Halloween Finishes???

I seem to be a little confused...I know it's almost New Year's and I'm talking about Halloween.  

All these stitcheries were finished - well you know "finished" - in my world that means the stitching was done and they were sitting in my cross stitch basket.  

In order to really finish them, the sewing machine needed to be set up, backings chosen and directions followed.  

If you've followed me for some time you know I'm not a big finisher.  I love the stitching part, it's the completion that drags on.  

Harvest Drumroll - Stacy Nash Primitives Pattern

Love the colors on this one - rust, old gold and brown.

From Stacy Nash's Merry Halloween Booklet -

 Eliza Ann

From the same booklet -

Come Mortal Man

I guess I was on a Stacy Nash kick!  This last finish is also from Stacy - Blackwork Treat Bag and mini pin keeps.  

A freebie from Stacy that I stitched using hand-dyed floss. Follow this LINK to Stacy's blog for the pattern.  

Happy New Year!

~Ann

What happened to me?

I have never before taken such a long break from blogland!  My last post was almost 3 months ago - WOW.  

I've been a little busy with school starting and then I received a few basket orders that totaled over 100 baskets that needed to be made.  Add in my 3 kids and their activities and something (s) had to take a back seat.  I haven't touched my rug hooking or my cross stitch since school started either.  I haven't been on Pinterest, which I was addicted to over the summer and I've done nothing, nada, zero, zilch other than weave, weave, weave.  

Thought I'd share with you some of those 100 baskets with you....

Long Door Basket

 A couple Rug Hooking Tote baskets and some small snippet baskets

Several larger baskets, in varying stages of finish

***************************************

This year is a rough one at school,  I took on a new to our district student.   My last little guy moved on to our school system's next building, I could have moved with him, but I really enjoy working for the teacher I've been with for 3 years.  To say that my current student is a challenge is sugar coating the situation.  He is physically aggressive and challenged on every level.  The saddest part is that his birth mother was addicted to drugs that are the cause of so many of his delays.   It is a sad situation, however he now has wonderful adoptive parents.  We've made progress in 3 months, but the aggression is still present.  

Now, I have to brag just a moment!  Our daughter's Sr. Photo.....

She was accepted to her first choice college mid-September, we made another visit to Wisconsin in early November before she signed her papers and she is now officially a University of Wisconsin at Whitewater Warhawk.  

What Wonderful Bonnets!

 Lecia of Farmhouse Prims and I are online blog friends.  I know we'd be friends in "real life" too if we only lived closer. 

We've gone back and forth commenting on each other's blogs and emailing each other.  Earlier this year we decided to do a swap - baskets for bonnets is the name of the swap!

I think we are addicted to each others work, another swap was in order.  Today's mail brought the most delightful package........

A HUGE surprise in a TINY bonnet!  I'm not sure where I'll display this one yet, but for the photos, I placed it over a pottery piece that I have. 

I'm thinking it might stay here - it blends in so well with the other pieces displayed in this case.  

How adorable is this?

I should have started with this photo - Lecia wrapped everything up so prim and proper!  I think she knows that I LOVE burgundy.   

Lecia sent me 3 prim bonnets, one muslin stained and 2 calico's.  

Lecia,  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Your sewing & presentation is wonderful.  

~Ann

A Little Hooking

Confession:  I'm a part time hooker. 

 Every year when I attend the Rug Hooking show at Sauder Village in Archbold Ohio, the bug bites me a little harder.  Each year, I venture farther and farther into this wool hobby of mine.   I always feel so intimidated when I attend the show, the feeling I have that my hooking will never be that good, I wish I could combine colors like that, etc.

Attending the show this year with my blog friend and now real life friend Lauren of Rugs and Pugs was like having my own private tour guide.  Thank you so much Lauren.  

My purchases at the show:

Pumpkin Kit by Wendy Miller of Red Salt Box 

Purchasing a kit is my favorite!  Someone else has taken the time to pull together all the wools and cut the strips.  I don't have a cutter so I have to resort to my rotary cutting tool & mat.  This pumpkin kit included antique paisley strips to hook into the pumpkin.  

