Back when I was in my early thirties I used to do counted cross stitch all the time. That was thirty years ago - but it came back to me quickly when I started working on Winter, a vintage pattern by Brooke Nolan of
BrooksBooksPublishing. I gathered up my fabric, my q snap frame, my Readers, my Beam N Read light, my DMC thread, my needle and my thimble and got to work. Seriously, I don't remember it taking all that stuff when I was younger but with age and time....I couldn't sew any more without my Readers or my Beam N Read or my q snap frame. I've always used a needle and thread and thimble but the other stuff - lifesavers, truly. So, many thanks to our sponsors who manufacture some amazing products.
When I first saw this pattern I knew right away I wanted to make an evening purse. Somehow the richness of the pattern shouted "let's dress up!" I used an Aida cloth that has a shot of gold threads through it and it was perfect for what I wanted.
I added some rhinestones - one on the shawl collar and one in the center of some of the snowflakes.
I had a long string of pearls, not real of course, that were my mothers. The clasp was broken so they were the perfect thing to use as a shoulder strap.
I love the way it looks here next to some family pictures and my mother's clock (complete with a ribbon she won for one of her quilts hanging from the side)....and with the pearls I wore to my 50th anniversary reception.
But can't you just picture it with my black shawl.....a real treasure that came from China Town in New York City several years ago. So fun!
We were also lucky enough to get a pattern from Cori Blunt of
Chitter Chatter Designs. I chose Summer....but I confess I bought all of her patterns and all of Brooke's. I just loved them so much I couldn't choose!
Cori's pinny is designed to go with a Tammy Bag sewing bag. Of course that wouldn't work with my Winter so....I just sat down and did another cross stitch. This time I chose Summer. I confess my poor fingers aren't used to so much hand stitching so they're a bit sore but I can hardly wait to do the rest of these adorable designs. And since I bought the pinny patterns I can make a pinny to go with all of them - win, win!
I had a little piece of of a teal wool that I thought would be perfect for the little bird.
The ruffle is a bright teal print that blends perfectly. I chose to put a little pocket on the back made out of batting...that way I could tuck my thimble in it and/or it will hold a needle or two. And I copied an idea from one of our bloggers on Friday and put a tab so that it will hang over the clasp.
And how about this adorable Summer! The touch of gingham on the bag, the swim cap, the starfish...I just love it!
I changed the colors a little...went from red to a rosy pink and from blue to teal to go with the fabric I had chosen.
This was such a fun project and I can't say a big enough thank you to Mary of
I Piece 2-Mary for keeping us so organized, or to Madame Samm of
Sew We Quilt for doing all the work that it takes to get sponsors and to dream up the ideas that we all love so much. And to our sponsors...
DMC ( heads and aida cloth)
READERS ( best readers on the market for those who need to see their patterns
up close and personal)
SNAP SOURCE ( great gadget for adding snaps to our bags)
Without these people many of us would be struggling along with less than ideal conditions for doing the stitching we love so much.
Thank you so very much for stopping by and following along with this hop - your comments are so cherished. Please be sure you visit the other bloggers today, and in the rest of the hop.
January 12, 2015
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January 14, 2015
January 15, 2015
January 19, 2015
January 20, 2015
