With thy Needle & Thread

Time is Ticking...

2012-02-09T17:23:00.001-06:00

Have I told youI love old pillow ticking?

It's just one of those

simple

timeless

things...

My collection consists

of light blues

in narrow stripes...

darker indigo blues...

blues with reds...

wide blue stripes

(my personal favorite)

I've spent a few evenings surrounded by piles

of ticking that I've collected over the years.

Thumbing through it,

folding and refolding it,

even picking off some

down from their backside's

and

for the most part

contemplating

and

trying to

visualize...

But enough playing with the ticking,

it's time to get down to business.

Time is ticking,

and

a decision needs to be made

as market is quickly approaching

and

I've got deadlines to meet.

I've always wanted

to incorporate

old pillow ticking

into a sampler design.

The idea has gone from a sketch,

in my sketch pad,

to almost reality.

Except...

except, I'm "scaird" to death

to cut into the freshly cross stitched sampler...

It's going to give me sweaty pits.

I just know it is...

Wish me luck.

And with any luck,

in a few weeks,

you'll see the finished product

in a new cross stitch pattern.

Crossing all finger & toes that I don't screw it up,

Brenda

Mid Week Musings...

2012-02-08T18:12:00.001-06:00

I love this time of year.

When the tulips arrive in the flower case

at the store...

I treat myself to a weekly bouquet.

They always seem to pick me up

and

brighten things up a tad.

Aren't they pretty?

I used them in the photo shoot for

April's Word Play pattern cover.

Their orang-ish petals

worked perfectly...

* * * * * * *

Look what arrived today...

teeny tiny little pad lock charms.

they measure about 1/2" tall and are available in gold and silver.

They are darling...makes me want to create something with them,

right now...

but, I can't

there are too many other things

that need finishing at the moment...

* * * * * * *

And lastly,

we now have the 35 count Abecedarian linen back in stock

for those of you waiting for this.

If you had it on backorder with us,

your linen is on it's way to you!

* * * * * *

It's that time of year,

working long & hard days

filling orders (thank you thank you),

and

the evenings are spent finishing up cross stitch designs,

and

then the printing and packaging

of them,

for the quickly approaching TNNA show...

I find myself

really

craving some

"me time"...

Some time to just sit in a chair

without my groovy magnifiers on,

and no

needle and hoop in hand.

No counting.

Just me,

in the chair,

doing nothing...

The demand of this business

wears me

down,

but

I've got my big girl panties on

and

I'll survive!

so much to do,

so little time...

Have a good evening,
Brenda

Snowman Building 101

2012-02-05T20:03:00.002-06:00

Winter arrives to central Iowa!

Big and wet fluffy flakes...

the kind that look

like goose feathers

falling from the heavens.

Get out the snow pants,

get out the

mittens and boots...

let's go build a snowman!

Roll a big snow ball on the bottom...

Roll a little bit smaller one for the snowman's tummy

a baby-sized one for it's head...

Add a carrot

for it's nose...

Let's keep him warm

with daddy's

ISU

stocking hat...

add a few corks

from momma's

cork collection

for eyes

and

a happy face...

Say "hi"

Mr Snowflake!

A snowman...

shaped

from the warmth

of a little

ones hands...

that melts

this grandma's heart...

And there you have it,

Snowman Building 101.

Grandma B gives the little one an A+,

passing with flying colors!!

Have a good week everyone,

Brenda

It's Recipe Share Day...Crock Pot Cobbler!

2012-02-02T07:41:00.001-06:00

Today's recipe share seems appropriate

for the month of February

with Valentines Day approaching.

This is a quick and easy dessert

and

oh. so. good.

"CROCK POT COBBLER"

Here is what you will need...

1 Can Cherry Pie Mix,

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1/2 cup butter

Almond extract

Sliced Almonds (optional)

Mix 1 tsp. almond extract into the cherry pie mix.

Place into crock pot.

Melt 1/2 cup butter in microwave.

Place yellow cake mix in mixing bowl and add melted butter.

Stir to mix.

Mixture will be crumbly.

Layer cake mix crumb mixture over cherries in the crock pot.

Top with sliced almonds.

If you have some family members that do not like nuts,

place nuts

on just half of the cobbler.

Bake on low setting for 2 - 3 hours.

Once the sides start turning a golden brown,

do the toothpick test

in the center of the cobbler.

If the toothpick comes out clean,

it's done!

Serve warm.

Place in pretty little dessert dish

and

top with a dollop of ice cream.

This can also be made

with apple pie mix,

omitting the almond extract

and

substituting pecans

for the almonds.

And as always,

click on arrow

for your printable recipe card!


Have a good day everyone, Brenda

Love is in the air...

2012-01-29T13:10:00.000-06:00

Yes,

it's that time of year...

Time for the little ones to locate a shoebox,

round up some pink and red construction paper

and

Mom's roll of tinfoil,

and perhaps

a paper heart doily or two...

(loved those)

Valentines boxes...

I loved making these when I was young.

Anyone else?

It was always such a contest

to see

who had the best box.

So a little school days inspiration

and

we have a new pattern

titled,

"Be My Valentine".

Our box

is going to be a heart-shaped

chocolate sampler box

Whitman's chocolates...

We're going to

re-purpose

it into a fun little box

to keep

our scissors, thimbles

and any other

stitching ditty you desire...

We aren't going to use construction paper,

however

old pages from books

and

sheet music

will be our

paper of choice...

Pattern includes charts for a

cross stitched heart-shape pincushion,

an envelope-shaped needle keep

and

an embellished

needle threader.

All little projects fit nice and snug in the little sewing box...

All 4 projects on the

"Be My Valentine" chart

are quick stitches,

a fun weekend project!

And for those who can think outside of the box,

(no pun intended!)

this certainly doesn't have to be done in Valentine's colors...

can you visualize this in browns & blues?

Paint the heart brown

and

switch out the red and ivory flosses

for blues and browns

and

you have a piece

to leave out

and

enjoy year round.

But

since this is the season of Love,

I chose to do mine in reds.

Speaking of Love...

for all you eagle lovers out there,

love is in the air at the Decorah, IA eagles nest!

Yes,

they are courting

and

they are busy

with ~~house~~ nest

keeping.

So go take a look,

the infamous corn husk

(a new one)

is in the nest once again...

makes me laugh!

And lastly,

"March's Word Play"

is now ready!

Have a good week,

Brenda

Have you bought your box of chocolates yet?

2012-01-28T08:32:00.003-06:00

Have you eaten them all yet???

Be My Valentine

pattern is releasing

tomorrow,

along with

March's Word Play!

And on a more humorous note...

for all of us

chocolate pokers

pinchers out there!!

I feel so badly now,

I had no idea

they felt this way

about me...

Until tomorrow,

Brenda

Life is like a box of chocolates...

2012-01-25T09:04:00.003-06:00

you just never know what your gonna get...

to quote Forrest Gump.

I've had this idea floating around in my head,

and I couldn't seem to think of anything else.

So it meant a trip to Wal-Mart to buy myself a box of chocolates.

I woke this morning to take a photo of my purchase for today's blog posting

and this is what I found...

Hmmm...the dh must have thought I bought these for him.

Sorry honey.

These are for me.

It appears he needs some practice on finding the carmel in the box.

{tee hee hee}

The carmel one you see, is really the only one that I care about...

See,

I just know

that that square one

on the right is the carmel.

Carmels are

always

square...

I've now learned this

after lots and lots of practice,

trust me!

When I see a box of chocolates

I always think of how mad my mother would get

when we were young kids.

My parents would receive a box of chocolates

from their landlord

each Christmas.

It was as big as the back 40.

I. kid. you. not.

Us kids would do this...

you know,

just give the piece of chocolate

the little finger test

on it's bottom side...

if it wasn't something we liked,

it was put back

and the poking

would continue

until,

until the carmels

were all gone...

So when Mom had the urge for a piece of chocolate,

particularly a carmel,

there was nothing left

but the yucky ones.

Yucky ones

with holes in the bottom!!

She could be heard from the kitchen,

"looks like the kids have been into the box of chocolates"...

This post is a little heads up

for a fun Valentines pattern that is coming.

I'm hoping for a weekend release...

stay tuned.

I always always feel badly

about throwing the cute little heart shaped

boxes away,

so I've incorporated

a spent heart box

into a fun little cross stitch pattern.

So if this sounds like something

you will want to partake in...

run to your local

Wal-Mart

Walgreens

and buy yourself one of these...

It is the 3 oz sized Whitman's sampler heart.

You will find it wrapped in red cellophane.

And if you can't find one locally,

go here to order yourself one online.

You may want to order more then one,

this little project would

make quick & easy

little gift

for giving.

And here is just a tiny little peak

at what we're going to do

with the heart-shaped box.

Think cross stitch...

Think little place to keep scissors

and

other stitching ditties...

Think tiny little pinkeep...

And just think

how good

that carmel

on the right side of the box

is going to taste!

Have a good one,
Brenda

HURRY HURRY, DON'T MISS

2012-01-22T12:26:00.002-06:00

Live auction of a huge collection of American schoolgirl samplers now going on here...

http://www.sothebysliveauction.com/live/sothebysliveauction.cfm?L=en&EID=N08832&CID=433&U=ZNsMlqPRSdfYqZmgcigHGbSUWpEZ&P=attVfSTpKBQrbBHKsaRiHUbBbIpP&REDIRECT=1&LayoutID=433&tempWidth=undefined&tempHeight=undefined

It's Saturday

2012-01-22T11:20:00.000-06:00

it's Saturday AM

2:30 AM

and I'm awake.

Wide awake.

My mind is full of all the things

that I ~~want~~ need to get accomplished over my weekend...

Like finish stitching March's Word Play,

and complete it's patterns instructions,

pattern cover graphics need to be generated...

there's no time for a breather between March and April's word play,

no week off this time around...

I need to get Aprils finished

ASAP

so it can be released

at the upcoming TNNA show.

I need to get some punch needle patterns

for spring
sketched & punched.

I need to get my W-2's done

and
sales tax paid
before the end of the month.

I need to get my 2011 taxes

to the accountant

before April 1
this year,

in case grand baby #2 decides to come early,

like her brother did...

so I can go help!

I need to order some items we are sold
out of
at Country Stitches.

I roll over and look at the clock

and
I think it now says something
like 2:33 AM.

I'm pretty sure

by now

the clock might not be moving...

So,
I continue to toss and turn

with my mind
full of stuff

I've got to get done.

