Another Wooly Acorn...

I completed my commission yesterday, and it's on it's way to a new home today. This one is only making a short trip to Minnesota, so it will be there before the weekend.

I'm making a second right away that I'll list in my Etsy shop, in case anyone else wants one. They're both filled with crushed walnut shells, which gives them nice weight. They won't scooch around on your work table.

I still have pears that need to be harvested, so I'll either be canning pears for the pantry and our dear neighbors, or I'll work on my cardinals. If I get busy early enough, I may be able to do both! Coffee and breakfast, and then we'll see what that lovely tree has to offer.

Image Courtesy of Plymouth Yarns

A Finish And A Start...

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Acorn Pincushion Embroidery

 

I completed the embroidery for one of my BW Acorn Pincushions over the weekend. I'll assemble and package it this morning, and it will fly away to a new home in today's post.

 

I'm going to be writing up the pattern for this pincushion very soon. You'll be able to stitch your own Acorn Pincushion in the near future! Of course, I'll still be happy to stitch one for you, if you'd like.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Wedding Embroidery Colors

My dear friend, Wendi's daughter is getting married on the 9th. I'd better get busy, busy! I want to embroider a floral piece with their names and wedding date as a gift for them.

 

Later this morning I'll be going back to Appleton, WI. I ran out of time to choose glasses frames on Saturday, so I'll do that, but I also want to pop into the Oshkosh Hobby Lobby to choose a few frames. I'm contemplating a shadowbox frame for the wedding piece, but I'm going to weigh all my options, and then embroider this piece to fit it. I also still need a frame for my red and white rose piece, so I'll look for that, too.

 

It's going to be an action-packed week. I'm glad Tag will spell me tomorrow. I'll be back, as usual, on Wednesday.

 

Flying Away...

Brynwood Needleworks - BW Woolen Acorn Pincushion

Another one of my exclusive BW Woolen Acorn Pincushions is heading on its way to a new home. I changed up my embroidery a bit, making it a little more intricate. I like how it turned out!

 

I'm not sure what's next on my agenda. I had a bit of a rough day yesterday, and it derailed me. I'll be back on track soon. I need to keep my hands and mind busy. Don't fret. I'll think of something fun. (I always do.)

 

Ready For Assembly...

Brynwood Needleworks - Ltd. Ed. BW Woolen Acorn Pincushion - Detail

 

I did a little needle dancing yesterday, enjoying a restful afternoon and evening. I'm going to be spending less time at the computer, and more time in the studio doing what I love.

Brynwood Needleworks - Ltd. Ed. BW Woolen Acorn Pincushion

I'll be starting my day today with a routine trip to the vet for Tag's vaccinations, and a little check-up for Bella, but when I get back home, I'll assemble this embroidery into one of my limited edition woolen acorn pincushions for a client. It will be on its way to the new owner tomorrow.

I have a few things on my agenda to complete in the coming weeks, so I think I'll make a checklist. It's always so exciting to be able to tick off finished projects and see my progress. I'll do that first when I get back home.

Have a great week everybody. Spend some time doing what you love, and join me as I tune out all the tumult of the outside world. I've decided to cocoon myself here at the farmhouse...my happy place and create beautiful things.

This Is What's Next...

Acorn Pincushion Kit

I'm going to attempt this stumpwork kit before I head to Kentucky next month. I want to have a little working knowledge so I'm not completely (only partially) clueless for my week long class. Loving pincushions as I do, it seems appropriate that I should have (another) one with an acorn motif.

Acorn Pincushion Supplies

 

I'll also be working on setting up the borders for my Wooly Critters quilt. I need to choose the wool colors, and trace all the motifs for the final border. I'll set it all up first, and then stitch when I have time. 

 

I may as well keep working on applique', as I've toughened up my finger tips again. Believe me, it's a painful process! Now that they're calloused, it'll be easier to keep stitching. I'll pull wool colors today, and plan to stitch on the acorns in the evening.

Home...

Front Porch Bench

You may remember the sweet, hickory bench that Craig (Shelly's brother) gave us this summer. (I wrote about it HERE.) He made it just for us (for the farmhouse). I haven't stained or sealed it (yet). I'm still contemplating whether or not to leave it au natural.

I switched out the "Welcome" sign and moved it to the front entry, and then placed a few of my favorite things on it. The basil was a gift from our neighbor, Mary Jane, which I replanted into my rustic pot; Mom's ceramic squirrel and acorn; an enamel pan filled with tea towels ( the one in front  was embroidered by my blog friend, Shirley Kulak); and the iron and glass insulator were from Shelly. The floral arrangement hung on our "friends and family" door until I put up the one for fall.

Porch Alcove Wall

The bench, along with one of my grandfather's crocks and a rustic truck (from Andy), which I filled with hen and chicks (succulents) are well-suited to this spot. You may notice something else in this photograph, too, though. 

Family Plaque

Our Florida realtor, Mary Westbrook (with Coldwell Banker) became a good friend in the process of selling our southern home. Right after I arrived in Wisconsin in April, a package arrived for the farmhouse.

She purchased a Welcome plaque with our family name and wedding date on it. She wanted us to have something to put our name on the farmhouse, and what she chose was just perfect. We "installed" it on the alcove wall of the porch so it can be seen from our front yard.

We knew that Hickory Hill Farm would be our last home, and our grandchildren love this place as much as we do. This home will remain for them and their grandchildren long after we're gone, but until then, we'll be able to enjoy it together for a long, long time.

