Another Wooly Strawberry...

Brynwood Needleworks - One Wooly Strawberry Pincushion

I completed this pincushion for a client yesterday. It's always fun creating pieces of my own designs, and this one is a favorite. No two are ever exactly the same, except in size. It will be on its way to a new home today.

 

I have (sigh) another doctor appointment this morning. I'm getting my knee x-rayed, and then I'm getting a gel injection to (hopefully) alleviate my discomfort. The cortisone backfired, causing quite a bit of pain, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this alternative will work, as future cortisone is off the table.

I'll know better just what the rest of my day holds after I get home from my appointment. I'm still proofreading a friend's manuscript, and reading the latest Sydney Rye Mystery, so if I'm sitting in a chair and icing my knee this afternoon, I'll still have something interesting to do.

Come back tomorrow and I'll give you an update.

 

Work, Then Play...

Family Time At A Milwaukee Brewers Game

This is actually how our day ended yesterday...with a trip to Milwaukee with our elder son and his family. We went to the beautiful stadium that is home to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, and boy, did we have great seats!

You'll notice our little photobomber behind Handsome. We had a group of nurses from the local VA hospital sitting in the row in front of us. We actually earned this because we'd done the same to their pictures earlier in the game. They hooted when they saw their pictures with Handsome and the "boys" in it, so turnabout was fair play. We weren't the only ones either. We saw many others taking pictures only to have someone behind them pop into the frame at the last minute...all in good, clean fun.

The Brewers were playing the Cleveland Indians, and our team prevailed 3-1. It was a great game with some really incredible plays. I'm sure we'll do it again over the course of the summer.

Pincushions For A Client

 

I had an order waiting to be fulfilled, as I was busy with the quilt show last weekend. I sat down on Monday to make one pincushion, and then did the other yesterday. They're now on their way to a new home, so I could really have fun at the game without worrying about an obligation at home.

 

"Work before play", and that's just how the day went.

I got this job accomplished inside, and Handsome and Andy worked together outside.

(Thank you for all your help, Andy. There are things we really couldn't do without you!)

Needle Dancing (Again)...

Fairy Steed Corgi and One Wooly Strawberry Pincushions

 

My giveaway winners chose their gifts, and I finished making all three yesterday. The Fairy Steed Corgi Pincushion is heading to Lesley in the United Kingdom; a One Wooly Strawberry Pincushion is heading to Linny in Australia; and Danice chose a Wooly Strawberry Pincushion, too, which will ship to her in Alabama.

Thanks to Lesley and Linny for offering to receive theirs unfilled to save on shipping costs. I sincerely appreciate that gift from each of you. Danice chose lavender buds for her filling, and my studio was filled with its heavenly scent all afternoon.

All your gifts will post today, and I'll send each of you whatever tracking information I receive from the post office.

I've got a few cork projects next up (Thanks for your patience, Sherry!), and then I'm going to work on my Wooly Critters this weekend. I really need to add a small, comfy chair to the studio for days spent stitching. 

 

Happy Friday!

Sweet Treats - We Have A Winner...

Homemade Caramels - LOTS of Them!

Handsome and I taste-tested these delicious caramels (made by our younger daughter-in-law) recently, and she shared the recipe with me. So, I decided to make a batch on Saturday.

Ingredients For Homemade Caramels

I pulled out the ingredients (I had enough for four - eventual - batches), grabbed the recipe and got to mixing. I read the recipe out loud to Handsome before I started - reading 238º as the top temperature for the mix, and somewhere in the process, told myself 258º.

He called it "cognitive dissonance". I really saw 258º when I looked back at the recipe. So my first batch was a hot, hard mess. It made a delightful "thud" when it had cooled off enough so I could throw it in the garbage.

Cooling Caramel

I sat down, had a cup of tea and regrouped. Then, I started my second batch, repeating 238º to myself the whole time. I wasn't making that mistake again! The batch was beautiful when I poured it onto the cookie sheet.

Cutting and Wrapping Caramels

I started cutting the caramels with a kitchen scissors, but (thankfully) decided to try a pizza cutter. It cut like a dream and made quick work of the task of making bite-sized pieces. I wrapped them in parchment paper I'd cut into squares.

