Williamsburg 250...

How would you like to participate in The Great American Birthday Quilt as Colonial Williamsburg celebrates our 250th Anniversary?

Everyone is invited to submit an entry to be a part of our country's big birthday quilt. The rules and all information are located on Williamsburg's website HERE. Some of the basic information is that all entries are due by November 30, 2025. There are size parameters for entries and guidelines, and the site also includes information on where to mail entries.

There's a great video that explains how you can create your entry, too - even if you don't sew. It's on the same page as the link I shared above. It's better than anything I could tell you, so pop over to learn more.

I'm planning to enter, so I'll share more about what I'm thinking of doing once I get past my bird project. So, go over and check it out. Let me know if you think you're going to join in, too!

Look What I Found...

Brynwood Needleworks - Completed Needlework Pieces

I've been slowly sorting and cleaning in my studios. I've pulled fabrics to share and donate, and I've also emptied containers that were in the rooms they related to, but hadn't been emptied. Today, I "found" a few pieces that I need to finish now.

By finish, I mean frame, turn into cushions, or complete in some other form. These are pieces I've had for years - and in some cases, decades!

Brynwood Needleworks - Told In A Garden 1993 "Christmas Angel"

This beautiful "Christmas Angel" is a 1993 freebie from Told in a Garden by Marilyn Leavitt-Inblum. Don't you love her designs? The design is about 4.5" square, so I may make this into a small bowl filler pillow...or a small square frame.

Brynwood Needleworks - Tristan Brooks Designs "Newbury Small"

I purchased this beautiful crewelwork design from a needlework shop in Williamsburg, VA one of the years Handsome was invited to perform with the Williamsburg Consort. I wrote about this in August 2013, so I'll initial and date this finished piece, before I frame it. The finished piece is 3" square. Perhaps it would be nice on top of a needlework box? The Heathway hand-dyed crewel yarns and Gumnuts wool and silk yarns were a delight to use. I wrote about it HERE when I purchased it.

I met Sharon J. of Corgis In My Garden in 2011, when she and her Arabelle spent the day with Tag and me in Colonial Williamsburg. Another special thing about this piece was that I purchased it where I met Michelle May of The Raspberry Rabbits for the first time. She came from New Bern (where she lived at the time), to meet and spend some time with me.

Brynwood Needleworks - Cayman Islands "Poinsettia"

This piece really takes me back. I purchased the handpainted canvas in the Cayman Islands (British West Indies) on Handsome's and my honeymoon. I held onto it for years without stitching it, but finally tackled it using DMC pearl cottons. This one will definitely be a small cushion.

Brynwood Needleworks - Told In A Garden "Ice Angel"

The last piece I pulled today is another Told In A Garden design, "Ice Angel". This one is larger, at 14.5" x 16", and will be framed. It uses metallic threads and beads, along with beautiful DMC stranded cottons.

I think this one will hang in the master bedroom when it's finished. Don't you think everyone should sleep with an angel on their shoulder?

Pulling out these pieces was like reuniting with old friends. I have more needlepoint, and I know where those pieces are. I'll be taking those out as soon as I've finished these. I'm going to enjoy these for a while, first.

Another Visit To Williamsburg...

We're back in Williamsburg, Virginia, but this year we're living in our Airstream instead of a hotel room. Handsome was invited to again perform with the Williamsburg Consort, so we'll be here for rehearsals and a free performance for the residents of the city.

It's been raining since we arrived, but we've been safe, warm and cozy in the Flying Cloud. I don't envy the tent campers here at all. Our campground is beautiful, tucked into a few hundred acres of wilderness, but we have all the amenities, too. There is a laundry facility, small shop, an arcade for the bored kids, and our campsites have electricity, water, sewer, cable and wifi. I'm happy as long as I can get to my blog and read yours!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing a special day that Tag and I spent with friends after we arrived. You won't want to miss our story and photos. Tag is a wonderful little traveler and we're so glad that he's a part of our family. Unlike many of the dogs in the campground, he's not a barker (thank Heaven!), and he only gets noisy when he's running up and down inside the Cloud and playing with one of us. As soon as we "hush" him, he stops and settles down. He's making some of the bigger and older dogs look like delinquents.

