Photos From The Scrapbook...

Stitches' Grand Opening

Liam and I spent a little time going through boxes last weekend. We were looking for photographs of his mom (Jen), her mom (my sister, Lyn). In the process, I unearthed my scrapbook from when I owned my needlework shop in Fond du Lac, WI. I've been sharing photos this week in the Brynwood Facebook group (HERE).

I did write about the shop in one of my first Memory Lane Monday posts ages ago. HERE is what I wrote about it in February 2011.

Stitcher of the Month - August 1990

Each month, I featured one of my customers as "Stitcher of the Month". I had a table set up near the entrance to the shop, and that's where I would display some of their needlework along with the newspaper photograph of them. I loved that I was able to make each one feel special for "their" month. There were women and men who were featured over the years.

Laura and Me

 

This photograph is from 1992. I always bought space in our local newspaper to highlight special events, projects, and people. I wanted to do my part to keep the needlearts alive...not only in my world, but also in our area of the state.

Laura and I have spoken often of our love for the shop, and nostalgia for those days. Sadly, I closed after ten years. I turned my focus to designing as I became Brynwood Needleworks, and running both businesses and traveling was taking its toll. I closed the shop and that wonderful chapter of my life in 2000. A year later, Handsome and I moved to Florida.

I'll be sharing photos from the scrapbook all week on Facebook. If you're not in the group, feel free to join and enjoy the memories with me.

A Beautiful Reunion Tea...

Ladies of Stitches: l-r: Jan B., me, Laura I., Beverly R. and Pat Z.

Sunday couldn't have been lovelier or more fun. I hosted a tea with some of my favorite people from the days when I owned my needlework shop, Stitches. Handsome captured a photo of us, standing in front of my original shop sign, now mounted to the side wall of our compass barn.

My youngest sister, Jan was my first shop manager. Beverly (second from the right) was my second shop manager, and dear friend, Laura was my shop manager until the shop closed in the 1990s. Pat was a good customer, who became a better friend, and she's the one who actually worked with Laura, Beverly and our schedules to find a common date for us to all get together.

Laura, Beverly, Pat, and another shop friend who passed away, managed to get together once a year for their own stitching retreat. They've stayed in touch all these years. I'm so grateful to her for really making the day possible. Of course, Jan needed to be there as my first manager, too.

When Jan heard we were having a tea, she couldn't pass up wearing her fascinator on the weekend of the Royal Wedding in England. I loved it, and thought it looked perfect on her. I wish we'd all thought to wear a hat!

Our Tea Confections

Although it isn't shown here, there was, in fact, tea served. The lilacs started opening this weekend, and I managed to find enough blossoms to decorate the table. The aroma of lilacs filled the house.

Table Fare Detail

I went outside to the compass barn this morning and picked enough fresh rhubarb to make a "crisp". I added fresh strawberries, too. Nothing like "farm to table"!!

I served lemonade, garnished with fresh mint from my herb garden, and also put out pound cake slices that acted as a perfect platform for the ladies to test the jam and jellies I put out. There were able to taste test my Sweet Basil, Lavender, and Pomegranate Jellies, as well as Concord Grape Jam.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

 

The strawberries were delicious even before there were dipped in Giardelli Milk Chocolate (with a tablespoon of coconut oil melted with the chocolate). Adding the coconut oil (or shortening) keeps the chocolate from getting crumbly and brittle. (Eat your heart out, Shari's Berries!! lol) After dipping them, I placed them on parchment over our marble board. 

Brynwood Project Totes

As a gift, I gave each of the ladies one of the project totes I'd made. Pat's daughter, Danni was going to join us, but another commitment kept her away. She was missed, but got a tote that I sent home with her mum.

 

(If you see a color/design that you'd like for yourself, just shoot a message to me. I have enough materials to make duplicates of any of them.)

 

Youngest and Oldest Sisters

 

Time really flew. I wore one of my old Stitches t-shirts, and the ladies loved it. They all arrived right around 1 pm. Bev is down in the Madison area. Jan is in the Fox Valley (the other side of the lake to the West of the farm), Laura drove down from a northern port town on Lake Michigan, Pat lives in my hometown, so they all came from various parts of the state. One of us looked at the clock, thinking it was mid-afternoon, only to find it was nearly 6 pm! Time flew as we caught up, shared stories and reminisced about the shop.

 

We wrapped up our visit, with promises to get together again in June. We'll see if we can coordinate dates that work for everyone again, and next time, we'll all bring projects to work on.

 

Before I'd let Jan leave, I had to try on her fascinator. It doesn't really coordinate with a t-shirt and jeans, but I thought it was cute. I reluctantly gave it back to her, and now I'm going to look for one for myself. You never know when you'll be invited to the Queen's for tea and sweets! Perhaps next time, we'll all plan to wear hats. Wouldn't that be fun?

 

Strawberry Fields...

Charland Designs - Strawberry Fields

 

Long time blog friends know that I used to own a needlework shop in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in the late 1980s-mid 1990s. My first love has always been needlework. 

I stitched this sampler by Charland Designs in the 1990s. I love the counted thread stitches in this one, and Charland was at the forefront of the trend to add charms and embellishments to her pieces. It now hangs in my sewing studio, along with a few other favorite pieces. This design is called "Strawberry Fields".

