Patterns Coming...

 

I've decided to create digital patterns for my Brynwood wool pincushions. There are actually three. My Woolen Acorn pincushion isn't in this photo, but will definitely have a pattern.

I'll debut the patterns in June, but I'm letting you know here first. I'm going to create each pincushion - start to finish - so I can photograph each step. Once I've written the instructions, I'll be ready to list them up in my Etsy shop. I may even make a few kits available. (I haven't decided on that yet.)

I have two appointments today. Even so, I'm going to try to get in some stitching time. Hard to believe it's already "hump day"! Hope yours is a good one.

Tomatoes and Strawberries...

Brynwood Needleworks - Tomato Ketchup

 

Remember the bowls of beautiful tomatoes I shared recently? Campari, plum, cherry, and larger slicing tomatoes, that were either gifts from Shelly, my little brother, Christian, or from our few tomato plants.

I quartered or halved all of them (depending on size), and popped them in the slow cooker before Handsome and I went back to Christian's in Waupaca, WI on Saturday. When we got home, the house smelled of bright, cooked tomatoes, ready to be further prepared for ketchup.

I put everything through my mother-in-law's vintage chinois, straining out the skins and seeds. I put them into a large pot, adding the ingredients called for on the package of Mrs. Wage's Ketchup mix. (Added ingredients were: white vinegar, sugar, a 6 oz. can of tomato paste, and the package of Mrs. Wage's Ketchup mix.)

After bottling up the ketchup, all the bottles went into my large water bath canner for 45 minutes, and, after a 15 minute wait to avoid siphoning, onto my butcher block to cool. They're all labeled and put away in the pantry now, and will be ready when needed.

My review of the Ketchup mix is that it was sweeter than we're used to in ketchup, even after I added more vinegar and Worcestershire sauce after the initial tasting to cut the sweetness. However, I think it will be perfect when I use it as the base for my homemade barbeque sauce later. I will say, it is pretty, too, isn't it?

Brynwood Needleworks - Woolen Strawberry Pincushion

 

I also had an order for one of my woolen strawberry pincushions, so I did the assembly and embroidery for this one. I still can't sit on my sewing chair, so the machine will be moved to a countertop later today. I have orders waiting, and I can't wait any longer.

 

Frustration isn't usually a word in my vocabulary, but these days I'm frustrated because I'm in pain. I need to push through it, and get back to work. Standing will help. I'm gonna suck it up, and get back to what I love.

 

Woolen Strawberry Pincushion...

Brynwood Needleworks - Woolen Strawberry Pincushion

 

I hope you had a restful and peaceful weekend. The weather was lovely here at the farmhouse, and Handsome, Tag and I enjoyed our time together.

 

I mentioned that I'd completed another pincushion for a client last week. This one is already in the mail, on its way to a new home. It measures approximately 4 1/2" x 8 1/2", and is filled with nearly three cups of crushed walnut shells. (I love a pincushion that doesn't scoot around on my work surface!) 

 

Of course, because I make each one by hand - to order - no two are exactly alike. I may change up the stitches, or the colors may vary slightly. I added buillion bars to the center of the blossom for a little more dimension. I'll probably do that again, as I love the look. 

I have a busy week planned. There are fun and no-so-fun things to do, but will approach every task with a glad heart. Being happy helps make the job easier to accomplish, and really, if you have a choice, why not be happy?

We're waiting for new puppy pictures today, so Tag will have them to share with you tomorrow. It won't be long before we get to go see them for ourselves! I hope you'll come back to see how they look at FIVE weeks old!

Have the happiest of days, my friends.

(Can you even believe it's June 1st?)

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.

 

Ready To Relax...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mighty Oaks Project Tote

I got the last of my pending orders completed and shipped yesterday. (I do have three wallets to make next week, but these had July 5th deadlines.) I wanted to have them on their way before the holiday weekend got in full swing. I made it!

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Lavender Sachet

 

I had another woolen strawberry piece to stitch, but this one wasn't a pincushion. My client wanted me to fill it with lavender buds. I think it smelled heavenly, and I packaged it in plastic to protect it in transit. It left for its new home mid-week.

