Forget-Me-Not Woolen Needle Book...

Brynwood Forget-Me-Not Woolen Needle Book

 

I just completed a custom needle book for a client. She loves forget-me-nots, so I made that the focus for this project.

I began with a dreamy, creamy wool and then chose vintage lace and thread colors that matched the interior floral fabric.

Woolen Needle Book - Inside

The forget-me-not fabric forms a pocket for embroidery scissors, packages of needles, or some other small tool. There are four wooly pages to hold needles and pins, and I included a straight pin that I embellished.

This needle book will go out today, along with a cork Nocturne overnight bag and a few other goodies. One more custom order to go and I'll be caught up to begin my Christmas sewing. 

Happy First Day of December!

Jeweltone Needlecase...

Brynwood Exclusive Needlecase - Jeweltone - SOLD

 I had a special request, which I created yesterday. It's already in the mail and on its way to a new home. I used a beautiful jeweltone print fabric exterior, gorgeous royal purple linen and overdyed wool interior, and finished with a sparkling lavender button.

If you really love this one, no worries. I have more of all the fabric and will happily make another just like this. I'm also going to add a number of other prints to my shop in the coming days. They'll be perfect for your sewing box, or as a sweet exchange gift for a needleworker or sewing friend. 

I sold every one of the 22 bottles of hickory syrup I made this week. I've decided that I'll be making more to have available in my booth at the Craft and Vendor show on November 21st. If you're local to me, it will be held at the Kewaskum High School, Kewaskum, Wisconsin. I'm also making a batch or two (12 bottles per batch) over the weekend. 

If you're interested in purchasing some of my woodsy, delicious Hickory Hill Farm hickory syrup, each twelve ounce bottle is $18, plus priority postage (because they weigh more than one pound to post). I only charge actual postage, and invoice through my Square account after I have the postage total. Just send an email (or FB private message) my way to reserve your bottle(s).

I'll be having a great time over the weekend, and I wish the same for you.

Studio Bliss...

 I spent most of the day - and part of the evening - in the studio yesterday. I
concentrated on fulfilling my "creative imperative". You know what I mean...
that feeling you get down inside that causes you to spend time doing that
which makes your soul sing. It doesn't matter what it is, but you have to do it.

I'm friends with Gladys Wright Moreno on FaceBook, and while on vacation,
I saw one of her beautiful projects I knew I'd have to try. She linked to her
tutorial, which I promptly viewed, and I was hooked. I only had to pick up
the wool I wanted at Primitive Gatherings - and then get back home to my
huge stash of ephemera to start one of my own. I planned it in my mind the

rest of the trip. (I'll share links to Gladys' blog and tutorial at the end of my post.)

I started with the various bits and bobs I showed you yesterday, but as I began

to play, I realized that my goal would not be to create another needlebook or 

sewing kit. Instead, I decided to create a memory book, of sorts, of the things

I love about Wisconsin...time spent in the woods and fields, our dogs, hunting...

You get the idea.

Queen Anne's Lace (or Cow Parsnip or Cow Parsley)

I began by stitching Queen Anne's Lace freehand for my first interior page.

I then joined the pages to the cover (per Gladys' instructions), and set about decorating

 each interior page. I fashioned a pocket from a piece of lace, and then I took two 

pheasant feathers I had saved from one of my last Wisconsin hunts prior to moving

 to Florida. (I stitched them into the pocket so they wouldn't fall out.)

 I also added the dog tag that belonged to my Labrador retriever, Bannor, who helped

me harvest that pheasant. Some of my best days outdoors were with my boy, who I still

 miss every, single day. I'll likely add his photo, perhaps on fabric, to the pocket, too.

I don't remember where I got the beaded star. It's vintage and labor intense. I

stitched it onto the wool using fine, silk thread. It represents the North Star, 

which you can't see here in our southern sky. I plan to stitch grass and fireflies

below it to remind me of those little, blinking lights which used to fill our marsh

on hot July evenings. I'm still thinking my way through the design for now.

I also added beaded flower trim to the half-flap...another nod to the plethora of 

wildflowers in the summer landscape. I think that will just stand alone, as is.

Mom Grace taught me how to make granny squares. I made this tiny one in #8 

pearl cotton. Not only will it remind me of her and the hours we spent together 

crocheting, it will remind me of the many afghans made by my grandmother that I 

still have and cherish. Grandma tried to teach me how to make a ripple afghan

and I just couldn't concentrate enough to master the pattern. I now know how to

make them, and she's probably smiling and wondering just what took me so long!

I haven't decided what else will go on this page, so I'll take my time with it. I'll

know when it's right, and then I'll finish that page. This could be an ongoing WIP.

  This is what I've done for the front. I had these ribbon flowers and decided to use them over making my own. You're not surprised to see acorns are you?

