Look What I Found...

Brynwood Needleworks - Completed Needlework Pieces

I've been slowly sorting and cleaning in my studios. I've pulled fabrics to share and donate, and I've also emptied containers that were in the rooms they related to, but hadn't been emptied. Today, I "found" a few pieces that I need to finish now.

By finish, I mean frame, turn into cushions, or complete in some other form. These are pieces I've had for years - and in some cases, decades!

Brynwood Needleworks - Told In A Garden 1993 "Christmas Angel"

This beautiful "Christmas Angel" is a 1993 freebie from Told in a Garden by Marilyn Leavitt-Inblum. Don't you love her designs? The design is about 4.5" square, so I may make this into a small bowl filler pillow...or a small square frame.

Brynwood Needleworks - Tristan Brooks Designs "Newbury Small"

I purchased this beautiful crewelwork design from a needlework shop in Williamsburg, VA one of the years Handsome was invited to perform with the Williamsburg Consort. I wrote about this in August 2013, so I'll initial and date this finished piece, before I frame it. The finished piece is 3" square. Perhaps it would be nice on top of a needlework box? The Heathway hand-dyed crewel yarns and Gumnuts wool and silk yarns were a delight to use. I wrote about it HERE when I purchased it.

I met Sharon J. of Corgis In My Garden in 2011, when she and her Arabelle spent the day with Tag and me in Colonial Williamsburg. Another special thing about this piece was that I purchased it where I met Michelle May of The Raspberry Rabbits for the first time. She came from New Bern (where she lived at the time), to meet and spend some time with me.

Brynwood Needleworks - Cayman Islands "Poinsettia"

This piece really takes me back. I purchased the handpainted canvas in the Cayman Islands (British West Indies) on Handsome's and my honeymoon. I held onto it for years without stitching it, but finally tackled it using DMC pearl cottons. This one will definitely be a small cushion.

Brynwood Needleworks - Told In A Garden "Ice Angel"

The last piece I pulled today is another Told In A Garden design, "Ice Angel". This one is larger, at 14.5" x 16", and will be framed. It uses metallic threads and beads, along with beautiful DMC stranded cottons.

I think this one will hang in the master bedroom when it's finished. Don't you think everyone should sleep with an angel on their shoulder?

Pulling out these pieces was like reuniting with old friends. I have more needlepoint, and I know where those pieces are. I'll be taking those out as soon as I've finished these. I'm going to enjoy these for a while, first.

Homeward Bound...

We left Williamsburg, Virginia yesterday and are nearly home. 

I've had this ceramic pin for about fifteen years and

it's always been one of my favorite, whimsical pieces to wear.

It reminded me of Kessie with her silly ears, and

she was never one to turn down a little ride in the car.

It just seemed the right image for today's post.

I'm hoping to find an artist some day who could make another one 

for me, but with a corgi that looks like Taggart grinning out the window.

Tag has become quite the little traveler, so it would be perfect for him, too!

I've got so many exciting things to share with you in the next week,

least of which will be a giveaway that I've been planning 

to celebrate over 800 posts (It's actually 867 today!)

I'll do my regular weekend posts, but starting next week I'll share a few

revelations and then launch my 800th Plus Post Giveaway. (Catchy, eh?)

Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions for locating my

Rhapsody of Grace fabric. I placed an order online yesterday 

and received an online confirmation for my order right away. 

I'm crossing my fingers that they actually have what I need now.

Because we're on the road, and I placed the order online while we

were driving (don't you just love modern technology?) I'll have to

wait until Monday to call and find out if it's on its way to me.

I'll be home late today, and will be back in the studio as soon as I can.

Enjoy your weekend...I have lots of relaxing planned!

Another Visit To Williamsburg...

We're back in Williamsburg, Virginia, but this year we're living in our Airstream instead of a hotel room. Handsome was invited to again perform with the Williamsburg Consort, so we'll be here for rehearsals and a free performance for the residents of the city.

It's been raining since we arrived, but we've been safe, warm and cozy in the Flying Cloud. I don't envy the tent campers here at all. Our campground is beautiful, tucked into a few hundred acres of wilderness, but we have all the amenities, too. There is a laundry facility, small shop, an arcade for the bored kids, and our campsites have electricity, water, sewer, cable and wifi. I'm happy as long as I can get to my blog and read yours!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing a special day that Tag and I spent with friends after we arrived. You won't want to miss our story and photos. Tag is a wonderful little traveler and we're so glad that he's a part of our family. Unlike many of the dogs in the campground, he's not a barker (thank Heaven!), and he only gets noisy when he's running up and down inside the Cloud and playing with one of us. As soon as we "hush" him, he stops and settles down. He's making some of the bigger and older dogs look like delinquents.