                                                    

I was brave enough to purchase 2 patterns - one of them Antique Florals by Wendy Miller of The Red Salt Box.  

My progress on this one so far - I LOVE rugs with dark backgrounds and simple designs.  I added the year to this one - not sure I'm happy with it.  What do you think - should I take out the 2012?  The corners just seem so big with nothing in them.  

I recently did a swap with Saundra of Woodland Junction blog.  I sent her one of my Rug Hooker's Tote baskets.  

This purse that she hooked is gorgeous.  The hooking is perfect and her finishing is WOW!  Her attention to detail is wonderful - the lining is sewn in with such care.  

If you aren't a hooker, but want a hooked piece, check out Saundra's blog for a link to her website.  I highly recommend her work.  

I can't wait to carry this little purse - until then, it will hang on my peg rack by our front door.  Great for my fall decorating!  

Completely off topic - we have a Senior.  How did this happen, she was in kindergarten with Mrs. Nicholls yesterday! 

 Last Friday night at the football game, all Senior athletes and their parents are introduced.  Carrie is one of 3 Sr. girls running Cross Country.   

 In just a few short months she'll be off to college and I'll be living with all boys.  Who is going to paint my nails? Who will let me braid their hair?  The only boy with hair long enough for me to french braid is Shadow.....

Have a great week!

~Ann

Framed!

My husband recently had time to make some frames for my pile of cross stitch finishes.  I used foam core board with straight pins to mount these pieces.  (Thanks Marly!)  You'll see that I've decided  not to use glass in the frames.  

Lydia Broome Sampler by Pineberry Lane. 

 I used the DMC suggested and stitched on 28 count linen.  

  

Anne Browne Early Style Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives

DMC suggested on 30 count Weeks Dye Works Linen

 This one has found a home - next to my great hanging cupboard made by Firecracker Kid (Carol & Tim)

 Caroline W. Dickinson Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives

DMC floss on 28 count linen

 Tansy Yarrow & Rue by Pineberry Lane

DMC suggested on 30 Count Linen by Notforgotten Farm

I absolutely LOVE the floss colors on this one - my flash washed it out a little - but the colors are just gorgeous.  

 One of my next stitching projects - Harvest Pinkeep Drum by Stacy Nash Primitives.  

I was excited to find this pattern in my older son's bedroom - I thought maybe he was going to make it for me as a surprise birthday present.  When I questioned him about it - did he need some help getting started, supplies, etc - he laughed!  Can you believe that?

Here's the problem ---

Or should I say culprit?  The Graybinator decided to take the pattern out of my cross stitch bag, hauled it upstairs and dumped it in Matthew's room.  Funny thing, he took a different pattern up to my bedroom - I thought maybe my husband was going to start stitching too. 

Happy Labor Day!

~Ann 

New Friends

Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend the Sauder Village Rug Hooking Exhibit and meet my online friend Lauren from Rugs & Pugs Blog.  

We met up in the parking lot prior to the opening of the show and exchanged gifts.  Lauren gifted me with a very generous stash of wools.  

And she made me one of her spoon necklaces with what else on it but 1803 Ohio Farm Baskets!  The handle of the spoon says "WOOL".  Aren't these great?  Lauren, I LOVE them.  

We had a good laugh when we saw each other's bags.  I gifted her one of my antique clothespin baskets - the legs of the basket are the antique clothespins.  I put it in a maroon bag with a piece of crow tissue paper.  Guess what she had wrapped my wool up in?

We had such a nice day, enjoyed lunch at The Barn restaurant on the Sauder Complex and drooled over many gorgeous hooked rugs.   My hooking journey to date has been pretty lonely - I took one class several years ago and have worked at it on my own since.  It was so nice to have Lauren imparting her rug hooking knowledge to me as we walked around and looked at the rugs.   Our taste in rug hooking is very similar and liked many of the same things.  My goal for the coming year is to attend an actual hooking event with Lauren.  

