February Artist Trading Cards...

The last of the February artist trading cards from the Handmade Treasures swap arrived yesterday. These are all of them. One is a "coin", which is also an option in this group. I've receive a couple others from other members, and this one is really nice, too.

There was quite a varied interpretation for the "Love" theme for the month. I noticed more dimensional cards, and more cards that incorporated machine or hand stitching. I'm not even able to choose a favorite this time.

The prompt for March is "Shamrock", so now I'm contemplating how I can meet the challenge without being Captain Obvious. lol I'll play around with a few ideas after Handsome gets home. I have a few things I need to concentrate on before then.

I baked my Florida friend, Cathy's Koulourakia cookie recipe, too. I love her recipe which features bergamot essential oil (food grade, of course) in the mixture. Once they're formed, they get an egg wash, are topped with sesame seeds, and then baked until they're done. Handsome really likes them, too, so I wanted to have something special for him when he gets home. I have a little more baking to do over the weekend, but I'll be stitching, too.

Sebastian Squirrel did get an acorn, but not a real one. I found a sweet acorn button I've had for years. I'll share a photograph along with the rest of my Monday post so you can see how cute he looks now. I may make a new spoolie this weekend, but the critter will be a surprise (to both of us!). I'll choose which animal once I get to the "pulling materials" phase. I'm going to make a cuppa first, and then tackle a few cleaning tasks. As much as I'd love to, I can't ignore the homekeeping duties that are summoning me. Hi, ho....hi, ho... (Sing it with me, now!)

Look! A Squirrel!...

I completed my little squirrel spool animal yesterday. I'm calling him "Sebastian". He's sporting a green coat and a big, bushy tail. I dipped into my needle felting wools to add his tail. I actually needle felted it to his backside. I think I may add some green ribbon to the spool, and I'd like him to be holding an acorn. This is the smallest acorn I have "in inventory". I'm just trying to decide whether or not it's too big for him. 

I'll play around with it later today and decide. Otherwise, (now, don't be shocked) I have an extensive assortment of acorn charms and buttons. I'm sure I'll find something I can use.

Hard to believe it's Friday again already. Handsome will be home next week, so I'm completing the last of my tasks before he walks in the door. I'll be so happy to have him here with us again. This trip seemed to last forever. 

I'll be doing a little baking today, and then a few hours of work later, so I guess I'd better get started. Time to take care of all my girls and then I can get on with my day. Happy Weekend!!

Mini Grannies...

If you're in my Brynwood Needleworks Facebook group, you've seen the post I put up recently with a granny square piece constructed from 2,000 small grannies. Each one was created using sewing thread and a 0.5 size hook. It took the woman two years to construct, and it's pretty impressive.

It reminded me of the few mini squares I started years ago using #12 pearl cotton and a size 1 hook. I seem to remember starting them to use for artist trading cards, or some other small project. These are all I've made (so far), but now it's got me thinking about using them to create a table mat or runner. Not a blanket, for sure! I do have more colors set aside in a plastic divided container, and most of the colors are represented in the squares you see here. 

I have a number of other projects that are in line ahead of this, but it would be easy to make a few each night while sitting with Handsome. I really just wanted to show these to my crocheting friends for a little inspiration. 

I took it pretty easy yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't respond to the past few posts until last night. Missing Tag hit me all at once, and it just hurt too much to stop to thank all of you for your kind words. Even so, I was in tears as I typed each reply. If you've ever lost a dear pet, I know you understand. It's a hurt that never really leaves. You just learn to live with it. One year out was still to overwhelming for me. Thank you for being there for me, and for all your kind thoughts. I really appreciated reading your memories of him, too.

I think I may start that squirrel today! The spoolies are fun, little projects, but when I'm working on them, I'm totally immersed. It will be fun to see what I can come up with. I'll share more tomorrow. 

It was snowing and blowing all day yesterday. I'm hoping for a quieter day today. Even the little girls (the cats) didn't want to go out in it. Bella and Carly didn't mind so much, but they didn't hang around outside any longer than they had to either.

I'm off to take care of all the girls, and then have a little breakfast myself before I get going with my day. I'll be back tomorrow!

Otis The Spool Opossum...

Otis the Opossum is finished! I added tiny bead buttons to his jacket, and he's holding a Brynwood acorn charm in his paw. (Remember you can click on the image to enlarge it.) I think he's a rather dapper boy!

