Hello Again

 Remember me?  Looks like it has been almost a year since my last post.  Blogger has gone thru changes since then so we’ll see if I can successfully add some photos and get this short update posted.  

I’ve had several finishes over the past year but I’m only going to post my latest finish for now.  I started this piece in 2018, finished with the actual stitching at the close of 2019, and *finally* got around to FFO earlier this month.  It is my first bellpull finish.  All finishing stitching was done by hand.  I’ve got to get over my sewing machine phobia!  Overall I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.  I stitched it for a friend and she was very surprised and grateful when I gave it to her last weekend.

Little House Needleworks Winter ABC’s.

My stash from September’s Needlework Galleria

Here are some photos of the stash that I brought home with me from the Needlework Galleria that was held in St. Charles, MO in September.  See anything you like???

Edgar Scissorbird was being sold at the Lindy Stitches shop.  He is handcrafted in Indiana from Ash and Cherry wood.  He helps keep my scissors handy.

 An empty bag that says Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Company.  Hmmmm....it did contain some dark chocolate malted milk balls (my fave!) and a truffle.  

 A cute tea ball ornament kit from Heartstring Samplery

 A really cute pattern from Luminous Fiber Arts.  Buggies wanted to help model this pattern since it has a bird theme.  Buggies loves birds.

 Assorted colors of mini PomPom trim and a pretty piece of 36 count linen from Dames of the Needle/From the Cauldron

A really cute project bag from the Heartstring Samplery shop. (Beth’s mother made this one. ❤️)

And lots of pretties from Heartstring Samplery

 A frog zipper pull for my project bag. (bit of trivia.....I’m terrified of real frogs but have a small collection of not-so-real ones)

A pretty pair of scissors from the Heartstring Samplery shop.

Stickers & postcards from Heartstring Samplery......just what this snail mail nerd needs. 

 And lastly, a freebie pattern and stitch info Sticker Plates from Lindy Stitches

I think I brought home a nice haul.  I sure don’t want my stash to get depleted. (Insert lots of canned laughter here.) 😂😂😂😂😂😂

I have been weeding through my stash.  I’ve listed several patterns that I’m getting rid of on the Patterns For Sale page.  Take a look to see if there is anything you need.  Prices do include postage and if you want several things,  I’ll combine postage to save you some 💲💲💲.  Don’t like the prices, then make me an offer.  Just leave a comment on the Sale page if you are interested in anything.

I also FFO’d a couple of things today but am going to save that for another post.

Needlework Galleria + A Giveaway

On Thursday I’ll be heading to the Needlework Galleria being held in St. Charles, MO.  It is more of a “working” trip than a “shopping for stitch stash” trip.  My friend, Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery, is an Exhibitor at Galleria so I will be helping her.  I may be able to work in a little bit of shopping. 😋  It has been several years since I last attended Needlework Galleria so I’m looking forward to the trip.

Guess what I finally found???  The “lost” Little House Needleworks pattern that I had planned to give away last week.  I knew that it would eventually show up if I kept looking for it; and it did!

I won this pattern in a giveaway that Vickie at A Stitcher’s Story had earlier this year.  I got it stitched quick so I could display it for the 4th of July.  Here is my finish.

If you would like to win this pattern, you need to be a blog follower and leave a comment telling me if you have ever attended Needlework Galleria.  I will do a random draw next Sunday, Sept 22 to pick a winner.  

If you are going to Needlework Galleria this week, be sure to drop by the Heartstring Samplery room to tell me “hi” and to see all the pretties that Beth will be selling.

A quick post, a quick finish, and a giveaway!

I have finally figured out that if I want to keep current on this blog I am just going to have to do quick posts instead of a lengthy missive!  So, here goes.

I have had this Trail Creek Farm freebie pattern for years.  I’ve been weeding through my patterns and getting rid of those that I know I will never stitch.  When I came across this pattern, I decided that it looked like a really quick stitch so I threw it on top of my “to stitch” pile.  I started it yesterday using 32 count French Lace linen and the called for GAST threads.

I finished stitching this afternoon.  I knew that I had NO intentions of trying to make the star-shaped pillow as shown on the pattern.  I looked for a small square frame in my frame stash but didn’t have anything small enough.  Then the lightbulb came on! 💡 I remembered that I had bought a small tin ornament frame years ago at a stitch retreat.  Perfect!!!

Now for the giveaway.  If you are interested in the Trail Creek Farm Winter pattern, leave me a comment telling me what your favorite season of the year is.  You also need to be a follower of my blog.  I will let the Random Number Generator pick a winner on Sunday, September 8.......which just happens to be my mom’s 94th birthday! 😊😊

2019 Nashville Needlework Market

Since 2015 I have attended the Nashville Needlework Market as Beth Twist's (AKA Heartstring Samplery) assistant.  Beth is one of the nicest people to work for and I enjoy spending a few days with her each year while she is in town for Market.

Beth always brings "goodies" for me (another post for another day).  In addition, she also lets me have any Heartstring Samplery patterns that I want.  Here are the patterns that I picked out this year.

(clockwise from top left):  C is for Coffee, Coffee Drinker's Confession, Festive Little Fobs Harvest Edition, Coffee Edition, Stitching Edition, The Stitching Life, and The Cat Sampler.  Where do I begin?  Which pattern is screaming, "Stitch me first!"?


Another perk of being Beth's assistant is that I get to do some shopping at Market.  This year I tried to maintain control as I HAVE SO MUCH STASH!!!!!!!  Here's what I came home with...…..

Fox Few (Plum Street Samplers) and Stitching Bird (Heart In Hand)

A really cute needle minder from Stitch Dots with Heartstring's 'Coffee Drinker's Confession' printed on it.

Two pair of scissors (you can't have too many) and a pack of John James Size 26 Tapestry Petites (you can't have too many).  

I took some photos of Beth's room at Market to show you all of the *cute* stuff that she designs.....just in case you've been living in a cave for awhile and haven't seen any of her stuff.  

A finish......but not really

I always get a little nervous when I go to finish a stitched project.  At least 5 years ago I stitched a small piece that required cement glue in the finishing process.  CEMENT GLUE - doesn't that sound a little too permanent???? What if I mess up?  The finished stitching was going to be glued into a metal coin purse frame.  I bought G-S Hypo Cement but procrastinated in finishing.....what if I mess up?????? Did I mention I was using cement glue???? 

Fast forward a few years. A few weeks ago I decided that I must overcome this finishing phobia.  Today was going to be the day!  

Even though the G-S Cement had never been opened, it was dried up when I went to use it.  Here is the photo to prove that no matter how much I was squeezing the tube, not one drop of liquid cement was gonna come out!  

So, this project is on hold until I get to Hobby Lobby for more liquid cement.  I did stick the stitched piece in the coin purse frame to see how it would look.  What do you think?   I'll post again once it has been cemented in the frame so you can see the "permanent" finish.

Design: Thimble Purse Home Sweet Home a stitchers necklace by Brenda Gervais.