Weekend Stitching...

My weekend began on Friday, stitching this pendant for a customer. I'll make another soon for my shop to replace this sold one. The new owner already has and is wearing this one.

I added the bee charm to the bottle I created on Saturday, so I took a few photos, including showing it lit up with my fairy lights. The little charm is on the neck of the bottle and has crystal wings for a bit of sparkle. 

I'm not sure why the lights cause a blue cast (in spite of my trying to edit that out), because it doesn't read that way at all "in person". It just has a soft white glow, which is much preferred to this blue cast!

At any rate, now it's completely finished and I can enjoy lighting it up for a while at night to enjoy.

After our Saturday craft session, I came home and contemplated how I wanted to make my Corgi brooch sparkle. This is where I stopped at the end of my session. I moved the nose bead down a bit, added a beautiful opal thread - couched in a brick pattern - and will do the feet next. 

After the feet are done, I'll start adding the chipping for the rest of his body. As always, I keep the first one, which is good. I'm my own worst critic, so I see where I could have done better on the white "ruff". I know I'll perfect the second one, knowing ahead of time how I'll put it together, having already done it here.

Yesterday was spent canning. I'll share photos of that tomorrow. I'm working today, so I'd better get organized so I get there with time to spare. See you tomorrow!

Newest Labels and a Plan...

I know I told you that I've been working on a few ideas to honor Tag. Yesterday, the labels arrived for packaging my ideas. Anything that bears this label will have a portion of the proceeds donated to CorgiAid to benefit Corgis and Corgi mixes.  I love how the labels turned out!

Beginning next week, you'll be able to find more items in my Etsy shop under the "For The Love of a Corgi" section. The first item that went into that section is the Sheep Pendant Necklace. (There's still one available, by the way.)

I'm also creating a Limited Edition Goldwork Corgi Brooch, a Beverage Coozie or two, Tag Labels, Labrador Girls Labels, and taking orders for the Corgi totes and wallets I showed you a couple weeks ago. I'll add to the collection as inspiration strikes.

I posted a video on Instagram to highlight my new labels, so if you're interested in seeing it, you can click HERE.

Listed...

 

The first items in my "For The Love of a Corgi" collection have dropped in my Etsy shop. I'll be making more of these, as well as a selection of limited edition new items. They'll be located in my shop in the section of the same name.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these items will be donated in Tag's name to CorgiAid, as I mentioned yesterday. This is my way of honoring my boy.

I intend to make some of the Corgi wallets and totes, as well as a very limited quantity of Corgi goldwork brooches that I'm currently designing. The set shown above features a tri-colored dog, but the ones I'm doing will be colored like Taggart, unless special ordered. I'll have wallets available separately, too.

If you're interested in any of the items shown here, you may contact me for pricing and I'll custom make your pieces ahead of the rest I'll be making. I thought I'd share this with my readers first before posting to Instagram and Facebook. 

Counting Sheep...

Two More Sheep.

Someone asked me how many French knots I stitch to create each of my little sheep. Well, yesterday I counted, and I can now tell you that there are at least 130 (sometimes more) in each one.

The pendant measures approximately 1 1/2" x 1 1/4", and the sheep measure roughly 3/4" x 1/4", so that's a lot of knots fit into a small space.

These will be finished into their pendants today, and the necklaces will be listed in my shop this afternoon. (I have a hair appointment at 10 this morning, so they'll have to wait until I get back home.) So, if you're a knitter, love wools, love sheep, or even have a herding dog like Tag's breed, you may like wearing one of these.

Oh, and next week, I'm going to debut more items that will be labeled "For The Love of a Corgi". Every time I tell you they're in this category, a portion of the sale will be donated in Tag's name to CorgiAid. It's a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping corgis and corgi mixes get the medical care they need, and also providing carts to corgis with mobility issues. If you'd like to learn more about CorgiAid, HERE is a link to their website.

Watch for the sheep to land in my shop this afternoon. I'd love to send these two to new homes and will definitely make more in the coming weeks. They're for a good cause.

This Project Is Finished...

Brynwood Needleworks - Corgi Tote and Wallet

I'm really happy with the way they turned out!

Brynwood Needleworks - Corgi Tote and Wallet

I posted the images on my FaceBook page so Corgi friends who may or may not make it to the Florida Corgi Picnic can see the set. The response has been nicely enthusiastic. (whew!)

I'm told that they'll be putting the set up for auction, rather than raffle.  I just hope they raise a lot of money for CorgiAid!

I'm going to add a listing in my Etsy shop for custom orders for these - or other breeds - as desired by customers. You can visit my shop by clicking this link.

Now, to finish that pair of socks!

Number Thirty Two...

Brynwood Needleworks - #32 Corgi Picnic Wallet

I finished my thirty second wallet yesterday. This one is a donation to the Florida Corgi Picnic in November. Proceeds will benefit the CorgiAid charity.

Brynwood Needleworks - #32 Corgi Picnic Wallet

Not only does it have the usual interior security tab (with a snap closure), wrist strap, shoulder strap and key fob, I now add a special lining that protects credit cards with the new WI-FI chip from hackers and signal thieves. All of my wallets created after September 1st have this extra protection.

Brynwood Needleworks - Threads

Funny story: I was nearly finished with the wallet, with only sewing up the side gussets as my last step when I realized I had only inches of thread left. I looked through ALL my spools of thread (see the photo) trying to find a match - without luck.

The only thread that matched in all my assortments, was on two bobbins! I had to put one bobbin in the top of my machine, and one bobbin in the bobbin case. Crazy! Anyway, thread loaded, I finished the wallet. It only mattered because it was a top-stitch area, so this Type A had to make it match.