Here are the links to Gladys' blog and tutorial for you. If you decide to try this,
I'd love to see what you create. Click HERE to link to her blog...and Click HERE to
view her YouTube "Vintage Needle Book" tutorial for the inspiration for my project.
Her needle books are gorgeous and she also sells them on Etsy under "Collectibles".
Finally, you can click HERE to visit her Etsy shop, gardenofedenlife1. Have

fun browsing her sites. I'm sure you'll agree, her creations will captivate you.

I'll be playing with this on and off all weekend. It's raining most of every

day, so this is just the perfect thing to occupy my time while indoors. Have a great weekend!

Finally...

 I finally got back into the studio, and I managed to create a few more

gifts that are long overdue for mailing. I created a needle book, more

bookmarks and a strawberry rose, filled with organic wool.

This needle book has a teacup twill trim for a special person who loves them.

I also finished the last needle book for our Saturday Coffee Group.

Our friend, Flo received a beautiful applique' tool organizer from Brenda

as a special gift. I knew right away what I would do for Christmas for the group.

 

I noticed that there was a pocket in the organizer that would be the perfect

size to hold one of my needle books, but I needed to ask Brenda for a

piece of the matching fabric for Flo. She was generous enough to share some

with me, and now Flo's needle book is finished. It's embellished with

the same twill tape I used on the rest of the gifts for our group, and I used

a vintage blue satin ribbon to tie it up. I hope it will fit in the pocket

and safely hold all Flo's needles and pins with the rest of her tools.

It felt great to be back in the studio making surprises. 

I definitely think I have my 'mojo" back and I'm ready to get busy!

I can't wait to show you more....Soon!

Needles and Pins...

I don't know about y'all, but this week has just flown here at Brynwood!

Monday and Tuesday were spent editing and producing the video of the

North Port Concert Band Christmas program. Then, I set about finishing up gifts.

That didn't go quite as planned. You see, I also got two vaccinations - flu

and pneumonia - which made me a little groggy for the rest of the day on
Wednesday. I suspect it was all in my head, but I felt sleepy, so I went with it.
Needless to say, it wasn't getting anything accomplished in the studio, was it?

Thursday was a day for finishes. Grammie Jammies being produced (with
photographs to follow) and a few other small items to get in the mail.
 

All day yesterday, I taught my second session for my hand applique' class and

it was a real hit. Most of the students in my class also signed up for the hand

embroidery class and a quilt class that I'll be teaching in the new year.We 

really had a great day, and all the gals went home with nearly finished projects.

Late day yesterday, I still needed to finish making the gifts to give to the gals

at Coffee Club, so there was no sittin' around with my feet up. I headed back

to the studio while Handsome was at his last rehearsal for the week.

 I made needle books for most of my friends. 

This is my own design, so I've got it pretty well in my head. I just started

a little assembly line and the needle books were completed in about two hours.

 When Kathy saw the big pincushion I'd made for the guild gift exchange, she

let me know that she'd love a pincushion like it. I decided to mimic the design,

but used fabrics from the Fig Tree "Patisserie" line from Moda. It coordinated

the the "Dandelion Girl" fabric I used in most of the needlebooks, and it also

fit the colors in the Lillalotta "Coffee Break" twill tape I used to embellish both

gifts. It's a BIG pincushion, measuring about 9" long by 5" wide. I machine

quilted the parallel line pattern onto the canvas fabric for dimension. 

I then filled it with crushed walnut shell, so it's got a little heft to it, too.

It was after midnight when I finished everything. (I did take a break to make a

wild salmon and noodle Alfredo dinner for Handsome and me, and to hear

about his rehearsal, but then I went right back to finish the project in the studio.)

I hope my girlfriends like their gifts. I'll be finding out this morning, and

I might even take a little nap (and put my feet up) when I get back home!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Make it a great one.

Canadian Acorns...

Remember my request for acorns? Monday, I received a package from Canada! It was from Margaret B., of The French Bear blog. I couldn't wait to open it! This is what was inside...

Such pretty packages! I was tickled already.
At that point, I was still just looking at the beautiful trinkets
on the wrapping! Then, I opened each of the packages!

Can you even believe the generosity of sweet Margaret?
I knew she's talented with a needle and thread, but, Oh, My!
Here, look closer and I'll show you what I mean...

A fabulous, gorgeous (did I say fabulous?) acorn needle book
and matching acorns pincushions! All handcrafted by Margaret B.,
her very own self! And can you see the acorn stamp off to the side?
I can't wait to use it. And, as if that weren't enough...

There were two acorn place card holders
(which I'll be using in the studio to hold the cards
Margaret included in the packages), and two large
wooden acorns, which are already taking up residence
among the big bowlful of Brenda's East Texas acorns.

The antique photo cards are beautiful in their own rite,
and I'm going to keep them out where I can look at them.
They make me smile.

Dear Margaret, you'll be receiving a proper thank you in the mail very soon, but I want to publicly thank you for your creativity, your ingenuity (I never expected these acorns!), and your incredible generosity. If you had been in my home when I opened this package, you would have heard my exclamations as I opened each package. You would have seen the tears in my eyes that you would have gifted me with these delightful acorns...and the work of your own two hands. I love everything. Tthank you very, very much, my friend.