Completed Commission...

I completed my commission yesterday on the ballerina slipper. This was completely embroidered in silk ribbon.

I'm sharing my inspiration image of the young ballerina who wore these slippers, and the costume she wore for her dance of the flowers recital. I traced the outline of the area I planned to embroider, and then made a rough sketch of what I had in mind. 

In the end, it took about four hours for me to embroider, and much of it required that I use my handy dandy needlework mini pliers. (I'll share a photo of them another time.) 

I'm very happy with the way they turned out, and hope that my client will be equally happy with the result of my labors. I'll likely know soon, as the slippers will be on their way home in today's mail.

Before It Flies Away...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet - "Hollyhocks"

 Another Strawberry Sachet is complete and winging its way to its new home.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet - "Hollyhocks"

 You can understand how this one with the hollyhocks might be a favorite.
 

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Sachet - "Hollyhocks"

 I chose colors to match the beautiful blossoms that grow right outside the farmhouse.I'll be making more sachets again soon, using the natural linen fabric. (I only have a very small quantity left of this offf-white fabric. Gosh! I wish I could find more!)

Ready For Finishing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hollyhocks, Ready For Finishing

 

I completed the ribbon embroidery this weekend, and now the hollyhocks are ready for finishing into a custom Brynwood Strawberry Sachet.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Hollyhocks Detail

Here's the detail on the embroidery. I love how the hollyhocks turned out, and the ribbon embroidery always makes me smile. I shared a sneak peek with the recipient and she loves it, too.

 

This is what I'll be working on today. By the end of the day, I'll have a completed Hollyhock Strawberry Sachet to mail out. I'll be sure to take a photograph before I wrap it up!

Also, I've been waiting for my packaging to arrive for the Floral Pendants to list them up for sale. The gift boxes arrived on Saturday, so I'll get those listed up today, too. Check my Etsy shop (link in my sidebar) to find them later today. Thanks for looking!

Working On A New One...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hydrangeas In Progress

I'm working on another Strawberry Sachet. This one will be "Hydrangeas". I'm having so much fun creating the stumpwork blossom heads.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lots Of Hydrangeas

 

Now that I've stitched all the blossoms, I'll be turning them into a beautiful hydrangea bush with silk ribbon leaves. I'll show you my finished Strawberry Sachet tomorrow.

Strawberry Sachet - "Hollyhocks and Bee" Embroidery...

Brywood Needleworks - Hollyhocks and Bee Embroidery

 

Can you tell my thoughts are turning to the outdoors and my gardens? This is the prototype for a new Strawberry Sachet. This one will be "Hollyhocks and Bee". I'm finished with the embroidery, so I'll turn it into a strawberry today. 

I'll definitely be making more of this design, and I have a few others in my head right now, too. I'm thinking Lilacs, Queen Anne's Lace, and a few others. I need a few more hours in the day, don't you think?

Tuesdays With Tag - Delayed...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Rose Sachet

 I know you're disappointed. Please accept our apologies.

With yesterday being a holiday, we didn't get updated puppy photos, so Tag said he wanted to wait until tomorrow to write his blog post. He wants you to see the babies at four weeks old, so he'll be back tomorrow.

Instead, I'm going to share pictures of the Strawberry Rose Sachet I finished over the weekend for a custom order. I hope you'll be back tomorrow to see the puppies.

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Rose Sachet - Floral Detail

I really enjoyed creating this strawberry, and I have ideas for two new embroidered strawberry designs that I'll work on this week. I can't wait to debut them!

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Rose Sachet - Flourishes

 

I'll show you the designs as soon as they're finished, but this one is now complete. Tag will see you tomorrow!

 

(Needle) Dancing In The Moonlight...

Brynwood Needleworks - Silk Roses

 

I'm working on other projects during the day, so I needle dance at night (actually while watching the Milwaukee Brewers play baseball). I've completed making the roses, so I'll work on the next part - the flourishes. 

More painting on my agenda today. We'll see how far I get on the strawberry tonight. What day is it again? See you tomorrow!

Embroidering With Silk Ribbons...

Brynwood Needleworks - Silk Threads

 

I spent the day yesterday with girlfriends in Menasha. Kathy D and Jodi M were there, along with the other ladies who participate in our monthly Sit & Stitch at Primitive Gatherings. 

I'm always inspired when I see the lovely things (quilts, wool pieces, etc.) they create, and I'm also able to share what I've been working on.

I took along the pieces I've recently shared with you from the last Wool Box, and then I worked on a Strawberry Roses Sachet that's been commissioned. The blossoms are silk ribbon, and the stems and leaves are cotton floss. I managed to do quite a bit while I was there, and hope to finish it by the weekend (working on it between other commissions and painting hand rail parts so they're ready by next Monday).