Brynwood Needleworks - Corgi Tote In Progress

With the wallet accomplished, I turned my attention to a nearly matching color thread to start on the coordinating tote.

I got the exterior pocket assembly done and the parts for the rest of the tote cut out by the time I headed out to Paneras for knitting with the girls. (That second sock is almost finished now, too!) Both will be finished by the end of the day today, and you'll get photos tomorrow.

Oh, yeah. It's a good week so far - and it just keeps looking up from here!

Tuesdays With Tag - Patriotic Pups...

Hi, Everybody!

In honor of our Nation's 239th Birthday celebration, I'm gonna share

a few pictures of patriotic Corgis with you. Mom saved these for me and

 I think you're really gonna love 'em. These Corgis are our FB friends, too!

© Christopher Brock Photography

This is Bob Corgi of Bob & Lola Corgi fame. He's a handsome guy, and is Lola's better half. They are pretty famous on Facebook, so you might want to go and check out their page. Lola is a beautiful gal, and these guys are really photogenic, no matter what the holiday.

You can check out their CorgEcards and other Corgi-related items at (Obsessive Corgi Designs) at CafePress. You can see more of Christopher's Corgi images at Christopher Brock Photography.

These three Corgis are Bruiser, Lily and Gus. Their mom, Liz is one of Mom's friends on Facebook, and she gets the greatest pictures of these three! Don't you just love Gus' smile?

If you "friend" their mom on Facebook, you'll get to see lots more pictures of them and read all about their adventures. People think Miss Liz should put together a book using all the short stories she has written about them. We agree!

©Photo property of Bob Marotta

Of course, no patriotic Corgi array would be complete without the famous Spark Plug. His dad, Bob likes takin' pictures of him and his brother, Trotter. They're a real patriotic family - and they all love bacon. Doesn't get better than that!

I met Spark Plug in person when I was just a kid. He lives just up the highway from us, near Sarasota. He and his dad, and now Trotter, help raise money for a cause near and dear to all Corgi lovers called "CorgiAid". They are organizers of the annual Florida Corgi Picnic, too. 

©Marty Helgeson art

Mom collects ATC (artist tradin' cards) and she really likes this one by Marty Helgeson. I'd be the drummer, you know! I even bet that Quinn would be holdin' the flag to march next to me!

©Vanessa Keys Art

Mom also loves everythin' "Corgi" that Miss Vanessa Keys creates - like this flag face pup. This is a link to her FaceBook page where you can see more of her artwork, and her shop where you can purchase her sweet designs.

Fezzik Inconceivable - Image ©Brynwood Needleworks

When Mom was gettin' these images, she saw that someone had pinned this picture of Fezzik on Pinterest. It's been shared many times around the Internet. I decided that he should be included here today because he's wearin' a blue tie...and because he was such a cool guy.

Mom said it's nice that her Fezzie lives on and continues to make other people smile. It made her smile, too.

I hope everybody has a nice holiday weekend. We did, too, but Mom didn't carry her camera around to document it. She just spent the weekend chillin' and bein' gratefully patriotic. Isn't that what it's all about?

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

"Keep Your Nose To The Wind 
 and The Sunshine On Your Tail."

Note: All photographs of real dogs have been used with their owner's permission.

Tuesdays With Tag - 2011 Florida Corgi Picnic...

Last Saturday, Tag and I got in the Explorer and drove three and a half hours over to Palm Bay, FL on the east coast for the 2011 Florida Corgi Picnic to benefit CorgiAid.

Tag and I are right there in the center of this picture (camera in my hands) as we take in all the dogs running and playing. Don't worry. I let Tag run around loose for a little while, too, but I shadowed him all around the grounds to make sure he didn't get into any trouble.

Man! There were a lot of Corgis! Cardigans, Pembrokes, long tails, short tails, fluffy coats - heck, one dog was shaved! Doesn't this one have a great face? These little dogs always look so happy (and intelligent)!

This is the one and only, Facebook-famous Spark Plug and his owner, Bob. They live just north of us in Nokomis, FL. We said we'd get together back on this coast for a little Corgi bonding closer to home.

Everywhere I turned there were short-legged dogs. There were raffles and auctions, and on more than one occasion, groups of Corgis would just lapse into Frantic Random Acts of Play (called "frapping") and they'd get pretty vocal, too. It was quite amusing. At one point, Tag couldn't stand it anymore and had to join in the barking. Hilarious!

I kept Taggart close to me for most of the day, but he still got to meet some of the other dogs who trotted over to say "hello". Look at the cute little spot on this little girl's forehead. So sweet!

 This little girl spent part of her afternoon fetching this red rubber ball. She was pretty persistent, too!

The weather was beautiful and a grand time was had by all.

Everyone had a comfy seat for the auction...

 or at least a nice shady spot to dog-watch.

I thought this Corgi was adorable in her costume with the 

dog bone collar. I think she has a great face, too!

 A Florida Gators football fan!

I took lots of pictures of so many great dogs. It was hard to limit my post to these few favorites. We're already looking forward to next year's picnic and hope that Handsome will join us for the festivities. It was really a lot of fun.

See you next week! 'til then...

"More wagging and less barking!"

 

We're Off To The Picnic...

Tag and I are on our way to Palm Bay (over on the east coast of Florida) to attend the 2011 Florida Corgi Picnic today. Last year there were over 200 Corgis with their owners! We'll be seeing Pembrokes and Cardigans, and even cross-bred Corgis, but only Corgis are allowed. It's an exclusive party!

There will be contests, food, raffles and auctions - and I imagine more than a bit of Corgi frapping (Frantic Random Acts of Play). All of this will be to benefit CorgiAid - a really worthy cause. We're happy to be a part of the fun.

Tag and I will tell you all about it next Tuesday. We can't wait! Gotta run!