One For Me...

Brynwood Needleworks - Ivory Hydrangeas

After all the Strawberry Sachets I've made, can you believe I've never kept one for myself? Nope. They've all gone to new homes (except for the ones still available in my shop). I decided to rectify that yesterday.

 

It seemed appropriate that I'd begin this one on World Embroidery Day. I think this one will be done in ivory florals. 

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Ivory Hydrangeas

 

I'll continue with this idea today, after I have a long-overdue visit with my girlfriend, Kathy D. I couldn't get to Primitive Gatherings for our Sit & Stitch this month. (Covid test pre-op required quarantine until the day of surgery - and our S & S was the day I had to take the test.) That means I didn't get my bi-monthly Wool Box either.

Kathy was kind enough to pick mine up for me, so she's bringing it over, and we're going to spend some time together to catch up. The weather should be nice, so I'm planning we'll sit on the porch and share a cuppa tea or coffee.

Did you stitch yesterday? If so, what are you working on these days? I'd love to know! I'm still trying to find someone to help me put "reply" capabilities on my blog comments. Lacking that, please come back to read replies if you leave a comment. Now that I'm on the mend, I'm trying to catch up and be better at responding. Thanks for your patience. I'll see you again tomorrow. 

Stumpwork Hydrangeas...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet "Hydrangeas"

 

I really love how this one turned out! I enjoyed creating all the stumpwork hydrangea blossom heads, and will likely do another in all white, like the kind you'd find around our farmhouse. 

Most of the hydrangeas we had here were removed as a consequence of the new porch, but there are still a few plants growing on the north side of the house, that survived untouched. I'm hoping they'll eventually migrate around to the front again. I may help them, by purchasing a few plants this fall.

In the meantime, I'll stitch these lovelies. I've said all along that these Strawberry Sachets were limited editions, as I only have a very limited quantity of the fabric I've been using for them left in my inventory. I'm going to have to find a new fabric, or turn to linen, if I'm going to keep making them. Once this fabric is gone, it's gone. I've searched the worldwide web to no avail. 

If you're interested in any of the available sachets, you can click HERE to go to my Brynwood online shop. The Strawberry Sachets can be found under "Exclusively Brynwood".

Working On A New One...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hydrangeas In Progress

I'm working on another Strawberry Sachet. This one will be "Hydrangeas". I'm having so much fun creating the stumpwork blossom heads.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lots Of Hydrangeas

 

Now that I've stitched all the blossoms, I'll be turning them into a beautiful hydrangea bush with silk ribbon leaves. I'll show you my finished Strawberry Sachet tomorrow.

Tuesdays With Tag - Still On Duty...

Brynwood Needleworks - Poor Overworked Pup

 

Hi, Everybody!

 

I know you're back, hopin' for an update on somethin' interestin' I've been doin' this week. You're expectin' that I've gone fishin', or chased a cool critter, rolled in somethin' gross, or even met someone new. Unfortunately, none of those things happened. I'm still on guard duty.

Mom is still recuperatin' from her surgery. While it was a relatively routine, elective procedure, there was a complication which is makin' her recovery take a bit longer than we thought it was gonna be. You don't have to worry, Mom's gonna be fine, but I'm ever at her side, makin' sure she doesn't need anythin'. It might sound borin' to you, but I think I've found my callin'.

I mean, here I am hangin' out on the bed, or at Mom's feet when she's downstairs. If someone comes up the driveway, I'm right here to bark my ever-lovin' brains out. Especially, if she's sleepin'. No one's sneakin' up on us! If there's food bein' had, I'm right here to make sure nothin' hits the floor. There's no 5-second rule when you've got a Corgi! 

 

If the black puppy is loose, I'm here, runnin' interference, to make sure she doesn't jump up on Mom - or me. Carly weighs almost twenty pounds now, so I need to help teach her some manners. Of course, her Mama Bella is the main disciplinarian, but I make a good backup. 

So, I'm sorry we can't share pictures of Mom and Dad's three favorite dogs this week. We're gonna work on that. For now, you can admire my glorious Corgi back end floof. Next week should be more interestin'. Mom and I are gonna work on that for you. I promise.

 

 I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...

"Just Do It...but not on the rug."

