PT = Pink Therapy Sampler and Knit

Last night, I picked up a Blackbird Design Pink Manor sampler to cross stitch while Mr. Darcy and I watched back to back episodes of Blue Blood. We are on Season 4 now........it's a really good program. We have watched back to back episodes for a while now in the evenings.

So I reached in my long, long ----can't even remember, when I started this----stash of WIPs last night and spent some time on it. I love pink. Specifically in this sampler, Jakey Brown.

After I dusted the project bag off, I decided to try to finish this.

I just stopped mid program and looked at Mr. Darcy and said "this makes me happy!"

Of course, if I didn't have a magnifier lamp and good glasses it would be hard to do.

This is 35 count fabbie.

I'm so close............ I started the "Dear____" part with one over one.

And so I  have some pink projects to finish that should have been a very long time ago.

These gloomy rainy days we are having are perfect for settling in for the evening with some pink therapy after physical therapy.

And so.......... this...........

This is a project I started for a baby that is now..........almost a year old. Yup........all this progress you see was knitted in the NICU waiting room while daddy was sick.

I got to almost finished and put it down. I did use Bernat Baby, a sport weight yarn in acrylic because I wanted it to be very washable. The intended recipient didn't know I was knitting this.

I made a few mistakes in it so now I don't think I will be giving to this year old baby, but..........I think I'm donating it when I finish to a knit group on Ravelry to send to hospitals who accept baby blankets handmade for families of infant loss.

I didn't really go by any special pattern, just rotated stockinette with garter with a consistent garter edge.

The finished size is perfect for newborn-3 months. I just will pick up and knit the last section in garter, wash, fluff, and donate.

Picking up a piece with 100% acrylic again is actually helping me appreciate more of natural yarn fibers.

I know some knitters do not knit with acrylic at all but I have a good bit in my yarn stash from when I fell in love with knitting in the beginnning and I'm sure I will occasionally find some use for it.

On to cook some ham, sweet potatoes and green beans.

More PT this evening as it rains outside again today...........................

Jennifer

Coming Undone and Waitin' on Tom Video

Sometimes, even as much as our creative juices are flowing, mistakes happen in the pattern and, well, it can't be fixed. 

I tried everything with this pattern.

I absolutely loved the edging it was making.

and as big and far as I had gone............into the first lace chart, I had to take it all back apart. 

I mean...........to the first knit stitch.

Coming undone.  I was undone to say the least. 

I spent a good 6 hours trying to avoid that but I decided knitting is a hobby not something to stress over, so the answer was to make something better with it. 

Lessons were definitely learned:

when starting to learn a new technique, start on a small scale

always, always, always keep a lifeline row!

don't knit when sleepy

everything can have a new beginning

sometimes we can even make something better

My DH took me for a road trip and consoled me as I did rewind the entire skein. 

I was inspired again to start over but not using that pattern. Nope. Had way too many start overs with it. It is a beautiful lace pattern but on to something new.

So, with some inspiration one morning near our homestead, I decided to try again.

Of course it also helped to be on the way to the local yarn shop.

The  colors in the early Fall air and clear skies got me thinking.

Even Abbie got to thinking.

So I tried to make a go of blending to start a new shawl.

I also was inspired by some Etsy stash of new, little owl markers from this sweet lady who sent her card and a bird. Right now, it looks like a turkey to me, but that could be because I see about 25 or them every morning and evening feeding in the yard, getting fatter and fatter for Thanksgiving.

If you order from her on Etsy, I can assure you she has great service, quick and fair shipping and will put in 1-2 gifties extra like these buttons and the extra marker.

Guess what?

I made a mistake again.......................

and I couldn't fix it.

so............my mojo for cross stitching a WIP was really making me antsy and 

I pulled out this one from about 3 years ago and re-pulled my threads to start working on it.

This is Pink Hill Manor from Blackbird Designs. 

With the use of my magnifying glasses with a light, I was in Heaven again...........enjoying my work, like revisiting a long-lost friend, and getting somewhere!

And I have had the best week on staycation!!!!

Instead of going on a trip, we both wanted to work on our house alot and we have really worked the outside and the inside, moving some rooms completely to other rooms, purging and finally letting go of some things I should have a long time ago. It's nice and cozy again. 

We also got the complete season 1-5 of Downton Abbey on DVD now and watching a few episodes, starting all over with popcorn and cuddling in the evenings. 

We've taken bookoodles of pictures of turkeys and put them on FB and we even made a video that was quite funny.

Even though we could have gone anywhere for the week on vacation, we really enjoyed it more staying home together. Improving our homestead and putting love in it, readying it for the Fall and Winter guests!!!