It's now 4:00 AM.

Yep,
I saw 3:00 AM,
too.

So,
I decided my
cluttered mind wins,

and I get up.

Up for the day.
No one in the neighborhood is up with me...
Nope,
we are the only house
with lights on...

The coffee pot is on.

It's 4:00 AM
and
my day of stitching has begun.

Coffee pot is empty by 6:00 AM.
you know you are in for a long day
when this happens...

While stitching
and
drinking coffee
like a maniac,
I must add,
my mind turns to
"what's for lunch",
"what's for dinner"???

I decided it

was going to be

just a

"cook-one-meal-eat-leftovers-the-rest-of-the-meals-type-of-weekend"...

does anyone else do this??

Hmmmm...

what makes really really good leftovers?
Lasagna!

This is a new recipe that I tried on my family over the holiday,

with some adjustments made to it,

by yours truly...

It was to be made in a crock-pot,

but I needed to speed things up a tad

and it works in an oven too.

I don't like cottage cheese,

makes me gag,

literally.
{looks like baby barf, sorry}

So it is something

that I always omit

from any lasagna recipe.

What caught my eye

with this recipe

is there is no cottage cheese,

but calls for Alfredo sauce instead, yummers...

It also calls for the

no-boil lasagna noodles.

Perfect,

one less messy step

that I don't enjoy doing..

.my noodles always rip

{sigh}

So folks, today's recipe share is

DELICIOUS CREAMY LASAGNA

Let's start, shall we?

Brown one pound of ground beef, with 1/2 chopped onion, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked.

And while the hamburger is browning, gather up these necessary ingredients...

After hamburger is browned; drain.

Return hamburger to pan and stir in 8 oz of tomato sauce, 26 oz of your favorite pasta sauce

(our family favorite is Bertolli). Add 2 tsps. of Italian seasoning mix.

Stir; mixing well.

Grease a glass cake pan. Spread 3/4 cup of the meat mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Layer 3 no-boil noodles over the sauce.

Spread evenly with 1/3 of the Alfredo sauce.

Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Spread evenly with 1/3 of the beef mixture. Repeat layers two more times, ending with the beef mixture.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover with tin foil and bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Remove tin foil and bake for an additional 20 - 30 minutes or until the top is nicely browned.

Let set at room temp for 15 minutes to set-up. Cut into servings, using a pizza cutter for easy cutting!

Serve with a fresh green salad and toasted garlic french baguette bread.

Click on arrow for a printable version of the recipe!

Brrrrr.....

2012-01-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

I think

on this

cold & snowy

Iowa morning...

I'll let

needle & thread

take me

to a warmer place...

a place where

daffodils are blooming

the bees are just

beginning to awaken...

Where Peter Cottontails

are nibbling

dandelions

(and maybe my daffodils, too)

Would you like to join me?

Bundle up & stay warm folks,

Brenda

What inspires me...

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

It's usually color that inspires me.

Old & worn colors

from

old ditties

that I collect...

Look at the color of the roof on this little house.

A little cardboard Putz house

(circa 1900 - 1920's).

Little houses I get out each Christmas and set in my window sills

and on cupboard shelves.

This old rusty red is my favorite color.

Old hand painted composition nativity sheep...

look at that color of the grass

An old shutter green.

Just take in the lovely shade of white

these old stick leg Putz sheep

have turned with time...

a dirty shaker white,

my favorite shade of white.

So these little collectibles,

in their old & worn colors,

that I get out each December

was my inspiration

for the soon to be released

March Word Play pattern...

Silly isn't it though?

When I think of March,

the first thought that comes to mind

is the saying,

"In like a lion, out like a lamb"...

or vice versa.

Living in Iowa we always hoped for the out like a lamb.

When I think of March,

I think of St Patricks Day

and

Ireland.

a country I would love to visit some day...

. My husbands mother was born in Ireland.

She would later meet her military husband,

an become a war bride.

I think of the beautiful green emerald jewelry

she would wear in the month of March,

jewelry that was gifted to her

by her jeweler husband.

Emeralds very similar in color

to the old chippy paint on my composition sheep...

It's fun to try and visualize

what the countryside of Ireland

must look like...

What comes to mind

is very lush green countryside,

with gently rolling hills..

Little white bungalow houses

with perhaps red tile roofs

a maybe even a little old man

out herding his flock...

When I think of March, I think of the four leaf clover,

or a shamrock

and the little story

that goes with it

about bringing one good luck.

I couldn't design

March's Word Play chart without adding this motif....

I spent many of summer days

of my childhood days on the farm,

looking for four leaf clovers.

When one was found

we would tuck it

between the pages our old black bible

to dry and safekeepings...

Silly

isn't it

how patterns come to be...

Have a good day,
Brenda

estos son deliciosos!

2012-01-15T22:15:00.000-06:00

translation,
"these are delicious"!

{Fajita Pulled-Pork Wraps with Avocado-Onion Slaw}

Today's recipe share is a new recipe try for me,

and it earned itself a smiley face :0)

The recipe was located while perusing through my stacks and stacks of cookbook magazines. I have a real weakness for these... I stand and glance at them, while waiting in the check-out lane of the grocery store and I have a real hard time resisting the temptation to buy...

anyone else have a "cookbook magazine weakness"???

It's a crock pot recipe and would make a wonderful item to serve if you're hosting a super-bowl gathering. The recipe comes from a magazine by Pillsbury, titled Slow Cooker - 325 hearty recipes

Let's begin, shall we...

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown all sides of a 3 pound pork shoulder/butt roast until nicely browned. Season with freshly ground salt and pepper. It is this step that will seal in the meat juices.

After meat is browned, place in a low temp crock pot; cook for 7 - 8 hours or until the meat starts to fall apart.

When the meat is done, shred with two forks...

the meat will easily fall apart,

yummy!

Go ahead, snitch a taste...

season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Add 2 tsp chili powder, 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin and one 16 oz jar of mild, thick and chunky salsa;mix well.

Now it's time to make the Avocado-Onion Slaw...

don't skip this part folks,

it is what really makes these fajitas good. The slaw adds a nice and creamy crunch.

Finely chop 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Using one medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

Pit and peel two medium sized avocados.

Cut into 1/2" cubes.

In a medium bowl, mix 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 1/2 tsp salt. Stir in onions and cilantro.

Gently stir in avocado chunks.

Warm tortillas (6 inch size) according to package directions. Spoon pork mixture on tortillas; top with avocado-onion slaw.

And for an added kick,

if you wish,

season with freshly ground pepper and a dash of lemon/lime salt...

adds just the right about of lemon-lime kick!

Spanish Rice makes a quick and easy side dish to these fajitas.

Click the Play button below for a printable version of this recipe!

Enjoy,

Brenda

More Floss Keeps!

2012-01-15T11:35:00.001-06:00

Available this evening around 6 PM'ish CST,

www.countrystitchesonline.com

Great little stitching tools to keep your floss

all together in one place,

and with a little bling at the same time...

stitch in style!!!

We've even added a few new ones to the collection!

Floss keeps feature photo snippets of samplers

from my collection of antiques...
measuring in at just 1 1/4" square!

You can see them

here.

Have a good week everyone,

Brenda

I can laugh...

2012-01-14T12:01:00.002-06:00

because I'm Beckham's grandmother

Baby Monitors...

something that wasn't available when Beckham's momma and uncle were babies.

Beckham and his momma and daddy moved into a new home this fall and it was decided that perhaps a baby monitor might come in handy in their bigger home.

I was impressed, these are the coolest things since sliced bread.

Why,

I even mentioned to my adult children

they would still come in handy

when the kids are in high school

and dating...

okay

sorry,

got side-tracked there...

Back to Beckham...

At nap time or bed time I just love sitting next to the "downstairs monitor" and listen to this little guy...

before falling into a slumber,

Beckham sings the abc song

over

and over

and over...

so sweet,

"next time won't you sing wis meeeeeeeee"

{precious}

After the songs are over

we move onto stories...

stories Beckham tells

in his own words

about

Thomas,

Percy

Gordan

James

and

Cranky, of course!

Beckham turned 3 in November and still wants to sleep in his crib.

No interest in his big boy bed,

with big boy covers...

Beckham thinks it's more fun to climb out of the crib,

then take naps these days...

I received a phone call this morning from Beckham's mommy

and

we talked about painting, stenciling, antiquing, the weather, recipes

and Beckham...

Momma seemed a wee tad frustrated,

as napping

is becoming more and more a thing of the past..

Remember those days?

Last evening he was tucked into his crib at bed time,

and a few minutes later

momma and daddy could hear him (on the baby monitor)

climb out of his crib.

He seems to have it now mastered without

falling...

Momma says to daddy,

"Go get him".

Daddy says, lets just wait & see what he does.

CLICK.

{The sound of the baby monitor being shut off.}

The one in Beckhams room.

By Beckham.

Yes, momma's telling me the story

and

I'm laughing my fanny off,

nearly falling of my chair...

momma however,

didn't see the same humor in it...

I can laugh because I'm the grandma,

right?

I'm thinking mommy and daddy just got busted.

Busted for eavesdropping on their 3 year old,

by their 3 year old!

You see,

there is some urgency in getting Beckham

to liking his big boy bed

and his big boy covers...

Come tax day,

or there abouts

he's going to be a big brother!

The new baby will need that crib in a few months...

the transition to his big boy bed needs to happen,

soon-like.

Beckham's going to have a baby sister

and

we are bursting with excitement!!!

Grandma's been buying little girl out fits

with matching shoes...

A little pair of denim espadrilles

for a casual,

play with big brother,

type of day...

Little pink leathers

for dress up

type of days...

and

of course,

every little girls closet

must have a pair

of zebra shoes in it...

right?

Have a good weekend,

Brenda

Welcome Phebe...

2012-01-13T17:26:00.001-06:00

Phebe has come to rest

her weary threads

upon the walls of our home.

Meet Phebe...

Please pardon her holes.

She is a little ragged around the edges

and

even missing in some places.

Her edges are paper thin.

She cost me more

then what I probably should have paid for her,

{sigh}

but I like her,

alot...

holes and all :-)

My first 18th century sampler,

"Phebe Cooper - 1791"

She is old.

Two hundred twenty one years old,

to be exact...

1791 was the year.

How old is that?

Let's think about this for a bit,

shall we?

In 1791 George Washington was president.

The Betsy Ross 13 star flag was flying.

There were just the 13 original colonies,

with Vermont becoming the 14th in that year.