"Bleeding Hearts & Bumblebee"...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet "Bleeding Hearts & Bumblebee"

 

Well, finally! I was able to sit and embroider for a while yesterday. It's uncomfortable to sit, so I stitch in bed. I completed a new Strawberry Sachet, "Bleeding Hearts & Bumblebee" in silk ribbon.

I'm planning to do a new flower today, so you'll have to come back on Wednesday to see which one I've chosen to make. Tag will be here tomorrow. Who knows what's on his mind these days! I'm as curious as you are. We'll have to see together. 

 

I'm off to get a cuppa tea. I'm a bit off coffee right now. I'm looking forward to getting back to normal...soon! See you Wednesday.

Sunday Scripture...

Brynwood Needleworks via Facebook - Philippians 3: 13-14

One More Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Healing

 

Friday, I decided to lay low one more day. While I'm on limited activity (and no lifting for four weeks), I'll be back to a more normal life as of today. I stayed in bed yesterday to get out from under the meds, and simply rested. 

 

I read my Sydney Rye book #13, Blind Vigilance, and will look forward to her next installment (not due until 2021! eeek!). I slept, and Handsome took care of me. Tag stayed close by all day, too.  It was a perfectly restful day, spent healing.

I plan to actually get dressed today, and will be upright and stitching, I just have to remember that I can't do some of the things I might usually do. I'll be careful. I hope the rest of you have a good, restful weekend, too!

The Guardians of (My) Galaxy...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Favorite Caretaker, And His Sidekick

Sorry this is up late (for me). Surgery was a bit more complicated than originally contemplated. I got home a bit later, took my medicines, and went to bed. Except for a cup of soup for dinner and more meds, I slept the entire day and night.

Actually, I'm only up long enough to let you know I made it safely home, and I'm alive. lol I'm having a light breakfast, and then back to bed for now.

Brynwood Needleworks - He Won't Leave My Side

 

I've got a new Emily Kimmelman "Sydney Rye Mystery - Book 13" to read, so that's my plan for when I'm awake. I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully much brighter-eyed and bushy-tailed.

 

Buns In The Oven...

Brynwood Needleworks - Baking At The Farmhouse

 

Actually, they're rolls. I just couldn't resist the funny title for my post. hee hee I started the day with coffee and baking. I made two loaves of bread for the freezer, and then a HUGE pan of homemade monster cinnamon rolls. The recipe came from my bread making classes at the technical college last year. This was my first attempt to make my own, and all we could say was "YUM"!

I actually mixed up a batch of the cinnamon toast topping that Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) uses on her "Cinnamon Toast, The Right Way" recipe (for recipe click HERE) as the filling. I added Hickory Hill Farm hickory nuts to half the batch, and it was even better.

Brynwood Needleworks - BIG Cinnamon Rolls

 

Handsome and I have been watching episodes of Food Paradise on the Travel Channel lately. We've seen some fabulous places across the country that we'd love to visit (to try their cuisine, too). One of the restaurants they featured made the biggest cinnamon rolls I've ever seen. So, I decided to make my version extra big, too.

 

The restaurant even puts out containers of "just frosting", because they believe a person should be able to top their cinnamon roll with as much frosting as they want. I made extra, too! Half this pan headed up the hill to Andy and Shelly, and of course, I added a container of "auxilliary" frosting to the delivery. I hope they're a hit. 

Handsome and I split one to make sure the quality and taste was up to snuff. There were lots of yummy noises...and someone's beard was delightfully full of frosting. (I'll give you a hint...It wasn't me! He had to scrub up after he was finished!) We really laughed like little kids enjoying a forbidden treat.

My baking took up the morning and into mid-afternoon. We sat a bit, and then went outside to mow the lawn. I'm having a surgical procedure today (no worries. I'm fine), so I wanted to help before I'm sitting around for a while. Did you know I love mowing the grass? I use our small riding mower, and Handsome uses the big mower, so we finish in no time at all.

I have to be at the hospital by 6 am, as I'm the first surgery. I'm probably already out of the operatory by the time you'll read this. They expect I'll be home early afternoon...as soon as I'm out from under the general anesthetic (and not drooling on myself anymore). 