I completed him Monday night after spending the day baking bread and doing laundry. I'm starting to prepare for Handsome's return, and I want the whole place to be tip-top when he arrives. I still have a week, but I'm nearly ready.

I have immediate ideas for two more I'll be making soon. One will be a squirrel, and the other a Corgi. I also want to make a strawberry sachet for Tag, like the one I did for Bella last year. It will have a paw print. I just have to decide which colors I want to use and which flowers I'll stitch. Any ideas?  

I've decided I'll get back to the bluebirds after Handsome is back home. Once I start stitching, it's hard to stop to let dogs (or cats) in or out. If I wait, Handsome can take on that task while I stitch away. Ulterior motive, right?

Come back tomorrow. I have no idea yet what I want to share with you, so we can both be surprised. lol See you then!

It's Been A Year...

Brynwood's Taggart • 04/03/2011 - 03/04/2024

Can you believe it's been a year already? AND the anniversary of saying goodbye to my boy is on a Tuesday, no less? I'd planned to pull all manner of photos of him to share today, but truthfully, it's too hard to look at them through the tears that still fall so readily. In my heart, it still feels like yesterday.

I miss his antics (good and bad) every day. I miss that he always found a way to make us laugh. I miss white fur on the furniture amidst the black Labrador hairs. I miss snuggling into his neck fur and having him curl up next to me for an afternoon nap. I miss rubbing those beautiful, big ears and his handsome face. I miss the smell of his Frito feet. I miss everything about him.

The one thing that makes his absence bearable is my deep faith that Heaven will include all the dogs (all pets) we've loved before, and that all of them will greet me at The Bridge when it's my time. I know that Tag will be at the front of the pack, leading the rest of the dogs I've loved and still miss. What a wonderful day that will be.

I hope you're having fun with the rest of the pack, Bubby. Mom misses you, but I know you already know that. I know you're close and watching over us. I know time is different there, so just know that while it's going to be a while for me, for you it will seem like the blink of your beautiful eyes.

Mom loves you.

Travel Stitching Case #1...

 

I finished transforming the first of two travel stitching cases over the weekend. I decided to start with the olive colored one first, and I think you'll see why when I open it. I contemplated placing something on the outside - and I still might - but I haven't so far because I like that I could more easily stack and store without the lid trim. We'll see about that later.

 

 

 

I'm sure you'll see my theme immediately. I added crocheted lace to the pocket, along with a needle and pinkeep on the left side of the pocket. I can conveniently hang my embroidery scissors on the hooks on the lid. The pocket is a good place to store extra needles, too.

 

Once I show you the interior, you'll see that I lined it with a canvas-weight olive leaf design. It completely matches the color of the box! I removed the ring storage from the middle compartment and it's the perfect size for a few basic colors of thread. As I plan to use this one for making my spoolie animals, I added a small bottle filled with black seed beads. So far I'm using french knots for eyes, but these beads will be perfect to act as buttons on their wee coats.

The acorn and oak leaf section was created using the earring board for this compartment. Once I stitched my acorn woolwork, I mounted it to the cushy board. This will act as a shallow pincushion for needles and pins as I work. (The acorn pinkeep is more decorative, although it would certainly work should I want to use it.) There still space under the wooly acorn, too, so I can use that, should I so desire.

Once I lift out the top compartment, you can see there's still viable storage underneath. I tucked my own design needle case, another spool of thread, my signature acorn charms, and the spoolie pattern pieces. I also have a cuticle stick that's perfect for using as a stuffing tool, as well as a pair of my needlework tweezers.

So. What do you think? Like it? I'm thinking my second box may be a woodland theme. I'm still contemplating fabric and embellishments, so perhaps I'll make some decisions by the weekend. 

I'm baking bread and doing laundry today. I'll be alternating folding dough and clothes! I'll stitch when I sit down later. I have hours before I can rest, though.  Let me know what you think of this first travel stitching case down in the comments. Thanks!

Sunday Scripture...

1 Peter 1:8-9

 

They Arrived Early!...

When I saw they were both on sale (plus I had an Amazon credit to burn), I ordered them last week. They were supposed to be here today, but arrived while I was at work yesterday. So, guess what I'll be doing today? 

I also have my Clara Stitching class at 1 pm, so I'm going to spend the entire day in my studio - except for letting the dogs out and back in. hee hee

I'm going to pull fabrics and play with one of these right away. Both are green, but one is forest and the other is olive. So many possibilities! I'll definitely be sharing this on Monday! Happy Weekend to me!