I've been very busy weaving baskets the last week and need to make my rounds and catch up with all of you. 

~Ann

Congratulations to...

Steph from Front Porch Primitives.  You are now the lucky owner of my Stacy Nash "If the Broom fits" pattern.  

Prim Pattern Pass-along

 We've been enjoying our last few weeks before school starts.  The boys set up the badminton net in the backyard and I'm constantly being challenged to a game.  My youngest can no longer be beat by this Mom!  I think I laugh on the court more than hit the birdie.  There is no mercy shown to me as either their Mother or as a "girl".  

Earlier today, I finished this stitchery into a pillow for Halloween.  It's a Stacy Nash pattern - "If the broom fits".  The pattern does not call for it to be finished this way, but I happened to have a perfect size pillow form.    

I would like to pass this pattern along to someone else who would like to stitch it.  If you'd like it, leave me a comment on this post.  I'll draw a name on Sunday night and get it right in the mail to you.   

I received a pleasant surprise in the mail earlier this week - A beautiful hand stitched kitchen towel.  It matches my kitchen PERFECTLY.  Thank you Linda.  You all know Linda Claus - of Parker's Paradise fame.  

Yesterday we celebrated "Happy Lucky Day" for our gray cat, Shadow aka Graybee.  2 years ago yesterday my husband went into our local Town & Country store.  The store has cages with kittens and dogs from the county humane society.  When he arrived back home, he announced "there is a little gray kitten at Town & Country".  That's all that needed said, we all piled into the van and went to visit.  Were we even looking for a kitten?  

5 bodies went to the store and 6 came home.  I'm not sure that Frito thinks that August 7 is a Lucky Day. He maintains that his opinion wasn't sought prior to the adoption. We'll celebrate his Lucky Day on October 31.  

Shadow is the perfect name for him, it started out due to his color, but what we didn't know is how social he is.  Every morning when we get up, he's right there to greet us, often he has to be carried downstairs or we'd trip over him.  He hoards things, stray pieces of my basket reed and any kind of bag that is crinkly are his favorites.  He stashes his treasures in the kids' rooms.  

Happy Lucky Day Graybinator!

~Ann

Organizing & Stitching

I found this great way to organize some of my fabrics at Sew Many Ways.  Karen's blog is full of wonderful ways to organize your sewing and crafting supplies.  So far I've organzied 2 bankers boxes with my smaller fabric cuts.  This is perfect for me - I store these in a closet with the lid off.  When I need a piece for the backing of a stitchery, I  just open the door and quickly scan the boxes for the perfect piece of fabric.  

My old way of finding fabric would have been digging through plastic storage containers looking for just the right piece.

I ordered some more hand-dyed flosses from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. 

Nancy shipped my order very quickly - I sure appreciate that so I can start stitching right away.  The pumpkin colors are going to be perfect for my fall stitching.

Before I can use my new floss, I need to finish my latest start - Anne Browne from Country Rustic Primitives.

Love her designs!

My sister/husband/3 kids and my Mom came for a weekend visit from Wisconsin.  Mom is still sorting and finding new homes for some of her treasures.  She knew I'd like this little doll quilt - it's 5 x 5 squares in perfect for me colors - browns, reds and 2 blues. Love it!  

We had lots of fun with the 3 little cousins, my nephew is 7 and nieces are 5 & 2.  Our youngest was in a baseball tournament over the weekend and he had quite the cheering section!  It's a good thing there are playgrounds close to the baseball fields - and concession stands with icees.  

Have a great week.

~Ann  

Cross stitching

 I finished another UFO this week, I'm on a roll ~ Stacy Nash Hollyhock Journal.

The antique blue fabric comes from the thrift store doll coat I found several months ago.  Stacy's pattern is for a larger journal, but I only had enough fabric for this smaller one. I backed the blue with some tan fabric from my stash, giving it some much needed stability. 

The inside bottom corner is pieced and I love the make-do look of it.  