I'm going to get back to enjoying the area where our great country got its start. Williamsburg is such a lovely area and I don't want to miss visiting the colonial area again. I just can't get enough of the history around here. Have a great day yourself, and I'll be back tomorrow with photos and a new story to share.

PS. Happy belated extended seventh Anniversary to my friend, Carol (Serendipity blog) and her charming husband, Jack. Their special day was Sunday. Wishing you many more loving and happy years together, my friends.

On The Other Hand...

I've been working on new Strawberry Roses while in Williamsburg. It's wonderful to relax and stitch - until this happens...

Monday night, a group of musicians and spouses decided to go to Golden Corral in Williamsburg for dinner, where we were enjoying a really good meal. I got up to get my main course, and when I came back to the table, I sat down and tried to pull my seat in. Apparently, the legs were detaching from the rest of the chair, and without knowing it, they separated. As I pulled the chair in, both of my hands were caught between the seat and the front legs. Boy, was I surprised!

My left hand escaped with a small puncture that only bled for a little while. On the other hand (no pun intended!), I suffered a more severe injury because the chair decided to keep a hunk of skin from my right "attitude" finger. It bled like crazy.

Our waitress immediately got the manager who came over with a bandage and antiseptic cream. I thought he was gonna kiss my boo boo, he was so concerned! He was really very sweet! He helped bandage my finger, comped our dinner and said that if it needed further medical attention, Golden Corral would pick up the tab.After the band finished their final rehearsal on Monday evening, (and I had already changed my bandage three times), Handsome took me over to the Emergency Clinic, where I was treated with space age adhesive to cover the wound. They couldn't stitch or use butterfly bandages because there was too much tissue missing to "bring it together", so they just glued up the opening and I left sporting this lovely new look.
My new bandage wasn't very conducive to stitching early on Tuesday, but I was still able to sit back in the chair and listen to the Consort make beautiful music. Watching one hundred fifteen musicians work with Lt. Col. Larry Lane, who usually conducts a band at the Air Force Academy (Handsome's brother, a former Air Force pilot, refers to it as "Zoom U") in Colorado Springs, Co.

After our dinner last night, I was able to switch from the "attitude" bandage to a regular Bandaid to keep my injury covered...and I was able to return to stitching. Don't fret. It doesn't hurt now. It's just a royal pain that this even happened.

The chair has been relegated to the dumpster, and I thank Heaven that it happened to me. Had it been a little child, they could have lost a finger. I went back to Golden Corral yesterday, where they reaffirmed that they would cover all my medical costs, and then they bought my lunch, too!

If you've never eaten there before, I can highly recommend the food...and I'm more than happy to give their people rave reviews, too. They really care about their customers. But, if you sit on a wonky chair, move it and get a different one in a hurry!

More fun stuff tomorrow. Til then, I hope you have a creative day wherever you are!

I see that Brynwood has reached 500 Friends (Followers) as of Tuesday night. In celebration, I'll soon be starting a second lap quilt for a second giveaway prize! You guys are incredible! You're making sure I won't be resting when I get home. Thank you to all of you for joining me on this fabulous journey. Love you all!

The Most Recent Member Of My Team...

I'd like to introduce you to my newest assistant at Brynwood Needleworks. As I always try to bring a plethora of fun, creative, informative, joyful and cheerful posts your way, it only seems fitting that the most recent member of my team is "Cheerful". No, really! That's his name! Cheerful.
He's getting to know his way around the studio...asking lots of questions, teasing Kes, and most of all, bringing a wonderful sense of whimsy into my day. When I read his resume' and I saw that his pincushion was made using one of the French General fabrics, I knew he just had to move to Florida!

Cheerful comes to Brynwood Needleworks by way of the fabulously talented Susan Pilloto of Mouse Droppings blog and Crowsnest Pass Primitive Art in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. (By the way, I had a little chat with Cheerful and there'll be none of that mouse droppings stuff in the studio!)Susan's work is in high demand, and she always contacts her followers to let them know when she'll be listing up her creations. (Often only a one hour window of opportunity to purchase one of her "kids".) I persevered and was finally able to score Cheerful for myself. No indentured servitude here...only love and adoration for the little guy, and loads of admiration for Sue's creative flair.

Just look at his sweet face with a sly, little smile. Don't you agree he's the most wonderful little mouse ever?
Speaking of sweet faces...(nice segue, right?) Guess who I'm going to spend time with today? The photo is a little hint. I am thrilled beyond words that one of my beautiful blog buddies is driving to Williamsburg today to be with me! How special do you think I'm feeling right about now? Do you recognize her?