My plan is to take it easy through the weekend, and just stick to working on my new Strawberry Sachets. Maybe I'll even get waited on a little bit! Handsome always takes great care of me. I'll be back tomorrow with an update. I probably won't be cleared to handle needles today, so I'll likely spend more time sleeping and recuperating - and get back to stitching tomorrow. See ya later!

 

I've Been Waiting...

Brynwood Needleworks - Silk Ribbons

 

Most of my ribbons arrived from The Thread Gatherer yesterday. I'm loving every one of the colors! There are a few more that are backordered right now, but I have what I've been waiting for to start my next Strawberry Sachet.

I'm baking today - bread and monster cinnamon rolls! - but I'll get some stitching time in, too. I can't wait to show you my next creation.  Coffee, and then I'm off to the races!

Tuesdays With Tag - I Want To Be Alone...

Brynwood Needleworks - Taggart

Hi, Everybody!

It's that time again...Tuesdays With ME! 

I told you this week was gonna be about me, so I'm gonna set the record straight about a few things. First, Nobody told me there was gonna be a puppy comin' home with us from Florida. Mom says she did. I'm pretty sure she didn't explain fully - if at all - that there was gonna be eight legs comin' home with us and not just Boo's four.

Brynwood Needleworks - Bein' Stalked By The Kid

She also didn't tell me that The Kid was gonna be stalkin' me at every turn. I'm serious. A guy can hardly do his business in private anymore. I have to run waaayyyy up the hill - FAST - to get away from her, just to make sure I don't have an audience!

Brynwood Needleworks - Me And My Shadow

 

Then, there's the constant shadowin' so that I can't even try to sneak off to roll in somethin' nasty. They keep eagle eyes on The Kid, and if she's next to me all the time, well, that means I get swept up in their surveillance. 

 

We did have some fun on the weekend, though. Mom and Dad took the three of us to a little shoreline area on Lake Winnebago to introduce Her Mini Self to the water and swimmin'. There was goose poop on the shore which I thought was awesome, but Dad wasn't so thrilled. The water in the lake was green, which was Strike Two in his book. He let us go in anyway, but we're definitely lookin' for a clean, private pond for her next lesson. Next to a public boat launch is not Dad's idea of a great trainin' spot, for sure.

 

The good part was that the three of us got enough exercise that all of us slept on the way home. It sure was a good day to be a swimmin' dog.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Gettin' Some "Alone Time"

 

So, most of the time these days, you'll find me mindin' my own p's and q's right here. I can see the neighborhood, protect against unwanted visitors, make a quick getaway if the door gets opened, and even bark off an occasional cat. The best part is that Boo and The Kid almost never bother me here, unless they're on their way out to go potty. Otherwise, I can dream my days away, and they'll stay up in the livin' space moochin' from Mom and Dad. Works for me!

 

I'm hopin' that we can locate a good swimmin' hole in the next week. I'm lookin' forward to doin' a lot more water fetchin' real soon!

 

 I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...

"Just Do It...but not on the rug."

This Week In The Studio...

Brynwood Needleworks - Custom Fabric - St. Bernard Dogs

First thing on my work agenda this week is to create a number of custom Covid masks for a friend who, along with her daughter, is a talented dog handler. They need masks for showing their dogs, so she sent some custom fabrics they ordered from Spoonflower to me.

My friend has shown "Saints" since she was a young girl, following in her mother's footsteps, and now a third generation is showing them (quite successfully).

Brynwood Needleworks - Custom Fabric - Dachshunds

 

They're also showing other breeds, so they sent this fabric to me as well. I'll add my own dog-themed fabric for linings. I'll get these done this week so I can send them back in time for their next shows.

I'm also going to be working on some new Strawberry Sachets, with new favorite flowers, so I can't wait to share those with you, too. It's going to be a delightfully busy week in the studio. I hope you'll follow along to see what I create.

Sunday Scripture...

Brynwood Needleworks - Psalm 19:1 via quotesgram.com

 

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye (For Now)...

Brynwood Needleworks via AGCM, Inc.

  Dad's funeral is today. I'll be back tomorrow.   Hug your loved ones today. If you can't hug them, give them a call. xo  

Yesterday's Accomplishment...