The Bill of Rights was signed,

in the same year...

When I think about her age,

it makes me feel better about

the holes, the stitch loss

and

my purchase...

Do I sound like someone who is justifying

a purchase? :-)

These are all things I will tell the

dh when he asks me "how much"???

A brick house, a dog, a sheep, a cow and a man with walking stick

adorn this piece...

some of my favorite sampler motifs.

Proverbs Chapter 3:13-18 are stitched over 1,

with the rest of the sampler worked over 2 threads.

To the best of my counting abilities (without cheaters on),

it appears to be about a 52 - 54 count linen.

Yes,

those letters worked over 1 thread

are teeny tiny folks...so dainty!

Let's just say Phebe had good vision.

Question,

did they have cheaters (magnifiers) in the late 1700's??

Young eyes perhaps?

Rows of the alphabet

are worked along the top,

some in regular cross stitch

and

some in tiny eyelet stitches,

a stitch I'm still trying to perfect...

The sampler came to me

by way

of a

Connecticut estate auction.

Makes me wonder

how someone could part

with such a piece,

a family heirloom...

So kids of mine,

if you're reading your mother's blog posting today...

remember to tell your kids

someday,

that the samplers don't get sold

when I'm gone!!!

Have a good weekend,

Brenda

Where is he????

2012-01-10T17:17:00.003-06:00

He's late,

it's 7:30 PM...

he should have been home over an hour ago...

Where is he?

Doesn't he know

I've been sitting here,

on this chair,

looking out the window,

waiting to hear his pick up truck

pull in the driveway

for over 2 1/2 hours now,

so I can

run to the door,

greet him,

get my tummy rubbed?????

{sigh}
I thought today would never end,
tough day at the kitty office...

Upside Down Chicken...

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

As you may recall, part of my New Years Resolution was to post weekly recipes for my grown kids, so they can have some of Mom's recipes to tuck into their cookbook cupboard. We are two weeks into the New Year and this is recipe number 2...woo hoo, I haven't broken this resolution as of yet!!

Today's recipe is an old family favorite. We enjoyed this over the weekend at our house...

don't think I made this in the year 2011, not sure how I could forget about this one...it is fabulous! The kids, when they were younger, would request this dish...they called it " that upside down chicken."

It's real name is Amish Roast Chicken and Potatoes with Garlic. The recipe comes from an older cookbook of mine, titled NEW RECIPES FROM QUILT COUNTRY by Marcia Adams. This is a lovely cookbook with wonderful photos and stories of Amish country.

So let's get started...

Peel red potatoes, carrots and onions and cut up into chunks. Use whatever amount will feed your family...and maybe even a little extra for leftovers! This dish is just as good heated up the next day.

Peel 6 or 7 large garlic cloves.

Chop some fresh thyme, the more the merrier...

Rinse and clean a chicken well and pat dry with a paper towel. Place the chicken, breast side up, in a shallow 15" x 12" greased pan. I like to use my well seasoned terra cotta clay pan for this. Separate the skin from the breast meat with your fingers and insert a liberal amount of thyme between the two. Place a handful of un-chopped thyme into the cavity of the chicken. Place onions, carrots, garlic and potatoes around the chicken.

Add 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken bouillon granules to 1 cup hot water.

Melt one stick of butter. Mix butter into bouillon/water mixture.

Pour chicken stock/butter mixture over the chicken and vegetables.

Cut a lemon in half.

Squeeze lemon over the chicken.

Tuck spent lemon halves along with the thyme into the cavity of the chicken.

Season chicken breast with chopped thyme and freshly ground salt and pepper.

Place in a preheated 425 degrees oven. Bake the chicken for 1 1/2 hours. The chicken should now have formed a lovely brown and crispy skin and the aroma in your house is amazing....

Now take the chicken and flip upside down. Yep, this is where my kids got the upside down chicken from!!

It is at this time that you now turn the oven down to 325 degrees. The high temp of the oven to begin with seals in the juices of the chicken. When the chicken gets turned upside down, the fat from the dark meat will now run down into the normally drier white meat, making for very moist white meat....delicious!

Bake upside down for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until leg easily breaks away from the body.

Remove the veggies and chicken from the pan. Place veggies back into the oven while you prepare a gravy.

Let the chicken rest at room temp for 10 - 15 minutes before carving.

Separate the fat from the drippings from the bottom of the pan, saving the drippings

Measure drippings and add enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. Place in a small stove top kettle.

Add two packets of chicken gravy mix, stirring to mix.

Bring to a boil, stirring until thick. The lemon, garlic and herbs in the drippings make a delicious gravy...yummers.

Our favorite side dish with this meal is fresh green beans.

And remember those garlic cloves we tucked into the dish? You get to fight over those...they are wonderful spread on warm-from-the-oven French Baguette bread.

Play for a printable version of this recipe...click the arrow to start.

Free printable recipe card generated with Smilebox

Enjoy,

Brenda

Unfinished handework...

2012-01-08T14:22:00.000-06:00

We all can relate to those words, right???

Unfinished handework...

We all have them tucked here and there,

in plastic tubs, in cute little zip- up bags, in sewing baskets...

Right?

Just waiting for a cold winter's day to pull them out again,

to get re-acquainted,
if you will...

with the good intentions of,

"thy will be done"

I have many of unfinished pieces of handework of my own.

I've confessed.

I like unfinished work...

So much so,

that I even enjoy buying unfinished handework,
worked by others...
{sigh}

Here are snippets of an unfinished antique sampler from my collection.

It has various borders,

motifs,

alphabet and numbers

along with the "Lord's Prayer".

Our father

whichart in heaven


hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come... and as you can see, whomever was working this piece never quite got to the "thy will be done" part, literally... I can't help but wonder if the stain on the cloth had something to do with the failure to complete this piece. The stain doesn't bother me and I hope to some day do this sampler a favor and finish stitching the Lord's Prayer and re-frame it in a more age-appropriate frame. I'm drawn to samplers with out-of-the-ordinary motifs... See the zebra? It is the zebra's fault that I now own this sampler. See the cute bunny? I also love old samplers that contain a bunny. So it's also the bunny's fault that I now have this sampler in my collection... And then there are the floss choices, browns and blues... a color combination that makes my heart flutter. I own two antique samplers worked in browns and blues and they both happen to be unfinished pieces of work...


I also love borders. Another detail I pay close attention to when purchasing an antique. This sampler has varying borders on all sides, and even varying borders within those sides. There are 10 different borders used within the four sides of the sampler.


Some are small and some are very over sized...


The sampler itself is over sized... See those fingers? See those toes? This gives you a perception of the size of this piece. Yes folks, she is a big sampler... She hangs in my office at Country Stitches. I spend many minutes a day just looking at her lovely brown and blue, tone on tone motifs. She measuring 39" x 22". Here is a better look at the varying borders... they range in sizes from 1/2" at the bottom to the 3" tall tulip border at the top of the piece. I love the folk-art feel these mixed borders give the sampler... Design is worked on a 28 count linen over 2 threads. I have no plans on reproducing the sampler, due to the size of the finished piece. However there is a fun project in store for 2012, using bits and pieces of the sampler worked into smaller samplers, ditty pockets, pin keeps etc... all worked in browns & blues. Plans for this pattern series is due to begin in October of 2012... stay tuned for more details. With thy Needle & Thread, Brenda

In between fielding phone calls...

2012-01-03T08:22:00.003-06:00

(political phone solicitation,

I must add...)

(in case you haven't heard, our state is hosting the 1st in the nation Presidential Caucus today and our phones are ringing off the walls),

I did get some cross stitching and cross stitch planning done over the weekend,

woot woot!!

Stitching is progressing along nicely on the Sampler of the Season - Spring.

The house is now done,

and it even has a roof..

The house on this sampler replicates our home,

by the way.

Here are a couple of sneak peeks...

And

the finishing touches

and floss selections for March's Word Play are done!

Here is a peak it it's color palette...

March was the month that I had been stressing about most,

but I do really like how it turned out.

It doesn't scream St Patrick's Day,

just subtle little hints of it

amongst other Springy-Month-of March

motifs...I think you'll really like it!

Time to tootle off to Country Stitches

and

dig in after my much needed sabbatical,

Brenda

She came home for the holidays...

2012-01-02T09:03:00.000-06:00

Truly amazing, gave me goose bumps....

er um,

maybe eagle bumps!

An Iowa news clip for the Decorah Iowa eagles, enjoy! Click on below link for viewing.

Tracking Eagle D-1

Have a good day,

Brenda

Per Son Matthew's Request...

2012-01-01T13:31:00.000-06:00

or a New Years Resolution of sorts,

if you will...

When asking son Matthew what his Christmas gift wishes were,

he requested a book filled with my recipes.

This idea came about a week before Christmas

and it just wasn't enough time to put one together,

yet I knew it was something both of my grown children

would enjoy.

So call this an early, weekly Christmas gift to Erin & Matthew

and also

a New Years Resolution

all rolled into one...

A Resolution to try one new recipe a week,

and if it earns a smiley face

from the Gervais' household,

I'll post the recipe on the blog

and hopefully

my kids will have 52 new recipes to add to their recipe books,
courtesy of Mom's test kitchen!

It's a cold & windy start to 2012 here on the Iowa plains....wow, hold onto your hat! Looks and sounds more like March, then January...

very very windy and no snow yet on our ground.
They are calling for temperatures of 61 degrees for Thursday...
no complaints from this girl!

There is a nip in the air though, with the wind, and in general is a good soup day. Today's new recipe try is called Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup. A recipe I found while perusing on Pinterest that has earned a smiley face...love the mellow taste of tomato (not too strong) and the nice texture of the carrots and celery...delicious!

TOMATO-BASIL PARMESAN SOUP

Add two (14oz) cans of diced tomatoes, with juice to large soup kettle. Mix 4 teaspoons of chicken bouillon into 4 cups of warm water and add to tomatoes. Finely chop 1 cup each of carrots, celery and onion; add to kettle. Finely chop 1 T. fresh oregano and 1/4 cup fresh basil; add to soup mixture.

Place over low heat and cook down for approximately 1 hour, or until vegetables are soft. Take a potato masher and slightly mash down the tomatoes and veggies to smaller pieces (this is optional and was my personal preference)

Melt 1/2 cup butter. Add 1/2 cup flour.

Stir to mix.

Stir constantly for about 3 minutes.

When mixture starts to turn a golden brown, take off of burner.

Slowly stir in 1 cup of hot soup into butter/flour mixture.

