Ladies Prim Society

Every time I saw the projects from last year's Ladies Prim Society I regretted not signing up.  So I got on board right away this year.  If you are interested in getting involved with this, be sure to go to Dyeing To Stitch:

http://dyeing2stitch.com/subpage.php?page=primsociety

 or give them a call (757-366-8740).  You'll receive a kitted project (between $35 and $40) from Threadwork Primitives or Blackbird Designs about every 8 to 10 weeks (got my first one early last week).  What's not to like from these two designers!

As a chronic non-finisher, I'm so pleased with myself for not putting the completed stitching away to finish later.  (I have a lot of "finish later" projects!) 

Instead of finishing the edge with a closed blanket stitch (suggested finish), I used some of that vintage lace my mother gave me . . . I'm going to be heartbroken when all of that lace is gone!

Here's the back . . . I added my initials.  Should have moved the design down a bit . . . oh well.

I added a bit to the inside to make it more functional for me.   I had these cute little flower thread rings (from Kelmscott Designs) that I stitched on.  I was a little afraid to use the rusty safety pin included in the kit as the rust was rubbing off and I didn't want to soil anything.  I used a little black safety pin I had and a couple of yellow plastic head pins that I dyed with Rite Tan dye to make them look old.

Thank you Nan for such a wonderful design . . . LOVE IT ! ! !

Now I should go get my other "non-finished" projects and feel this good about finishing them!!!!!!!

GO FINISH SOMETHING TODAY

You'll be happy you did!

~*

Home again, home again jiggity jig!

The TNNA Nashville Needlework Market was AWESOME!  It far exceeded my expectations! Sold lots . . . met lots of great people . . . wonderful talented designers, fun shop owners and some fans of  The Nebby Needle (you're too funny Janis)!!!  It was just the affirmation I needed to stoke my creativity!!! 

  "The Fun Girls" (Jenny & Barbie) were assistants extraordinaire!!!

"Super Fan" Janis of Noteworthy Needle . . . the icing on the cake of Market!  

Check out her "Cross Eyes" :

(http://www.noteworthyneedle.com/)

. . . SO CLEVER!

 We all channeled our "inner Alma" as we decorated!  We were thrilled when Alma actually stopped by and gave it her "Alma worthy" approval ! ! !

 








 I had a little bit of time to shop as well:  "Numero" and "Nimble Netty" from sweet Jeannette Douglas (her "Common Thread Sampler" is gorgeous!  Too intimidating for me . . . I would need a class with her sitting by my side!); "Big Red House", "My Country" and "Spring Hare" from La-D-Da (Lori is a riot); "Spring Sampler" from Nikyscreations (Niky is a sweetheart . . . love listening to her Italian accent); "Count Twice" from Plum Street (fun Paulette); and "Sunflower House" and "Crow & Basket" from Teresa Kogut Creative Whims (a new designer to me . . . does a lot of punchneedle and is just getting into cross stitch design).  And if that wasn't enough, I dropped off my new designs to our local Cross Stitch & Crafts shop today and bought two more charts:  "Green On Green" from Rosewood Manor and "Vintage Inspiration" from Blackbird Designs (why I didn't pick that one up while I talked to Barb and Alma I don't know).

I only took my camera with me once when I was visiting other rooms and got these few pictures:

Paulette (from Plum Street Samplers) was next door to us.

 Unfortunately she was sold out of "Cinnamon Stars" when I got there.  

This is a "coming soon" piece . . . isn't it beautiful!

Jeannette Douglas and her treasure trove of beauties!

Farewell Nashville!  Looking forward to St. Charles in August ! ! ! 

~*

Be My Valentine

I was thrilled to get this picture from Lisa in Virginia who stitched "Be My Valentine".  She changed the colors up a bit and added buttons . . . what a great idea . . . and a darling little simple lace edging. . . how cute is that !!!

And look at the sweet fabric she backed it with!

Thanks Lisa!  I love seeing the creativity of my fellow stitchers!

