Setting Triangles...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Everlasting" Bird Blocks

I admit I didn't spend much time in the studio today. Summer has arrived, and the temperatures were balmy and beautiful. The light breezes from yesterday persist today, and it looks like another perfect Wisconsin day has begun.

I did add the setting triangles to my completed bird blocks, so all I have to do is sit and sew them to the rest of the flower blocks, and then to the completed center. I've been thinking about the border treatment, and all I know so far is that I'll add another crow.

Brynwood Needleworks - Wee Crows Seven

Let me explain that again, in case you missed it before. I learned an English poem as a kid, and it's stuck with me. It goes like this:

"One crow, sorrow

Two crows, joy

Three crows, a letter

Four crows, a boy

Five crows, silver

Six crows, gold

Seven crows, a secret never to be told." 

 

I designed this poem as a sampler (Wee Crows Seven) in the 1990s, and I reflexively repeat it whenever I see a crow. So, with that in mind, you'll understand why I can't settle for only one on my quilt. I must add another, so I'm going to put it into the border. Beyond that, I'm still working on the design. Perhaps it needs a bluebird, too? We'll see.

If the weather stays nice, I'll likely be outside for a while. Then, I'm planning a little studio time over the rest of the weekend. I'll show you my progress on Monday.

 

Shepherd's Home Design...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Version of PG's "Shepherd's Home" Pincushion

This is one of my recently completed projects. The design is one of Lisa Bongean's pieces included in the Primitive Gatherings' Wool Box #11. It's meant to be a pincushion, but I changed it up a bit.

 

If you click on the image, you can enlarge it to get a better look, and these are the modifications I made. First, I decided to make it into a piece that will be stitched to a ground fabric and framed. Second, I created the tree completely in stitchery, rather than adding wool for the trunk. Last, I added two crows in flight (where the pattern picture shows stick pins).

 

Brynwood Needleworks - BW "Wee Crows Seven" Sampler

I always add two crows because of the poem I learned as a child. I designed an entire sampler around the poem years ago. 

 

 "One crow, sorrow, 

Two crows, joy

Three crows, a letter, 

Four crows, a boy

Five crows, silver, 

Six crows, gold

Seven crows a secret, never to be told."

 

So, "two crows, joy" is always my choice. I'll get a frame next time I go to Menasha to Primitive Gatherings. I'm looking forward to how it will look with a border of fabric and wood.