I really love that my current quilt making projects incorporate needlework, but I'm also committing to creating some new needlework projects this year. I may even make a design or two available for you to stitch, too! (If that's something you enjoy doing as much as I do.)

Today, though, I'll be working on commissions. I'll share them with you as I finish them so you can see what I've been doing. What are you working on?

Almost There...

Brynwood Needleworks - Told In A Garden "Voice of the Shepherd"

 

Today, we'll be back in Wisconsin - the land of rolling hills, Holsteins and beautiful barns. Once again, Handsome will have brought us across 1500 beautiful miles of America.

I started stitching this piece before I owned Stitches - my needlework shop in Wisconsin - and I eventually mounted it, unfinished, onto these very same scroll rods to advertise that I had them (scroll frame sets, and the charts for this design) available to purchase in my shop. That would have been sometime around 1989 or 1990.

I think it's time I finish what I started. Don't you? As soon as we return to Fond du Lac, it will be my first stitching priority. While I'm in Wisconsin, I'll be sharing other projects with you that I brought along for the trip.

Tomorrow will be a day for special announcements, so you'll want to come back so you don't miss a single, juicy, morsel! See you then.

All Is Right With The World...

"Home Again" - Framed Cross Stitch Design Featuring D. Morgan Image

This framed needlework piece used to hang in my shop (Stitches) in Wisconsin, but now it resides in the hallway of our home here in Florida.

I love the verse:

"I hear your footsteps down the hall.

You are home again and safe.

All the burdens of the day are softened -

and all the night noises are music to my ears."

Handsome got back home yesterday afternoon. Tag and Bella (and I!) were jumping all over him, and we were all so glad to have him home again.

We spent the evening catching up on his travels, and sharing news on the home front. The dogs just wanted to cuddle and have him pay attention to them. (They were such pests!) 

Studio time working on class models was put on hold. I'll finish preparing for my Saturday class today.

Leisure Arts Chart for "Home Again".

This is the chart for the design, just in case you're interested in stitching this piece for your home. (It is not a Brynwood Needleworks design.)

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.

What A Wonderful World...

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Yesterday, when I least expected it, a package arrived in the mail from one of my Wisconsin friends, Kathy. It came with a beautiful card, a handwritten note (don't you love those?) and a wool pincushion created by her own hands.

Kathy used to come into my Wisconsin needlework shop (Stitches) years ago, and like me, she misses having the shop in Fond du Lac. I miss it because of the daily contact I had with so many talented and lovely people - and the friendships that were nurtured over our handwork. She told me she misses it, too - especially at this time of year, when the needlework bug bites her to create something new in counted thread. Those were fine days, my friend.

About the time I was closing Stitches and moving to the next creative phase in my life, Kathy was opening a beautiful shop (which I frequented), selling hand-dyed wools, beautiful threads and patterns to make items just like this pincushion. She purchased many of my shop fixtures (counters, cash register, etc.) for her new venture.

The note began with her condolences on the loss of our good dogs, but it wasn't a sad message. Rather, it was full of kind thoughts and reminiscences of good times we shared. Her dogs loved chasing rabbits, hence, the bunny-themed pincushion for me. So sweet!

All of your comments this week have made me smile, and I think Kathy's gift was the icing on the love-fest cake that we all shared together. You know how I adore pincushions and this will be a treasured addition to my collection. I hope that I'll be able to see Kathy sometime soon, so that I can tell her in person just how well-timed and appreciated her gift is.

Thank you, Kathy and all of my friends. I thank God for you in my life.

A Kind-Hearted Woman...

Many years ago, when I owned Stitches (my needlework shop in Wisconsin) I had this sign on the wall. When I closed my shop, my dear friend Laura asked for it and I was pleased to be able to give it to her. She is, indeed, a kind-hearted woman.

The story is that when hobos traveled along the railroad, they would leave simple drawings for each other as a form of communication. Sometimes these messages could be found on fences, buildings or even on sidewalks.

Today, I happened to see this sign on a wall, featuring many hobo drawings of yesteryear and their meanings and it reminded me of that plaque from years ago. In case you have trouble reading what it says under each image, I'll help you out. (Of course, you can click on it to make it larger, too!)

From left to right:
Top row: Free Telephone, There's no use going this way, Ill-tempered man lives here, Go this way, Keep quiet, A judge lives here, Doctor here won't charge, This is not a safe place, and Barking dog here.
Second Row: An officer of the law lives here, Owners will give to get rid of you, Crime committed here. Not safe, Good place to catch a train, Kind woman lives here. Tell a pitiful story, Trolley stop, There is nothing to be gained here, Bad water and These people are rich.
Third Row: The sky's the limit, Good place for a handout, There are thieves about, Road spoiled. Fill of other hobos, The owner is in, This is a well-guarded house, Man with a gun lives here, Hit the road and You can camp here.
Fourth Row: This owner is out, Doubtful, Authorities here are alert, Good road to follow, A kind lady lives here, Alcohol in this town, Halt, Fresh water/safe campsite and Police here frown on hobos.
Bottom Row: Jail or prison, Dangerous neighborhood, Ok/alright, Hold your tongue, Religious talk will get you a meal here, Be ready to defend yourself, Vicious dog here, Courthouse and A kind gentlemen lives here.

I love the simplicity of the drawings, and I'm thinking I might have an idea for what to do with them. I'll show you more as I begin working on my idea. What do you think you could do with them? Any ideas?
Donna