I Remain Affectionately Yours...

 While cleaning my studio, I realized that I have assembled a

"tin container collection". I didn't even know I was collecting them!

You know how it happens. One here. Another there. Before you know it,

you find that you've established a little flock of something you treasure.

How many of something actually constitutes a collection?

Three? More? How many more?

This tin is one of my favorites...Mary Engelbreit's artwork with an

adorable little girl writing a note to a friend. Don't you just love it?

I frequently use this one to store floss bobbins for embroideries-in-progress.

I'll share more of my newly-recognized collection in future posts.

I wouldn't want to overload you all at once, after all.

 

 Handsome is back home, so all is right in my world again.

I hope you have something great planned for your weekend.

I'll see you later, but know that, always,

"I remain affectionately yours."

Cutting Edge...

I took this photo a few months ago. I was cleaning out the work drawers in my studio and realized that I have amassed quite a collection of scissors. You already know I love pincushions and all things acorn, but even I didn't realize that I'd been collecting scissors!

You'll see my beautiful green-handled Kai scissors. They have a serrated edge which holds even the slipperiest fabrics. There are Gingher scissors of all types and sizes, along with dressmaker shears in two sizes, antique Sheffield scissors and a treasured pair of embroidery scissors in a tooled sheath that I purchased when I owned Stitches in Wisconsin.

There are scissors for applique' work, machine embroidery work, a pair that leave a pinked edge, and there are pairs of snips, large and small. There are bent-end, curved tip and hooked to get under the tiniest, finest stitches. There are scissors that fold, too.

Arrrgh! As I looked at my photograph, I realized that the beautiful rabbit embroidery scissors that were a gift from my blog-bestie, Shell May didn't make the shoot. In my defense, they're attached to the gorgeous pincushion that she made for me, so I keep them in a needlework case that travels from room to room with me. I promise to share them separately another day.

I also forgot my heavy-duty, needlepoint canvas-cutting shears and my scissors used just for cutting multiple layers of fabric for those raw edge quilts and garments. They're safely tucked in the back of a drawer in my sewing cabinet so I missed them.  The latest addition to the collection - a small pair of embroidery scissors with a British flag paint job - didn't make it into the shot either. Next time.

In my defense, I will remind you that I have three different sewing/serging machines that reside on three different cabinets, so it's hard to keep them herded into one organized group. In the interest of efficiency (yea, that's it!), each table has its own set of scissors (and needles and threads and other tools). That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

What do you call a collection of scissors anyway? A herd? Or a flock? How about a "litter" or a "pride"? Hmmmm. I think I like that one.

Are you a collector of special things in your work room? What do you find yourself looking at whenever you head into a quilt, needlework or fabric store? Certain tools, like rulers? Come on. Spill. I won't tell a soul. Your secret will be safe with me.

Mocha Chocolata, Ya Ya...

I only have two so far, but I adore these Keiller & Sons marmalade jars.
They're just the right size to hold crochet hooks (without the lid on), paint brushes, or pencils, and the graphics are so wonderful.Something about the smell of citrus - especially lemons and oranges - that makes me happy. They just smell like sunshine and summer to me.
The marmalade doesn't have a lot of "extra" ingredients. Just all the good stuff that people can actually pronounce.
Heck, even the lid has beautiful artwork on it. Can you see why I adore them? Does having only two of them constitute a collection, or do I need to own about ten more for that distinction? Tell me that I need more and I'll get right after it! What do you like to collect?

PS. In case you don't know, my title is part of the lyrics to a 1970's Patty LaBelle song called "Lady Marmalade". If you do know it, you'll be singing it all day now, won't you?

Acorn State Of Mind...

Without realizing it, I have started yet another collection. I even surprised myself on this one!

While I was in a rest stop in Southern Wisconsin, I absentmindedly picked up a handful of acorns. I had been walking Kes and stretching my legs. I looked down and there they were just waiting to be picked up! Acorns.

Then, I came home and took a few new photos for blog headers that I'll be using seasonally. Like the one with the rose-covered white heart in my previous header, I photographed special items hanging in one of our oak trees that is currently laden with acorns.

I know a few branches are going to be taken down as they're hanging in Handsome's way when he mows the lawn, so I picked those acorns off the tree before they disappear. More acorns.

Last week, while searching for the flock of sheep in Colonial Williamsburg, I tended to look more toward the pavement than I usually do. Cobblestones. Possible turned ankle. You get the picture.

Again, I notice acorns - this time under the oaks that line Duke of Gloucester Street. Without looking like a "nut job" (pun intended), I started picking up acorns. Most of the acorns I picked up in Williamsburg were green, so I won't have any trouble distinguishing them from the others. Green acorns.

I'm going to purchase a new display frame or some cool jars so that I can separate the acorns by state. If I find jars, they won't need to be large, but I'll look for something interesting, with clear glass, so I can see the contents. Let me know if you have an idea for display. I'd love to know what you think might be a good way to show them off.

So, now I'd like to put out a call to my readers...Do you have an oak tree in your yard (or near by) that has acorns this season? Would you like to send a little ziplock bag of them to me? If so, please send me an email and I'll share my address with you. (Just click on the "Click Here to Email Me" link over in my left sidebar. See it? It looks like a little postcard. It's right under my little "Welcome" bird.) I'll also send you a little gift for your trouble!