Enjoy!

 

not only these guests but people guests too!  :)

Bluebird pincushion, Reward of Merit finished--Black Bird Designs

First, I want to thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your day to read my simple words. When I think about how many I reach, it's amazing. 490,000 people.
  

I've had almost 1000 hits on FB page Feathers in the Nest, for the freebie chart for this month!!! I was amazed and thankful that you all are interested in my charts and sharing needlework.

 

For newcomers to the blog, I welcome you! I so welcome and look forward to your comments! There are times that I do not write daily, but I think about writing to you each day. Recently, I've had so many committments it seems, that posts have been more infrequent. I'm glad that August is here, but so ready for September!!!!! The Fall and cooler weather coming just are not complete with stash cleaning and looking at some WIP's I've put down for way too long.

September to me means:

• the start of Fall~~~~ I can feel it in the air at night
• stocking the pantry with good eats and hot chocolate, hot teas
• preparing the hearth for that October first fire in the woodstove
• new beginnings! (I got this from even when a child, with school starting~~~ fresh school supplies, new year)
• Opening the windows on dry, sunny, cool days to freshen the house
• Pulling out my Fall decor to put randomly around the house
• Stitching and designing NEW Fallish designs!
• Knitting.......oh yes............knitting projects lined up for colder weather
• wearing those shawls I made!
• and this year a turn of another decade of my life~~ my birthday ((nifty nifty)
• the start of homemade gifts for Christmas!
• and many, many more

I think this year Spring cleaning has extended through the Summer at the homestead. We have had soooooooooooo much rain this year. I can remember when Georgia's lakes were so low, like craters.

But this past week, we've been blessed with lots of sunshine and no thunderstorms. I guess you can say we need the storms to help us appreciate the sunshine more.

Here is the finished pics of the Bluebird pincushion!

Bluebird

 

Reward of Merit, Pincushion

 

Designer, Blackbird Designs

 

stitched 2 over 2 on linen in my stash 32 ct

 

threads~~~~~ Belle Soie in Blue Lagoon

 

vintage buttons found at The Martin House in Helen, Georgia

 

old vintage pins from a junkin' store in Hawaisee, Georgia

 

fabric backing from a fabric store in Dahlonega, Georgia

 

all of the above in my stash for at least 3 years!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and it's temporary home at the homestead!

 

This morning my knitting buddy watched me make progress with a Fall Shawl. Yup, I'm making a simple garter with gradual increase on each end in Bernat yarn in a colorway of deep reds with some bits of denim blues and gray scattered. I'm using size 11 needles.

 

 

Started from the bottom up in a crescent shape, this shawl will definitely be a cozy accessory to jeans or dresses.

 

I have a 32 in cord already full, so I need to get a 40 inch cord to finish.

 

 

 

 

So you can see that Miss Abigail has retreated to my left and snuggles in the early morning hours when I stitch!  She is one sweet little furbaby.

I've almost finished sorting out all the overdyed threads I've found to put in my crate for organization. When things are totally in place and transferred to my stitching studio, painting the walls will start in a honey beige color. It's my hope that a stitching group will start here when the goal is accomplished. It's slow moving but very hopeful.

As I have been organizing the stash, I find so many WIP's and I might just try to finish one up I had started a very long time ago by The Sampler Girl. It would look delightful in one of the guest bedrooms and it's brighter in color that brings a bit of cheer to my heart!!!

Take care,
Jennifer

No Baby Blues in Knitting

Knitting has so many health benefits! I spent some time researching articles on studies that have been done on knitting. I'm sure they would apply to any needlework, including cross stitching, where repetative motion actually puts the brain in a meditative state. They compared it to equal benefits of meditaton, prayer, and yoga.

The benefits include:

• reduced stress hormones
• reduced blood pressure
• increase in serotonin (the happy hormone)
• increase in dopamine ( the hormone low in addictions like smoking)
• a 30-50% increase in memory retention as we age
• relieves arthritis in the hands by limbering the joints
• increases socialization if you participate with other knitters in a group
• increases self-esteem by finishing and accomplishing a project
• reduces pain and useful in pain management/chronic pain
• decreases risks for depression
• decreases risks for anxiety disorders

So whatever your mood for needlework, whether, knitting, cross stitching, quilting, or any repetative needle art----pick up some needles and go!!! It's a holistic approach to many good things for your body and mind.

I've been working on designing 2 cross stitch designs this week and those are finished. Yay! I just need to model stitch them. I have pulled threads and also some fabbie for finishing.

I've almost completed a project set of baby washcloths for a friend that is having a boy. I am using I LOVE this Cotton yarn which is found only at Hobby Lobby. It's their brand and it's the softest 100% cotton I've stitched with.