You can bet I'll spill all the details and share lots of photographs...tomorrow! muahahahahaha
I'd like to wish all of you a fabulous day today, but I have to tell you...unless you're getting married or giving birth...no one else's day is gonna hold a candle to mine!

The Last Project For Williamsburg...

Our friend, Ellen D., joined us for dinner last night, and we had a wonderful visit. It was so nice to have her here with us. She's such a delightful lady, and Handsome and I both love her.

I did have time to get some sewing in earlier in the day, so I decided I'd better make that pillow for the second raffle prize for the Williamsburg Consort scholarship fund next week. It's the last project for Williamsburg this year.

Miss Ellie sewed the Consort logo onto some of my creamy, dreamy fabric and then I chose three fabrics to work into my pillow design. Although it won't match the Williamsburg Welcome quilt, it has a musical theme, and has some of the same fabric elements.
I sewed three borders around the logo, and added an insert for another pop of color before adding the ruffle . I then created the ruffle using the same music score fabric that's in the quilt. The brick-colored fabric is also in the quilt. I'll attach the ruffle today and then attach the back (which will be the same fabric as the cream color in the center of the front.

I'm looking forward to taking it, along with the quilt, to Williamsburg. I also have a beautiful afghan that's going to Williamsburg. My vocal soloist friend, Kim, created it and it's fabulous. I'll take a photo to share with you before we take it north.I'm hoping they all raise a lot of money for the student scholarship fund! (Fingers crossed.)

PS. Happy Birthday today, Amy! I hope you have a wonderful celebration, and wish you many, many more! xoxo

Acorn State Of Mind...

Without realizing it, I have started yet another collection. I even surprised myself on this one!

While I was in a rest stop in Southern Wisconsin, I absentmindedly picked up a handful of acorns. I had been walking Kes and stretching my legs. I looked down and there they were just waiting to be picked up! Acorns.

Then, I came home and took a few new photos for blog headers that I'll be using seasonally. Like the one with the rose-covered white heart in my previous header, I photographed special items hanging in one of our oak trees that is currently laden with acorns.

I know a few branches are going to be taken down as they're hanging in Handsome's way when he mows the lawn, so I picked those acorns off the tree before they disappear. More acorns.

Last week, while searching for the flock of sheep in Colonial Williamsburg, I tended to look more toward the pavement than I usually do. Cobblestones. Possible turned ankle. You get the picture.

Again, I notice acorns - this time under the oaks that line Duke of Gloucester Street. Without looking like a "nut job" (pun intended), I started picking up acorns. Most of the acorns I picked up in Williamsburg were green, so I won't have any trouble distinguishing them from the others. Green acorns.

I'm going to purchase a new display frame or some cool jars so that I can separate the acorns by state. If I find jars, they won't need to be large, but I'll look for something interesting, with clear glass, so I can see the contents. Let me know if you have an idea for display. I'd love to know what you think might be a good way to show them off.

So, now I'd like to put out a call to my readers...Do you have an oak tree in your yard (or near by) that has acorns this season? Would you like to send a little ziplock bag of them to me? If so, please send me an email and I'll share my address with you. (Just click on the "Click Here to Email Me" link over in my left sidebar. See it? It looks like a little postcard. It's right under my little "Welcome" bird.) I'll also send you a little gift for your trouble!

I think this could be fun. If you agree, I'll look forward to hearing from you. I'd love to see how many states I could add to my collection, courtesy of my wonderful readers. I'll keep you posted as I receive acorns - where they come from and who sent them to me in a new Flickr album in my sidebar (Acorns By State). Even if you live in a state for which I already have acorns, don't worry. I'll add them to what I already have, and you'll get a thank you gift!

A quick reminder that I posted up a music player in yesterday's post so that you can listen to one of Handsome's Dixieland performances with Maggie Worsdale. I'll add more audio clips as we receive them, and have posted another player at the bottom of my blog (in the center) so you can check back in the future to listen to those new clips. Thanks!

Images Of Colonial Williamsburg...

Images captured on my last foray into Colonial Williamsburg
- and back in time.
It was a wonderful trip to an area located in the heart
of the birthplace of this great country.
Fabulous music made. Concerts have all been played. Time to head for home.

