~Designer Spotlight~ Teresa of Crocettandofralepesti~

Greetings friends and stitchers~


Periodically, I research to look for new or upcoming designers... I have my tried and true favorites, however, I like to look around and see what else might be out there.... Recently I found Teresa of Crocettando fra le pesti by way of her lovely blog.... Which led me to her Etsy... Where I found her nice charts you could receive PDF..... Two of them spoke to me particularly because they looked like something I could use in my February decorating....

First off, Love is in the Air~~~ I love the cooing birds and nice color palette Teresa used.... Soft shades with a hint of red...

Red ticking homespun & blue ticking homespun set off the extra distressing I
did finishing this into a needlebook...


Inside I attached a wool heart to save some of my favorite pins....


And, what would a needlebook be without a couple pockets for needles, scissors and the like......


Here us a closer photo of how I like to sew strips of linen to a stitched item... Layers... That's what I think makes things special.....

The other PDF design I stitched is actually part of her nursery rhyme collection.... But, you know me... I thought it versatile enough to be used this way...... Atop a distressed box~


~Ring of Roses~ Isn't it just dainty??



Here is a better photo of the creme distressed box... I painted and distressed MANY boxes back in the summer.... Experimenting with this lighter paint, I was glad to have it on hand!


I loved stitching and finishing these goodies by Teresa this past week....



As snow continues to lay on the ground here in the Carolinas, I've enjoyed the extra stitching time~

Until next time....

Busy hands & warm hearts,

Faye




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Giveaway winner & a few customer finishes....

.... Wow! You guys sure how to put a BIG smile in my face~ thanks SO much to all who entered my giveaway and your kind words!!! As much as I'd love to be able to offer all of you some goodies, I have pulled one name out of the hat....

Patti G of Winding Vine

Please email me your mailing address Patti and I will get your winnings out to you!!.....

May is just around the corner.... I'll be hosting my next giveaway then to mark my 5 year Blogaversary.....


Next, I'd like to offer this picture walk of recent finishes I have done for many of YOU.... It still puts a smile in my face when I get your beautiful stitches in the mail and I finish them into serviceable, decorative items for you to enjoy...


A Stacy Nash Heart...


I couldn't resist attaching a small wool strawberry...




Yes.... Pin drums with slipper & wool strawberry's are on my finishing table...


Another Stacy Nash kit...




....the project bags remain popular~ take a stitched item and I'll turn into a bag you can enjoy and use....




An older Blackbird design .....



And, I leave you with a photo of the snow we got yesterday... Rarely do we see snow here, so we are out if school and enjoying the sights!!



Busy hands & warm hearts.....


Faye

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1000 Follower Giveaway & Snooty Parrots bags~

Hello friends~

I'm often humbled by your kind words and encouraging comments when I post my stitches and finishes..... It's what I do; my passion, if you will... That creative outlet, is for me, relaxing yet invigorating and just plain fun!!

I'd like to offer a giveaway for my reaching 1000 Followers mark~ in May '09, I never would have guessed to have reached that level... I thank each of you for the support you've given me~

If you'd like to be considered, please post a comment, on this blogpost only, and I will draw a name on Jan 29.....


I've combined my love for primish designs with my handiwork of sewing project bags~~ two things I love! They also will have goodies inside...


This Stacy Nash is Fancy Peacocks.... I loved stitching those classic soft colors~


A peacock represents integrity and renewal... Isn't he handsome?


A smaller matching accessory size bag will be included....


I've enjoyed putting things together..... Good luck everyone!!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I'd also like to share a X-Large project bag I'm making for those in the Snooty Parrot Sampler SAL.... Many of you use the Qsnaps and it was requested to have a bag to hold the 11 x 11 size Qsnaps..... Approx 14 x 16.. Roomy for all those stitching supplies~


Here is the up close view of the Snooty insert on the bag....


This Barbara Ann Designs Sampler has become very popular!


.....as the weekend winds down and we set our sights in the upcoming work week, I hope those of you who continue to fight this bitter winter, hang in there~ keep stitching and soon, we will be thinking about springtime!!

Smiles,

Faye


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Redwork Snowflake Sewing Bag

Greetings friends~

I was a little excited when I saw that Stacy Nash had designed a little something in RED a couple weeks back.... As my early morning stitch, I could barely put it down!!!


I made mine a tad wider ( about 2") than the pattern specified... I knew mine would hold my ipad..... 32 count Zweigert linen~ stained by me~ GAST Country Redwood 1 over 2~


And, I wanted to hand stitch a few turkey stitches along the bottom... I used Size 10 Camel DMC Cebelia Crochet Cotton Thread...Tonal and subtle is my style....


x x x x Tiny "x's" line the top edge inside....... x x x x



The back of the piece has lots of distressing and coffee staining....


