Taking A New Class...

I'm taking another Royal School of Needlework class! This one is online, and the tutor is Heather Lewis, who I met when I was taking the butterfly course in Lexington in 2019. 

I actually purchased one of her kits while I was there, but I've never worked it. This is the booklet from that kit, and the image on the front of it is the box that I will make from it after I finish her online course.

When I saw that the RSN was offering a video/online class of Heather's technique - taught by Heather herself - I had to enroll. I will have access to the online classes until the end of January 2026, so there's plenty of time for me to complete all the modules.

My kit arrived today and I couldn't wait to open it! Inside were the threads, needles, Liberty of London fabrics and precut box pieces required to create the box shown for the course. When complete, it will be constructed as a double-decker, rectangular box, with the word "Threads" stitched on top. 

You know I have other pressing projects to complete first, so my goal is to begin this by March 1st. I want to complete my bluebirds embroidery first, and I have two other smaller projects to finish in the next ten days or so. I'll share those with you soon, but I just had to unveil this one because I was so excited.

If you're interested in taking this class, or looking at their other online offerings, HERE is the link to their online courses. (The link will open in a new window.) While their online courses aren't cheap, they're much more affordable than traveling to their in-person venues.

I didn't go to the classmate dinner gathering last night. By the time we left Green Bay from my doctor's appointment I was tired. We drove right into snow, and as it was windy with below zero temps all day, I was over being outdoors. I changed into my sweats and took a nap. I was happy to stay home and spend time with Handsome. There were many others who cancelled out, too, but a small, in-town group of die hards met and had a great time. I hope they took a photograph. If so, I'll share that when I get a copy.

Handsome is having lunch with #2 Son today, but I'm going to stay home. I have some things I want need to do, so I'll work on my tasks instead. I'm off to have my morning cuppa, and then I'll get after it. See you tomorrow. Stay warm if you live somewhere that's "frosty" right now.

Gifts From A Friend...

I'm not sure my friend would like to be named, so I'll keep that to myself unless she says differently. A package arrived yesterday from England. She'd warned me to expect an overseas package, but didn't tell me any more than that, fearing I might guess what was coming.

Imagine my delight when I opened the package and found a box containing this gorgeous coronation cup commemorating Charles' ascending to the throne. Do you see why this it's perfect for me? I noticed immediately. ACORNS!...and I love the color green, too!

As if that wouldn't have been a wonderful gift in itself, there was more! She also sent a new kitchen apron and a matching tea towel. They're both baking themed, and I just giggled with glee. I actually wore the apron as I cooked dinner last night. 

The apron and tea towel were designed for Victoria Eggs™, and they're just the most appropriate gifts for this rising baker. (snort)

Thank you, dear J. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your friendship and generous heart. I love all my gifts and will treasure them always - along with the other surprises you've gifted me over the years. You're simply the best!

Little Bee...

  I worked as an Inspector at one of our local polling places yesterday. It was a "minor" election, with only one item on our ballot (a question), so we didn't expect a large turnout. Our Clerk told us we could bring a book to read (or needlework) to help pass the time. (We were there from  6 am - 7:30 pm). It was a long day. I decided to take a book for simplicity.
I've had this book for a while as it was a gift for Christmas, so I thought it would be the perfect way to spend the "waiting time". Little did I know that the entire story line takes place in my birthplace in England! I was  reading along when "Kingston-upon-Thames" came up. Imagine my delight.
"Little Bee" is a #1 New York Times Bestseller written by Chris Cleave. This is the synopsis that appears on the back of his book: "This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there... Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds."
Well, alright then. I'm going to continue reading this book and when I finish it, I'll keep my review simple..."thumbs up" or "thumbs down". Just know that, for now, I'm enjoying it and smiling an awful lot.

Heaven Has A New Angel...

  John Young

April 5, 1940 - December 18, 2013

Uncle Johnny circa 1940s

I have written more than once about my dear Uncle Johnny in England.
I am the eldest of his nieces (and nephews) and he always made me feel special.

He visited Wisconsin more than a few times, and was last in the U.S. two

years ago for Aunty Margaret and Uncle Dick's fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Brothers, Richard and John  circa 1990s

I learned that he was seriously ill about 18 months ago, and had spoken with

him via Skype (a true blessing), and letters in the past year. I enjoyed seeing his

 and Aunt Annette's faces as we had our chats, and regret that I hadn't phoned 

them more often. Who among us ever knows just how much time we have with

our loved ones? I'm glad that I was able to have the time with him that I did.

Uncle Johnny, Aunt Annette, Aunty Margaret and Uncle Dick 1990s

 Thankfully, Aunty Margaret and Uncle Dick spoke frequently with them, 

and I was able to have nearly daily updates. I knew he'd been hospitalized 

and had returned home. We prayed for healing for him every single day.

Sadly, that was not to be. My aunt called me on December 19th to let me

 know that Uncle John had passed overnight. I told her that I already knew.

I'd awakened overnight because I'd felt his passing.

