Heart Brooches...

 

Three New Brooches

I was feeling much better on Sunday. The sun was shining, even though it only got to about 29ºF , so it was lovely sitting in my favorite spot for a bit of needle dancing. 

Something Blue Bridal Brooch - Soft Blue

I completed the second Something Blue Bridal Brooch, so there are now two that will be available. I think I may do a third that will be completely beads with only the cross in the middle to see how that looks. I think that could be really elegant, too.

SOLD. Something Blue Bridal Brooch - Shimmer SOLD

These brooches will regularly be $65 each, plus $5 domestic postage (I'll pay the difference if it costs more.) I'll also ship outside the US, but buyer is responsible for postage and import fees, however during March, I'm offering them for $45 (plus postage as listed above). If you're interested, please send me a private message and I'll make arrangements to send a secure invoice through my Square account.

Now that I'm caught up with that, I'm going to turn my attention to new photographs for some of my current Etsy listings, and then I'll launch my 40% off March Madness Sale. Once that's up and running, it will be in effect until the end of the month. I'm hoping that most all of my current stock sells out so I can start April with new inventory, much of which I'll be creating during the month.

I will be working tomorrow, so I'm going to take it easy today. I've got a bit of computer time in my future to set up the sale. I might take an afternoon nap, too. See you tomorrow. Oh, and Happy March!

Needle Dancing Hearts...

Making Progress On My Heart Brooch

Goldwork always seems to take a little longer than I think it will. I spent the afternoon needle dancing with a different (softer) blue bead and silver bright check. Just what the doctor ordered. (I think I'm fighting off another cold, by the way, so I've doubled up on my Vitamin C and have added other immune building supplements to my daily regimen.) 

I'm going to take it easy today, but of course I'll work on this. I think homemade chicken soup will be on today's menu! Catch you tomorrow!

Cold Day Needle Dancing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Purple Heart Brooch In Progress

It's still cold and the wind picked up again, so the best place was indoors needle dancing! So, that's exactly what I did. I sat in front of my favorite sunny spot and listened to the wind beating against the farmhouse, but it was nice and warm inside.

The Something Blue Bridal Brooches are padded out and waiting their turn, but I wanted to work on the purple heart brooch first. I started using a different fiber around the beads but didn't like it, so I removed all that work and started over. I'm much happier with the bright silver now.

I'll work on this some more today, and I'm also going to make the dough for cinnamon rolls. I promised a tray for Teresa when I see her at work tomorrow night, and in return I'll get a dozen of her beautiful farm eggs. The yolks are almost orange, and they're soooo good. I'm sure I'm getting the better end of the deal, and I know she'll say the same about my cinnamon rolls. That means it's a perfect trade, right?

I'm going to start today with a nice, hot cuppa, and then I'll turn my attention to my needlework. I can already tell it's going to be a good day. Wishing the same for you!

"Something Blue" Bridal Heart Brooch...

I completed the "Something Blue" Bridal Heart Brooch on Wednesday and am so excited to debut it today. My nephew's fiance' will receive this at her bridal shower on Sunday.

I estimate approximately 20 hours of stitching went into creating the finished piece and love how it turned out. I didn't have (and so far can't locate a source for) baby blue brilliant check purls (the sparkling fiber I used on the red hearts, as well as the frogs and religious heart pieces) so I used beautiful seed beads instead. I just as happy with the end result.

I'm going to be offering these brooches as bridal gifts, and will work with my clients to choose the color blue they prefer (I do have an assortment of blue check purls - sadly not in baby blue; or they can select from an assortment of blue seed beads combined with silver check purls.) I think the silver coordinates better with the blues than gold. The client can also choose to keep or add the center cross, per their personal preference. Perhaps they're having a civil ceremony and would like to omit the cross?

Of course, the bride can then choose to wear it on the waist of her gown, under her gown on the petticoat or on her garter, or incorporate it into her bouquet. I'd just suggest she remove it before she tosses her flowers to the next bride. 

As with all my needlework pieces, it is my fond hope that they will become treasured family heirlooms, and this piece especially. I will include a card that the original bride, as well as future brides can add their name to in the event you would like to keep a family record.