The weather has been gorgeous since Monday, so I'm going to enjoy as much of that as I'm able before the weather turns toward Autumn. The days are warm, and the nights are perfectly chilled. It's my kind of weather. More blessings from the farm.

 

I Love This One...

    Happy Weekend!

Shabby Silk Roses...

Brynwood Needleworks Silk Ribbonwork

   This will be my next Strawberry Rose Sachet. I love these soft, shabby colors. I may have to keep this one, but I'm sure I'll make more. Did I say I love these colors?  

Weekend Finishes...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Rose Sachet

I completed and shipped this Strawberry Rose Sachet on Saturday. It's filled with lavender buds, so it smells wonderful. Like my other sachets, it's large enough to fill the palm of my hand.

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Rose Sachet Embroidery

This is what the embroidery looked like before I turned it into the sachet...ribbon embroidery, tiny stitches and beads. I so love my time spent stitching.

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch

I also created a Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch in blue/silver fleck cork. It was delivered to a happy client on Friday. 

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch Lining

My favorite lining for this color cork is this aqua blue coral print canvas. I may have to pair these two with the canvas on the exterior in a future project.

Brynwood Needleworks - Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch Detail

I'm adding the "handcrafted" tag to the d-ring on these crossbodies, rather than using them as zipper pulls. I think I like this better. One of these days, I'll have custom "Brynwood" tags made to use instead.

This week will be spent packing boxes, putting together our tax docs to mail off to our CPA, and making lists (closing accounts, address changes, and stuff like that) as we move toward handing over the keys on our Florida home. Handsome and I bought lots of boxes yesterday, so there are plenty for me to fill now.

We took Sunday afternoon off to listen to friends perform at the Italian/American Festival in Venice. The weather was perfect, the music was fun, and we had a great time together. We'll both get back to work today.

Needlework Inspirations...

Brynwood Needleworks - Inspirations Magazine

By now, you know that needlework is my first love. Putting needle and fiber to fabric creates some of the most beautiful results. To me, it is a restful and genteel pursuit, limited only by the imagination of any given needleworker.

Brynwood Needleworks - Inspirations Magazine

Inspirations magazine is an Australian publication that exemplifies the incredible beauty created by the work of talented and diligent hands.

I happened upon images from this particular issue (#35), and was so smitten with some of the projects that I had to locate and purchase a copy of it. It arrived here from an eBay seller yesterday.

Brynwood Needleworks - Inspirations Magazine

I had to stop what I was doing long enough to page through it and take in the photos. Soon, I will sit down and digest every word and file away a project or two to attempt myself.

Brynwood Needleworks - Inspirations Magazines

I already had a project in mind when I saw this, which is what prompted me to purchase this issue. Ahhhh. If only there were (at least) twice as many hours in a day.

A Bowl Of Berries, Please...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossoms & Roses Sachet

This one is finished and on its way to Minnesota.

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossoms & Roses Sachet

I could happily sit and stitch my strawberries, hours on end.

Pulling ribbons into tiny rosebuds, blossoms and ruffles;

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossoms & Roses Sachet

improvising stems, leaves, tendrils and even tiny thorns;

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossoms & Roses Sachet

stitching bullion bars into apple blossom petals all fill me with joy.   Until the next one...

It Was A Very Good Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Handsome's Vest

Destiny and I got those buttonholes sewn out first thing yesterday, leaving just the buttons to be hand sewn in place. It took a whole twenty minutes for me to finish Handsome's vest for his gig last night. Now he's "regulation" for this group's dress code.

I left it a bit roomy, thinking it might be more comfortable for him to wear while playing. If he prefers it to be more fitted, I'll make that alteration later. I'm extremely happy that I was able to sew it together on a relatively short notice for him. This is the shortest lead time I've had since about thirty five years ago when I made what I called the "24 Hour Embroidered Shirt", for a relative. That's a story for another day.

Handsome loves his new vest, which makes it that much more rewarding for me. He appreciates my efforts and attention to detail, and that's why I'm pleased to make anything whenever he makes a request.

Brynwood Needleworks - Ribbon and Pearl Cotton Embroideries

After the vest was done, I turned my attention to the Strawberry Blossom & Roses Sachet that's next in line. All the ribbonwork is finished (there's more than what shows here) and it's ready for stems and leaves. I'd say that yesterday was a very good day.

 

I'll be at Nifty 50s today, so this will be what I'm working on while I spend time with some of my quilting friends. What are you working on these days?

A Handful of Strawberry Blossoms...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossom Sachet

This will go in the mail to its new home on Monday. 

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossom Sachet

  I'll enjoy it until then.

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossom Sachet

Strawberry blossoms...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossom Sachet

Ribbon Roses and Ruffles...

Brynwood Needleworks - Strawberry Blossom Sachet

filled with crushed walnut shells and lavender buds. A sweet-smelling finish for Saturday.