Merry & Bright

I'm so happy to finally show you my latest design.  This one was truly fun to create

and I really loved mixing in a bit of wool on this.

"Merry & Bright"

The model was stitched one over two linen strands on 32ct Dirty Ewe linen by Dames of the Needle with Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Red Fox.  I love the variation the silk gives and it's so wonderful to stitch with.  The wool trees were a breeze to stitch on and a template is provided with the pattern.  I purchased the wool from The Merry Hooker.  The color is called Pepperberry and matched the Red Fox silk perfectly.

I did a simple trim around the edge with a matching red yarn.

Stitch Count 107 x 108.

Finally, I want to thank my dear friend Cindy Ruckman Cabrey for stitching the model.  Every stitch is always beautiful.

This will be available in shops very soon and will also listed in my Etsy shop for your convenience. 

Thank you very much my fellow stitchers for all your continued support.

Happy weekend and happy stitching. 

~Nan

"Bountiful Blessings"

I am very happy to share with you my latest design.

I thought it would be a good time to release this with Fall and Thanksgiving coming.

"Bountiful Blessings was a kit back in 2013, but now available as a chart.
I've updated it with new linen, 32ct Vtg. Pecan Butter, a beautiful linen from Lakeside Linens and new ric rac, Aged Saffron from Dames of the Needle. 
Floss is a mix of WDW, Moss and Bright Leaf and DMC 869 and 300.

The pattern contains a set of numbers for changing the year and an Oak Leaf template for the making the applique for the back. It's fun to make the back of pinkeeps as interesting at the front.

At the moment you can find this chart in my Etsy shop and it should be out to my distributor soon.

As always, thank you so much for your support of my designs and happy stitching!
Smiles, ~Nan

Friday Finishing

Worked away on this finish today...I purchased an old box just right for this piece. Theresa Meloon of Dulaney Woods Treasures originally did this finish for her new release "All Hallows Eve" and I loved it so much I had to copy the idea for my piece. 

I started out making a box cushion finish.......
Here is the tutorial I used as a refresher course...figuring out the depth is key
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk6tgiPhRyU

made sure it fit well inside the box.......

I felt more comfortable making a box cushion first and sewing the cross stitched piece to it once it was stuffed, rather than using my stitched piece for the actual box finish.  I haven't done this finish much and I didn't want to risk ruining my stitching...I'm sure you all can understand that...lol

I stuffed it firmly with wood shavings before sewing the stitched design on top of it.

It fit firmly inside my old box and I then cut some zig zag orange wool to finish it off.  Oh, I just love how it turned out...and look at this wonderful new linen color, Aged Saffron, by Dames of the Needle.....it is so prim.

I have to thank Theresa for this finishing idea.  I will cherish this piece as Tee, as I call her, is a very dear friend of mine.  She has just begun to design and I am very proud of her and one of her biggest fans.

If you get a chance, please check out her new designs and her Etsy Shop.

Happy Friday my friends and happy stitching!

~Nan

Updated Design

Worked on updating this piece yesterday...New linen, 32ct Lakeside Vintage Butter Pecan.. new ric rac, Aged Saffron from Dames of the Needle, and a new date stitched with 2016!.....I'll be working on releasing "Bountiful Blessings"....this was a kit back in 2013, but will be released as a chart soon.

Happy Fall stitching my friends!
Smiles, ~Nan

It's not often I get to post a stitch that's not a model and something that's just for me...but I finished stitching this today...My dear friend Theresa Meloon's newest design "All Hallow's Eve". I fell in love at first sight with this and now want the finishing done soon, so I can display it for Halloween. Thanks for an awesome stitch Tee!

Used everything that was called for..Aged Black by Valdani and Gentle Art Gingersnap...and if you haven't tried Aged Saffron linen by Dames of the Needle...well, it's about as prim as you can get my friends.

Here is a link to her wonderful design in case you'd like to stitch it too!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/468421788/all-hallows-eve?ref=pr_shop

Happy stitching my friends.  ~Nan

Release Day is Here...

and I could not be more excited to finally show you my two new designs.

"Eternal Sleep Threadkeep"

I think this is such a fun piece to use and display at Halloween and couldn't resist adding a Moon pocket on the back for scissors and such.  This is my first tombstone design. It came about as a request from my friend, DixieSamplar, who found a picture of an old unusual grave stone and asked if I'd chart a design around it.

Stitch Count:  91W by 95H

Linen: 32ct Vtg. River Rock by Dixiesamplar Hand Dyed Fabrics

Gentle Art: Carriage Black and Heirloom Gold

Blackberry Primitives Wool: Slate and Yarrow

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Bittersweet October"

I created this design to insert into one of LeHay's #2 Shaker Carriers, but this could also be finished on top of an oval paper mache box. 
This model was stitched so beautifully by my dear friend Cindy Ruckman Cabrey.

Stitch Count: 82W by 49H

Linen: 32ct Americana Froth by Dames of the Needle

Gentle Art: Pumpkin Pie, Burlap, Gold Leaf.  

Classic Colorworks: River Rocks, Pea Pod

Finished in a LeHay's #2 Shaker Carrier in Antique Natural.

I hope you like what I've created for this new Fall season!  These will be available in shops very soon and are also listed in my Etsy shop for your convenience. 

As always, thank you for stopping by and many happy stitches my friends!

Smiles, ~Nan

Two Sneak Peeks

Just a sneak peek of the designs I plan to release this week.  "Bittersweet October", which is stitched on 32ct Dames of the Needle Americana Froth and finished in a #2 LeHay's Shaker Carrier.