Stir until well mixed.

Add another 3 cups of soup to the mixture and stir until smooth.

Add mixture back into large soup kettle and stir until well mixed.

Add 1 cup parmesan cheese.

Stir to mix well.

Pour in 1 pint (2 cups) of Half & Half

Stir, mixing well.

Add freshly ground pepper and salt to taste. I thinned down the soup slightly with 2% milk, just before serving as I prefer a slightly thinner based soup and it was delicious!


Enjoy!

And a recipe card for you to play...

this allows you to print, save or share!

Make a free recipe card design

2011

2011-12-31T11:40:00.001-06:00

A year in review

of pattern designs

brought to you

Country Stitches - With thy Needle & Thread...

The year of 2011 was a good year for Country Stitches - With thy Needle & Thread. There were a few firsts for us in 2011...

Began our first Mystery Sampler Club (Birds of a Feather),

reproduced three antique reproductions samplers,

and

started a new monthly series,

Word Play.

Designed a limited edition pattern

titled Soar,

for all the eagle followers

of the Decorah, Iowa eagle cam.

A donation of over $2000.00

was made to the Raptor Resource Organization

from portions

of the proceeds

from this

cross stitch chart.

As 2011 is coming to an end and we hang our new 2012 calendars,

I reflect upon the past year

and look towards the new year...

what to bring our customers

in the form of needlework patterns

for the upcoming year???

I am always open to your comments,

and suggestions...

so let us know what you'd like to see

in patterns from us.

I tend to follow the saying, "if it's not broken, don't fix it"...

so you can expect more new pattern designs

in cross stitch and punch needle,

as this is what you all seem to be wanting from us.

It's been fun hearing from customers who are now

getting back into cross stitch,

many haven't picked up a needle and linen in 20 plus years

and

we are also hearing from new customers

who want to learn the art of punch needle

on a daily basis...

A NEW pattern series

will be released in 2012

that I'm very excited about!

Stay tuned for more details to come..

think tiny,

think purse,

think wear them around your neck...

This series will include cross stitch, punch needle & wool applique/embroidery.

Also in the plans for 2012

are more antique samplers, from my personal collection,

will be reproduced.

More of my punch needle designs

will be converted into cross stitch charts.

And a few surprises are in store for you in 2012,

we'll keep them,

just that...

surprises!

I'd like to say "THANK YOU"

to all our customers

for supporting Country Stitches/With thy Needle & Thread

in 2011,

making it

one of our best years

to date.

I appreciate your patronage, loyalty, friendship

and enjoy keeping you all in stitches.

Wishing you all a

NEW YEAR

filled with

peace,

love,

good health,

prosperity,

Brenda

February's Word Play

2011-12-30T09:45:00.003-06:00

is here!

The printing is done,
my office is lined with stacks of them everywhere
and
I must admit,
I love the smell of freshly printed patterns...

The weekend will be spent packaging
them,
so we can begin shipping next week.

A word about floss kits for this 12 month series...we will stock a particular month's floss kit for 2 months. Currently we are selling floss kits for December, January and February. November kit will fall off as soon as we are sold out of them (only a couple remain). When March's pattern releases, the December floss kit will fall off and so on down the line. So...if you want floss kits for these, do not delay!

We will have full and partial floss kits for the February Word Play. The partial floss kit is for those of you who have already purchased flosses for the October, November, December and January kits...you then will not need to purchase all of February's flosses. If you are just jumpin' on the Word Play bandwagon and haven't done all of the months, you will want to purchase a full floss kit.

I am also receiving questions about auto-ships...
there is no auto-ship available for this series.

Reminder...

Country Stitches' shipping

is closed through January 2nd.

We'll be back to shipping orders on the 3rd of January,

for those of you who placed orders,

during the holiday shut-down.

Happy New Year everyone,
Brenda

Watching Grass Grow???

2011-12-29T09:31:00.001-06:00

Well... Agassi must have been a good boy,

because Santa

brought him Kitty Grass Kits

for Christmas.

Agassi loves kitty grass...

I planted Agassi's grass for him

and found a nice sunny spot for his grass to grow in,

on the end of our kitchen table,

near the big sunny window...

placement of grass was

unbeknownst to this fur child (so I thought).

Upon returning home from the grocery store yesterday,

with my soup-makin' goodies,

this is what I found

sitting on my kitchen table ...

Agassi always always practices good kitty manners

and

stays off the counters

and kitchen table...

andif those big blue eyes could talk,

I just know they were telling me,

I'm just

simply watching

my grass grow...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thanks You for all your get- well wishes!

Sounds like everyone in blog land has had this crud.

Why shoot,

if we didn't all live in all the corners of the world,

I would have invited

you all over

for hot tea and honey.

We could have sat around

and

blown our red noses together!!!

The chicken soup was delicious,

I enjoyed it by myself

as the dh is out of town on business.

I had some leftover cream from the holidays,

so I added it to the broth

and turned it into creamy chicken noodle soup...yummers!

The sore throat is better,

I'm just now to the coughing stage...

you know,

can't get it up,

can't get it down!

Feels like I have a hunk of gunk, the size

of Rhode Island, residing in my throat...

other then that

I think I might survive!

Have a good day,

Brenda

Vacation???

2011-12-28T17:51:00.002-06:00

Sipping hot green tea & honey

and

making homemade chicken noodle soup

were not on my list of things to do

during this time away from work,

vacation,

vacation from work,

or whatever you want to call it...

{sigh}

I seemed to have caught the sniffles that were going around the family at Christmas time...

sore throat, body aches, sinus gunk,

and

an overall feeling of

yuck.

I'm hoping the chicken soup simmering on the stove will work wonders and I'll be good as new

in the morning...

Signed,

Brenda,

who has a kleenex stuck up her nose to stop the dripping so she can type...

{sigh}

Coming Home...

2011-12-21T08:33:00.004-06:00

A favorite verse,

especially at Christmas time...

Having my family home at the holidays

is the best gift from

thee to me.

It's all I want for Christmas...

I cherish this family time,

the coming home

for Christmas time.

Blessings,
Brenda

Whoever said...

2011-12-15T15:58:00.001-06:00

this guiding Santa's sleigh is easy stuff,

has had a few

too many

egg nogs!

Just ask my human mom,

it cost her

"purrt near"

a whole bag of kitty treats....

Meowy Christmas Everyone,

Agassi

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-13T18:13:00.004-06:00

I've had several emails from you all wanting and wondering if there is, or is there going to be a pattern for the Christmas scene banner at the top of my blog. This banner was created with the motifs for the HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS pattern, I just sort of squished everything together in a row, rather then in a stocking shape! So yes, there is a pattern...kind of... and it is for sale under the CROSS STITCH category, sub-category PATTERNS on our website.

Also, am thrilled beyond thrilled, that you all aren't expecting some goofy leprechaun on March's Word Play...that's a relief! Thanks for you input! Release date for February's Word Play is January 3rd, upon returning from our year end shut down.

Have a good evening,
Brenda

Working on February's...

2011-12-12T08:22:00.002-06:00

Word Play
and
stressing over
March's Word Play...

I just am really struggling with leprechauns...
wish me luck...
off to eat my morning bowl
of Lucky Charms...

Have a good week everyone,
Brenda

Noise over head...

2011-12-11T20:14:00.003-06:00

This evening,
upon leaving the house,
the sky over-head was full of crows,
lots of crows,
lots of noisy crows.

My first thought was,
we are going to get do-doed on,
and my second thought was,
don't look up!
Yep,
don't look up
when crows are over head...

Several years ago,
I received a phone call from daughter Erin,
when she was a student at ISU.
She was crying and in distress,
sobbing really...
She had just gotten home
from a student health visit
after looking up,
into the crow-filled trees
on campus
and
bingo bango...
crow poop
right in her eye.

She's crying,
telling Mom what happened,
and Mom is trying her hardest not to laugh...
maybe I did laugh...
(no mother of the year awards for me)

So long story short,
a crow has very acidic do-do
and it causes
the eye to mucus
over rather quickly,
thus the need for medical attention
and eye drops
to prevent infection.

So
whenever I see crows,
as I did this evening,
I think of Erin
and
chuckle
and
then always think...
don't look up!

But I just couldn't help myself,
the amount of crows in the sky
was totally amazing
and
they seemed to be very agitated.
Agitated birds
usually mean there are larger birds of prey
in the area.

Then I spotted it,
a Great Horned Owl!

Wishing so badly
that my night time photography skills
were better,
as it would have been
a very very cool picture.

For those of you who haven't seen one of these guys,
they are big...
they stand about 2 feet tall
and have distinct horns on their head.

(Above is a borrowed photo from Audubon)
Isn't he pretty?
Just look at those eyes...

Yep,
I'm supposing
the fella out in our tree
is using those big eyes,
in search
of,
the Peter Rabbits
that come to feed on
dropped bird seed
in our yard at night.
I know,
poor bunnies...

Have a good week,
Brenda

I'm still here...

2011-12-09T06:33:00.005-06:00

but

there is just no time for blogging.

Sorry,

putting in long days
filling and packaging
your orders

and

getting them on their way...

Our Christmas cut off date of December 8th has now come and gone. We no longer can meet the delivery of in stock items in time for Christmas Eve delivery. And a friendly reminder...as our website and shopping cart states, please allow 10 - 14 days of time for delivery of your order during the months of September - December. With the brisk shopping on CYBER MONDAY it is closer to the 14 days, then 10.... This applies to domestic orders only, international deliveries can take 2 - 4 weeks.

ALSO...

For those of you waiting for either single skeins of floss #1101 Light Khaki from Weeks Dye Works or the complete floss kits for "Boughs of Holly", the floss arrived yesterday and those shipped yesterday, as well.

Til later,

Brenda

Snow in the Forecast

2011-12-03T08:06:00.006-06:00

and these spring-colored

flosses
are screaming
at me...

The linen is now here,
flosses are chosen,
let the stitching begin on the Spring Sampler of the Season.

Now is my next dilemma...
do I stitch it myself
or
pass it on to one of my model stitchers?
I estimate 77 hours of stitching time on this piece (ouch),
yes it gets expensive to hire...
however,
I'm asking myself
when I'm going to find the 77 hours
to stitch this...

There is this little monthly
pattern series called
Word Play
that has us hoppin'.
Which reminds me, I need to put the finishing touches to
the February chart
and start the stitching (eekkk)
Too bad I require sleep...