Add caption

 

I stitched a Brynwood Acorn Woolen Pincushion that was ordered through my website. I love making these, and they're limited edition (because the vintage charms I've had for about thirty years are no longer available). I also get to "needle dance" these flourishes as the spirit moves me, which makes each pincushion special. No two are exactly alike because I embellish each them with unique stitchery.  

This one is already in the post to its new home, but I'd love to make more of them. Perhaps one just for you?

I'm going to the farmer's market with Shelly today. I see canning tomatoes in my immediate future. I'm planning salsa and sauce, and perhaps some stewed tomatoes, as well. Don't worry, though. There's always time for more stitching.

 

My Latest Find...

Brynwood Needleworks - Acorn Egg Cup

 

When visiting my online friend, Susan Pilotto's, FaceBook page recently, I saw something that caught my eye in the background of one of her photographs. (I'd share, but didn't ask for permission prior to writing this post.)

She has a beautiful new piece that she's working on, and in the background was a pincushion that started its life as an egg cup. Hers is a beautiful blue and white china cup (which I'll find someday, too), but as I searched for one online, I came across this one!

What would make a more perfect egg cup pincushion for me than one with acorns, oak leaves and bittersweet all around it? I didn't think twice. I immediately purchased it, and it arrived in yesterday's post. 

 

I'm going to find the perfect shade of hand dyed wool to make my own pincushion insert for it. It may take a while, and I may wait until after I get back to the farm to work on it, but it's going to be a fun project.  I'm just tickled to have it for my new studio!

A Productive Weekend...

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Clutch and Acorn Pincushion

I finished these two projects over the weekend, and shipped them out on Monday.

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Clutch and Acorn Pincushion

You've seen my pincushion design before. I've used hand-dyed wool in this one, and it really brings the leaves to life. I like the houndstooth check for the acorn top, too.

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Clutch - Blue/Silver Fleck Cork

I really love this blue cork. It has a wonderful silver fleck that simply sparkles.

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Clutch - Blue/Silver Fleck Cork - Coral Lining

  I chose a coral print fabric, and the blue/green color lining is a near perfect match. I'll definitely be making more of these.  

Wool, Needle and Threads...

Brynwood Needleworks - Acorn Pincushion

Thanks to my customers, I had fun stitching this weekend. I began by packaging fabric orders first. Once those were taken care of, an order came in for one of my Acorn Pincushions. I pulled wools, threads and got busy.

Brynwood Needleworks - Acorn Pincushion

By lunch time Sunday, the pincushion was finished and packaged, too. Today, I'll take everything to the post office and get them all on the way to their new homes.

I'll have a couple of busy days now. I'll be picking up the Electronic Poll Books (EPBs) from the Supervisor of Elections' office, meeting my pollworkers at my precinct to get everything set up, and then pick up a few groceries for my meal contribution for our workers potluck for tomorrow's election.

I'm glad I got a chance to get in a little stitching. It will be a few days before I'll have time to do that again. Destiny is still in Ft. Myers, and I hope she'll be ready to come back home by Wednesday. So much going on. I'd better be sure to take my vitamins!
 

Blissfully Busy...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Wanderer Traveler's Clutch - Black

I completed the clutch for a commission I recently received. Once I make the wristlet and key fob (this morning), it will be on its way to a new owner. (This client didn't want the shoulder strap.)

It also has the compass embroidered (tone-on-tone) on the exterior of the flap - in black, this time. In addition, I added the initials my client requested to the inside flap.

Brynwood Needleworks - The Wanderer Traveler's Clutch - Black - Interior

 

The interior is a different map fabric from my collection. I don't have a lot of it...perhaps enough to make one more wallet interior, but that's it.

I can also see I'm going to have to learn to take better photographs of the black cork. (I'll have to ask Handsome, who used to make a living photographing black Mercury Marine outboard motors, to share his expertise.)

I also completed another Acorn Woolen Pincushion, which was delivered to its new home last night. Today, I'll be completing two more orders for Woolen Strawberry Pincushion/Sachets, with two more wallets waiting in the wings. Yes. I'm blissfully busy.

 

Number Forty Five...

Brynwood Needleworks - 45 - "Seamstress" Wallet

I finished the first of three client commissions yesterday. This client supplied the fabrics and specified which fabrics she wanted used for the exterior, interior and for the frame on the wallet flap. Didn't she choose some fun fabric?

Brynwood Needleworks - 45 - "Seamstress" Wallet Interior Detail

I also like the interior fabric...sewing machines! More fun. I think someone is going to be happy with this gift from my client.

Brynwood Needleworks - 46 - "Day of the Dead Dogs" Prep

I've cut and prepared all the fabrics the same client sent for another gift wallet. This is a funky "Day of the Dead Dogs" fabric. (I checked and Timeless Treasures created a cat fabric like this, too!) She asked that I showcase the Chihuahua, but there are other breeds that will be on the body of the wallet.

I'll assemble this one today and they'll both be treated with Scotchgard™ and shipped on their way tomorrow. I show the finished version in my next post.

Brynwood Needleworks - BW Acorn Pincushion Commission

 

On Tuesday night, I stitched out another Acorn pincushion that was ordered after I posted photos of my prototype. All I have left is to stitch the opening (for the filling) closed and add the tiny acorn charm. I'll do that first today, and this one will be ready to go to its new home, too.

Can you believe it's already June? In sw Florida, that also means the start of the hurricane season (which runs through the first of December). To coin a phrase often spoken in Wisconsin farm country, "I guess I'll just make hay while the sun shines!"