Here are few pics of my set of three. One is a plain garter cloth, the next is basketweave stitch (my first try on this one) and a pattern in Ravelry (free) called Revenge. I do not like the name of the pattern at all but the picture is pretty for an eyelet washcloth.

These are small, of course, for a prescious little baby boy due in 3 weeks for a friend of mine.

I also picked up at a thrift store for almost nothing, a small baby boy picture frame in blues to cross stitch a 2 x 3 design of something I have yet to decide but will design.

The color almost looks green in these pics but the colorway is Aqua.

This last one is the first time I've tried this pattern and I'm hoping it will go well.

 

On the homefront, I have found, that a sink full of water with Pinesol will actually clean copper like you haven't ever seen before if you soak it overnight. You can see the difference. I love finding ways like this to save money.

 

 

 

The old tea kettle is singing quite a bit at the homestead as we both love hot tea. Earl Grey is our favorite. Especially I love Twinnings decaf. Mr. Darcy loves robust Earl Grey in regular caffeine.

 

My progress is just a little but a little counts, on the Blackbird Design pincushion (Reward of Merit) Bluebird, is here:

 

 

So, just a little bit more and I can start finishing it with a pretty Confederate fabbie I have in my stash cabinet of fat quarters and rummaging through my oldest of buttons to place under the first flower at the bottom of the design. I can't wait to finish this one as well!

 

Jennifer Holcombe gifted me with the thread, Crescent Colors Belle Soie, Blue Lagoon, the linen, a beautiful mother of pearl thread holder, the Love scissors and pattern a long time back.

I'm so happy working on this Bluebird!!!!

 

We have had alot of rain in the mountains here. The good things are that that the temps have been much lower for July but I was SOOOOO glad to see sunshine this week.

We've had 3 sunny days now!

Interesting because I had a routine eye appointment for glaucoma check and my eyes were dilated so much that I was seeing double for 9 hours. That's the longest I've ever had the dilation to last on my exams; however, I'm blessed to be able to see a good eye doctor and glad to say no progression of my glaucoma but cataracts have worsened so this changed my prescriptive glasses. I was so happy Mr. Darcy went with me to drive home this time as it was the first day of bright sunshine!! But, again, he is my sunshine!

 

I just pray and thank God I can see every day because I love to read, stitch, knit and I'm glad my eye drops are working well. It's funny how I took vision for granted until I found out my diagnosis. I'm blessed and thankful for the staff where I go as they are so kind to me, understanding, and explain things well.

 

On the reading front, I just started reading a VERY old book, published in 1954 and written by Irving Stone. The name?  Love is Eternal. A novel about Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln. For 25 cents for a hardback copy, I can't complain. I love my Kindle but when I find a good old book, there's something about reading the yellowed pages that make it better. I'm a sucker for non-fiction old books.

 

Purl of Wisdom:  Keep stitching. It's good for your health and whatever life is presenting to you as struggles will be eased soon with the rhythmic nature of needlework. We help ourselves in order to help others, which is as beautiful as the design our life is making.

 

Seasons to seasons and Progress

The weeks are flying by like days this cool and rainy Summer, filled with daily responsibilities and committments to meet each day. First off, this week there is a delay in orders shipped this week until Monday as the printer was not working properly. Fixed today though and ready to roll. Thank you Jesus! I do apologize greatly!!!!!

Between working part-time as a women's health nurse practitioner, I love to use the creative side of my brain when I'm at home, and I'm never without a stitching project on hand of some kind. Also my Kindle, my Grace I named her 2 years ago, goes with me everywhere.

This week I finished a book called "Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating a Future" by Michele Rosenthal. This book is the testimony of Michelle as she conquered and coped with PTSD after a major illness at age 13. She has a really supportive facebook page and I'm sure has reached many, many people with awareness, her struggles which are so common with PTSD. On Kindle now, you can get her book for 2.99 at a reduction and Amazon is also with the purchase of the book offering 1900 dollars worth of help resources for people who have survived trauma.

Besides finishing a book, in the stitching arena, I have stitched a bit more on Bluebird by Blackbird Designs.

It would be a quick stitch if I would put the knitting needles down. :P

Also in the knitting arena, I finished one rectangle section of "The Walton" blanket I'm working on as part of a large project and did find the colorway of Autumn Maize by Caron Simply Soft for a couple of blocks. The yellow color in this pic is way brighter than the actual color.

 

I've already started the next block. I thought about making each section in a different knit stitch pattern but haven't decided quite yet.

 

I also made one of the first smaller facial cloths for the bath by the sink in Peaches and Cream colorway Stars and Stripes.