Brynwood Needlworks - Freshly Baked Bread

   I baked bread!   The end.   wink

Forget Me Nots...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet "Forget Me Nots"

 

When I was a preteen - umpteen years ago - my dear Aunt Ethel taught me to tend her garden so I could take care of it when she went on vacation. She showed me how to dust her roses, which plants were weeds to be pulled, and how to water her treasured flowers. It was a task I never quite appreciated at the time, but I did remember some of what she taught me all these years later.

One of the flowers that I loved the most in her garden was the sweet and unassuming forget-me-not. I knew I'd need to do a Strawberry Sachet honoring that flower - and my Aunt Ethel. This is the result.

I'm really enjoying the process of making all these sachets focusing on my favorite plants. I'm looking forward to beginning a new one next week. Today, I have errands to run with Handsome, and tomorrow is yard work. Dad will be laid to rest with my grandparents on Saturday. Handsome and I will be driving up to the private, family, graveside service. It seems appropriate that I should complete this particular sachet a few days before we say goodbye to Dad's remains. I know he's no longer there. He's watching over us from a beautiful place. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend, dears. Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.

Daisies & Dragonfly...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet "Dairies & Dragonfly"

 

I completed another Strawberry Sachet yesterday. This one is called "Daisies & Dragonfly", and it's already claimed. 

 

Embroidered with silk ribbon daisies, I also used perle cotton, metallic thread, and cotton floss. It's my first effort on one like this, and it is a one-of-a-kind. 

I'm making one more, with forget-me-nots. Another flower from my younger days. Needle dancing. The very best pursuit on a steamy, hot day. Perhaps it will be finished, so I can share it with you.

Tuesdays With Tag - Mama And Daughter...

Brynwood Needleworks - Taggart, The Storyteller

Hi, Everybody!

Well, it seems that a few of my friends were concerned that I was showin' lots of puppy pictures, but not a lot of mama pictures. Not one to disappoint, this week, I'm showin' both. Just remember, you asked for it!

Brynwood Needleworks - Liljegren's Suncoast Carly - 11 weeks old

Here's a picture of the little terrorist at 11 weeks old. Don't let the cute face fool ya.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Bella and Carly - July Sprints

She's doin' her level best to keep up with us big dogs. She especially loves sprintin' with her mama. When Bella wants her privacy, she just sprints (as only she can), and leaves her daughter in the dust. I love watchin' that! But, I know it won't be long before Mini Bella will be able to keep right up with her.

Brynwood Needleworks - Tryin' To Catch Up

I think Boo wanted to show her daughter how to get a good vantage point from our mound system. It's the best place for a person to do their outdoor business to make sure Mom and Dad don't step in it! It's good to be polite, after all. 

These two could spend all day chasin' and snufflin'. Why, just yesterday, they both found somethin' aromatic to roll around in. Ahhhhh...made me proud, it did! On the other hand, Mom and Dad were more than a bit miffed. Oh, well. It's what we do, right?

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Bella and Carly At The End Of The Day

 

 At the end of the day, these two snufflers like to kick back and watch the commercials when they aren't face wrestlin'. This is the Subaru commercial with the yellow Lab, a Golden retriever, and their puppy. Notice that that little crapper is big enough to get on my sofa now...if she gets a runnin' start. 

 

Between her goin' up the stairs and gettin' on the sofa, I'm runnin' out of safe spaces! I'm gonna have to do some internal real estate huntin' around the house pretty darn quick! A guy has to have a place where he can just sit and think, right?

Well, there you have it. I've shared a puppy update, and I've included her mother. Next week, it's gonna be all. about. ME!

 

 I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...

"Just Do It...but not on the rug."

A New Strawberry...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet  "Lavender & Ladybug"

 

The weather was wonderful this weekend - and I'm still reading my book(s) - but I managed to steal some time to make one of the two Strawberry Sachets currently on my drawing board.

Introducing my "Lavender & Ladybug" design. I admit, I still need to put the stem on the top of the piece today. This one is already spoken for, but I'll make similar ones as a custom orders. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

 

I have another that I'll be working on this week, when I'm not playing with Tag, Bella and Carly Puppy, or finishing my book(s). Tag will be here tomorrow, and I'll be back again on Wednesday. Off to grab my coffee! I hope you have a great week!