And 

a cool tombstone design I've been working on that a friend, Terri aka Dixie Samplar asked me to create called "Eternal Sleep".  This was stitched on 32ct Vtg. River Rock by Dixie Samplar Hand Dyed Fabric.

Can't wait to show you the full reveals and the finishes.  I'll be back soon.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend.
Smiles, Nan

Release Day!

"Autumn in Bloom"

My new threadkeep design is now available,
 along with the bone thread rings that go with this project.

Please visit my Etsy shop for all the details.  

This was stitched on 32ct Dirty Ewe by Dames of the Needle.  This wonderfully prim linen is available from Elizabeth Talledo here if you find you're in need of some.


Happy Friday all and many, many thanks for your support.

Smiles, Nan

Land That I Love

Just in time for Summer and the 4th. A patriotic design featuring a golden basket overflowing with blue flowers and our flag waving above. 

"Land that I Love"

This design is worked on 36ct Americana Froth linen by Dames of the Needle.
It's finished into a large pinkeep using a beautiful Blackberry Primitives wool in Cornflower and then attaching the stitched design onto it. 
Super easy to do. 

 The stitch count is 122 wide by 45 high and the finished pinkeep is approx. 9 3/4" x 5 1/2". 

Floss colors are: The Gentle Art, Mustard Seed, Otter Creek and Aged Pewter. Classic Colorworks, Polliwog and Calico Kitty. 

Now available in my Etsy Shop and will soon be available at your local needlework shop.

Smiles and Happy Stitching, Nan

Nothing But Clouds.

So another day in the studio to take care of more finishing that's been accumulating.

I designed and stitched this piece a few weeks ago.  

I have a wonderful book that features antique PA German show towels and it was

the inspiration for this design.

It's stitched on an awesome limited edition linen called Cherry Choco by Dames of the Needle.  We are all hoping she can duplicate it and put it in her line up of colors.
The floss is also a limitied edition from The Gentle Art called Hot Tamale.

I thought a long drawstring bag would be a fun finish for this and spent the day making it happen.  I still need to work on a lining for it, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

I hope you all had a productive day.  It feels good!
Smiles and happy creating!
~Nan

Finally Ready for Release

"Let it Snow"

Stitched on 32ct Cherry Pit Brown linen by Dames of the Needle using 

The Gentle Art - Country Redwood floss and backed with Winterberry velvet by Blackberry Primitives.

Pattern Stitch Count is 129 x 71 and finished pinkeep is approx. 81/2" by 5".

Charts have shipped to my distributor and automatic shops and will be available in my

 Etsy shop also.

*~*~*~*~*~*

And to all my wonderful friends and customers...a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving is wished to you.  May you enjoy a day filled with much love, happiness, peace and plenty.

Smiles, ~Nan

New Designs Coming Friday!

Well, I have been busier than ever with getting ready for my Fall and Halloween releases.

I'm happy to share with you the two new designs I'll be releasing on Friday!

"Ever So Grateful" was beautifully stitched by my model stitcher, Cindy Ruchman Cabrey,

and I am indeed ever so grateful for that.  The model was stitched on 32ct Dirty Ewe linen and trimmed in Canned Pumpkin pompom both by Dames of the Needle. The flosses used in this design are Gentle Art, Wood Trail, Pumpkin Pie, Mustard Seed and WDW Pamlico.

"Halloween Menagerie" was stitched on 32ct Peeps Lost Sheep linen by Dames of the Needle. Instructions are included to create the drum and wrap.  The flosses used in this design are Gentle Art, Garden Gate, Onyx, Moss, Gingersnap, and WDW Palomino.

I also released "Common Thread Stitcher's Mat" last week and never got the chance to blog about it.  This was originally a club design, but is now available as a chart.

Believe it or not...I'm stitching another Halloween design that I just created.  I love it so much that I had to start on it right away and hope to have it out in a few weeks.

Hope you like what I've designed and are ready for some Autumn stitching!
As always, thank you so much for your support of this craft that I so dearly love.
Smiles, ~Nan

Fun mail day today!  

Elizabeth of Dames of the Needle/From the Cauldron

sent me her new trim colors...

I already have a new Fall designed back from my model stitcher 

that will get trimmed with the Canned Pumpkin.

Here's a sneak of the design I will be releasing in a few weeks.  
The Canned Pumpkin pom pom will be perfect on this.

I think the velvet ribbon would be beautiful added to the top of strawberry fobs.

Don't you? 

Just felt like sharing...:)
Happy weekend all!
~Nan

More stitching!

Something Patriotic in the works........

It's very unusual for me to design something and start stitching it right away.

I'm a ponderer....so I look at my newly created design for awhile, sometimes many months, to see if it can be better, if it needs something or needs to be reworked.  
Not all of them get stitched.

This one seems to be just right and needed very little tweaking.  So, linen and floss was picked and I got right to it.

I am really loving this new linen line by Dames of the Needle...It's very old and prim looking.
This is called Peep's Lost Sheep and has a raw-ish gray look to it with some slight staining.
I've also been wanting to use this new Gentle Art color called Ruby Slippers...so  I'm using that and it may possibly be my new favorite red.

It's still exciting for me to see what was in my head come to life.
So, I'll be stitching and I'll keep you posted on this one:)
Smiles, ~Nan

Can you say trim heaven?

Yep:)   My sweet friend Elizabeth Talledo of Dames of the Needle/Finger Work and From the Cauldron, sent me a belated birthday gift.  She knows what I love!  I have a few new designs I'm hard at work on and I can see these making it on to them.  Some of my favorites are the Dark Plum, Grunge, Tarnished Halo, Red Velvet Cake and so many more....

Her pom pom trim is the bomb!!! Thanks and love you E.

Happy Stitching and Finishing all,

~Nan