Each brooch will be carefully packaged in a chiffon drawstring bag, which is then tucked into a presentation box to protect it. If you're interested in purchasing one of these brooches, please contact me for pricing information and/or to arrange a commission. Thanks!

A Weekend of Finishes...

Let's begin with three completed goldwork Heart Brooches that I'll be preparing to mail tomorrow. (President's Day today. No mail service.) I backed them with the same cork fabric they're perched on for this photograph. Each one is signed and dated with my wee signature acorn. Which one is your favorite?

Saturday's Craft Day in Portage was so much fun. I got to try something I hadn't done before and I really enjoyed it. We needle felted snowmen. I don't have all the photos to share today, but will share all of them on Wednesday so you can see everyone else's sweet result.

This is my completed guy. I was watching (actually, listening so I didn't poke my fingers with the felting needle) Harry Potter while I was finishing him yesterday so I named him "Erroll". I added a wee cardinal that landed on his hand. For those in my age range, I named his little red friend "Flynn". I know you'll get the reference.

Handsome wanted to take a photograph with me in it, so you get an idea of Erroll's size. I didn't even stop to straighten my collar, and I'm au naturel (sigh), but you get a reference for how big my snowman turned out.

Linda P. was our leader this session, as she'd already made 6 snowmen of her own. Each one different from the rest. She provided kits, and we provided felting needles, scissors, felting mats and enthusiasm. There's enough wool roving in my kit to make a second snowman, so perhaps Erroll needs a companion?  Not right away, as I have frogs and hearts to stitch first, but I'm definitely going to make another one of these cute projects.

All in all, it was a perfect weekend for crafting, and I'm excited to have completed all my projects before it was all over. Fun. Fun. Fun.

 

Red and Gold...

I came so close to completing Heart #3 before I had to leave for work yesterday. I was this close! Well, no worries. I'll complete it today when I get back home from Portage (Craft Day today), and then I'll turn them into brooches before the weekend is over.

When you come back for our visit on Monday, I'll share the completed brooches before I package them to send off to their new homes.

It's going to be cold and windy today as I head over to craft day. I'm looking forward to spending time with my girlfriends again. I happen to know we're going to be playing with wool roving and felting needles today. Can't wait to share our creations with you on Monday, too! 

Happy Weekend!

Another Completed Heart...

Two down, one to go. I think this one will be red and gold check purls. I stitched away the day yesterday and completed Heart #2, and immediately did the outline for #3 before stopping for the day. 

It snowed about 5" yesterday and then the sun came out. The light was perfect for sitting at my frame next to the dining room windows. I had all the sunshine I needed to see my work as Handsome manned the tractor and cleared our driveway. I think it's safe to say we're both mostly recovered from our bout with whatever respiratory thing we had. I'm glad it's behind us.

I'll work on #3 today, and then I work for a few hours at the station tonight. I do enjoy helping out on Friday nights during their dinner hour. I answer the phone and take orders for our Friday fish fry. (If you're not a Midwesterner, perhaps you've only heard of supper clubs and Friday fish. They're both a big deal here.) We get pretty busy, so they needed someone to cover the phones. You have to know that I'd enjoy that task. 

I'll snap a picture of my progress on this last heart to show you what it looks like like, and I'll turn them into brooches over the weekend. These are really fun and I know I'll make more of them in the future, too.

Oh, wouldn't they be pretty in blue as a gift for a bride to pin into the skirt of her wedding gown as her "something blue"? We have a wedding coming up in April, and I may just make one more right away in blue to gift to her at her shower in a couple weeks!

Happy Valentine's Day...

I worked on heart brooches yesterday. These will all be gifts, but I'm going to make some for my Etsy shop, too. Each one will be different from the others. 

Today, I'm going to make Valentine cookies. Once I'm finished in the kitchen, I'll be doing a little more needle dancing. Of course, I'll be back in the kitchen to make a tasty dinner for my love. This is a perfect day to me. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you spend the day doing something you love with someone you love.