Here, Chick, Chick, Chick...

Brynwood Needleworks - Lisa B's Little Chick Vintage Pincushion

 

In previous visits to Lisa Bongean's studio, I'd noticed her vintage pincushion collection, and saw this sweet, little chick. I fell in love with it. The last time I was there for our Sit & Stitch group, we were all in her studio again to see some of her latest projects, and I mentioned it to her.

 

I said I'd love to try to recreate one like it for myself, so she said, "Take it with you. Just bring it back next time you're coming." Of course, I said I would. She handed me two other styles to play with, but I'll wait until I get to those to show them to you. (Don't worry. I've taken photos of them, so I'll be able to share the project even if I've already returned them to Lisa.)

 

Brynwood Needleworks - My Velvet Fabric Order Arrived

So, I realized the first thing I'd need to do is procure some vintage-looking silk velvet fabrics. I search the "interwebs", and located a perfect source.  Mary Jo Hiney dyes her own velvets (and more), so I had a grand time choosing colors for my first order from here. If you're interested to see her gorgeous offerings, just click HERE.

I've already taken my measurements, drawn a pattern, and planned my project. I have some other things on my schedule first, but this is definitely in the near-scheduled lineup, and I thought you'd like to see it.

 

 

Brynwood Needleworks - TP Wedding Dresses
 

Thanks to everyone who played along to guess which tp wedding dress I made. Quite a few of you got it right! The dress I did was....drum roll, please...third from the left (second from right)! 

 

Charlene Reeder 

 

was the first one to comment with the correct answer. I'm going to send a little something to everyone who left a comment, but I'll include an extra treat for Charlene. (Please email your address to me if I don't already have it.)

 

My pretty model was all of fifteen years old! Her young sister helped me by holding tp in place, and handing things to me when I asked. I know we were being timed, but I didn't realize that until one of the bridesmaids announced that we had 5 minutes left! I had a ball designing on the fly!

 

I got all my tax prep work completed and my paperwork will be mailing out in this morning's post. That's a nice load off my mind, so now I'm free to get back to playing and filling orders. If you're looking for me, just head up the farmhouse stairs to the second floor, and pick the door on the far left. See you later!

Tuesdays With Tag - You Aren't Gonna Believe This...

Brynwood Needleworks - 11 1/2 Month Old Carly

Hi, Everybody! 

I'm gonna get right into it today. I wanna tell you all about this dizzy puppy I'm forced to live with. Just about the time I think that she can't get any weirder, she goes and surprises me. She really did it this week!

(By the way...Dad bought new "house collars" for the girls. It's gettin' almost impossible to tell them apart at a glance. Now Bella has a new red one, and Carly is sportin' a girly pink one.)

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Watching Sirius Black In Wolf Form

 

It all started on Friday night when Dad and Mom decided to watch a recorded (often rerun) episode from the Harry Potter series. This one is called "The Prizoner of Azkaban", and we all like watchin' it because this is the movie Mom took our granddaughters to see in 2019. 

 

The Milwaukee Symphony performed the music simultaneously while showin' the movie. They said it was an awesome experience, and after listenin' to the sound track for the movie, Dad's really regrettin' that he didn't go, too. Mom's been followin' the upcomin' performances, and when it gets within a hundred miles of us, she's gonna surprise Dad with tickets. I guess that means we'll have to go to the doggie spa. (YAAAA! I love that place!) 

Anyway, Mom was sittin' in her chair next to the sofa, and Carly got up on the sofa (and put her paw on Mom's foot. She does this a lot!). Next thing you know, Mom and Dad notice that Carly's watchin' the movie, too. Not just payin' attention to a sound or image for a little while and walkin' away like most of us normal dogs do, but really watchin' the movie. Heck, I was expectin' her to ask for a soft drink and popcorn! Mom and Dad laughed at it all day Saturday.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - The Master's Golf Tournament

 

Then, Dad wanted to watch the Master's Tournament on Sunday night, so he brought it up on the television. Bella and Carly had been lookin' out the window for "targets of opportunity". You know, a cat wanderin' through the yard, or a squirrel in the tree, or turkeys in the north field, or maybe even a deer!

 

While they were there, Carly heard the "thwap!" of a driver hittin' a golf ball, and she turned around to see what it was all about.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Will You Hit The Ball?