I'm going to get back to enjoying the area where our great country got its start. Williamsburg is such a lovely area and I don't want to miss visiting the colonial area again. I just can't get enough of the history around here. Have a great day yourself, and I'll be back tomorrow with photos and a new story to share.

PS. Happy belated extended seventh Anniversary to my friend, Carol (Serendipity blog) and her charming husband, Jack. Their special day was Sunday. Wishing you many more loving and happy years together, my friends.

Another Williamsburg Year Comes To A Close...

This is my final post for our Williamsburg trip for 2010. We had a wonderful time, and although I already shared photographs from the Thursday evening concert, I'd want to share a few more from Handsome's special music performance during the day on Thursday.

The Dixieland Band (for which he is the drummer) always takes a side trip to a local nursing home to play for the residents. I'm sure I shared photos last year, but this was just as much, if not more, fun this year.
A lot of residents filled the common area. Those with hearing aids moved to the back because they said the music was "too loud", but I saw them back there, tapping their feet and clapping their hands, too. Even if they hadn't joined us in the common room, residents were able to enjoy the music from the dining and physical therapy areas, too.
You may remember that this sweetheart attended last year, and I'm pleased to say that she joined us again this year. She made sure she was in the common area early enough to get a front row seat, and the music had barely begun when she was tapping and clapping. I'm told that, while I was out parking our truck, Handsome was setting up his drum kit, and she was plinking on the piano, concerned that it be in tune for their performance.

By the end of the first number, she was on her feet and cutting a rug! We couldn't help but giggle when she turned her back to the audience and wiggled her butt. She was quite the spry young lady, I tell you!
Seated next to her was a rather dapper gentleman who had come in after she was seated. By the third number, he had asked her to dance and I'm here to tell you - THEY. WERE. GOOD!
I worried a bit that there might be a "dip" at the end of a number...never quite sure whether he might dip her - or she might dip him! Thankfully, they thought better of theatrical tricks and stuck to the basics. They might have put a few Dancing With The Stars favorites to shame!

That evening at the full concert, I saw that same sweet lady in the row in front of me. She smiled from ear to ear and her enjoyment fairly glowed on her face.

Go To FileFactory.com

You can hear one of their performances by clicking on the player to start the music. Hope you can just imagine this cute couple dancing their socks off!
We did the drawings for the Williamsburg Welcome Quilt, pillow and afghan after the concert. Maggie won the afghan and was thrilled to have it. Here's a photo of her hamming it up for the camera. Looks good on her, don't you think?

I asked Sally Craig (the Consort organizer) to let me know when she had a final accounting, so that I might share how much money was raised for the Scholarship Fund. I'll get back to you with that information as soon as I have it.

Another Consort under our belts. It was a great year spent reconnecting with old friends. We drove straight through on our trip back to Florida. We didn't finish our good-byes and set out until 10 am Friday morning. Add two hours for a traffic jam just south of Savannah, and we arrived home at 4:30 am on Saturday. Kes was so glad to see us, and I'll tell you the feeling was mutual. I missed my little dog and am glad for the three of us to be back home together.

PS. You've been busy, commenting and joining Brynwood's friends list! Now it's time for me to get back to business and make not one, but two lap quilts for my 500th Post/Friends Giveaway! Thank you so much for making me feel so loved. Please know that I feel the same about you!

Maggie And The Lt. Colonel...

Here is the program from last night's Williamsburg Consort "America Alive" concert. It was fabulous! Tom Puwalski was the clarinet soloist and his musicality was second to none. He received standing ovations for each of his performances, but there was an irrepressible presence in the house, and she stole the show.
Miss Maggie Worsdale brought down the house...again! When she sang "Alexander's Ragtime Band", the interplay between her and the conductor, Lt. Colonel Larry Lang (USAF) tickled everyone in the audience.
When she came back onstage to perform "All That Jazz", he started teasing her about her hat. She told him that after her performance, she'd let him wear it.

Then, she started singing her baudy rendition of the song and he had a hard time not laughing during the performance when she twirled her cape and hit him square in the tush! He really wasn't expecting that. (Being a serious military type, and all.)
The song ended, she reminded him that he was going to put on her hat. She handed it to him, and (to all of our surprise), he bent over and placed on his head! What a sport!
She had one more number (with a guest conductor) to do after this embrace, so she told him he had to take her hat offstage with him. He stepped down off the podium, hung his head, bent his shoulders...and still wearing her hat, sauntered off the stage. The house filled with laughter.

This is the image I'll remember from this year's Consort performance...a memory of all of the fun we had this year in Williamsburg. It was a wonderful week with all of our musical friends.

Today we'll load up the F150 and head south. Time to leave and go back to Florida. We're heading home, Kessie. Keep the light on for us. I'll share more photographs after we get back home. (I've saved some great ones of Handsome's Dixieland Band performance for you.)