My British Tins For Storage

I grabbed two of my favorite British tins, which were quickly filled with tasty caramels. I've already shared some of them (the recipe makes quite a large batch), and will have more for sweet snacks here at the farmhouse, too.

Caramel Recipe From Meaningful Eats

 

This is the recipe our daughter-in-law shared with me. I looked it up and found it on Meaningful Eats blog (HERE).

What I learned from making (both) batches: 1) Start cutting caramels when they're still warmer than you think they should be. Makes it easier toward the end. 2) Use a pizza cutter. I started with a kitchen scissors, but the pizza cutter was SO much easier! 3) Don't be a perfectionist when you cut them. It will make you nuts. 4) Have your beautiful granddaughters (or your kiddos) around to help wrap them. 5) I need a digital candy thermometer for accuracy. 

 

I do know that I'll be making more of these in the future...after I get that digital thermometer. yummm

 

 

 

Time to name the winners of my Ninth Blog Anniversary Giveaway!   I drew three numbers (via Random Number Generator) initially  and the winner EVERY time was   LESLEY UK!!! (24, 2 and 15) You were meant to win, kiddo!   I decided to give away two more gifts, so I drew another number My second winner is  (11)
DANICE G!   The last number (and winner) is (7)   LINNY!    CONGRATULATIONS! Thanks again to everyone who entered.  Let me know which pincushion design you'd like. I'll make them this week.

Stitching & Such...

Brynwood Needleworks- Strawberry Pincushion

I began my Thursday completing a wallet project for a client, and then moved to one of my favorite pursuits. You know. Needlework.

I have an order for a square Woolen Strawberry Pincushion, so I worked on the needlework portion of the project. I'd cut and fused the wools earlier in the week, so I was ready to proceed with needle and my chosen Sulky #12 perle cottons.

Brynwood Needleworks- Strawberry Pincushion Needlework Complete

 

All my stitching is done, so I'll assemble and fill this pincushion, and then I'll send it off to its new owner in today's post. I'll be creating another pincushion order before the week is over. A great end to a great week.

 

Wooly Strawberry Pincushion...

I finished the Strawberry Pincushion last week, but hadn't shown it to you yet. I'm very happy with the way it turned out, so I've listed it up in my Etsy shop. I'm really enjoying working with my stash of hand-dyed, felted wools and look forward to finishing a few more projects so that I can get back to more stitching. I forgot how relaxing it is.

I used crushed walnut shells to fill it in the pincushion, so it sits nicely and is a bit weighted. It's finished to a generous 5 1/4" square.

If you're interested in having this in your studio or home, here's the link to the listing: Wooly Strawberry Pincushion. There's only one (for now).

Studio Time Out...

I didn't spend any time on creative pursuits yesterday.

Instead, I played with this face.

We went for a walk and enjoyed a beautiful day.

Heading into a holiday weekend, I also wanted to get all those "domestic" things out of the way. You know. Laundry, shopping, cleaning. All done! Now, I'll be able to spend the weekend relaxing, enjoying time with Handsome and Tag and checking back in to say "hi" to all of you. I'll finish that pincushion over the weekend and share a photo or two when it's done.

 Have a great weekend from our home to yours!

One Wooly Strawberry Pincushion...

Yesterday afternoon I dipped into my hand-dyed wool stash and decided to make a Wooly Strawberry Pincushion.

I decided to use cotton floss (3 strands) for no particular reason. Then I cut out all the components for the centerpiece of my pincushion...the strawberry, top, leaves and blossom.

Once all of the parts were cut, I settled in to do the decorative stitching. I really like doing this part!

This is the creative portion of the project. I can move components around, change the shape of the design or even change the colors. It's total artistic freedom!

The last step was to add the "seeds" for God's perfect fruit - "with neither seed nor stone".  They add a textural quality to the strawberry and actually created a little dimension.

By the end of one leisurely afternoon, I had completed all the stitching for the top. Today, I'll assemble the lining, front and back and then fill it. It won't be long and I'll have a new pincushion...One Wooly Strawberry Pincushion!