our drive but also many of our fellow neighbors.  He is really one of the good ones. ♥ him!

I worked on this little ditty for fun.  It's called Polly's Pinkeep and is from the Blackbird Designs book A Schoolgirl's Work.

Well, the hop continues.....it's so fun following along and learning a few tidbits about each artist.....Please check out The Cottage at Cardiff Farms blog to see their project and recipe.... 
http://thecottageatcardifffarms.com/blog/2015/03/06/spring-thyme-blog-hop/

March 7 * Sew Unique Creations

March 8 * Wooden Spool Designs

March 9 * Heartspun Quilts

March 10 * Notforgotten Farm

March 11 * Crabapple Hill

March 12 * Threadwork Primitives

March 13 * Buttermilk Basin

March 14 * Calico Moon

Stay happy and warm my friends.
~Nan

Hop Day 5

Home bound.....yep we are having yet another big snow storm.

This is a look out our bedroom window this morning...It is beautiful...but I'm 

so ready for some sign of Spring.  

It's day 5 of the Spring Thyme Blog Hop.  Head on over to Ali Strebel's blog to see the wonderful Spring recipe and creation she is sharing with us all. 

http://alistrebel.blogspot.com/

Stay warm and safe....~Nan

Hip Hippity Hop

It's a very cold and dreary day here and I'm still keeping busy in the studio. 

Doing exactly what my banner suggests. 

I'm working on a few new releases, but can't show you anything yet.

AND THE HOP CONTINUES.....Follow the link to see

the project and recipe Jeni from Woolen Willow Designs has posted on her blog.

Happy Creating! ~Nan

Hop Day 3

Doing a little Spring stitching myself.  Here's my start.  Stitching the colors on this piece has just brightened these long cold Winter days for me.

 I've got a few new releases planned for the up coming months.....And doing my best to get them all done.

Well, today's hop designer is our Aussie friend, Gail Pan.  I hope you'll hop over to her blog to see what she's created....just follow the link below.  

http://gailpandesigns.typepad.com/

The hop continues.....

March 4 * Woolen Willow Designs

March 5 * Ali Strebel Designs

March 6 * The Cottage at Cardiff Farms

March 7 * Sew Unique Creations

March 8 * Wooden Spool Designs

March 9 * Heartspun Quilts

March 10 * Notforgotten Farm

March 11 * Crabapple Hill

March 12 * Threadwork Primitives

March 13 * Buttermilk Basin

March 14 * Calico Moon

Happy Creating my friends....~Nan

Hopping into Day Two

I hope Spring is just around the corner.  When I look outside everything is frozen and the street is a sheet of ice.....so much for making a drive to the post office.

Back in Dec. I purchase an antique drysink for my Sewing Studio.  I seem to always find something I love when the gals and I make a trip to Lititz.  This was in my favorite shop....Days Gone By Creations.  Cindy, the owner, is so helpful and let me keep it there until I could get back with the truck to pick it up.

The hubby and I made the trip a few weekends back.  We got it in the house and upstairs to the studio.  I did some reorganizing and it's now all set up and in it's place.  I love the mustard stain that still lets the beautiful grain of the wood show through.  It holds all my boxes of floss and other supplies....Lots of room for finishing goodies too.

Today is day #2 of the Spring Thyme Blog Hop.

Plumcute Designs has a sweet springtime design and recipe for you.

Just follow the link above to hop over to her blog.

Stay warm my friends, Smiles, Nan

We're Hopping!

Today begins the Buttermilk Basin's Spring Thyme Blog Hop!

  There is a very exciting line up of of artists, so I do hope you will follow along for 14 days of inspiration and complimentary patterns.....along with yummy recipes!

Up first is Cheri Payne of Quilts by Cheri

Click on the link above to Hop over to Cheri's blog to see the sweet piece she has created.   

The hop continues tomorrow!

March 2 * Plumcute Designs

March 3 * Gail Pan Designs

March 4 * Woolen Willow Designs

March 5 * Ali Strebel Designs

March 6 * The Cottage at Cardiff Farms

March 7 * Sew Unique Creations

March 8 * Wooden Spool Designs

March 9 * Heartspun Quilts

March 10 * Notforgotten Farm

March 11 * Crabapple Hill

March 12 * Threadwork Primitives

March 13 * Buttermilk Basin

March 14 * Calico Moon

Smiles, ~Nan