Uncle Johnny 1990s at our home in Wisconsin

Uncle John's funeral was yesterday. His brother (my Uncle Dick) and

 Aunty Margaret flew to England during the awful weekend storms to be

 there to pay tribute to our loved one. I do know that his earthly remains

 were transported, like royalty, via horse-drawn carriage to the funeral chapel.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Annette;
his mother's (my Nanny's) sister, Aunty Margaret (Sr.);
his brother. Richard and sister-in-law. Margaret;
his children (Dawn and Denis), their spouses and children;
his stepchildren, who he loved and considered his own;
nieces and nephews in America and England;
and more family members in England. 

I mean no  disrespect by not naming them all. I just don't know the full extent of
his family. I do know that he will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. 

web image

We will love you always, dear Uncle John.

Heaven has a new angel and Earth is poorer for it.

PS. Tag will be back next week with more antics and adventures.

Bakewell, England...

 Not too long ago, my Aunty Margaret traveled to England to celebrate 

her mum's one hundredth birthday. She had a wonderful time visiting our

family members and told me all about it when she returned from her trip.

 When I saw her in August, she surprised me with a few travel souvenirs.

I never expected gifts, and was delighted with what she chose for me.

She visited Bakewell in the Peak District (central England), and brought back

a British tea towel and china thimble commemorating her trip to the area.

 If you look at the map of England, the red arrow is pointing to Bakewell. It's the
only market town in the Peak District National Park. The charter for its Monday
Market was granted in 1330, the third year of King Edward III's forty year reign.

When I look at dates like that, I'm reminded how young America really is. 

The other gift Aunty Margaret brought back for me is a beautiful little thimble.

It has a Bakewell scene on one side and the words 

"Bakewell • Peak District" on the reverse. It's trimmed with a gold edge.

A peek inside the thimble shows the maker's mark and "Made in England".

I know my dear aunt reads my blog via email, so I want to say "Thank you" 

again, Aunty. These gifts are just perfect - and treasured additions to my 

beloved British keepsakes. I so appreciate you thinking of me during your

trip overseas, and I really loved hearing all about it when we were together.

I'm looking forward to the next time I see you.

xoxo

Always Grateful...

 Aside from my family, nothing makes me more grateful than the beautiful

friendships that have been made through Brynwood and my blog. Last week, I

was again surprised to receive packages from two of them...TerriBoog and Twyla.

 Terri (and her little dog, Bitabit) sent a lovely package of goodies. I was

so surprised! She included a corgi t-shirt; a little, wooden corgi figure; a

great corgi magnet (that will go on the Explorer) and pen; a metal acorn 

adornment; and the most beautiful, heart-shaped dish! It has fused glass in 

the bottom that just glistens when the light hits it. I've put it right in my studio!

 Of course, I'm sending a proper thank you note, but I wanted to show you

the wonderful things that she sent to me. I love them all, Terri and Bitabit!

 Dear friend, Twyla, always seems to know just what I need and when to send it. 

She prayed that God "heal my socks off", so she sent me a really cute pair to 

wear! I'm already reading the "Angels on Earth" magazines. They're 

inspirational and comforting, and I love that she cared to send them to me.

Thank you, Twyla. You're one in a million!

 I consider this card a gift, too. It came from loved ones in England

and is so appreciated. Isn't it a pretty card? It made me feel great

before I ever opened it! I love all the layers and the sweet images.

 Gifts from the heart mean so much to me, and it wasn't hard to see the

affection that arrived in each card that was tucked inside these packages. 

The words that were written filled me up. The additional tokens were the icing on top.

I'm always so very grateful for this life and the good people with whom I share it.

Victorian Cross Stitch Kits - Elizabeth Bradley...

Before I ever learned to quilt, I spent many happy hours working on
cross stitch. After I opened my needlework shop, Stitches in Wisconsin
I attended more than a few needlework markets and discovered these kits.

They are cross stitch executed in wools on printed canvas, and the
technique is called "Victorian Cross Stitch". The kits are designed by
Elizabeth Bradley from the UK. (She also sells through stockists in America.)

When I attended market, Elizabeth could be found stitching at a frame in her
booth while her gregarious husband, Nick greeted shopkeepers and took orders.
It was difficult to ignore all the beautiful wool pieces they brought with them.
I couldn't resist their quality and detail, so I chose many of the kits for my shop. 

When we moved to Florida, I decided to work on my first kit, "Daisy".

It took six diligent weeks to complete, to the exclusion of all else.

Although I haven't had it framed (which is my intent), I take it out from

time to time and admire the vibrant colors on the black ground wools.

Using the black, as with quilting, really pops the colors in the flowers.

"Lily"

In addition to the "Daisy" kit, I also selected a few other personal favorites.

The finished designed are 16" square on 20" square canvased and come complete

with printed pattern, printed canvas, wools and needles in a box showing the full 

color design on the cover...ready to stitch! Exquisite kits from start to finish.

"Hollyhock"

Of course, "Hollyhock" would have to be one of my choices!

"Sunflower Basket"

"Sunflower Basket", because it reminded me of Mom Grace, and

"Magnolia"

"Magnolia".

All the kits are perfect for taking on our travels, and this one reminds me 

of the heady, fragrant blossoms on the specimen tree in our front yard.