A Joyful Obsession...

I was really busy yesterday! I finished the Williamsburg Consort pillow project, so I'm set to go to Virginia now. (Well, except for packing, cleaning the house before we leave because I don't like coming home to a messy house, and last minute errands.) I'm happy with the way it turned out, and hope that this, too, will generate more for the scholarship fund.

I shipped out some orders and my September ATC for the Blissfull ATC Swap group, and then late day, I got a phone call to tell me that the quilt I made for our master bedroom is quilted and ready to pick up. I'm not sure I'll have time to bind it before we leave on our trip, but if I do, I'll photograph it on our bed for you.
I finished this project, too. I can only give a peek right now. I will be shipping it out today, and hope that my Victorian Cuff Swap partner likes it. Once she receives it, I promise I'll show you the entire finished cuff. It's going to a new blog friend living in England, and goodness, I sure hope she loves it!
One of the comments I received yesterday on my giveaway post was this one from Lisette:

Ok, what would I like to see in a next entry. I would really love (t0) hear why you are so crazy about the acorn.

Hugs,
Lisette

Thanks for asking! I've always been a country girl, preferring a quiet woodland path of a nature walk to the hard concrete sidewalks and noise in town. I always found myself gravitating to the oak trees on my explorations. I love their size, majesty and beauty. They convey feelings of age and protection to me.

When I conceived my design business, Brynwood Needleworks, Kes' grandmother, Bryn was the inspiration for the name. Memories of those oak trees with their acorn treasures inspired one of my requirements when I hired our friend, Bob Fehring (who owns Artel' Design Studio in Waupun, Wisconsin) to design my logo.That was in 1989, and since then, I can't pass up anything "acorn" without considering whether or not to add it to my collection. Even the real ones that are regularly sent to me from my blog friends are prized gifts . I add them to a beautiful, big vase in the studio where they are precious reminders of old and new friendships. My friend, Michelle Palmer, coats hers with gel medium to keep them dark and shiny. I think I'm going to do that, too (after I get back from my trip).

So, Lisette. There you have it. My explanation for a joyful obsession...just one of many collections! Thanks again for asking!I'm overwhelmed with your kind comments and entries in my 500th Post Giveaway! I have been reading every single comment and want to thank everyone for your lovely words. So much so that I have another surprise for you...

If, in the course of doing this giveaway, we reach 500 friends (followers), too...I'll add a second drawing for a second lap quilt! I'll chose another fabric collection and post it tomorrow - just in case.

So, if you haven't done so yet, and you're so inclined...please share my giveaway on your blog. Not only will you earn another chance in the drawing, but if we get to 500 followers, you'll also earn a second opportunity to win a lap quilt. hee hee Are you happy yet?

The Last Project For Williamsburg...

Our friend, Ellen D., joined us for dinner last night, and we had a wonderful visit. It was so nice to have her here with us. She's such a delightful lady, and Handsome and I both love her.

I did have time to get some sewing in earlier in the day, so I decided I'd better make that pillow for the second raffle prize for the Williamsburg Consort scholarship fund next week. It's the last project for Williamsburg this year.

Miss Ellie sewed the Consort logo onto some of my creamy, dreamy fabric and then I chose three fabrics to work into my pillow design. Although it won't match the Williamsburg Welcome quilt, it has a musical theme, and has some of the same fabric elements.
I sewed three borders around the logo, and added an insert for another pop of color before adding the ruffle . I then created the ruffle using the same music score fabric that's in the quilt. The brick-colored fabric is also in the quilt. I'll attach the ruffle today and then attach the back (which will be the same fabric as the cream color in the center of the front.

I'm looking forward to taking it, along with the quilt, to Williamsburg. I also have a beautiful afghan that's going to Williamsburg. My vocal soloist friend, Kim, created it and it's fabulous. I'll take a photo to share with you before we take it north.I'm hoping they all raise a lot of money for the student scholarship fund! (Fingers crossed.)

PS. Happy Birthday today, Amy! I hope you have a wonderful celebration, and wish you many, many more! xoxo

Packing My Old Kit Bag...

In about ten days, we'll be welcoming our house sitter, patting Kessie on the head and heading to Williamsburg for a week of wonderful music, new and old friends. Because I'm not the musician in the family, I pack a special bag with the projects I'm going to tackle while we're away.

I'll spend part of Handsome's rehearsal days sitting at one of the large side tables. I'll spread out my supplies and stitch away while he plays wonderful music. Really, the whole experience is so joyful, I wish I could have all of you there with me so you'd know what I mean.

Yesterday, I prepared one of my projects for the "old kit bag". (I promise I'll show it to you soon. It's an old train case.) I printed out a master copy of 1 1/4" hexagons that I then took to my trusty copier and printed out on card stock. Hundreds of them. Here is where you can print out the master for your own hexagons. All you have to do is choose the measurement you want for each side of the hexagon (1/2" is the smallest) and it will automatically create the template.