I'm going to clean up the studio today, and then I'm going to enjoy the rest of the weekend. I think a cookout is in order. How about you?

 

An Angel On His Shoulder...

Brynwood Needlework - Woolen Strawberry In Progress

 

I was at Nifty 50s yesterday and this is what I worked on. Jamie was leaving early to pick up a friend at the St. Pete airport, so I stitched on while the ladies sewed. 

About twenty minutes after she left, she came back into the sewing room to tell us that she was still in the parking lot, helping an elderly gentleman who seemed lost and confused. I went outside with her, to find this man sitting in his still-running vehicle with the door open.

She explained that he told her he couldn't remember how to get back to his nursing home. She had her iPad with her, so she searched local facilities and called their phone numbers. After contacting the fourth one, she finally found that he'd be missing for a while and people at his home had been looking for him. They said they would contact the local police department and get him picked up.

I knew Jamie had to get to the airport, so I told her to leave and I'd stay with the man until he was safe. In the meantime, our friend Kathy (who used to be co-owner of Sandy's Quilt Shop) came out to help me. Thankfully, the man wasn't beligerent. He quietly sat in his car, dozing off from time to time. We reassured him that someone was coming for him.

After waiting at least another half hour, I contacted 911 myself. While I was on the phone, a vehicle pulled in with a lady in the passenger seat. The man driving said he was with security from the nursing home and the lady was the gentleman's wife.

My heart melted when she got out of the car, ran to her husband's vehicle, put her hands on his face and kissed him. She said, "It's okay, honey. I'm here to take you back home." He was so happy to see her - and you could see how his fear was eased by her presence.

The security man spoke with the 911 dispatcher I had on the phone, and told her that they were going to make sure the gentleman got safely home, and they needn't send an officer or ambulance. He handed my cell phone back to me, and we went inside, knowing that he was in good hands and would be okay.

In this day and age, it's good - for so many reasons - to keep your eyes open to events unfolding around you. Yesterday, Jamie's attentiveness made all the difference for one family.

Thanks to Jamie for stopping (in spite of her tight schedule) to help the man; and to Kathy who thought to take a cup of water to him while we waited. Jamie said we had our own little Silver Alert this afternoon. His car was only a few yard from a wide open boat ramp into the Peace River, so we believe he had a guardian angel on his shoulder. We were just her helpers.

I did finish the embroidery on my piece, which will be made into a lavender sachet for my client this morning. I'll have it done in time to go with today's mail...with plenty of time to have lunch with my girlfriend and start another project before the end of the day.

Blissfully Busy...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Wanderer Traveler's Clutch - Black

I completed the clutch for a commission I recently received. Once I make the wristlet and key fob (this morning), it will be on its way to a new owner. (This client didn't want the shoulder strap.)

It also has the compass embroidered (tone-on-tone) on the exterior of the flap - in black, this time. In addition, I added the initials my client requested to the inside flap.

Brynwood Needleworks - The Wanderer Traveler's Clutch - Black - Interior

 

The interior is a different map fabric from my collection. I don't have a lot of it...perhaps enough to make one more wallet interior, but that's it.

I can also see I'm going to have to learn to take better photographs of the black cork. (I'll have to ask Handsome, who used to make a living photographing black Mercury Marine outboard motors, to share his expertise.)

I also completed another Acorn Woolen Pincushion, which was delivered to its new home last night. Today, I'll be completing two more orders for Woolen Strawberry Pincushion/Sachets, with two more wallets waiting in the wings. Yes. I'm blissfully busy.

 

Woolen Strawberry Pincushions...

Brynwood Needleworks - Wool Strawberry Pincushions Detail

 

Rather than work on my hexies at Nifty 50s on Wednesday, I chose instead to do a little woolwork. I completed them Wednesday evening and assembled them into pincushions yesterday.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Wool Strawberry Pincushions

Each pincushion measures approximately 7.5" long x 4" wide, and is filled with crushed walnut shells. They can be used as pincushions (without doing any harm to the applique' or stitching at all!), or to display a collection of favorite brooches. Both are available and listed in my Etsy shop HERE.

UPDATE: "Right Leaf Up" already SOLD - Thank you!

I hope you're all looking forward to the first real weekend of summer. I sure am!