 

 

I like the rustic, worn look and it will fit well in a basket full for night time facial cleansing.

 

I think I have alot more of these 6 x 6 clothes to go to fill this up.

 

 

At first I thought Peaches and Cream cotton was too rough for washcloths and probably is. However, for just that night time facial wash, I think it will be the right size and also will gently exfoliate as well.

Speaking of red, white and blue, on the cooking front, I made these for a meeting a week ago. Just basic yellow cake for muffins and cream cheese frosting sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar. To me they tasted like cinnabons a bit and were yummy!

 

and speaking of sweet sugar...................Abbie sends her love to everyone!

 

She got a new "snack mat" this week and seems to love it as well. Bless her heart, she is one loved furbaby in this house. She loves Mr. Darcy so much. Actually she loves us both greatly and we kinda are her pack family I guess.

 

Thelma and Louise the outside cats are still hanging out at the homestead. They keep critters at bay. Thelma was caught with a  tiny mouse this week and I thanked her for it as I do not like mice. Yuck!

Thelma is the matronly of the two and even though they look nothing alike, I'm suspecting they are mother -daugher. Not sure, but they found a good home.

 

The constant rain every day has really been good in a way because the temps here in the North Ga mountains haven't reached over 80, during what is usually the hottest part of the year.

Today it's cloudy, breezy, and 70 degrees like a late September day.

 

I'm ready for Fall already! SO many reasons but mainly on days like today to smell the wood stove warming up the house, drink hot tea, and watch the leaves change.

 

But just as life, there is a season for everything and to everything there is a season.

 

I will be working on a freebie soon and putting it on The Feathers in the Nest facebook page!!!

More later on that! Thanks for your patronage and friendship and most of all, understanding and compassion.

 

Jennfer

Serious Serial Starting Stitching Saturday

I'm still cleaning/moving stash and trying to organize in some fashion: therefore, I find so many things I would like to stitch. Now. Exactly at this moment. So my time in cleaning stops in 5 minute increments to run around seeking to pull threads and linen and needles to work on them. Not much overall done but, it's another serial start. Then my day  is gone from the distraction of a new start.

The weather is day 6 of rain, several days of hard rain where driving was hard to do. Today, it seems the sun is struggling through the drizzling rain to come out to show us it's still there, but then the rain continues and I wonder if I should send a bird out for an olive branch. Perhaps a Bluebird?

To lift the rainy mood, I found a Blackbird Design sampler pattern gifted to me by Jennifer Holcombe a couple of years ago. She is the sweetest. She also made a button box for me that is always nearby and reminds me there are truly some special sweet stitchers in this world.

The design is  Bluebird--Reward of Merit pincushion. I'm stitching on 30 ct R & R linen in Gardner's (something, I can't read the rest of the label)? and using the CC SILK Belle Soie floss in Blue Lagoon she also sent with it. Bluebirds are cheerful to me and for such a rainy week----need one!

So starting with the border here.

 

I love the rich, blue colorway in silk. I can't afford silk threads regularly or even at all right now, so it's so refreshing to revisit this and stitch with it.

 

 

This hoop I've had for years, came from The Scarlett Letter. I think they still have those wooden ones and  have thoroughly enjoyed the oblong one for samplers. I looked up this name of R & R linen and couldn't find it anymore, so maybe it's retired, dunno.........

Speaking of Dunn, this linen I found in my stash from Karyn Dunn, Ma TeaKettle that she kindly gifted me a couple of years ago as well. She was so generous in giving me many, many linens that are neatly tucked away for my stash eye candy and for samplers!

 

And though my whole life turned upside down 2 years ago, there are sweet memories of the stitchers that are special to me still in my heart. I will say I learned many life lessons with my stitcher friends that year, but kept moving forward with the strength that I had.

 

 

Jennifer H. even put a mother-of-pearl thread keep heart, linen included with this sampler pattern all in the mail one day.

I hope to get some progress on this one. Even finish it!!!! soon. I want to thank all of you for the past 4 years of friendships. I appreciate those who chose to stay on my journey in life even through struggles and those who didn't for whatever reason so I could learn lessons from it.

So this weekend, I will be working on this little sampler in Blue Lagoon, hoping for blue skies to appear once again.

 Rain, Rain, go away,
 come back another day.
 If not, I'll stitch a bluebird to stay

I have vivid memories of my mama holding my hand at the back double doors looking out at the rain inside and singing this song when I was only 3 or 4 years old. Even now in long days of rain, I think about it and I'm almost a half a century old!!