Soft Noses and Wooly Butts...

I woke up yesterday morning deciding that nothing else mattered except listening to Handsome rehearse...and finding the Leicester Longwools.

Well, I had been told the day before that they were in a pasture behind Wetherburns Tavern. "See the red building?", I was asked. "Yes", came my reply, as I apparently gazed upon the wrong red building. I then proceeded down Duke of Gloucester Street and turned in the opposite direction. How do I know this?

I later returned to our hotel room, bummed that I hadn't found the sheep. I sat down with a bottle of water and decided to look through some new postcards I had and, what do you know? There's an image of Wetherburns Tavern. "Hey! That's not the red building I was looking at!".

So after eating breakfast with Handsome and listening to an hour of rehearsal, I exited the hotel to make my way to Colonial Williamsburg and those elusive sheep. This time I knew which red building I was looking for and if the sheep were still there, I'd find them.

I walked straight to Wetherburns Tavern, and this time I turned south. Guess what I saw? You've got it...

OK, look closer...

Can you see what I see? Could it be?
Hurray!!! It's the Leicester Longwools!

Singing my own refrain of "Heaven...I'm In Heaven"
Sheep Heaven, that is.

I spent the next hour alone with these lovely animals.
Of course, I wouldn't forget to take my camera so that
I could share them with all of you!

You can click on the mosaic and it will take you to my Flickr album of my favorite shots of the Colonial Williamsburg flock of the Leicester Longwool sheep. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

You can learn more about the Leicester Longwool breed by clicking here. You can learn more about the Williamsburg flock by clicking here. Alas, I knew there would be no lambs to photograph, as they are only born in the spring of the year.

Oh, one more thing...You may have noticed my new header. When walking through Williamsburg this week, I saw a garden with TWO pomegranate trees heavily laden with ripening fruit. I always think of my mum when I see a pomegranate. We've both loved eating them since I was a kidlet. Just peel and eat. I can't imagine a better image to welcome Autumn.

In Search Of The Leicester Longwools...

I told you I'd be on a mission while in Williamsburg...to find the Leicester Longwool flock in Colonial Williamsburg (it's pronounces "Lester"). So Tuesday morning, I traveled down Richmond Road and into another century.

I started on Duke of Gloucester Street.
This is a view of the Palace Green with the Governor's Palace at the north end.
No Longwools here...
Then I was told at Prentis that the Longwools

were grazing behind Wetherburn's Tavern.
No Longwools there, either...

So, I tried to be creative and search the backstreets of Colonial Williamsburg.

I looked in paddocks and pastures and even lovely manicured lawns.
Still no Longwools...

Not in gardens...

Not down quiet and picturesque lanes...
No Leicester Longwools to be found.

What I did find was their beautiful and soft yarn. I was thrilled to find it. Half my mission for this trip complete. The woman behind the counter had told me where the Longwools should be grazing, but alas I didn't find them yesterday.

My Wednesday goal will be to find the flock. I'm going to "time travel" again in search of the elusive sheep. I'm not going back to the hotel until I find them.

Little Miss Muffet...

As we depart in the wee hours this morning for Williamsburg, Virginia, I'd like to share a sweet image from another of my antique cards.

This is Little Miss Muffet and her spider on a vintage J.P. Coats & Clark sewing card. Have fun using it or just adding it to your image collection.

Handsome has been invited to perform with the Williamsburg Consort next week. He's in for a full week of multiple rehearsals (usually three a day!), culminating in a concert on Thursday evening. We're looking forward to it, to be sure! This is our first year attending, even though he was invited last year. An emergency surgery in Boston left him unable to go, and he was so disappointed. Not this year, though!

While he's in rehearsals, I'll be walking in Colonial Williamsburg, knitting on a cardigan currently in process, and completing those granny squares I started on our trip to Wisconsin. I purposely set them aside knowing that I'd have more travel time to complete them. I also have decided what they will become, but I'll share that with you later.

Williamsburg in September is sure to be a beautiful sight, and you can be sure that I'll be taking lots of photographs to share with you. I'll be on a mission, too. A few souvenir requests from my girlfriends and a skein of yarn for me - spun from the wool of the Williamsburg flock of Leicester Longwools. You can count on hearing more about them!