Which also reminds me it is December,
Christmas is less then a month away (eeekkkkk again),
no gifts are bought, :\
however,
I have bought the gift wrap ;)
the trees not up,
the wreaths aren't hung,
the lights aren't strung,
I haven't ordered my garland yet,
we may just have to be this house...
I'm in a tizzy
can you tell?
Too bad I require sleep...

Sorry, got lost there in all that fretting...
The original release date was December 21st, however due to a delay in getting the linen, the release for the Spring Sampler of the Season will need to be pushed back...hoping for mid January. This sampler is not as seasonal as the Autumn and Winter's, it is really an everyday sampler, with just hints of Spring.

ALSO....
The Weeks Parchment 30 count linen for the Mansion at Fox Hollow is HERE! Yes, you heard me correctly...it's been a long wait. For those of you who have been so patiently waiting for this, we thank you for being so patient. The darling husband has offered to work at Country Stitches this cold Saturday, and guess what what he gets to do? He doesn't know this yet, but he gets to cut linen! We'll start sending the linen to those of you who have it on back order on Monday. If there is any left after the back orders are filled we'll re-list this as an in-stock item on the website for purchase. We also got a partial shipment of the 35 count Abecedarian and 30 count Iced Cappuccino too, those are now listed as in stock on our site. Still waiting for the 35 count Straw by Weeks...

Twismas Twees...

2011-12-01T20:47:00.004-06:00

Beckham went Christmas tree shopping with Mommy & Grandma
and was adamant about the two tiny
"twismas twees"
coming into the house,
with him,
upon arrival...

Momma really bought them to put in a big pot for outdoor decorating...

but,
Beckham had his own plans for the twees...

no lights or ornaments needed...
Just Thomas the Train,
and a train track,
will do,
for this 3 year old.

Have a good night,
Brenda

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

2011-11-29T07:46:00.004-06:00

To our loyal customers who shopped online with us on Cyber Monday!

We like keeping you in stitches and your business is truly appreciated...we enjoy serving you!

Also,
have been receiving emails about when will there be more floss keeps. We are waiting for supplies... Once we have the supplies, more will be made and listed on our website.

Have a good day,
Brenda

Cyber Monday $avings

2011-11-27T22:21:00.009-06:00

Save 10% store-wide
on Cyber Monday
at
www.countrystitchesonline.com
(sale ends at 10:00 PM Central Standard time)
CYBER MONDAY EVENT HAS NOW ENDED

Enter discount code
CYBER MONDAY
in the discount coupon box,
upon checking out,
click recalculate tab
to receive
the discount on your online order.
YOU MUST DO THE ABOVE TWO STEPS
TO RECEIVE THE 10% DISCOUNT.
This applies to in stock items only, no back orders.

&
the January Word Play chart has released...
a few days earlier then originally planned.
Just in time for Cyber Monday Savings!

Full and partial floss paks are available for the January Word Play.

Have a good week,
Brenda

Three years ago today...

2011-11-20T08:44:00.007-06:00

This little ISU Cyclone fan was born.Who would have ever guessed

it would be

so much fun!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY BECKHAM!!
There are no just words to express how much we love this little guy...

3rd Birthday pictures to follow...
We are waiting for Uncle Matthew to come home,
for a visit,
and we'll all celebrate
Beckham's birthday
together next weekend.

On a side note,
about the first picture above
of Beckham in his little
Iowa State Cyclone Hat and Booties...

This photo just had to be the one
to choose
for this posting...
You see,
rumor has it,
that Beckham's Daddy
still has not come off cloud nine
after his ISU Cyclones handed
the number 2 team,
in the nation,
their first loss
last Friday night...
GO CYCLONES!

Have a good week,
Brenda

Gift Certificates...

2011-11-18T08:17:00.005-06:00

Country Stitches online is now offering gift certificates...
just in time for your holiday shopping!

Certificates will be offered in the following dollar quantities,
$15.00
$25.00
$50.00
$75.00

The certificates are being printed and here is a peek at my final printing proof.
Sorry it's so small, but it will have to do until the real ones arrive next week.

These will be real paper certificates, mailed to you in the mail. Yes, we choose to support the struggling USPS! Certificates will not be offered as e-certificates. You have the option of us sending them to the recipient, or we can send them to you, so that you may gift them to the recipient yourself. These are a one-time-use certificate, credit balances due not carry over. So therefore, whole dollar amount of certificate must be used at once.

So...
if there is a floss keep,
or a pair of little scissors,
or a new pattern or book
that makes your heart go pitter patter,
put
Country Stitches Gift Certificate
on your wish list this holiday season...
you're dh will love you!

A few holiday shopping deadline dates to keep in mind...
To ensure delivery of orders for holiday gift giving, please have your orders to us by December 8th. This applies to in-stock items.

Country Stitches will be closed for Christmas family gatherings, year-end duties, and just time to rejuvenate and work on a new design or two from December 23 - January 2nd. No orders will ship during this time frame. You are welcome to shop online during this time, however. Orders placed during the shut-down will ship in the order received after we open again on January 3rd.

Orders placed after December 19th will not ship until we get back from our December 23 - January 2nd shut down.

Please keep these dates in mind!

Have a good day,
Brenda

Turning cartwheels...

2011-11-16T07:52:00.004-06:00

about my new find!

I have this small collection of these...

antique linen grain sacks.

I.LOVE.THEM.

Not sure why, but probably because they remind me of the good old days. Days of when I would sneak into the granary to play,
pretend,
and make conversation with myself...
Did any of you talk to yourself when you were young? I think I would get the award for this, seriously! I would lock myself in the bathroom, stand on the stool, fling open the mirror on the medicine cabinet, and talk to myself in the mirror!
Yep, secret is now out of the bag!

The granary that housed the feed mill. This is where Dad turned his harvested corn into meal for the pigs. I loved playing in the corn, running freshly ground corn through my fingers, it had such a nice cool feel to it on a hot summer's day. Then there was the smell thing...loved that smell of corn grinding. This is also where I would find baby mice...tiny pink mice with no fur. Eeeekkk, you're thinking right?

My collection started out with a couple sacks with blue stripes and then I added a couple of gold stripes.
not sure why...
Am thinking it may be a subconscious thing...these were our high school colors.

But back to the cartwheel that I turned.
I was excited, beyond excited about this new find...

a grain sack with my initials stitched upon it!
It's red,
I love red,
but it sort of messed up
the whole gold and blue thing I had going...

Can't wait to used this piece in my Christmas decorating...won't it look wonderful sitting on an old bench as a table-topper with a few sprigs of fresh pine greenery, tucked inside my big ironstone pitcher and a Christmas ditty or two?

And lastly, I must mention...
we have some fabric on order that has the look and feel of these antique linen grain sacks.
and you can even cross stitch on it...
Will keep you posted.
Be patient,
sometimes the wait for fabric can seem like an eternity!

Have a good day,
Brenda

Did you know...

2011-11-14T06:37:00.007-06:00

that snow goes "nigh-nigh"?

According to soon-to-be 3 year old grandson Beckham,
when snow melts
it goes "nigh-nigh"...

Yep,
that is what he told his momma yesterday,
upon going outside
and
finding that their snow cover had melted.

Grandma loves it
when momma phones her
with these sweet little comments.
It makes being 50 not so bad...

Speaking of snow,
sharing just a little sneak peek
at
January's Word Play...

the stitching is done
and
just waiting to be sewn and stuffed.

Thinking this one,
is my personal favorite to date...

The charting of February's was started
over the weekend
and
this one of course,
will have a Valentines/Love theme.

I'm really enjoying stitching these
and
love that fact
that they can be completed
in just a week's worth
of casual morning coffee stitching...

Charting and floss selection
is also now completed
for the
Spring Sampler of the Season.

I'm getting a wee bit nervous,
as I don't have the linen needed to start,
and
may need to push the release date
for this pattern to after the holidays.

Also on the sketch pad
is a design
I'm working on
for the Piecework Magazine, March/April 2012 issue.

This issue will focus on
tools of the trade...
How our needlework tools
have evolved and their origins.

Should be an interesting read!

One of the tools/forms of needlework focused upon
will be punch needle.
I've been invited to supply the pattern design
for this particular topic.

Also, are you a pincushion maker?
If so, hop on over to Interweave to
enter their pincushion contest.

Have a good week everyone,
Brenda

Computer woes...

2011-11-06T17:51:00.006-06:00

I've been somewhat absent from blogging the past few days...
sorry
but
life has been busy
and
a little hectic.

I've been getting
to know
a new hard drive.

My computer died.
A relatively new computer in my mind...
just 4 years old.

The mother board
went out on it.
Mother board,
sounds pretty important
doesn't it???

This is the computer
that I do
all my
cross stitch charting on,
graphics work,
pattern layout
and
blog postings.

Yep, that computer!
Dell & I
were basically joined at the hips,
if you know what I mean.

So 800 some bucks later
and
5 hours of data file transferring,
I'm back up and running,
locating files
and
getting familiar with this Windows 7
operating system...

and thinking of the many other many things I would have
rather spent this 800+ bucks on...
like new ditties for the house, new shoes, new winter sweaters,
etc,
etc,
and
maybe even
some linen and floss...
{sigh}

Everything looks different,
even just old Microsoft Word
has a new look...

Let me stress,
that this whole process
was not done without
sprouting a few new gray hairs
and
there may have even
been a few curse words
flailing from my mouth...

I'm not good with change.
never.have.been.

So after a few stressful long days
of this stuff,

I treated myself
to some quiet time stitching time
last evening...
Time for some therapy.

The January's Word Play
is now in it's very early stages folks!

You just never know
what may inspire the next cross stitch chart...
A bundle of rose hips?
I brought back a bunch of wild rose hips
when visiting our son
in Denver...

I love rose hips.
Not the scented ones,
the ones still on their stems
and
still out
in the elements.

Anyone else?

I actually find them just as
beautiful as the rose...
only thing missing is their
lovely scent.

I especially love
finding them in the winter time,
blanketed
in drifts of snow...
cold,
but still hanging on.

Mother natures gentle reminder
that for everything
there is a
time
and
a
season.

Hoping for a smoother week,
Brenda

NEW Christmas Patterns have arrived!

2011-11-01T06:58:00.008-05:00

DECEMBER WORD PLAY

First off is December's Word Play! If you haven't joined in on this monthly series,
don't fret, it's not too late! All twelve of these will be worked on the 35 count Abecedarian linen, this linen is just now back in stock. Floss paks, vintage seam tape trim and rusty bells are also available! Watch for January's Word Play to release on the 1st of December...let the stitching fun continue!!

