Still In The Studio...

Brynwood Needleworks - Favorite Needlework Pieces

 Yes. I'm still in the studio. I'm cleaning, purging and moving things around.

Brynwood Studio Wall

  This is the wall above my computer. I've placed favorite pieces of needlework and art on it.  

From left to right: 

• Eileen Bennett of The Sampler House is a dear friend of mine - even though I haven't spoken with her in years. This is her Acorn Sampler, which I stitched in 1991.

• This is a favorite watercolor, painted by our younger daughter-in-law, Jessica. She's an amazing artist, and her watercolors are whimsical and sweet. This one features a chair with fairy wings, and pots of beautiful geraniums.

• In 1994, my dear friend, Laura I, stitched a piece as a gift for me. Yes. There are acorns on it. I treasure this intricate piece, made just for me.

• Below the small sampler is a beautiful, little mouse with hearts. This was made by Susan Pilotto of Mouse Droppings. (Cute name, right?) She makes the most amazing pieces, and I'm fortunate to own three of her works.

• "Today I choose Joy" was a recent gift from my old friend, Wendi. She chose it specifically with me and our farmhouse decor in mind. I love it right here, where I'll see it every day.

• Below that is a Charland Design that I stitched. It's a strawberry sampler, with so many beautiful stitches. It's called "Strawberry Fields".

• A beautiful, medieval needleworker card is framed for my wall.

• The sampler on the far right is my first sampler design. I called it "Examplar One", and created it as a teaching sampler for my shop. It was also the catalyst for my Brynwood Needleworks' design business in 1991.

So, this is about the only picture I can share of the studio right now. I promise to get this cleanup done this week so I can take more pics...and get back to the important business of creating!

Meet "Chip"...

Susan Pilotto Commission For Brynwood Needleworks

You've seen her creations before on my blog. I'm a huge fan of Susan Pilotto of Mouse Droppings blog, and was thrilled when I received two of her pieces in years past.

Susan Pilotto's Image of My Valentine Mouse

I have written about my one of my other acquisition HERE, and I have the beauty in the above picture, too. I can't get enough of them.

When I purchased the acorn eggcup last year, I just knew that it would be a perfect base for another of her sweet creations. I learned that Susan was going to start taking commissions, so we corresponded, and agreed to make a squirrel to sit atop my egg cup.

Created by Susan Pilotto/Mouse Droppings

Other than sending her the acorn eggcup, we had no other collaboration in completing this piece. I didn't even see it before I paid her, or prior to her shipping it to me. (I could scarcely contain myself during the wait, but knew I'd love it.)

Chip The Squirrel

It arrived yesterday, and I was well surprised when I opened my package. It was everything (and more) than I could have imagined or hoped for. I almost cried!

Chip The Squirrel

 

He's perfect from every angle, and Susan chose the most beautiful, muted colors of wool to make him, Isn't he gorgeous?

Once I saw him, I knew he'd have to have a name. Coming up with one didn't take me any time at all. I first considered the porcelain egg cup, and then concentrated on my new, little squirrel. 

Please meet "Chip".

He'll be hanging out with me in my studio from now on...along with the other two pieces. I'm sure they'll have regular, little tea parties to celebrate living together with me.

Susan is going to set up a commission schedule. If you're interested, you can visit her blog HERE. If you decide you need one of her commissions, please let her know that Brynwood Needleworks sent you! (I am in no way compensated for this endorsement, either.)

 

PS. The ink-drawn mini runner under Chip was created by my talented friend, Michelle Palmer...another of my favorite artists!

Painted Shelf...

Gifts From Friends

I thought I finished painting the shelf yesterday. When I was editing these pictures, I still saw a pink tinge in some of the images. Man, that dark brick stain is aggressive!

I've hung the shelf and placed my treasures on it already, so when I'll take it down to tackle that tinge is anyone's guess. I didn't see it when it was hanging up, so it's not top priority for now. I have other things to do.

The top shelf holds the artwork of my blog friend, Mary Wadsworth (the oak leaf tree on the left); a Jim Shore Labrador retriever; an antique acorn table cigarette lighter; a felted polar bear and owl from PeakVintage on Etsy; and a felted corgi from my dear friend, Marion (she owns Tag's brother, Trip).

More Treasures

The tiny bear (sitting on a chair) was made by my longtime Wisconsin girlfriend, Linda; the strawberry pincushion in back next to the chair, and the strawberries on the far right were created by my friend, Jacque. I wrote about them HERE. She also did the corgi cushion hanging in the middle of the next picture.

I placed my antique silver pincushions from England (the swan and shoes) and a dog (behind the swan); and a little basket pincushion, holding custom-made acorn and oak leaf charms (sorry, I couldn't find the Etsy shop for those).

I made the pincushion on the lower shelf (and offer smaller versions in my Etsy shop); the acorn straight pins were a gift from Jacque, too. Susan Pilotto of Mouse Droppings created my gorgeous, little mouse pincushion; and my Canadian friend, Margaret B. of The French Bear made my gorgeous white bear. The wooden acorn is an antique thimble holder.

Hearts

Some of my favorite heart shapes, and the corgi (which was hand stitched by Jacque) hang from the pegs at the bottom of the shelf. There's a pair of acorns hanging behind the corgi, too. (There's that pink tinge. grrrrr)

More Treasures

The brown velvet acorns were also created by Margaret B., and I love them! My friend, Shelly R. of Bungalow Bling created the cone. Isn't it pretty?

I love that little gap at the top of the shelf, too. I chose not to fill it with caulk, preferring the imperfection of it.

