4.29.2012

It's a worm Grandma!

I received an email
 from our
little grandson,
 Beckham
 yesterday.

 Subject line read... 
It's a worm Grandma!
No words necessary,
the picture says it all...

I just know he's thinking,
where are it's eyes??!!!!

 I love getting emails
 from Beckam.

 Have a good week everyone,
 Brenda

4.28.2012

Have you...

bought your 
12 oz sampler box
 of 
Whitmans Chocolates yet?? 

If not, it's time to!

STRAWBERRY HILL SAMPLER sewing box
is coming soon! 
The theme
 for the re purposed 
Whitman's chocolate sampler box
 will be...
 strawberries,
you guessed it!

Here is a peek at the floss colors and linen...
a nice warm buttery yellow 35 count linen.

The plans are...
the box will be re purposed into a little sewing box.
A box that has a cross stitched pincushion top.
You'll open the lid of the box
to find a sweet little sampler needle roll,
strawberry emery
and 
more!

Stay tuned...

Have a good evening,
Brenda

4.24.2012

Becoming a big brother...

I was looking through some photos 
that I snapped at the hospital
 after the birth of Avry. 
 I came upon this one...
I love the photo.

That first glimpse
 of his new baby sister.
  So focused
 on her tiny little mouth,
 tiny little nose 
and
 tiny little hat...

Big brother
 decided
 she's a keeper,
  lets take her home!

Have a good Tuesday everyone,
Brenda

4.23.2012

Mmmmmmmm.....

It was another one of those weekends 
where I rather spend my time stitching
then in the kitchen.
 Anyone else have this disorder?
Thanks to daughter Erin 
for her recipe share
 I was able to whip up a delicious light lunch
 and the darling husband 
couldn't seem to get enough mmmm's
 in while eating his lunch.
 I just won't tell him how easy it was.
 I think I'll just let him believe
 that I labored hours in the kitchen
preparing this delightful meal.

Mozzarella Tomato & Avocado  Brueschetta

1 container cherry tomatoes, cut in half (I prefer the oval or grape tomatoes)
1 carton fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, drained
2 avocado, peeled and diced
1/3 cut fresh basil, julienned
2 T. fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup extra light olive oil
freshly ground salt and pepper
french baguette bread

In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and parsley.  Set aside.  In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper.  Pour over tomato mixture.  Toss to coat.  Let set for 30 minutes so flavors can mix.  Just before serving, stir in the chopped avocados.  Slice french baguette bread and apply light olive oil onto both sides with a pastry brush.  Place under broiler to toast, toasting both sides.  Place tomato mixture onto toasted bread.

X  X  X  X  X  X

And I leave you this Monday morning with a little peak 
at the
Francis Pool sampler.
I'm about half way done!

Have a good week,

Brenda

4.12.2012

She is here!

Meet Miss Avry Brooklyn 
 7 1/2 pounds 
19 1/2" long
 born April 12, 2012 
at 3:55 AM

Mother and baby are both doing wonderful! 
Big brother is getting to know his new little sister
 and 
Daddy's pretty proud!

Thanks for your thoughts and well wishes for a safe delivery,
Brenda

4.11.2012

NOTICE

I got the phone call from daughter Erin, contractions are about 9 minutes apart!  I am out of the office until further notice and unable to fill orders.   I ask that you refrain from placing orders during this time when I'm gone...they are just going to sit in my inbox and grow old, thank you for understanding!  I will keep you all updated in regards to my return date.

Gotta run,
Brenda

4.10.2012

SPAM keys & Pincushions...

I collect antique & vintage pincushions.
 This one sits in a little vignette,
 along with other pincushions,
 on a little side table
next to my stitching settee.

I bought it as is...
loaded 
with
 pins
 and 
threaded needles.

 It is this little rocker
 that catches my eye
 and
 makes me laugh
from
time
to 
time...

For some crazy reason
 it reminds me of SPAM.
Yea, that's right...
the meat in the can!
Any SPAM lovers out there?
Any SPAM key lovers out there?
 You know,
 the little key that you used
 to take the top off
 of the
 SPAM can?
Loved that key...
 It formed such a cute little curl of steel...
 much like the little curls
 on my little rocking chair pincushion.  
A pincushion made from a pop can.

 I always wonder,
 did they use the SPAM key to create these little chairs?
 Inquiring minds want to know...