X X X X X

BOUGHS OF HOLLY

The BOUGHS OF HOLLY pillow is worked on the Fine Ariosa (22 count) over two threads...11 count! The bigness of the cross stitches on this loosely woven cloth is a mix to die for. The cloth is first distressed before you begin and it totally changes the texture and feel to this cloth that has a Rayon fiber content. We sell this cloth in 18" squares, you will need to purchase 2 squares if you choose to back the pillow in the same cloth. We have 4 bolts of this cloth in stock...as you know cross stitch cloth can be a hot commodity at times...feelin' pretty good about that!! Floss pak for this pattern is also available.

X X X X X

RUDOLPH

Rudolph is first punched, then sewn and stuffed into a fun tree ornament! Rudolph is sporting St Nick on a snowy Christmas Eve on his belly. A tiny red bell gets sewn on for his nose and twiggy antlers and legs adds extra texture and detail. A quick stitch!

X X X X X

YULETIDE STOCKING

A simple star-clad angel, holly vine and winter snow bird adorn this Christmas stocking. Woolly penny tongues and antique mother of pearl buttons finish this piece off nicely. Dried Sweet Annie and vintage candy-cane pipe cleaners are carefully tucked into the stocking. This will look so sweet hanging from a cupboard door knob.

X X X X X

TREE FARM

You may recall the Wool Farm and Pumpkin Hill patterns released this fall...due to their popularity, we decided we needed a tree farm...a Christmas Tree Farm! And just in time for the holiday season, too! This cupboard hanger features Rudolph & Santa out on a snow December eve picking the perfect tree. Can't you just hear the snow crunching and smell the smell of fresh pine? Rusty jingle bells are stitched to the bottom of the piece for added holiday charm.

X X X X X

And lastly,
the floss keeps have been posted! I thought they needed their own special category, you can view them under the FLOSS KEEP category tab on our website. You can take a peek at what is left...these were selling faster then I could mark them sold out...there were some early bird shoppers keeping watch as they were being posted!! I will be making more of these, when more frames arrive, and as time allows. No advance orders will being taken for these.

For more information on these new goodies,
visit us online
at
www.countrystitchesonline.com...

Have a good day,
Brenda

Mary, Mary & Mary...

2011-10-30T06:35:00.004-05:00

FLOSS KEEPS
coming soon!

Choose from 9 different designs,
available November 1st. These will be offered in a very limited supply,
made by myself,
as time permits...
a Country Stitches online exclusive.

The 3 floss keeps shown
are color prints
of snippets
from samplers
from
my personal collection.
I have 5 Mary samplers,
2 being stitched by the same Mary!

Mary Murgatroyd 1842Floss Keep

This sampler happens to be my personal favorite. I'm lucky to own two samplers stitched by this Mary and they compliment each other beautifully. Both are stitched with lots of reds and faded robin egg blues. Both samplers are dated 1842. The age of Mary is unknown, but by the stitching/spelling errors, it is safe to assume the stitching was done by a young hand.

X X X X X

Mary Ann Moore 1833 Floss Keep

Lovely verse sampler, beautifully stitched on about a 45, maybe even a 50 count linen...need to get my magnifier out and count! The verse is worked over 1, with the motifs worked over 2. Lovely shades of mellow yellows, mossy greens, drab browns and pink flosses are used in this piece. Sampler was completed in 1833 by 11 year old Mary Ann Moore. In looking at the stitching on this piece, you get the feel that this Mary was a perfectionist at the early age of 11...her stitching is nothing less of perfect!

X X X X X

Mary Wrigley 1834 Floss Keep

This sampler was the beginning of my antique sampler collecting days. It was purchased from an antique dealer here in Iowa. The sampler was completed on April 13, 1834 by Mary Wrigley of Clearfield, PA. A full family history accompanies this sampler...this is always considered an added bonus...

X X X X X

Have a good week,
Brenda

Trick or Treat!!

2011-10-29T10:00:00.006-05:00

Click arrow to play!

Agassi's human mom here...
Agassi has finally
made his furry little mind up...
yep,
the decision has been made
and
PUL-LEASE,
don't tell him witch's are of the female gender
{sigh}

And no this human mom hasn't been knitting cat costumes...
LOL
If you only could see me with a pair of knitting needles,
you would think differently!
These sweet little hats
were purchased
from the very talented skooterknits.

Happy Halloween,
Agassi & Brenda

Linen is here!!

2011-10-27T05:58:00.003-05:00

The Confederate Grey 40 count linen arrived
and
I'm doing the happy dance!!!!!

Tis been a long wait,
and you are all
itchin'
to
start stitchin'
the
Stitcher's Purse pattern,
right?

It's quite a sickening feeling,
believe me,
when you release
a new chart
only to find
you can't get your hands
on the linen
to support the chart.

It can be quite tricky
to have everything
come together
at the same time...

We thank you all for your patience!

The linen is beautiful
and
I'd like to say,
it's worth the wait!

We started shipping all back orders
of this linen
yesterday
and
should have every ones
filled
and on its way
to them
by days end.

We're hopeful
that the 30 count Parchment linen
will follow
very soon like
for those of you
that are waiting for it.
We have another shipment
of the
35 count Abecedarian linen
due to arrive
any day as well.

And more news...
New stitching goodies are now posted on our website
NEW buttons
NEW scissors
NEW needle minders
NEW patterns
with more
NEW goodies arriving weekly!

And lastly,
a shout out to those of you who are stitching our monthly
Word Play series...
the December pattern releases on November 1st
along with some other NEW arrivals!

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Is it me...

2011-10-26T08:49:00.003-05:00

or am
I just getting
hot
in this
pumpkin hat????

Hot,
as in
physically hot...

So the consensus is,
from all you
human and feline readers,
that I rock in this hat!

Why even one of my feline readers
thought that the pumpkin
stem enhances my male
qualities,
if you know what
I mean...
{ah-hem}

Maybe
I'm just blushing...
do cat's blush???

* * * * * * *

Agassi's human mom here...
boy let me tell you,
I have one cat with
a big ego!

He's still a bit indecisive as to what
his costume should be though...
Rumor has it he's
found something different
to wear...

geesh,
I've raised a cat that can't
decide what to wear...

He must have learned
that from his human dad.

Have a good day!

Where is the cam-corder when you need it???

2011-10-25T16:49:00.007-05:00

Boy you missed
quite the scene folks!

You should have seen myself,
being chased through the backyards,
of our neighborhood,
by my human mom,
with her camera
flopping around her neck.

Chasing me,
in this hat,
I must add...

She was laughing
so hard
she almost had
tears rolling
down her legs...

If only I could have caught that on video...
It was "Funniest Home Video" material,
believe me!

She was running,
yelling at me
to stop,
and
I just kept
a runnin'
with my little punkin' stem
just
a floppin'...
Do you have a visual yet????

Sorry,
got a little side tracked there,
and
I'm just catching my breath from
that chase
{sigh}

But I need your help...
it's the costume thing again.

I'm not quite sold on the dinosaur look.
It makes me look old...

like ancient,
or maybe even extinct...
if you know
what I mean.

I think I need a costume
a little bit more
age appropriate...

Any ideas?

Maybe I should just be a pumpkin
for Halloween...
what do you think?

Seems appropriate,
right?
I've always thought I looked
good in orange.
I'm just a little nervous though...
I just hope
the female felines
in my neighborhood
like it...

And,
if any of the guys
in the neighborhood
dare
call me
a punkin-head,
well,
this is what I'll do...

stick my tongue
out at them
and
no treats
for them!

Hoping your day was purr-fect,
Agassi

If you were me...

2011-10-24T08:49:00.005-05:00

what would you be for Halloween?

A dinosaur?

A purple dinosaur
with lime green
osteoderms?

Yea,
I know,
that's a big word
for a cat...
my human mom
helped me with that...

What do you think?
Do you like?
It doesn't make my head look too big,
or anything,
does it?

It seems to fit okay,
I think my ears
are right where
they're
supposed to be...

Is the color okay
on me?

Any advise would be appreciated,
Agassi

Diagnosis...

2011-10-20T07:27:00.005-05:00

SADD
(stitcher's attention deficit disorder)

One morning I'll pick this up
and
put a few stitches in it...
the next morning
I may be feeling a little punchy,
so I pick this up
and
punch a few stitches
before heading to work...

and then
some evenings
to unwind
before I turn in
for the evening
I may stitch
a couple letters
of the alphabet
on this piece...

I heard that the best medicine for SADD
is to just start
another
fun
new project...
This is what makes
us with SADD,
HAPPY!

One can never
have too many
things
going at once!
Right?

You are all with me on
this, right???

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

I think of him

2011-10-19T08:38:00.004-05:00

and laugh!

To be more specific,
I think of him
in this episode
and I laugh.

I've been living the part
where it just keeps coming & coming...

You may remember
I took a few days off,
a vacation if you will...

But when you operate
a business
on the world wide web,
you are
really
never
closed.
You are
never
really
on vacation...

You may be gone,
but
the orders keep
coming
&
coming
and they begin
to pile up
while you are away...

Note to self,
do not ever let husband
and
son plan a vacation
leading up to the release of new patterns.

So long story short,
I am still paying for taking a few days off.
I am digging out from the bottom of the
clip-board full of orders
and
should be caught up
by weeks end.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE & PATIENCE.
IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED!
AMEN.

Off to work I go,
Brenda

Calling all eagle-cam lovers...

2011-10-15T08:37:00.005-05:00

The new cameras/microphone, etc
have been installed
and the Decorah, IA eagle cam is rolling folks!

I've been enjoying my morning cup of coffee watching Mother eagle (I think)
perched upon the famous branch with the famous white barn in the background. She is just taking in the morning sun on the beautiful Iowa autumn morning.

The parents have already begun to ready their nest for their next set of young. Dad has started his construction process,
&
you guessed it,
putting branches where Mom doesn't want them!

Here is the link if you want to take a peek
or even,
perhaps
spend the whole weekend watching eagles.
Like we've never done that before,
right??!!!

The above photo is D1,
or the first hatched, from the past years nest....so beautiful!
The eagle is banded with transmitters and
this photo was shot near Yellow Lake, WI.

And here's a fun YouTube link to some of the nest
re-constructing going on!

Enjoy the eagles,
Brenda

Did you know?

2011-10-13T08:14:00.006-05:00

We are just coming off of
National Get Organized Week?

