A Lovely Day For Shopping...

Brynwood Needleworks - Shopping Goodies

 

I decided to take a little road trip on Saturday, down to the Englewood, Florida area (more specifically, Rotunda West). I've been watching Julie and her mom through the process of opening their Florida shop, as they closed down their Maine operations, and migrated south. So, I wasn't going to miss stopping in while in the south.

 

I had a few things on my "list" going in, and then found a few more must haves while there. I chose beautiful wools for my stacks at home, and a fabulous applique' work station - covered with a wool pressing mat. I'm looking forward to using it at home.

I purchased a few threads for immediate projects, and a beautiful handmade hook to take home. I added a hoop snugger to make turning wing nuts on my hoops and stands a little easier.

The precut wools on the work station are for a special project, which I'll share once I start working on it. These precuts (and more) are also available in the shop - purchased by weight.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Bonnie Sullivan's "Chrismutts" Wool Applique' Pattern

 

The last thing I purchased was this new Bonnie Sullivan pattern, called "Chrismutts" Bowl Fillers! One of them is a collie, but it looks like a corgi to me. At least, it will when I'm finished with it. I'm also going to make one look like Bella, too. I'll work on this one after I get back to the farm.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Donna and Susan Greening Davis

While shopping, I happened to look across the shop to see a familiar face. My counted thread designer/friend from decades ago, Susan Greening Davis, was shopping, too! I first met Susan when we were both attending and vending at needlework trade shows. Susan is "still stitching", and is a world-renowned instructor. I'm honored and blessed to call her "friend".

She's got a full teaching schedule - heading soon to Paris, France - but she has a home in sw Florida, and we just happened to get to Searsport the same day. Being the good blogger I am, I managed to get a photo of the two of us together, to share with you, before we parted ways. 

She mentioned that she'll be hosting a retreat on Mackinaw Island (Michigan's upper peninsula) next fall. I may have to sign up for that one! We'll see.

So I headed back to our home-away-from-home in the afternoon with a nice assortment of new goodies to take back to Wisconsin, and a smile in my heart, having seen an old friend. What a lovely day, indeed.

Finished Snow Days Blocks...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Last Two Finished "Snow Days' Blocks

I completed my last two Snow Days Bowl Filler blocks on Monday, and wanted to share them with you before I move on to my next project. Do you like the snowflake I purposely placed on the snowman's carrot nose? I also added the shoe lace and top fringe on the skate.

I really enjoyed working on these, adding special embroidered touches to each of them. As I've said, I'll fuse a woven fusible fabric backing to these (after they're ironed flat), and then I'm planning to create little cushions using either dark green or red plaid wool as the back side. I'll do that when I'm back in my studio, and will share them with you one last time after they're done.

Brynwood Needleworks - Kathy Schmitz Embroideries

 

So, I'm working on my Kathy Schmitz embroideries again. I have a little game I play. I use a Leonis Air Erasable Pen to draw out the designs. I then work to get the entire design done before the ink disappears. lol I'm okay as long as I get it done in one sitting. Otherwise, I have to wrap up the hooped fabric to keep the design visible. 

 

I'm doing these in brown Sulky #12 thread. I've also chosen the Kathy Schmitz fabrics for making a finished quilt once all the designs are stitched. There are about 32 of them, so it's going to take a while. I'm not planning to stitch them all at once, though. I'm also going to work on my Royal School of Needlework butterfly while I'm here in Florida. I'll keep you posted.

 

Stitching Snowflakes...

Snow Days Bowl Filler - Stitched Snowflake by DLiljegren

I'm finally feeling myself again, and spent the day doing needlework on my Snow Days Bowl Fillers project. I decided to add a little more detail to the preprinted designs. The printed snowflakes looked like crocheting to me, so I embroidered them to mimic work done with a crochet hook.

Snow Days Bowl Filler - Stitched Snowflake II by DLiljegren

The snowman "basket" had four snowflakes on the ground fabric, so like real snowflakes, I stitched each one in a different design. You can see the snowman basket block below showing all the snowflakes I worked on. I think it's my favorite block (so far).

Brynwood Needleworks Rendition of Four or Six Snow Days Bowl Fillers

I was in a Jo-Ann Fabrics store on Thursday, and found just what I was looking for...the tiny pom pom trim that I'll use when I assemble to finished blocks.

My plan is to back each stitched panel with a woven fusible stabilizer once I get back to the farm, and then make them into little cushions to place in a bowl for the rest of the winter. I'll use the tiny trim along the outside seams when I assemble the cushions.

Brynwood Needleworks - Closeup of My Snow Days Bowl Filler (1)

These are closeups of two of the completed blocks. I stitched the wools to the ground fabric, and then did the needlework.

Brynwood Needleworks - Closeup of My Snow Days Bowl Filler (2)

 

I went back and added a little more needlework detail to some of the wool parts, too. I like how it added more dimension and interest to the wool. Two more and they'll all be finished. Aren't they sweet?

A Little Needle Dancing...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Version - Snow Days Bowl Fillers

 I'm still feeling under the weather, so I decided to pull out some of my needlework projects. Even when I don't feel well, I don't like to do nothing. I completed the stitching on two of my Snow Days Bowl Fillers.

Brynwood Needleworks - My Version - Snow Days Bowl Fillers

I like how the wooly bits make up the design, and then I can stitch as little or all that I care to. I've done more than simply stitch the wools to the printed ground fabrics. I'm also stitching the major design features of each little block.

Brynwood Needleworks - My Versions - Snow Days Bowl Fillers

I completed these two yesterday, and will work on the other four in the next day or so. When they're completed, I'll pack them away to finish at home. I have other projects with me, too, so I'll start on one of those after these are done. I hope I'll feel better by then, too.