 And by the way,
 I don't like SPAM.
 Mom would try sneaking it past us
 when we were kids...
 fry it up nice and brown
 and put it on bread,
drown it with mustard
 and
they'll never know it came from a can...
right?
WRONG.

 I didn't like this so-called mystery meat,
 but
 I WAS
 captivated by it's little key
 and
 the cute little spiral of steel...

Have a good day,
Brenda

4.07.2012

Friday is garbage day...

and
 you know what that means?
 Someone gets to
wait
 and
 watch for
 one of these ...
Ah yes, the garbage truck!
That is the highlight of this little darlings Friday.

Fridays are busy days for this 3 year old.
  Momma has her ob doc appointments also.
That's a lot to have to squeeze into a Friday morning
 for a
3 year old...
Waiting and listening for the garbage truck
to arrive,
 and
 then having to go to the doctors
office and wait some more...
and
then getting to hear a heart beat
of this little person,
that everyone calls,
 little baby sister...

  The doctors say things are starting to progress
 and the baby
 could arrive
 any day now!
Yayyyyyyyy!!
And now here's the cute part,
 the part that made my day...
(momma called me and told me the cute little story,
I love these cute little Beckham stories - cause you just never know what he is going to say)
 
Upon leaving the doctor's office,
 this past Friday,
 Beckham told the doctor
 that he was going to go home
 and
 watch garbage trucks (of course)
 and
 then go pick up his baby sister!!
First things first, though...

  So,
 I'm thinking these weekly
 Friday doctor appointments
 are starting to conflict
with someones garbage-truck-watching days.
Someone has decided
 it's just time to go
 and
 pick this little sister up,
 and
 get over this weekly
nonsense of doctor visits...
it's really starting to cut into his
garbage truck watching days...

I still can't stop laughing!   

Have a blessed Easter everyone,
Brenda

P.S.
New punch needle patterns should be posted on the website on Monday...unless the baby arrives!  Also, the 35 count Abecedarian linen has arrived and the 30 count Parchment will be here this coming week.

4.01.2012

New Patterns!

It's getting close now!
 Flosses are being kitted,
 linen is being cut
 and
you might say,
I'm just getting
 all my little
 ducks in a row,
before the release
of the following new patterns. 

So here is what is coming!
You can expect these to be added to our 
website just as soon
 as that last
 little straying duck
gets in line!!
SIT & STITCH
Is a cross stitch chart
 for a fun little sewing box chair
 that you construct from 
linen-covered cardboard. 
  The seat cushion lifts up,
 revealing a little box
 to keep all your
 sewing needfuls in!
This 9" chair
 has a crisply box pleated ruffle 
and her
 little wooden legs 
are old wooden thread spools...
how cute is that?
  All letters of the alphabet
 are included
 so you may personalize your chair!
   Also included in this pattern
 is a sweet coordinating pincushion, 
complete with cross stitched motifs,
 old mother of pearl buttons
 and 
antique ticking. 


MAY WORD PLAY
The 8th of the 12 monthly series
 is now ready
 for your stitching pleasure!
  Full and partial floss packs 
will be available
 as always.

SAMPLER OF THE SEASON - SPRING
After a little delay,
 the Spring sampler
 in this 4 sampler series
 is now ready! 
 It's an earth-warming spring day
 on the homestead,
gentle breezes are blowing,
it's time to get the quilts out
 for their annual airing.

  Design is worked on
 30 count Parchment linen 
over 2 strands,
 using GAST flosses throughout.

A big "THANK YOU" to Valley House Primitives
for supplying us with another one
of their beautifully hand-grained frames.

Moving onto NEW punchneedle patterns...
DAYS GONE BY
A sweet little huswife pocket 
with antique crock and rabbit pull toy. 
 Wool penny tabs 
and 
antique mother of pearl buttons
 adds extra detail
 and
 texture to this piece.
   A perfect little piece
 to hang from the corner 
of a ladder back chair
 or
 cupboard knob.

PARSNIP PIE
"My garden is beauty full"...
Here we have chambray skirt & straw bonnet clad gardener,
 admiring her bumper crop 
of
  carrots and parsnips. 
Oh there are rows and rows of other 
produce and sunflowers too,
 but is is the parsnips that she
has her eyes on...
 She is thinking Parsnip Pie,
 just like the ones
 her granny used to make.  

   Design is mounted on a linen weave fabric 
with
 wool flower accents
 at it's corners.

That's all for now folks!

Have a good week,
Brenda

P.S. no baby yet!