December 15, 2012

Needles and Pins...

I don't know about y'all, but this week has just flown here at Brynwood!
Monday and Tuesday were spent editing and producing the video of the
North Port Concert Band Christmas program. Then, I set about finishing up gifts.

That didn't go quite as planned. You see, I also got two vaccinations - flu
and pneumonia - which made me a little groggy for the rest of the day on
Wednesday. I suspect it was all in my head, but I felt sleepy, so I went with it.
Needless to say, it wasn't getting anything accomplished in the studio, was it?

Thursday was a day for finishes. Grammie Jammies being produced (with
photographs to follow) and a few other small items to get in the mail.
 
All day yesterday, I taught my second session for my hand applique' class and
it was a real hit. Most of the students in my class also signed up for the hand
embroidery class and a quilt class that I'll be teaching in the new year.We 
really had a great day, and all the gals went home with nearly finished projects.
Late day yesterday, I still needed to finish making the gifts to give to the gals
at Coffee Club, so there was no sittin' around with my feet up. I headed back
to the studio while Handsome was at his last rehearsal for the week.
 I made needle books for most of my friends. 
This is my own design, so I've got it pretty well in my head. I just started
a little assembly line and the needle books were completed in about two hours.
 When Kathy saw the big pincushion I'd made for the guild gift exchange, she
let me know that she'd love a pincushion like it. I decided to mimic the design,
but used fabrics from the Fig Tree "Patisserie" line from Moda. It coordinated
the the "Dandelion Girl" fabric I used in most of the needlebooks, and it also
fit the colors in the Lillalotta "Coffee Break" twill tape I used to embellish both
gifts. It's a BIG pincushion, measuring about 9" long by 5" wide. I machine
quilted the parallel line pattern onto the canvas fabric for dimension. 
I then filled it with crushed walnut shell, so it's got a little heft to it, too.

It was after midnight when I finished everything. (I did take a break to make a
wild salmon and noodle Alfredo dinner for Handsome and me, and to hear
about his rehearsal, but then I went right back to finish the project in the studio.)

I hope my girlfriends like their gifts. I'll be finding out this morning, and
I might even take a little nap (and put my feet up) when I get back home!

Happy Saturday, everyone!
Make it a great one.
DonnaAcornSignature

6 comments:

  1. All the gifts look beautiful Donna, the coffee break tape looks lovely on them, Wendy x

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  2. The needle books and pin cushion are lovely Donna,your friends will love them.Glad you took time out to feed Handsome haha .
    Laura xx

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  3. I am the proud owner of one of your needle books! I use it all the time! I always think of you when I pick it up and the little acorn charm always makes me smile:) Your pin cushion is really neat! Have a nice weekend, Donna!

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  4. Donna glad you listened to your body and took a rest. Your handmade gifts are wonderful. Every detail is just right. You are the most productive elf in the workshop my dear...

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  5. I am sure that your friends will love these gifts. I love the tape that yo have used.
    Many thanks for visiting the other day and for your kind words regarding my hip problem. it is now on the back burner until after Christmas. A colleague at work is having a hip operation in the New Year and will be off work for about 6 weeks, so we are wishing him all the best too.
    Have a fabulous Christmas!
    xx

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  6. Donna

    This was my favorite gift of all time.. I know they will love them and use them often... little treasures..

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment today. I'm using new settings on my comments so that I'll be able to respond to your messages to me. Be sure to come back to see my replies!

Blessings, Donna