Emma Rose Freedom....

Hello from sunny North Carolina!!!!

I wanted to share with you my beloved Emma Rose Freedom....She has arrived back at home from a jaunt to the Tree of Life Samplings retreat and is placed on my breakfast room table on display....along with my basket of patriotic stitched goodies..

 Emma Rose Freedom Sampler

Tree of Life Samplings

40 ct Confederate Gray linen by Weeks

specified overdye cotton threads

I fell in love with this design the minute I saw it....Jan Alexander of Tree of Life really grabbed my attention with the gold house, willow tree and billowing flag....Along with  an alphabet so uniquely placed, I knew it was an absolute stitch....

I will let you take a picture walk....

I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about this project....

AND, this weekend, my stitch friend Linda and I, made a whirlwind Virginia shop hop....We had talked and talked about taking off and heading north.....Just decided there was no time like the present...and went for it!!  In 2 days we managed to visit Dyeing to Stitch, Haus Tirol, In Stitches and Cross Stitch Station.... all wonderful cross stitch shops in the state of Virginia.... We definitely managed to sneak in alot of retail therapy...and, a little stitching time as well... Thanks for all the laughing and stitching tips "Sista"....!!

We have started our third week of Year Round at my school and so far, so good...I have a brand new batch of First Graders to challenge, teach and nuture for the next 11 months...

It's going to be a fantastic year~~~~

Many blessings to you all,

Faye



Friday fun with finishes....(photo heavy...)

I hope everyone is great this fine Friday!!

I have been finishing up a storm, as we say in the south, and although quite a few are for my customers Christmas gifts (will have show them later...), I do have some I can show today...

Often we have stitched pieces with no idea on how to finish them off...Or, we get in a rut finishing them the same way.... I like to take your gorgeous stitched linens and turn them into creations that you will be proud to display,...

Here are a few photos of finishes of late for customers who gave me thumbs up to show you...

Barb IL is a most expert stitcher...

I like finishing primish patriotics....notice the bronze beaded stars....

I thought corduroy warmed up this snowy piece...

pincushion filled with walnut shells...trimmed with chenille...

mounted on a wooden base.....

the diddie bag finishes have become quite popular.....

as have the simple finishes where the stitches take the stage....

ornaments with wool felt and snowball charms...are you getting ready???

I like to embellish conservatively...

a subtle charm...

tonal lace with small buttons....

I absolutely LOVE my Victorian Motto hand dyed chenille....

you get the picture.....

April is also a valued customer whose stitches are amazing...

 I thought the key was perfect to add....

twine, old buttons...I love finishing prims..

 the backs often have wool and/or flannels...

I will combine solid and plaid wools for effect....

her freebies came to life.....

Debra has given me great reviews on her finished goodies....

browns and pinks...winning combinations....

And, of course, I HAD to put the VM hand dyed rick rack around the darling Plum Street Sampler ornie pillows.....

If you have stuck with me this far...thanks!

Next time I hope to feature Emma Rose Freedom table scarf.....Good ole Emma has come back home from Indiana....She flew over for a short visit and now has come back home to stay...

Oh! And, I will also have photos of framed pieces I picked up this week from my framers...

Anniversaries of the Heart by BBD,  Quaker Christmas by ByGone Stitches and Sarah Elizabeth Brooke by Scarlett House....

Here's hoping you have a most fantastic weekend....

Peace,

Faye

Adam & Eve and some sewing...

Greetings all and Happy Sunday morning....

For a couple months now, Terri and Marylin ,along with ,have been stitching a wonderful A&E Sampler SAL....They have completed their samplers and now I have finished stitching mine!! Will teach me to put off all the over one until the last!!!

 Adam and Eve Reproduction Sampler

  Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine, May 2009 issue

  Lakeside Linen,Light Exemplar, 36 count
One thread over two

There was a floss conversion that Terri had determined, as the publication listed Olde Willow Silk threads....none of the three of us had these threads, so here is the conversion that was used...

C = DMC 3354

E = Crescent Colors - Cherry Tomato

F = GAST Lambswool where called for and on the faces.

H = Gast Shutter Green

K = GAST Cinnamon

P = GAST Mountain Mist

S = GAST Green Apple

T = Crescent Colors Green Onion (except for the over one,  GAST Harvest Basket was used so it would show up).

 

This was an absolutely fun stitch and I cannot believe how fast it went considering

 the size....approx 16 x 14 inches...

 

Here are a few more close ups...I'll let the photos do the talking...

Thanks again ladies for such an enjoyable journey stitching this sampler!!

 

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I also had short while in the craft room and as promised, I was able to sew two of the last Americana stitches into true finishes....

 

Falling Star Primitives

40 ct Days Gone by linen

specified threads

I  made a pin pillow and a diddie bag.....

I hope everyone enjoy's their Sunday....However it is planned, be safe....

Faye



...The finished prim bag.....and a treat~~

A blog post two days in a row....I MUST have a little something to show you...