Studio Shelf

I originally had my hanging organizer located here, but I decided to move that and put the shelf here instead. I think it's better in this space, and I have another use for the organizer that was here before.

I think you'd agree that I did pretty well for a $15 find and a little leftover paint, wouldn't you?

Lilac Love...

There are no lilacs growing in Florida. They need a hard freeze to thrive, and that almost never happens in subtropical climates like ours. We have bouganvilleas, magnolias and hibuscus bushes that are so stunning they'll take your breath away, but alas, you'll find no lilacs. 

Being raised in Wisconsin, I never saw any of these southern beauties until Handsome and I came here on vacation. But as lovely as all of our southern flowers are, none of them compare to the fleeting fragrance and soft lavender-blue or lavendar-pink color of lilacs in late spring...and I miss that scent every single year.

When I visit all my internet friends and see lilacs, I'm filled with a true longing. Sometimes, I'll see photographs of huge ironstone pitchers filled with freshly-cut stems. Other times, I might find a snap taken on a sun-dappled afternoon in the backyard. There are bushes upon bushes of cascading blooms and I can almost smell them!

Recently, my talented blog friend, Michelle Palmer decided to share watercolor versions of her own lilacs, and created a number of framed stems. I just knew that one of them would have to come and live in the studio! (Click here to visit her watercolor Etsy shop.)

It now resides in a favorite spot where I can see it every day that I'm at my machine. There's only one thing missing - that heady fragrance. Now, I'm in search of a "bottled lilac" that most closely mimics the real thing.

Do you have any leads you could share with me? If you have a favorite source for "lifelike" lilac fragrance - either a room spray or body mist or drawer liner? I'm desperate here, girlfriends! Any help is greatly appreciated.

A Few Favorites...

 That's what I'm doing...

You know, like the duck who looks calm and restful floating on the pond.

If you look underwater, though, her little legs are paddling like crazy. 

I'm in the studio, hard at work on a commissioned project. I can't tell you

the details. It's not mine to share. Once the project is finished, you'll know

all about it, but I can't even show you a little peek and risk giving it away.

 So, while I'm sewing away, I'll just share a couple of images from my studio.

My favorite little, red notebook and Union Jack pencil are always close

at hand. I never know when an idea will strike that I need to write down!

You've met my little mouse before. He's "Downright Cheerful" from the amazing 

hands of Susan Pilotto at Mouse Droppings. The backdrop is the Moda™ 

fabric line I'll be using when I do the Love Letters quilt later this year. 

These are just some of the fabrics and little studio touches that 

bring me many happy hours when I'm busy creating. I hope you enjoy

them, too, as I get back to my project. I'm really having fun with this so

don't worry that I'm tolling away at some thankless job. Not the case at all.

Enjoy your Friday. The weekend is only hours away!

A New Friend...

Do you remember last week when I put a note on the end of one of my blog posts trying to answer a contact from Ann here? I wasn't able to get a reply to her until she saw my note and added my email address to her online address book. Then, she wrote to me again and we were finally able to make contact with each other.

She told me that she doesn't have a blog, but regularly read mine and felt motivated to send a "little gift" to me. She saw that I love pincushions and wanted to make one especially for me!

Her package arrived yesterday and to say I was "excited" would be an understatement. The notecard she included explained how she decided on certain elements - but said that all were chosen with me and my interests in mind.
I now have a new mouse in the studio to keep "Cheerful" (Susan Pilloto's creation) company. Look closely, and you'll see acorn buttons and charms, scissors, a cup and saucer with a teeny, tiny spoon, chocolate, miniature bolts of fabric, a tiny sewing machine, a thimble, and much, much more.

I see something new every time I look at this sweet creation. The pincushion is actually the Brynwood Acorn Ornament (which you can download from my "Tutorial/Patterns" link right under my header! Of course, Ann personalized the acorn with "Love to Quilt". (She noticed! lol)
There are crystals, sprinkles, details all the way around this sweet mouse. Ann is a real artist, and I'm convinced that none of her choices were random.
Ann doesn't have a blog, but she creates one-of-a-kind items for friends, family and occasionally for sale. If you're interested in contacting her to commission an item, please let me know and I'll have her contact you.

I didn't get home from a day trip yesterday in time to photograph Miss Sweet Mouse (that's what I've decided to name her) before I lost my "photo light". I apologize to Ann for using these flash photos. I'm going to rephotograph this incredible gift again today to have better pictures that show off all of Miss Sweet Mouse's details.

Ann, my (new) friend - I really can't tell you how much I love this generous and most unexpected gift. You really are an incredible artist, and I appreciate all the time, energy and creativity that went into conceiving and executing this piece. I'll treasure it always....always. Thank you again. I'm humbled beyond words.
I wanted to let you know that I've started receiving notes from the gals participating in the Mug Mat Swap. If you're part of the swap group, you can join my Flickr group and upload photos of your mat into the album. All you have to do is join the group, place your photos on your desktop and then go to the "Upload Photos" link and choose them from your desktop when Flickr asks which photos you want to share. I think you need to upload them into your own photo feed first and then choose them to "Add to Group".

If you haven't used Flickr before, it's really intuitive to navigate and use their site. If you have problems and want me to just upload photos for you, I'm happy to do that, but "brynwoodneedleworks" will appear under your photo, instead of your Flickr user name. If you have questions, please feel free to send me an email and I'll try to walk you through uploading the photos yourself.

Anyway...here's the link (click on this) to go to the album, see what others have created and to share your mat, too.

I hope you're all having fun. I know I am. Mine will go to my partner by Saturday. Can't wait to see everyone else's creations, too!

Joyful Stitching, friends!!

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!