My 1 1/4" hexes require fabric pieces that measures approximately 3 1/2" square. I'll need to cut off the corners before I baste my fabric to them. So, I chose a few different, but coordinating fabrics and cut them into 3 1/2" strips. I'll cut them into squares before we leave, but I really liked them rolled up like little appetizers in my creamware dish.

I have no idea what I'll do with the finished hexes yet. Bright, youthful fabrics that might make a nice gift for one of my nieces. I'm looking forward to using them to create something "quilty" and bright when we return home.

Waiting For Williamsburg...

Sunday was spent relaxing and sewing the binding onto the "Williamsburg Welcome" quilt. This quilt measures 45" wide by 66" long and will make a great lap quilt for one lucky person buying a ticket from the Williamsburg Consort in September.

Remember, this quilt will be a raffle item to raise funds for their student scholarship fund. I hope it raises LOTS of money! I'll also have a completed pillow using some of the same fabrics with the same logo in the center. Another chance to win and raise more money for the kids.

Oh, yeah. I really don't like having my mug in the photos of my finished quilts, but Handsome has an aversion to taking pictures of my work with just hands and feet showing. I think I need a clothesline.We had a curious blue dragonfly that kept landing on the quilt during our photography session. I guess it was drawn to the colors. Did I ever tell you that dragonflies make me smile? I think they're so cool, and I love watching them dart around near dusk, hunting for a meal. This one would fly away when Handsome would try to get closer, and then come back and land on the quilt as soon as the coast was clear.
Again, my finishing touch...the label. I'll make a nice muslin cover for this quilt, perhaps sporting the embroidered logo that appears in the center square of the quilt. Then, I'll tuck it away for safekeeping until we pack for our road trip. Now, like us, this quilt is just waiting for Williamsburg.
On Sunday, I also created a new Artist Trading Card for the Blissful ATC Swap group that I've joined. We have rotating swap partners and a new theme each month.

This month, the theme is "orange". You might think that, living in Florida, I would have chosen the fruit. I didn't. I can't show you what it looks like until my swap partner, Francie of The Scented Cottage receives it. I'll be sending it out to her this week. If you're interested in joining the group, you can click here or on the Blissful button on my left sidebar for more information.

Chug-A-Lug, Chug-A-Lug...

Miss Ellie has a new cover (here), so Prissy needed one, too. I used another of Michelle Palmer's acorn images to embellish it. The perfect trim for the pocket I placed on the front. Do you like my new Brynwood logo labels? I'm loving them!

Here's a photo of the entire cover...All done! Not bad for a Wednesday, but that's not all I did.

I also completed the Williamsburg Consort quilt top by embroidering their logo in the center square of the star motif. I'll be taking it to Sandy's Quilt Shop today for the long arm work. (Can't you just see me giggling and doing my happy dance?)

So many of you leave comments of encouragement and tell me you're in awe of how much I manage to accomplish.

Contrary to what some of you have written to me, I do, in fact, sleep! Between you and me, I'm told I have the sleep imperative of an infant. Perhaps that's why I'm able to produce as much as I do when I'm awake. All I know is that I'm very focused when I work (just ask Handsome!), and have always been able to chug right along on a project until it's finished.

Big hugs to each of you who always take the time to let me know that you've read my post. I thoroughly enjoy your comments, and I promise after this month has passed, I will be making a point to respond to each and every one of you whenever you write to me.

You're truly my inspiration, my cheerleaders and my friends. I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you!

An "A-Team" Monday...

Monday was a very good day for me!
I finished sewing the quilt top for the Williamsburg quilt.

These colors aren't exactly what I would choose living in
Florida, but my choices were dictated by the main fabric
(above) and the musical theme of the Williamsburg Consort.

Believe me when I tell you I have enough of the main fabric to
make another quilt for the Consort next year and a music quilt
for Handsome. His will have lighter-colored fabrics to tone down
its overall appearance. But I do know that the earth tones will
be a real hit for the musicians when I take it to Virginia.

I assembled all the components as
I had envisioned them, ironing after each step.
Measure twice - Cut once.

Carefully matching all the seams and intersections...

...until I was finished. Now, I only have one step left on the front...

This is the Consort logo from last year.

I'm arranging for it to be updated to 2010, digitized, and then
Miss Ellie will embroider it into the center square of the star.

Off to the long-arm quilter and when it returns (in about 5 weeks),
I'll just have to add the binding. It will be finished in plenty of time
for Williamsburg in September.

"Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?"
(That's a quote from the A-Team, just in case you didn't already know.
A private joke between our nephews Tres and West with Handsome.)