Long Overdue Blog Post

Some of you may know by now that my unexpected trip was to 

Nashville Needlework Market!!!!

My friends, Ann and Pat of R&R invited me to tag along for the snowy trip:) 

and hang out in their suite.  What great friends they are and I had a blast!

Here is a picture of the table in their R&R room.  I loved the cut out R&R books and the bright tulips.  Ann and Pat were so sweet to let me display my newest release 

"Quaker Friends".

I wish I could say I took tons of pictures, but the time at Market seemed to fly at such rapid pace.  It was so wonderful to meet so many of the designers and shop owners.  

I was just giddy at the fact that I was finally able to meet and chat in person with my dear friend Niky of NikysCreations.  

Her room was filled with such wonderful goodies.  She gifted my this sweet xs heart that I brought home and hung immediately.

 

This was the back of the car after the show, loaded with Market purchases.

You can't even see the car top carrier, which was also full.  

 Great pack job Pat!  I still can't believe she got it all in.

These are the other goodies I brought home from Market

This mug will get lots of use:)

I leave you with this pic of my "Roomy", Norma......so many laughs....it will take me awhile to unpack all the memories from this trip.  

 Thank you my friends for making it "Epic".

x x x x 

I know this was a long post....thanks bearing with me.....I'll be back with another post soon.

I have a few really great Stitcher's finishes to show you next time.

Smiles, Nan

This Year's First

First design release, that is.   I hope you like it.

I wanted to design something with my friends in mind and I love the Quaker style very much.  

I thought it would be nice to do a sort of keepsake with a pair of initials on it....yours and a friends. 

I know there are many of you who exchange stitched gifts and how wonderful it is to receive a piece from a friend made especially for you.  My favorite kind of gift!

This has been in the works for some time and I'm so pleased to finally show it to you.

"Quaker Friends"

Design stitch count is 123 x 79.  Both models were stitched using The Gentle Art - Wood Trail. 

The framed piece was stitched on 35ct Abecedarian Blend and the pinkeep was stitched on 40ct Broomstick Brown.  Both from R & R.
The chart comes complete with a full alphabet so that you may personalize your piece.

I'd like to take a cue from Paulette of Plum Street Samplers, who in a recent blog post, suggested fabric substitutions.  I thought it was a wonderful idea.  It's not always necessary to use what it has been designed on.  There are so many color choices available out there and who doesn't like having choices.  Here are a few I think would perhaps work well also.
R & R Creme Brulee or Weeks Dye Works Parchment for the lighter linen and
Lakeside Fawn or Weeks Dye Works Cocoa for the darker linen.  If you see a color that looks good to you, do it and make it your own!

I'll be getting these charts off to the distributor.  So, Quaker Friends will be available from your local needlework shop soon.

I'm almost done with the new piece I've designed for The Ladies Prim Society and hope to be showing it to you soon.   I am truly thrilled with this one:)   Don't forget.....the club is open to extra members this year, if you're interested in joining.  I hope you will. 

My head is full of ideas and I have some new designs in various stages right now.  Looks to be a fun designing year ahead. Thanks so much my friends for your support and for taking the time to drop by today.  Happy Stitching to you.
Smiles, ~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!
x x x x x
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

Having Fun Designing

That's right.  I have so much fun designing!

Playing with linen and floss and let's 

not forget about trims.

TRIMS, TRIMS, TRIMS!

             My wonderful friend Ann, of                  

Dyeing to Stitch and R & R Reproductions

sent me a goodie bag last week full of their trims.

I know... I know...what a friend!

They have some really fab colors and I knew I'd 

want to use one of them on the

new design I'm stitching.  

So, here's a sneak peek at the new design and

 just some of the trims.

 It will be ready for the August TNNA  Show.  

I designed it for my favorite of all holidays,

HALLOWEEN : )

I have a few more days of stitching on it, but I

like to plan ahead and get things out to see

what might work.  I'm loving the Cinnamon

baby chenille, so that may be the trim for

this piece.

 It's been so hot here,

just like so many other areas, but I am focusing on Fall and ideas are just flowing in my head.  I think I'll have a lot of things to stitch in the next few weeks. 

I hope you like the peak at my new little design.  

Stay Cool and Happy  Stitching!

~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
               

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

Yep....Another Start

I'm all done the last sampler 

I started.  I love how it turned out.

So old and loved looking.

  I don't want to 

show the finished reveal yet.

I've got to work on the chart

and instructions, but I should

have it all done very soon.

x x x x x 

Now.... I've started another new

design.  I have so many

buzzing around my head : )

hehehehe.

This is the other bee

design that I mentioned

awhile ago.  It was inspired
by our gardens, which will be
full of blackeyed susans in a
month or so.   

I'm stitching this on
32ct Creme Brulee by
R&R Reproductions.
"ooh la la"  
I've got a different kind
of finish in mind for this one.
x x x x x   
In between stitching I did some 

much needed gardening.  I'm late this 

year with all the stitching ; )

     but I'm getting there.  Just need
the weather to cooperate a bit more.
Lots of rain in the forecast.
  Here's some garden shots.

Scotch Broom

Lilac Bush

Sand Cherry

Redbud Tree Forest Pansy

 The Forest Pansy was a birthday 

present a few years ago from

my hubby.  He gave me a wonderful

red wheel borrow that year too : D

 As you can see, I'm not much

for fancy things.

I hope you've enjoyed the garden tour.

Until next time....

Happy Stitching!

~Nan