Often we scratch our heads pondering that perfect finish for our stitched pieces...

This one was a no-brainer for me...Ever since I saw this freebie,as shown on yesterdays post,..(here)..

I felt like I needed to construct it into a little bag pieced together with calicos...

to store things in the craft room...

 another bag sitting around filled with important items...

Notforgotten Farms

DMC threads and coffee stained 32 ct linen

..or perhaps to hang on a knob and just be decorative...

 perhaps to tuck among other goodies...all sharing similar primness....

I really liked stitching and sewing us this freebie by Notforgotten Farms...

I decided to take my dark muslin and add a decorative vine stitch before attaching around the top of the bag....

I hope you have enjoyed spending the last 2 days with me during this stitch and finish...!

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I  felt like a little *treat* the other day when I saw Myra post her latest creation..Man, oh man,  this baby is PERFECT~~~ I received my order in the mail today....

Myra's stitching/sewing case is just perfect to slip down in my large project pouch...

And, look at the Blueberry Crumbcake Moda fabric!

The verse is just perfect for me as an educator....and my love for textiles...

...the inside is perfect for needles, scissors, pins and nicely folded linen pieces...

Myra is a seamstress beyond all seamstresses...her work is perfection....

...down to the very last detail.....

Thanks Myra!

The afternoon storms have passed...the parched leaves are trying to smile from their drink from mother nature...We need daily summer showers at this point...

Here's hoping that wherever you are, you are safe and satisfied .....

Hugs to you all~~~~

Faye



Completed stitches and an offering....**edited**

Greetings to all~~~

I know most of us are getting by in the sweltering heat....I have returned home from Cherry Grove Beach to find a parched and browned lawn....wilting flowers that only mother natures good rain could revive and temperatures exceeding 100 ( I don't want to mention the heat index!)...Like you, I am ready for the heat wave to pull back a little!

First, I must show you are a really nice freebie from Notforgotten Farms...Lori is always so kind to create these wonderful designs and share them with us....It really was a wonderfully quick stitch.

Patriotic freebie

Notforgotten Farms

32 count random coffee stained linen

DMC threads as specified

Speaking of Notforgotten Farms, I was humbled and thrilled, all at the same time when Lori contacted me saying I was one of the gals selected to model stitch for her.... Of course, I was elated!... So, more to come on this in the future...for now, I am tickled and cannot wait for my first envelope to arrive so I can begin~~~

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Perhaps today I will find time in the craft room for sewing...I hope....I was digging around this morning and managed to find a few other stitches from 2011 that never did get completed into their final finish...hmmm... I see a possible new Americana basket of smalls evolving....

Falling Star Primitives and Blackbird Designs

40 ct Days Gone By linens...

Specified threads per designers..

I found these little  rustic looking tins at Hobby Lobby yesterday in the clearance bin... Of course, I snatched up the last 4 they had..... I see small stitches mounted in these darlings..They already have the rusty wire hangers....Are you envisioning like I am...?....

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Todays offering is a large project pouch.....Fully lined with zipper pull and appliqued front...

Black and creme homespun exterior with red print lining.....

$24.00...includes shipping (US orders only...)

email me if you are interested

lriggsbee@nc.rr.com

**this pouch is SOLD however I will take orders if you email**

I hope everyone has a most fantastic Sunday.....

Peace,

Faye

Progress on Adam & Eve....

Good morning and greetings all!!

First, I would like to say a couple humble "Thanks!" to all the nice comments about my previous post...The cross stitch quilt hanging was a joy to make...I have found that I like combining linen with luscious quilt fabrics, and just seeing where things lead me with creativity.... And, yes, to those who emailed  me, I am happy to take your stitcheries and turn them into table scarves or hangings also...Please email me about those services..

Secondly, to all the ladies who went to the Tree of Life Samplings retreat last week....Wow! You all made me feel like I was right there with you...Thanks so  much for your kind words regarding my stitched and finished model pieces for the retreat... AND, the Emma Rose Freedom table runner I sent for display... I am humbled by your kind words and believe me when I say, I wish I could have been there with you at that fun retreat....I was with you in spirit!!!  Again, thanks so very much!!

Now, I have my bi-weekly Adam & Eve SAL update.....My buddies Terri and Marylin are doing SUCH a FINE job on their samplers....Please visit them for their updates....Marylin has already finished her sampler and popped it in a frame!!...

Magnifique travail mon ami ! Votre échantillonneur est superbe et je ne peux pas attendre pour terminer mes ... encore une fois, beau travail !! Gros bisous à vous !

Here is my SAL update....

If you look at it this way it looks nearly done....tee-hee...



This is one of my favorite parts of the sampler...

Stick with me ladies....I will be working more on this gorgeous sampler over the next 2 weeks... This along with a few other irons I have in the fire.....

Part of which will be trying to perfect my hand appliquing skills....

on this project pouch....

Have a fantastic Sunday everyone~~~

Peace,

Faye