Here is what the front and back look like when the bag is opened...

This was really a fun project, especially knowing it was something I could use and be functional~


Soon...... Giveaway information~ I promise!!!

Smiles.....

Faye


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Designer Spotlight~ Hands on Design~

Greetings friends.....

Yesterday was fantastic!!! Meeting up with the other Carolina Girls.... Karen, Nicole,Linda & Charlene... We managed to get in a little retail therapy at Stitch n Frame in Rock Hill SC.... What a wonderful cross stitch shop! Truly worth the drive~

I wanted everyone to remember our first gathering of 2014 with a handmade goodie.... A cute design by Hands on Design....


I filled the pin pillows with sawdust.... And, I used the specified DMC threads along with soft blue & coral cotton fabrics....


And, I added antique hand crocheted lace for an extra detail...


And, as seen in Pinterest, I taught myself to make those wool penny pins~ just another added detail....


Between shopping, eating and stitching for hours..... We had the best time~

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Tomorrow, I'll share with you my latest stitched finish.... And, it involves red and details of my 1000 followers giveaway~~~

Until then, be happy~ stay warm~ and keep stitching!

Faye







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Stacy Nash finish & a drum~

Hello my friends......


Oh my goodness!!!! Get ready for a giveaway.... I have gone over the 1000 followers mark!! This giveaway will have to be very special~


Thanks to all who emailed about the nasty tornadoes that hit North Carolina~~Fortunate for us, they were about an hour away... Those poor folks! But, we are fine....

I was able to sneak in a couple finishes for myself this past weekend..... I had stitched both of these pieces in the fall, but had not had time to actually sew them together..... When I met Stacy Nash at the Dyeing to Stitch retreat last Fall, I knew I would have to stitch Mustard Seed Manor sewing book....


The finishing is really quite easy.... You hand stitch you stitched piece onto wool that has been mounted to a repurposed book board..




By stretching the hand dyed linen, you can really see the nice color variations~ I stitched this on R&R 18th Century Rook linen.... 30 ct, 1 over 2...


I thought the Valdani Pearl Cotton edging added a little something...

Rather than attaching the other part of the sewing book to a separate book board, I put everything on the backside of my board..



I liked the selvedged edge so I used it for my pocket...


And, the mottling in the hand dyed wool from Lonestar Mercantile really added character and depth...



I have really gotton so I enjoy stitches and finishing recommendations by Stacy Nash.... This is a very nice project...let me know if I can help any of you with suggestions~


I also put together a long awaited completed stitch.... Little House Needleworks & Shakespeares Peddler collaborated a few years back and designed this drum.... I loved getting creative with it....



You may remember the Heart they designed to go with it... I stitched this in April 2012..




But, it was the little subtle touches that made it special...



From the top...


To the bottom....



Well..... It's about dinner time...... Hope everyone has a great week!!

Happy Stitching

Faye

-created from my ipad-

Peace House & more stitching....

Greetings friends~

What a week! Rarely will you hear me complain, but this ole Southern gal is not used to single digit temperatures~ Man 'o man, I'm glad that today is a lot warmer... Stormy, but warmer~

Often times, when I'm asked to finish a piece for someone and I need to practice a little first, I will take something of my own and use it to hone in on those specific sewing skills.... My practice piece of a pocket purse is what I modeled last weekend... I had an old alphabet I'd stitched many moons ago that worked.....



... Lightly stained... Your hand can slide right into the pocket where you made a slit in your linen....



~and, your slit in the linen has binding properly sewn, then hand stitched inside the lining....



...a strap is sewn on the pocket so to tie around your waist, or hang on your shoulder.....




I will find a better place to place my prim pocket purse...... But for now, it's perched on a cabinet top in my craft room.....

I also was able to stitch Marly's Christmas 2013 freebie a week or so ago... Isn't she the best??? Always putting free charts on her blog for all of us.. So tastefully crafted.... I think she should take the plunge and begin designing full time!!!! I know all of you most whole heartedly agree with me~



I'm still pondering its final finish... I want it to be "just right..."


I loved this little unexpected element to her design......

Finally, I completed a stitch this week.... I always have fun stitching a
La~D~Da design and this week was no exception!!!!


I did amend one thread color (which I rarely do...), but the bottom border called for a black overdye and I used a very dark green by Victorian Motto that I had on hand....

...stitched on 32 count Vintage Buttercream linen by Lakeside; 2over 2

Well, I'd better sign off.... Tornado warnings..... Until next time~

Kindly,

Faye



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