When pulling the link for Elizabeth's American website, I found that

there is now a "Geranium" kit, too. (sigh) I may have to add it to my 

collection. If you'd like to look at her designs, this is a link to kits like mine.

Oh, and here's the link so you can see the "Geranium" kit.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

This is the last of my "auto pilot" posts. Thanks for being so patient with me.

I'll be back tomorrow to tell you a bit about my short hiaitus.

The Alto Sewing Machine Prototype...

 I was recently visiting a favorite blog - Cactus Needle Quilting - when I saw

Nedra's post about this innovative design for a sewing machine. I was so

intrigued that I went to other sites to learn more about it and how it works.

It was designed by Sarah Dickens of the UK for the 2012 James Dyson Award

program, and as far as I can tell it's not yet in production. It doesn't have a foot

pedal to control the machine, it simply uses pressure on the base of the machine

(near the faceplate for the bobbin) to make it sew. It also has a straight path 

from the spool on the right side of the machine all the way to the needle.

You also find a huge amount of free space to the right of the needle.

I don't see bells and whistles like "back and forward" buttons or lights, but

I think the machine is beautiful and would certainly have a practical use.

I mean, wouldn't it be beautiful for traveling in the Flying Cloud?

When I put this up on my FaceBook page, my friend Troy from Junk

Exchange mentioned that the wood would probably age to a beautiful

patina over the years, too. (He always thinks of cool stuff like that!)

I thought you might enjoy a video to tell you a little more about the machine.

(link: http://youtu.be/L7ohEWr9g4w)

What do you think? Would you like to have one if they are ever produced?
I think I would, but the price would have to be right.

Tuesdays With Tag - Mom's New Walkin' Boots...

 Hi, Everybody!

Did you have a nice holiday weekend?

 It was nice here, too. Our family spent the day together and just took it easy.

Isn't that really what it's all about?

 

I want to show you Mom's newest boots. They're called "Wellies" and they're great

for dealin' with muck and mud and rain. They're made in England. Mom used to have 

a pair (or two) of green ones for doin' kennels in Wisconsin, but she donated 'em a 

couple of years ago. (She keeps wonderin' what she was thinkin'!). She didn't think 

she'd need 'em anymore. Then, she thought they would have been absolutely perfect 

for takin' campin' when we're on the Flyin' Cloud! So, when she saw these, she knew 

they had her name on 'em! BooYah! She ordered 'em right away!

By the way...This wonderful pillow was made by our friend, Troy at Junk Exchange. 

It's one of Mom's favorite "touches" in the master bedroom!  He always has such cool 

stuff, and he does special requests, too! Here's a link to Troy's Etsy Shop.

 "Rule Brittania. Britannia rules the mud..."

hee hee

I can hardly wait for our next walk in the rain. Me, in all my Welsh glory,

and Mom in her British Wellington boots. We'll be stylin', for sure!

Have a great week. I'll see you again soon. 'til next time...

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

New In The Boutique...

 If you're new to Brynwood, perhaps you don't know yet that I was born in

Great Britain. I'm a U.S. citizen by virtue of my father's citizenship, and

actually a British citizen by virtue of my birthplace just southwest of London.

(England recognizes my dual citizenship. Isn't that cool?)

From time to time, I like to give a little nod to my roots, and this is one of

those times. I have created scissors fobs and attached them to some very

special embroidery scissors I found for you. The scissors are 6", made in 

Pakistan. They're high quality and nice and sharp for doing close work.

I've created two felted flags...One for "Stateside" and one for "Across the Pond".

Each flag measures approximately 3" x 2" and is hand assembled and stitched 

using pearl cotton thread. I then attached a split ring and lobster claw so they 

would stay securely attached to your scissors. You can also choose a charm to

embellish your scissors instead of a flag. Either way, you won't have to worry

about losing your scissors in the bottom of your sewing kit, or confusing your

embroidery scissors with those belonging to someone else if you in a class.

Scroll down to see your scissor fob choices...

US Flag - Felt

UK Flag - Felt

Phone Booth Charm

London Charm

Underground Charm

Big Ben Charm

 If you're interesting in purchasing your own, just go to the Boutique under 

the "Other Creations" link to order yours. Some of the charms are limited 

quantities and I won't be able to reorder them, so don't delay if you have a favorite!

You can always go to the Boutique by clicking on the link at the top of my blog.

Once you're there, I have links in the Boutique for different categories.

You can use the direct link below to find the scissors/fob sets.
(http://brynwoodneedleworksboutique.blogspot.com/p/other-creations.html)

Why not explore a little while you're there? You might find something you can't resist!

The Raspberry Rabbits Limited Litter

 One more thing before I leave today...
Remember when I shared a selection of beautiful wools and threads with you?
I promised to show you more later.

I have created a Limited Edition Raspberry Rabbits Litter for my blog buddy,
Shell May! Tag is busy working overtime this week over at The Raspberry Rabbits
for his sweet Aunty Shell, so when you're finished here, just hop over to visit!
Tag will tell you all about these little bunns...and you know how chatty he can be!