What did you do
to get organized?

Didn't know
it was
National Get Organized Week?

Me neither,
until something
came across my desk...

I read it,
I laughed,
and
thought to myself,
where would
I begin???

I prefer to call my desk,
my fabric stash,
my floss stash,
my work room,
etc,
etc,
etc,
creative clutter
not
something of the result
of not being organized...

But in trying
to do my little part
with getting organized
I came up
with these...
FLOSS KEEPS
I'm using it
and
I'm loving it so much
that I think
we need to sell them...

Watch for
FLOSS RINGS,
coming soon!

They will feature the tiny frames
with a snippet of motifs
from antique samplers
in my collection,
on a ring,
with
a tiny scissor stork
or other fun little stitching-themed charm
&
tiny little bead to finish it off.
They keep your flosses that you
are using
in one safe
&
secure spot.
Or you could say,
organized!

I now
can declare
myself organized...
Wooohooo!!!!!

Have a good one,
Brenda

Perfect weekend weather...

2011-10-11T07:47:00.014-05:00

for shorts
&
flip-flops
&
company!

Grandpa & I
received a surprise phone-call
saying Beckham & Momma
were coming home to our house
for a long-weekend visit.
Daddy's been out of country
on business for the 2nd week
in 3 weeks
and the evenings
are starting to get long
&
Momma needs a break...
Perfect,
if you're the
Grandma & Grandpa!

The weather was absolutely beautiful for company...

Perfect for being outside
&
doing side-walk art.

Beckham requested
that I draw him a duck,
so I did.
Then it needed "wadda",
"pink wadda",
so,
pink water it is!
Then he wanted fish,
"pink fish"!
So,
pink fish it is!
(i think my duck has scoliosis, what do u think?!!)

And then it was Momma's turn, she draws Thomas the Train,
of course...

While outside
Beckham spotted
one of the several neighborhood "kitties",
(only he pronounces it with a "t" instead of a "k")
sleeping in our bushes.
With some coercing,
the kitty
comes out to play.

Let's just say,
that Beckham
is more interested in the kitty,
then the kitty in he...
She would rather just roll in the leaves,
then be played with.

We then moved to the back yard and spotted this kitty...
you may remember this kitty
from this previous post.
If not,
well,
this is kitty that just showed up one day.
A stray,
that's not too sure of people,
but
thinks our yard
is his home...

Beckham finds this kitty,
the kitty runs away.
Momma explains to the little one
that
he's wild
&
"scared of us"...

So,
we put out food for the "kitty"
(shh....don't tell Grandpa),
some "kitty food" (once again the k is a t...so cute!)
Look who's back in the yard...

I'm just amazed that the stray allowed the little one to get this close...
tis a first!

The kitty decides
that people
might be okay.
Little people,
that is.
We just watched and listened,
(in total amazement
I must add)
as the little one gently stroked the kittie's fur
&
talked to the kitty.

Beckham tells the kitty,
"don't be scared, you're otay"...

And then tells his momma,
"he's a nice kitty"

CUTEST. GRANDMA. MOMENT. EVER...

It gave me goosebumps and a lump in my throat...
I've struggled with this cat-issue all summer long.
We have a house cat,
( a very loved one, I must add...a spoiled one)
and
I don't need another.

I've been battling that need/want issue...

He is an un-neutered male
that isn't used
to being a house cat.
He isn't even too sure of people...
He probably
wouldn't even want
to be
a house cat...

My concern
is the
cold/snowy Iowa winter
that is just around the corner...

If only I had a warm barn in my backyard,
with hay in it's haymow for this kitty
for the upcoming winter months...

But,
I don't.

X X X X X

While playing with the kitties,
Beckham noticed the "pretty waterfowl"
down the street
from Grandma & Grandpa's house.
Any body of water
is a pretty water fall!
So,
we went to the "waterfowl"
and walked the beach...

&
Grandpa and Beckham
looked for flat rocks to skip on the water...

And as you may have guessed,
this was a hit with the little one!

Little boys

&
throwing rocks,
they just seem to go together!
He would have been happy
to spend
the whole day
doing
just this...
throwing rocks!

Have a good day,
Brenda

You know, it just occurred to me...

2011-10-07T09:46:00.004-05:00

early this morn,
as I was putting
some stitches into this piece...

that it's October
and
the only
Halloween decorations
I have out
is her...

(a pumpkin-head doll
that I designed this summer
and never quite got around
to putting her into a pattern)
&
these...

a few pumpkins on a table that I've used in recent photo shoots.
That's it!
And I think I'm okay with it...

I then couldn't help but wonder if life is getting busier
or
if I'm just getting slower.
I turned the half-century a couple of weeks ago,
maybe it's just the big "five o" thing...

The cross stitch piece above
is something I've wanted to do for sometime.
The piece is worked
on a coarse 22 count linen over 2 threads...
11 count!
It is reminding me
of those aprons our grandma's wore
that were made out of gingham check
that had big cross stitched designs across the bottom...
I'm liking
the "bigness"
of the piece.
I'm thinking of a finish,
in a big,
Christmas-time pillow,
perhaps stuffed with rags
for a heavy,
lumpy feel...
perfect for placing on a rocker
on the front porch
along with some fresh pine greenery.

Hoping to have a pattern for this piece sometime soon,
but then again
maybe it will be next year!

Have a good day
&
enjoy these beautiful autumn days,
Brenda

New Patterns & Books...

2011-10-06T05:55:00.011-05:00

are here!

The 2nd in a series of 12 monthly charts, November Word Play.
Stitch count - 127 wide X 72 high
Worked on 35 count over 1 and 2 threads.

Stitch count - 134 wide X 155 high
Worked on 35 count over 2 threads

Stitch count 190 wide X 197 high
Worked on 30 count over 2 threads
Watch for the Spring Sampler of the Season
to release
on the first day
of Winter...
think airing the quilts!

X X X X X

And some new book arrivals...

Another great project book from Maggie Bonanomi
that is filled
with wool applique,
pinkeeps, embroidery,
quilting
&
more!

Good reading
and
good recipes
can be found between the covers of the
"Where Women Cook CELEBRATE!" book.
Hardcover -175 pages.

A book published
by the
Country Living Magazine
featuring 125 festive ideas
for celebrating Christmas.

Tis the Season - Christmas Eve with James Cramer.
A wonderful hard cover 75 page book
filled with
holiday decorating ideas,
recipe for wonderfully prim gingerbread men,
instructions for making a cotton batting make-do Christmas tree
and cotton batting angel
and more...
Book is in stock!

"Simple Cooking for a Simple Life"
is a hard-cover 127 page recipe book.
The recipes are a collection of
simple,
delicious recipes from antique dealers
and
collectors.
The photos in this recipe book
are stunning.
If you like antiques
and
early style decorating,
this book is a must have!
Limited supply on this book.

X X X X X

And there are more new goodies...
9 new quilt patterns from Cheri Payne,
NEW chart from Stacy Nash
&
the real acorns have arrived (limited supply) !

All the new goodies
are in stock,
and
are now posted
on our website
for viewing & purchasing.

Have a good day,
Brenda

Breath Taking...

2011-10-05T17:12:00.026-05:00

Now I know why our son has wanted us to visit him this time of year...
Colorado is a beautiful place in early October. The aspen groves are the stars of this autumn show. I snapped over 800 pictures, finding it tough to pick some of my favorites to share with you all...

The aspen's were turning from a brilliant yellow, to orange and will end up nearly red, before they are done putting on their autumn-time show. While taking in this magnificent show, your head tends to look upward towards the blue sky,
however there is beauty in the ground as well.

Dainty fern-like plant pushing upward, towards the early autumn sky

&
carpets of red winter berries
line the bottom of these conifer & aspen forests.

And here is the Royal Gorge Bridge
photo taken from the bottom of the gorge and I was perfectly content to view the bridge from below. The view looking upward is pretty awesome too!

The Arkansas river runs through the gorge and is amazingly crystal clear.

Panning for gold...

Look at that sky, this is straight from the camera folks...
no photo editing done!
Not a cloud in the sky...

The gorge becomes quite narrow in places,
just enough room for the river and train...

And lastly,
and snap shot of our son Matthew and his sweet girl friend, Megan. They were great host and hostess.
They treated us to a wonderful time and even a wonderful home-cooked meal of brine/grilled pork chops, grilled veggies and rice dish! I've been craving that pork chop every since we got home.

Good times.
Relaxing & refreshing.

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Toodle Loo...

2011-09-27T07:35:00.003-05:00

you all get a lot of stitchin' done
while I'm away,
okay?

Reminder...
Country Stitches is closed from September 27 - October 4th.

I'll be back on the 5th of October with 3 new pattern releases
and some other new goodies from other designers,
too.

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Getting away...

2011-09-24T09:24:00.010-05:00

The lovely coffee table book was gifted to me last Christmas by my son. He was dropping subtle hints that it had been over a year since I had visited him in the state he now calls home. Each phone call he would end it by saying, "When are you going to come visit me?" Mom knew it was time to visit, but was just waiting for a little slow down or lull at work.

So here we are, approaching two years since we've been out there,
still waiting for that little lull,
that little slow down...

A couple weekends ago we were on a little weekend road trip with my sister and her husband. Guys in the front seat, girls in the back seat and me sporting my groovy reading glasses and stitching in hand. The phone rings, it is the sonny boy. Dad has him on blue-tooth, so I'm hearing both sides of the conversation, with he and his dad. The boy is telling his dad there are cheap airline flights to Denver. Before I knew it the dh was handing over his credit card to his brother (yes, his brother is my sister's husband...sister's married brothers) and uncle Bruce is reading off the dh's credit card numbers and the son is booking the tickets. While all this is going on, I'm stressing from the back seat, thinking I can't be gone then, that's when the November Word Play chart releases, I then think holy schmolly I can't be gone that long, I relay that thought to the dh...he tells me, "yes, you can" in a somewhat firm sounding voice.

So folks, I'm taking a few days off...
I'll need to put in some long days
before I leave
but am looking forward to our visit.

I did tell the dh that there are going to be rules
though
on this trip.
I'm scared of heights.
I wasn't aware of this
until the son moved to Denver.
Maybe it's the mountains,
maybe its the thin air,
everything out there just seems so big and vast...
it makes one feel so tiny.