The other news on the stitchy side is a side knitting project, I'm calling it The Walton.
The name is because I only mindlessly stitch 16 inch squares during the Waltons show every week night. It's when Mr Darcy, Abbie and me cuddle on the sofa and never tire of a new episode.

I had this rich, Caron Simply Soft in a jewel tone of teal and it is so soft!

I'm using Addie turbo circulars 8/ 24 in. I still haven't decided if I will do each block a different basic stitch pattern to piece together for a big blanket or garter all of it? I just don't know. I'm wingin' it.

 

I may mix this with Autumn Maize in Caron Simply Soft as it's a muted light gold color. These skeins hold over 300 yards, just can't be beat and Joanne's has them on sale this week for just 2 bucks.

 

I also haven't decided if I will stitch this as a throw or a coverlet for a bed. Now that would take a long time and many episodes of The Waltons!

 

There's always something brewing here with needles.

 Methinks it's time though for baking for the Mr.

His work group loved my Peach Cobbler muffins at a meeting and I think I started sumfin'. :0

 

Don't forget to visit the Etsy shop of Feathersinthenest. This is the last day for 25% off this week. Orders for this will be good until midnight. Mailed out on Monday.

 

I hope you all had a great Independence Day celebration. Happy Birthday America!

 

Jennifer

 

 

Samplers and other Sundries

I hope all is well, sweet friends, and as the early, early touch of Fall in the air at night, the increasing anticipation for nature's production of color is rising. Fall is my fave time of year, always has and probably always will be.

 

Mr. Darcy is bringing wood up to the wood stand on the big porch and I guess you could say I"m nesting more than usual, in preparation for visits from friends during the leaf-changing season.

 

I have many projects started but focusing mainly on this one, as I have a perfect reason and purpose when it's completed. As this is a large project, it wil be well worth it. It's stitched in Mulberry fiber and the variations contrast perfectly with the 30 ct Sheepstraw linen.

 

I'm getting the designing bug again of late so working on some more of those as well.

 

 

This week almost finished with another motif on BBD, Love One Another. The mulberry thread is a delight to stitch with.

 

 

There is Abbie found in my stitching chair. She loves to jump up there if I have to get up as it's a nice cozy, warm spot for her.

 

 

Hey ya'll!

 

 

There are actually 3 of these large motifs in a V pattern. I think I'm going to stitch the word Another before doing another motif (that sounded strange, but anyhoo). I'm using a basic hardwood oval frame from The Scarlett Letter, which leaves wrinkles but they will come out with pressing later on the reverse side. If you haven't taken a look at their hardwood frames, go to the website for The Scarlett Letter and cruise for a few.

 

 

 

Mr. Darcy is working on this Hoosier cabinet I had for about 3 years now.

It's a Sellers brand and was won at auction for very little junkin' price.

 Mr. Darcy and I have read alot about Hoosier cabinets used in kitchens in 1900-1930's.

It's basically a baking center.

This will go in Mr. Darcy's kitchen as he has the perfect spot for it.

The handles are red and were previously painted over. We are hoping that in removing the paint it doesn't destroy the handles as they are about 25.00 a piece when buying for renovation.

 

 

 

He used a sander yesterday and interestingly enough, the wood looks in good condition. The middle is the flour holder. It holds pounds and pounds of flour and the sifter is right underneath. Still works. This will be cleaned up well and actually painted white.

 

 

One of the doors to the top.

 I'm amazed at how clean this is getting. New hinges of course and most likely repainted instead of stained for it's original finish and I'm not sure but I think Mr. Darcy is sold on my Peach Cobbler. :P

 

 

This is a tin I found while junkin' last week at one of my favorite places. I collect old tins in the kitchen and as you can see why, this one for a couple of bucks, won my heart.

 

 

The back reads that it is made in England. I LOVE, love, love the sampler print on it as if stitched on the old tin.

 

 

 

Another thing that arrived in the mail of which I am planning to make basic pillows includes this yard of OLD Waverly colonial fabric.

 

 

 

 

I have always loved Colonial Williamsburg and I dream of another trip back to do more site-seeing there. The blue color is my fave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was very please with this snag on Ebay as it's very different and also has the colors of a small Colonial hutch I recently got. I will get more pics on the blog of it next week as I will be on a mission to redo Mr. Darcy's kitchen with some paint/ color in Cabin Red. It's a deep, barn red that is going to look really good. I will take before and after pics.

 

 

I just want to say thank you to all who take the time out to read and especially comment and send me emails about different subjects on stitching or homesteading. I love reading them and getting to know other stitchers and readers from all over the world. I also enjoy perusing your blogs as well. There are some gifted, creative spirits out in the world. From one creative spirit to another.........

 

Peace and love,

Jennifer