I think this could be fun. If you agree, I'll look forward to hearing from you. I'd love to see how many states I could add to my collection, courtesy of my wonderful readers. I'll keep you posted as I receive acorns - where they come from and who sent them to me in a new Flickr album in my sidebar (Acorns By State). Even if you live in a state for which I already have acorns, don't worry. I'll add them to what I already have, and you'll get a thank you gift!

A quick reminder that I posted up a music player in yesterday's post so that you can listen to one of Handsome's Dixieland performances with Maggie Worsdale. I'll add more audio clips as we receive them, and have posted another player at the bottom of my blog (in the center) so you can check back in the future to listen to those new clips. Thanks!

New Additions To The Family...

There were so many wonderful gifts from Mum when she came home from England. I thought I should update my Personal Pincushion Collection photo album to share the newest members with you.

First of all, I'd like to show you my beautiful new swan. She's silver, heavy and old. She's quite large with carved feather detail, too. She measures approximately six inches long and is almost five inches tall.

Mum found her in an antique shop and snapped her up for me. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw her! As though one would not be enough, she also handed me a silver, boot-shaped pincushion, and an empty silver boot which she said I could turn into another pincushion. She knows how my mind works, and didn't want to leave the empty boot behind! That one looks quite old.

Then, just when I thought I couldn't be surprised, she took out a final old pincushion...a lovely little wooden base with a green velvet pouf on top. I was speechless (yeah, I know. You don't believe that for a second!) Well, I was almost speechless, then.

It's pretty exciting for my collection to experience a British growth spurt! If you click on the photo of the swan above, it will take you to my Pincushion Collection album so you can see the newest additions to my family.

I also have a Sunday update for you on the progress of my third quilt this week. I experienced a...hmmmm, what would you call it?...a little glitch in the process on Saturday night. I had taken all the 4 1/2" squares and joined them into four-patches, only to later find the actual pattern which calls for nine-patches.

After much consideration (and the inability to curb my OCD), I began the arduous process of "frogging" all my four-patches. I'm about a third of the way through that, so today will be spent continuing down this road until it's time for me to leave with Handsome to head over to the ballpark again. We had so darned much fun at the baseball game on Friday night that we decided to go to the last regular season game today. This time, I'll remember to take my camera.

Sharing Another Collection...

Happy September!!! You're getting a pretty good idea of the things that tickle my fancy, aren't you? Well, today, I'd like to share another of the things that I love and collect...Acorns! Anything and everything acorn.

When I started Brynwood Needleworks in the late 1980's, I worked with a graphic artist to design a logo for my then-new venture. I told Bob that I wanted my logo to have acorns and oak leaves front and center in my identity. I loved what he came up with and it's been my "mark" all these years.

I had collected acorn items prior to Brynwood, but became an avid hunter of all things acorn after Brynwood Needleworks designs became successful.

I thought you might like to see some of my collection, so I've made a Flickr album and uploaded a number of my pieces for you. Just click on the clock photo to go to the album. I'll add it to my album link in my right sidebar, too. (Oh, just so you know, the clock here is also a member of my "Clock Collection", which I guess I should photograph and show you another time.) The album's photos aren't all of my collection, but I'll add more to the album as I take more pictures.

I think my family actually likes that I have these different collections. It really makes it simple to find gifts for me for special occasions. ("Hmmm, let's see. Should we give her something acorn, clock, coastal, British, yarny, fabricy or Chicos this year?" There are actually other collections, but I don't want you to think I'm certifiable! You get the idea, right?)

I'm really a simple girl at heart, and the acorns are a perfect symbol for my love of nature, the outdoors and the possibilities they represent.

Oh, my gosh! Look what I found in one of my favorite online blog shops (Raised In Cotton) tonight! Of course, I made the photo a link! Aren't they cool? Do I need them?

I'm pretty excited about the Brynwood Boutique being open for business now. Please click on my Boutique title here, or the link in my left sidebar to check out the new items I added today...and thanks for looking! I'd love to know what you think.

I Simply Remember My Favorite (British) Things...

On Monday, Mum boarded a plane for the long trip across the Atlantic to visit her best friend, Pam (who Mum calls "Pammy"), and attend Pam's daughter's wedding. We have lots of relatives there, so in addition to Pam, I know Mum will see her brother, my Uncle Graeme and Aunt Gloria and perhaps others. She's going to be gone for a whole month!

I'm grateful for the Internet because she's already emailed me twice. Once to let me know she arrived safely, and again to tell me that she missed me and she's having fun. I savored every word, and could read the excitement in her messages. She's only been away three days, and I miss our daily chats like crazy!

So, I decided to pull a collection of my favorite British keepsakes out of their display or storage spots and share them with you. (And thanks to my friend, Linda of White Linen - Lavender Field, I learned how to make a mosaic of all of them for the main image here today. Hugs, Linda!!) You can also go to my Flickr link here to see closeup photographs and descriptions of everything in the mosaic. I even have a few more things that aren't in the mosaic and will add to the collection from time to time to share with you.

Just the activity of taking things down, dusting them off and remembering where they came from made me feel happier and closer to Mum. I know she's having a great time with her best chum, and I hope she finds delight in every second that she's there. I'm really looking forward to more emails from her, and then a long visit after she returns to the states. Of all the things British that I cherish...she's at the top of my list!

Love you, Mumsy! (Hi "Aunty" Pam!!)

You'll also be able to link to "My Favorite British Things" album in "My Other Flickr Photo Albums" in the right sidebar. I'll be adding more items from time to time to share with you!