I recently won a giveaway from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  My winnings were my choice of 5 of her overdyed flosses. Now I need to dig through my patterns and find something to stitch with these.  They are beautifully done.  Nancy sells these floss collections for $2.00 each, which I think is a very good buy. 

 My latest finish is the newest pattern from Pineberry Lane, "Lydia Broome".  Isn't great to be able to purchase the pattern online and download it instantly at Patternmart.com so you can stitch right now? This piece only requires 2 colors and stitches up quickly.

I'm now looking through my stash for a frame that fits this piece.  Hope to find one so this doesn't sit in my UFO pile. 

Have a great weekend.

~Ann

From Start to Finish

After my marathon week of finishing up those UFO's I decided to reward myself.  I started AND finished this Spells pocket, pattern by Stacey Nash.  The backing and strap are a black fabric with an old gold design in it.  Note to Marly - I used a lightweight iron on interfacing on the back of the stitching and it was perfect - Thanks again for your help.

 Like so many of you, our weather here in NW Ohio was unbearable last week.  

 Even with our central air on, the cats didn't do much last week.  I'm not even sure this photo is appropriate!  It may be hard to tell with that jumble of fur, but he's on his back, back legs flopped open sleeping on the living room floor.  

Linda Claus, this picture is for you - do you see the nice pillows you made me on the floor in the background, by the side of the rocker?  Shadow pushed them off so he could sleep in the rocker - bad cat!  

Hope you are all having a good week.

~Ann

One Dozen UFO's Done!

By Friday of last week, I finished a total of 12 items from my stitching basket.  Not every UFO is done, but I made quite the dent in my stack of projects.  

#12 - I needed to bind and steam this little mat, pattern from Robin at A Bird in the Hand found HERE 

While I would have liked to keep completing those UFO's duty called and I needed to get these custom baskets done for a gal who ordered a total of 10 baskets from me.  These are the biggest and last 2.  

I had to reward myself after getting all these projects done by starting more!  I actually finished it too - I'll show you later in the week.

Have a Happy & Safe 4th.

~Ann  

5 more in the DONE pile...

Too busy with being a Mom yesterday to work on any finishes. Nothing today until a baseball game tonight at 5:30 - it's going to be a HOT one.  We've been hiding out in the AC all day - over 100 here in NW Ohio.  

#7 - Tombstone Angel by Country Rustic Primitives found HERE.  I needed to coffee stain this piece and frame it, another thrift store frame.  I'm so glad that I painted a bunch of frames and just had them on hand - I used 2 out of my stash today.

 #8 Another Country Rustic piece that needed coffee stained and framed - I just love this little alphabet piece.

 Decided to hang this one in our half bath, under my recently acquired cupboard.  

Finish #9 - I took this paper mache box and turned it into

                                 

Two Hares Marking Sampler Sewing box.

First I painted over the snowman design so it wouldn't bleed through the fabric.  Covered both the lid and  box with coffee stained fabric and attached the stitching with primitive stitching around the lid.  

  

This is a Pineberry Lane pattern - you can find her on Patternmart.  Now I have to collect some sewing goodies to put inside.

#10- Wool Pillow Pinkeep - another Pineberry Pattern.  She includes 2 different patterns in this, but I've only stitched one.  I finished it with help from Marly - Samplers and Santas blog found HERE.  

(It looks blotchy - it's not dry from the coffee stain yet)

Marly and I have been discussing finishing needle projects.  I'm not happy with how mine turn out most of the time.  Marly was kind enough to send me the interfacings that she uses to get crisp finishes.  I will be purchasing more of these interfacings next time I'm at Joann's.  Thank you Marly. 

 And #11 - my last finish for the day - Quaker Egg Pinkeeps - Pineberry Lane pattern, again to be found on patternmart.

I wish I had finished these with Marly's technique, but I stitched them together on Tuesday, prior to my new-found knowledge.  I did "X" around each egg and they were finished off with a coffee stain bath and baked in the oven until dry. 

Be sure to stop on over and see Cathy and what she finished today too!  One more day of this UFO finish challenge and I'm really ready to start another project!!!

~Ann