She saw the ball land and roll across the fairway, and then the next golfer took his turn. She was clearly fascinated by this strange tv show.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - I'm Waitin'

 

On the next shot, the camera angle was different. The ball flew from the left side of the television screen, up into the air and out of sight on the right side of the screen. Carly jumped around to see when it landed in our lawn. Dad and Mom had been watchin', and laughed out loud. 

 

Our young retriever was lookin' for the ball so she could fetch it. Bella and I knew that, unfortunately, there was nothin' waitin' in the yard for her, but that didn't deter The Kid.

  

Brynwood Needleworks - She Loves Puttin'

 

She continued  to watch the game, especially fixated on the puttin'. The camera always got nice and close to show whether or not the ball went "in the hole". (Mom said she's glad those noisy bystanders don't holler that "get in the hole!" anymore!)

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Dude! You Missed The Hole!

 

Seriously, this kind of closeup is almost irresistable to a youngster. She could hardly stand it!

 

Brynwood Needleworks - From Another Angle

 

She tried walkin' away and gettin' a little shut eye, but this game was as allurin' to her as a good fresh cowpie is to me! Believe me when I say she watched the game for at least three hours. We never did see the end of it. Mom said Carly made a better door than a window, 'cuz she kept blockin' the tv. Dad said he was gonna turn off the tv because Carly came awfully close to jumpin' at the screen.

I'll tell you one thing. That dizzy kid slept like a log that night. She was exhausted from bein' on high alert. She missed her afternoon nap, so I got to listen to growls, snorin', and puppy woofies all night long while she caught up on her sleep. Jeepers. I hope we don't have to go through that again any time soon, but Dad said we can count on more of the same in the near future. Great! Just great!

 I'll see you again in seven. 'til then..."Corgi On, Corgi Strong!"

 

Rain, Rain, Go Away. A Bridal Shower Yesterday...

Brynwood Needleworks - Danielle's Shower Cookies

 

Yesterday was so much fun! I spent about four hours with friends for a bridal shower. My dear friend of nearly twenty five years is going to be a mother-in-law in October. Her eldest daughter is getting married, and Sunday was the bridal shower, hosted by her younger daughter and the bride's attendants. 

 

The weather was perfect. It was chilly and overcast in the morning, but by the time I was driving forty minutes south, the temperature had risen and the sun was shining.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - The Future Bride

 

Danielle, her younger sister and brother (not in attendance) were mere kidlets when I first met Wendi, and over the years we have quite a few shared memories. I was so happy to be invited to share in the making of a monumental new memory for their family.

 

My guess was that there were at least fifty others who were as happy to be there as I was. The venue was decorated perfectly; the food (in typical Wisconsin style) was abundant and delicious; and even strangers were just friends in the making.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Toilet Paper Bridal Gowns

 

We played bridal gift bingo (you had to fill out your own card with gifts you thought the couple would be receiving, prior to Danielle beginning the gift opening, and then x out your squares if/when they were revealed when opened); a "how well do you know the couple" questionnaire;  and there was also a contest to see who could make the cutest bridal gown from up to five rolls of toilet paper. Each group (loosely) consisted of five women (except the ladies at my table left shortly before this game started, so I grabbed my model and went to work on my own). Can you guess which dress I made?

Each "tp bride" received a small gift, and the winner (which we weren't) received an extra gift. It was all great fun, especially seeing all the creative ladies in the room.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Party Favor Coffee & My Bingo Win Towel

 

I won a bingo gift, so I chose a button tab kitchen towel (created by Wendi's mom). I was drawn to one kitchen towel with a chicken motif on it, but I know you're not surprised that, in the end, I chose coffee! Then, on our way out, our party favor was a cute package with coffee from a local shop (enough for twelve cups!!).

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Dear Friends

It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, and to be able to get together with a woman I admire (and the daughters she's raised into amazing young women) was icing on the cake. I made sure to get a photograph of us together before I left to drive home. 

 

I'm really looking forward to the wedding, and plan to create something special for the bride and groom. As the wedding is in October, I have plenty of time to lend some thought to what I want to make for them.

 

So, last thing...if you leave a comment guessing which tp gown I made, I'll have a little gift for the first person (or everyone) who gets it right. I'll let you know on Wednesday!