So the rules are:

1. I've already called shot-gun...I get sick in the back seat when driving in the mountains.

2. No resident of Colorado is going to drive the car when I'm a passenger in the car. This means all the driving is going to be done by the dh, peroid. You see the dh drives like an Iowa farmer out checking the crops, if you don't know about this type of driving, just think s-l-o-w. This is the speed I feel safest at when riding on the sides of a mountain with hair pin turns quickly approaching. The son's city driving method is, you have to get up to 30 mph (cause that's the speed limit) from one stop light to the next. Then you slam on the brakes and then do it all over again in one city block, meanwhile Mom's suffering from whip-lash and her food feels like it's tickling her tonsils... This is also the son that is always in need of new brake pads...

3. No hiking a snow/icy glacier this trip either... I'm a whimp, and I'll be the first to admit it.

So we are going to take in the sights of Colorado, the Aspen trees should be at their peak and I'm hoping for some good picture taking. The son mentioned a train ride. I've always wanted to go on a scenic train ride, so I agreed. I asked him if it was scary, he informed me the tracks ran along a river. In hind-sight, he really didn't answer my question. That should have been my first clue...gesh you would have thought I never raised any children. When they dance around your question, not really answering it, that's a red flag, always.

So I always like to research things,
you know like doing a Google search...
So I Googled
Royal Gorge Colorado.
Now I know my vocabulary.
I know what royal means
and
I know what a gorge is.
I just never put two and two together...

Remember I am a mid-western farm girl
and it is pretty flat in these parts,
where I live.

I'm sweatin' bullets folks,
in my Google search
I dug up some info.
There's this thing
called the
Royal Gorge Bridge...
something about it
being the highest
suspension bridge in the world,
at 1053 feet above land.

What have I gotten myself into?
I'm now pretty sure
that the husband
and
son
are talking about mom
behind her back,
poking fun at how freaked out
she's going to be...

So I need your help on this...
Any Colorado readers out there?

If so...

Because if I do,
maybe I should ride in the trunk.

Please tell me
there is a way to that train ride
from Denver
without crossing that bridge,
cause I get sweaty pits
and
white knuckles
just looking at that picture....

So now
if I could just figure out a way
to convince the airport folk
that these sweet little scissors,
at just 2 1/4" long,
are not a weapon...
Do they not know
how much stitching
I could get done in two hours
of un-interrupted time?
{sigh}

Enjoy your weekend,
Brenda

Sampler of the Season - Winter

2011-09-23T09:08:00.003-05:00

Here's a peak...

To be released October 5th,
upon my return from our little get-a-way.

The linen and floss kits
for this sampler are already here....yayyyyyy !!!!

We are still patiently waiting for our Weeks Dye Works linens.
We have several of you waiting for these
and
please know we will ship just as soon as our order arrives.
The word on the long waits
for the linens
is that the mills in Belgium
shut down for holiday
for the whole month of August.
The USA hand-dyers depend on these mills
for their linens,
causing us all much distress.
Last word is,
they have their linens
and are dying as fast as they can.
I'm wondering if this back log of linens
and
dying needs
is even slowing down the shipment of flosses,
as it seems like
we are even having hard times
getting complete orders for the flosses.
So we just wait,
as we all love the wonderful looks
that these hand-dyed fibers
give our finished works.

Happy Fall Y'all,
Brenda

Time flies...

2011-09-22T08:31:00.002-05:00

My mother always said that...
Time Flies.

With the starting of a new monthly series,
I have a hunch this year is going to fly by.

I'd like to shout out
a big thank you
to all of you
who've joined on board
with my new monthly series,
Word Play...
your response
has been very humbling,
to say the least.

As you are all working on,
or just finishing the October piece,
I'm putting the last stitches in November...
eekkk, I know!
I'm used to these type of deadlines
and to be honest
I think I work best
under pressure.

I'm just working
one month ahead
of you folks on this series.
The remaining 10 months
are just sketches in a notebook
and mental notes
fleeting around in my head.

It's scary to think
that I'm just a week away
from starting
December's Word Play chart.

So, I leave you today
with just a small peek
at the November Word Play.
November Word Play chart
will release
upon my return
from vacation on October 5th.

The goal is to release
the following months
on the 1st of the proceeding month.

Also,
I've had requests
about acorns.
Yes,
I have them on order
and they should be arriving any day.
I'll post a note here
when they arrive,
for all you acorn hungry squirrels!!

Have a good day,
Brenda

It must be Monday...

2011-09-19T19:59:00.003-05:00

It's been brought to my attention that the color key and the chart on the Mansion at Fox Hollow don't jive. I think I need a Pepto Bismol, my stomach is in knots over this. Mistakes do happen and I just flat out missed this when proofing the pattern.

If you have one of these patterns in your possession, please take note that the instruction page that lists the symbols and floss colors is incorrect.

The page has been revised and you can find the corrected version here. If you have difficulty downloading this page, please email me at order@countrystitchesonline.com and I'll send you the page via snail mail.

I'm hoping this hasn't caused any confusion and please know I'm very very sorry about this.

Signed,
the one in the dunce hat
aka
Brenda

I've been thinking

2011-09-19T08:01:00.010-05:00

please bear with me...

The Winter Sampler of the Season
was originally planned to release this week,
on the first day of Autumn.

(and here is the please bear with me part)

Due to a quickly planned mini get-a-way,
and the fact that the November Word Play
&
Merry Christmas to Ewe Samplers
are both very close to releasing,
the decision has been made
to release them
all together
when I get back.

So
some dates to remember...

Country Stitches will be closed
from September 27 - October 4.

October 5 -
Release date for 3 new charts
Sampler of the Season - Winter
November's Word Play
Merry Christmas to Ewe Sampler

X X X X X

The new sewing needfuls
from Bohin of France
have arrived!
I hope
to have them added
to our website
by this evening.

Not fancy,
but
very functional
&
sharp!
They are just 2 1/4" long
and have a very nice feel in hand.

It was a dreary rainy weekend,
a perfect weekend for stitching,
so I spent a good chunk of it stitching.
I tested the new needles & scissors
from Bohin.
Yep, they are tried & tested
and they've lived up to all the hype,
they have my stamp of approval.

I always am tending to "hunt" for my scissors when I stitch.
To solve this,
I took a piece of the vintage silk seam tape,
price-tag looped
the tape around the scissor handle
and
wore them around my neck.
Perfect, problem solved...

&
needles from Bohin are available in
size #24
&
#26.

The needle slip through the linen with ease,
much like cutting butter with a warm knife...
perfect!

Have a good week,
Brenda

I can't stop laughing...

2011-09-15T17:12:00.005-05:00

While hopping from blog to blog,
I came upon the below youtube video
Have you seen this yet?
If not,
its really cute
&
worth
a good laugh!

It so reminds me of my parents,
this so could be my Mom & Dad.

My parents have a laptop.
It sits on Dad's desk
and
Mom always keeps a towel over it
when it's not in use.
Not sure why????

It's Dad's toy.
Mom doesn't use it.
Mom is afraid
she'll get
"that virus"
from if it she uses it.

Perhaps
that's why
the towel is covering it???

Dad has this problem
of
forgetting
his passwords...

He and Mom
argue
over what they think
the password
is...

Dad always thinks
it's
Mom's name.

Mom innocently proceeds
to tell Dad that she thinks
the password
is
"just a row of dots"...

Enjoy
Senior Webcam 101

Frost Warning...

2011-09-14T17:25:00.011-05:00

To cover
or
not to cover...
that is the question
of the evening.

The weatherman is calling
for frost warning
tonight.

Will our growing season
come to an end
tonight?

The farmers are hoping not,
they would like a few more days
of warm & sunny weather
for
the corn & bean crops.

So,
with frost in the forecast,
I took a walk along the lake
and snapped a few pics
of our cities
flower gardens...

they have been extremely
beautiful this year...

I've enjoyed them
and am not quite
ready to see
them go...

Pretty shades of pinks, reds,
yellows, purples & oranges...

a candy-striped carpet
of posies,
if you will.
(How many of you had candy-stripe carpet in your home growing up? I might be dating myself here a bit... We had it in our family room and I thought it was the grooviest thing ever!)

But to all things there is a season...

The boys of summer
have put away their playing gloves,
jack frost is knocking upon our door,
&
Autumn is quickly approaching.

Autumn
the second summer,
when every leaf
becomes a flower.

We must have one to have the other.

X X X X X X

Have a good evening,
Brenda

Merry Christmas to Ewe Sampler

2011-09-13T07:45:00.005-05:00

If you liked the Witch Hazel Sampler
you will love this one too...
it's a spin off of her!

Vintage sheet music trim will add
extra detail & charm to this
Christmas-time
sampler too.

It's a chilly September day here,
this morning,
think I'll break out the jeans
and a lightweight sweater.

Fall is definitely in the air...

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Darling!

2011-09-12T18:04:00.004-05:00

One word describes these...

Darling,
As simple as that!

Just when you think
there can't be a cuter scissors
on the market,
these cute little 3 3/4" witch boot scissors come along.
{sigh}
They make the heart flutter,
don't they?

Also,
new from Kelmscott
is the Sunflower
needle minder.

New sewing aids
just in time
for your
autumn-time stitching...

Remember,
they make nice little gifts too!

Also new to the shop
are two new patterns from Italian designer, Nicoletta Farrauto
and Pineberry Lane. Check them out, they are good!

Items now posted on our website under the NEW ITEMS category.

Have a good evening,
Brenda

A-hem...

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Excuse me?

Pardon me,
fluffy fur child of mine...

Yea,
you.

The one
who can sleep
with
one eye open...

See those stacks of new note cards
that you're about to knock off onto the floor?

The ones behind you.

Yea, those...

In case you didn't notice,
I was in the middle of a photo shoot here.

There is no time for napping,
not now.

I've got work to do...

Alrighty then,
you win.
Again.
{sigh}

Yea,
I know,
I know,
you've had such a tough week
chasing scraps of wool
across the floor
&
bird watching
&
you need your beauty rest,
right?
I've heard this story before...

Several hours
&
a refreshed kitty later,
the photos
are shot!

Announcing the arrival of 5
NEW
note cards,
all with a
sewing/stitching theme.

Note card photos,
taken by yours truly,
of some of my favorite
little vignettes
featuring
some of my favorite antique
sewing needfuls.

Note cards now available for purchase here.

There...
can I go take a cat nap now???
Sometimes it's just hard
being owned by a cat...

Have a good week everyone,
Brenda

2011-09-11T08:25:00.001-05:00

9.11.2001 to never be forgotten...
God Bless us
&
keep us safe!