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

Finished Lacy Keyhole Scarf plus My Token of Affection Knit pocket

 

 

 

 

 

Lacy Keyhole Scarf and My Token of Affection set

in LILAC

 

Lacy Keyhole Scarf designed by Stephanie Japel inspired me to stitch this in Lilac/Lavender as we all know that the color, the scent, anything lavender exudes calmness.

This scarf can be worn year around. It's stitched with 80/20 cotton/ silk Cascade Ultra Pima Silk yarn from a yarn shop. The softness cannot be described here as it stitches like butter and feels delicate to the skin. The scarf can also be worn as a headband with the frill and lacy section to the side or at the top. The quality yarn is excellent.

The second part of the set is designed by myself. I call it My Token of Affection Pocket. It's knit in the same yarn and is very versatile, dainty and embellished with a mother-of-pearl vintage button I had in my stash. It's for that special small something that you treasure.

I finished this set today and just put on Etsy shop. See the sidebar to click for the Etsy shop.
I mailed out orders yesterday and will mail out more on Thursday. Thank you so much for your business!!!! I love needlework and more importantly love to share my creativity with you.

If you have any questions, please comment and I will answer or write me at email jenniferann_fox@yahoo.com.

Your comments are always appreciated on the blog. I read each and every one of them.


Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

On the homefront this week, I also finally got the chance to see the movie Becoming Jane. I think Anne Hathaway did a wonderful job!!! The movie was austen awesome~

Mr. Darcy is quite gifted with woodworking and he has built Abbie a bed. It's finished and she has been sleeping in it at night with no problem. In fact she would like to take her morning nap in it I think. We have not finished it with paint or stain yet but when we finish it, I will show pics.
The wood was entirely wood found to be trashed. He took something that was going to be thrown away and made something beautiful and functional with it.

It's time for me to get busy stitching and watching my favorite channel, the Inspiration channel. We love The Waltons and never tire of every episode. We just finished off some Dutch Apple Pie with whipping cream and tummies are full!

Feathers in the Nest has a facebook page. I have yet to figure out how to get the badge on the blog. I know, I know......it's probably something simple but until then catch up with me on Facebook by simply typing in the search, Feathers in the Nest. I love to connect with stitchers all over the world.

Till later,
Jennifer

Let's start over......

ok, yesterday was such a downer I simply hit the delete button on that post and it felt good! That's one thing about delete buttons......and a woman's mind put together. It's a beautiful thing.

Back to a few sights around the house. I finally hung the This Too sampler on the downstairs wall between our chairs. It's a good spot for it ......

please excuse the new "incandescent" light bulbs. This is the only pic I got to not look like the ball of the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, it looks weird in pictures.  LOL

Let's just leave the light out........

I need to work on finishing the 2nd sampler of The Scarlett Letter one (which is one over one) and  then have the pair together, but until that time, this is it.

things got better when my fellow hung his hat here right by the reminder of the simpler things in life being the most important

 and

a foot rub with this wonderful lotion!

which started me finally finding this pack of buttons I knew I had from the trip.....somewhere,

from the button store. I felt like I was a kid in a candy store. A kid opening a new pack of Crayola crayons.

and didn't get to this tonight.........but hope to work on it some until my insomnia abates tonight.

That may be a while too because while I was writing this, I heard a big BIG gunshot outside.

Our dogs were viciously chasing a bear off the down the street, neighbor's porch after BG walked down there. The neighbor shot in the air to scare off the bear and they told us this is day 2 they have seen him/her......on their porch.

And this is the primary reason, well, besides snakes in the summer, that my hiney stays in the house after dark!!!!! 

Boston notions, fabrics and notions I found, color therapy

This may be the reason my luggage weighed 8.1 pounds heavier than when it was weighed in Atlanta......just a wee bit of what I found at two of the stores in Boston that had sewing notions, items, etc......no cross stitch stores. Windsor Button company and Winmill Fabrics located very close to each, very convenient.

I'm unpacking some of it today........have yet to find some more packs of buttons I got. Later posting.

I love calico and old fabs. I got a yard of each except the pretty green/pink, 2 yards.

Kinda went nuts with notions.

Scissors were a scarcity item in Boston......let me tell you!

Went crazy over fabs.

You think I might have enough by now? I need to start stitching so I can use these.

I will be putting some quarter yards in the Nest Feathers shop soon.

 

Loved this heavy cotton American Flag ribbon. Got a large and small spool each.

Some felts.

2 yards of linen, one yard of natural and one of white. It's very stitchable, not sure on the count but my gauge looks like about 36 count.

other trims.

some small tassels for regency making pinkeeps.

my favorite color teal, a darker teal in this pic which will go well with some of the fabs.

Several spools of thread because I really and truly had only a few colors.

Well, this is part of my Boston haul..........later when I unpack the rest!  :o