Back to packing up my models for Market . . . and a few more charts to print . . . do I have enough . . . too many?  Just don't know what to expect!

~*

This Little Piggie Is Going To Market!

Getting VERY excited about TNNA Nashville Needlework Market just a week away ! ! !  Finishing up some printing and ready to pack up the models.  So, make your list and check it twice and let your local shop owners know what you want them to bring back . . . and I thank you ahead of time if there's a chart or two of mine on that list! 

All my charts will be available at Market including the

 * THREE NEW ONES *

On A Hillside

This design was inspired by the song "Little Boxes" written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962 which became a hit for her friend Pete Seeger (who just died last month) in 1963 . . .I was a big "folk music" fan in the 60's.  For some reason I've remembered the words to this song and heard it again at Music On The Square in Jonesborough, TN  sung by a local group (Doc Bonhomie) . . . purchased their CD "Waiting To Be Found" and continue to listen to it . . . love their work . . . very folk/blue grass!  The song has been covered by a number of artists over time and  I guess it was also the theme song for the TV show "Weeds" . . . don't know, never watched it.

Lyrics:
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

Old Town Sampler

This design is a direct result of being born and raised in Alexandria, VA.  How can you not enjoy the Federal style architecture found in the "Old Town" area after spending your entire childhood there?!  Even though I like land, lots of land  . . . I still love those tall narrow brick homes with the slate roofs and iron fences.

Amazing Grace

I have had Amazing Grace in my head for several years just waiting for the right design to crystallize.  I was asked to design an individual piece with a bible verse for someone recently and the verse just seemed to call for bleeding hearts.  After finishing that chart, I knew bleeding hearts were the right choice for this one.  I got a little carried away with the GA thread Vintage Lace.  I love the variegation in color from linen to pink and wanted some real lace that color . . . so, I crocheted it.  The instructions are on the pattern . . . just a warning though . . . I just winged it.  I mean . . . I didn't figure out where to start the crochet to have it come out right.  I did pull it out once and start over and somehow it came out right.  I suppose you could count and measure and all that, but unfortunately I don't work that way.  I will tell you that there are an even number of picots (8) on each side and an odd number (11) on the top and bottom. If you get stuck, email me and maybe I can help.  Or better yet . . . buy some linen colored lace and add a bit of pink blush to it . . . done!

If you're attending Market, please stop in!  

"The Fun Girls" (my retreat sisters and I) will be in Room 617 singing "Little Boxes" ! ! !

~*

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday and I'll be watching the game alone.  Yep . . . the hubs is heading out of town for his new job that he starts tomorrow.  We'll be a two home family visiting back and forth . . . it's a 2 1/2 hour drive . . . too far to commute and we don't want to move . . . we'll see how this goes.  I'm not complaining . . . the new job is worth it!  I got a new car out of the deal!  The down side of that is it's too small (a VW Beetle) to haul everything to Nashville for Market.  So, he'll be taking the Bug and I'll keep the Yukon until after Market. 

Here's a freebie for you to keep you occupied until your local shop owner brings back all the goodies from Market.  Are you excited about all the new things coming?  I'll post my Market releases this coming week . . . keeping you in suspense a little bit longer (actually just picked up the last two at the framer on Friday and haven't taken the pictures for the patterns yet).

I used Gentle Art threads:  Rose Garden, Carriage Black and Lexington Green.  I backed it with some coordinating fabric, filled it with crushed walnut shells and stitched this cute rosebud ribbon around the seam.  The rosebud ribbon was in a box of silk ribbons and threads my mother gave me when she stopped stitching.

So who are you rooting for?  Since the Steelers (my favorite team) aren't in the Super Bowl I'm rooting for the Broncos . . . I like Peyton . . . seems like a good guy.  I was conflicted about whether to watch the Super Bowl or Downton Abbey, but just in the nick-of-time, the DVD of Season 4 I ordered arrived this week!  Guess what I'll be watching tomorrow!

Go Broncos!   ~*