Great Grandmother's Linens

I was going through more boxes from moving and I came across my Great Grandmother's linens. I don't have very many of them..my dear Grandma passed them down to me. As you can imagine, I was absolutely thrilled with the thought of owning hand stitched linens from my Great Grandmother! I never had the chance to meet her. She had passed on many, many years ago. It is such a blessing to me to have such beautiful linens that I can cherish and pass down to my own son or daughter one day. When I first laid my eyes on Great Grandmother's stitching and embroidery, I now know why I too love needle and thread! Needlework has been in the family many years, and it is in my blood :)
I must say my Great Grandmother did a beautiful job of embroidery and stitching, and I wish I had the honor of knowing her personally.
But, I am pleased and it overflows my heart with joy that I can honor her and take care of the items she put needle and thread to. Some of the linens have turned yellow with age. I am hoping I can restore them somewhat with cleaning. They have been stored for quite some time now.
I look at her work and can just imagine all the time she spent stitching and pouring her heart into her embroidery. Little did she know that years later there would be a Great Granddaughter, that would treasure her handwork for many more years to come!
I hope that the needlework I create would be saved and treasured by my own children. I believe that these pieces are truly heirlooms and something that can not be duplicated. Each and every piece tells a story of a time long past.
I wish I had a photo of my Dear Great Grandmother, but I do not. Her name was Madelina.

Aren't they absolutely stunning! I am very blessed indeed. My dear Great Grandmother has blessed me tremendously with her loving vintage embroidery!

Louise

Oh Baby!

A sweet little cross stitch. Lorri Birmingham Designs, Baby in a Basket. I have already matted and framed this one:

A design that I traced and embroidered, then made into a pillow:

Raggedystitches,

Tea Towels

I have been working on some home-made gifts. This is a tea towel that I embroidered in about an hour! Can you believe it..quick and easy gift, and so cute :)
I plan on putting it together with some home-made cookies.
This is a freebie design that I found at Bird Brain Designs

They have a lot of neat things over at their site. Lots of freebie redwork patterns too!

I have also just finished crocheting another baby blanket..all pink and white this time. I used double yarns, white and pink at the same time...the blanket is nice and heavy. Will certainly keep a new baby warm :)

Hubby is busy working on our house..oooh! It is looking so good. I sit here with my cup of gingerbread tea while the white lights sparkle on our Christmas tree. So nice to have our daughter home from school, it truly is a delight! Our son told us that he bought a Christmas gift for his sister. How sweet is that! :)
Even though they are many years apart, the love is still there.
As we prepare for the birth of our Lord, we reflect on how blessed each and everyone of us is, and it is because of him we are blessed indeed!

Raggedystitches

This and That

I have decided I would like to make an attempt at doing the Raggedy Ann block of the month that the Painted Quilt is offering. (See button on the right side bar if interested!). It really is an adorable quilt..and everyone knows how much I love Ann and Andy. :)
I do not have a light box big enough for tracing, so made do with what I do have access to, and that is a nice bright window! It works! I used packing tape to hold the pattern to the window while I trace the design onto the fabric I purchased. I decided to go with a Kona cotton in place of muslin.
I have yet to pick out my quilt type fabrics for the blocks that will be placed around the design.
I have picked out the DMC cotton thread to backstitch the pattern and decided I like the darker red number 815 best! :)I am considering making the quilt all red and white..but we shall see...
I found out about this BOM (block of the month) a little late, so I am behind now, but that's ok. I just hope I can stick with it!
My husband is going to build me a sewing room, and I cannot wait! I haven't had a sewing room for many years now, and I know it is going to be worth the wait. Finally a place to organize all my stash again. We still have so many things to unpack, but it is so good to be back home again.


Our new Parakeet "Misty" has settled in nicely. Our cockatiel "Andy" is not lonely anymore! They really hit it off very well. Misty loves snuggling up to Andy. It is quite a sight to see! They really adore each other. Misty preens Andy, and he just loves it. We were surprised how well they took to each other, as they are different breeds of birds.



Yesterday we attended a reception line that was many miles long down a major road in our city. It was to welcome home a HERO! Corporal Tyler Southern, a wounded marine returned home from duty in Afghanistan. It brought tears to all of our eyes. He had lost both of his legs and one arm by an IED explosion.
He returned home for his 21st birthday this weekend.
Many people lined the streets, with flags, balloons, and wore red, white and blue.
I think all of our military should be welcomed home in this manner. We are so blessed to have our freedom here in America, and they help fight for our freedom.
Thank you to all our military!






I wish you all a weekend full of Blessings,

Finished Stitchery, and Updates

I have been busy working on a Halloween stitchery. Yes, you heard me right! Halloween..it is now one of my favorite things to stitch on. I know, a little early right? Well, not too early for me! I just LOVE anything Halloween, I always have. Love the decorations, love that time of year. The Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year, with the pumpkins, the cool crisp air, the smell of apples pies baking..ooooh! I can't wait! When my kids were little, I used to sew them costumes, I just loved filling those little bags with candy in anticipation of all those cute children coming to my door. Sooo..I have decided it is time to start stitching and get in the mood for this season during the summer. :)I stitched up "Halloween Icons" by Birds of a Feather.
This chart came with 32 count Meadow Lark Linen...
Hail to those that can stitch on this type of linen.
This was very difficult for me.
I was a little bit discouraged. I think age is finally affecting my eyes!
I had a difficult time. I do like my stitches even, and try to at least get the stitches in the right holes! It doesn't seem the case with this work of art. lol
I am very glad this MIGHT be considered "primitive"..for, I think I made it even more primitive with my specialty uneven stitches. ;)
I will be framing these in small black square frames I hope to find soon. (I think I spotted some at Michaels craft store)
Yes! Those are candy corn...
found them in my pantry (middle of July)- DON'T ASK! ha ha




I have also been doing some embroidery type stitching on a pillowcase. I have always admired blue and white stitchery. I picked these pillowcases up at Ben Franklin Craft Store. They are pre-printed..you just follow the lines. I have decided to do a straight stitch (I have trouble with the stem stitch) Will have to work on that! I also have been stitching lazy daisy stitches and french knots too. I am using DMC Floss. Pretty I think..and they work up fast, almost done with one!




I have decided to try coffee dying some fabric...soaked it, then scrunched it..then baked it..then rubbed some coffee grinds on it...then scrunched it again, then baked it some more at a low temperature in the oven...
this is how it came out:



Some new things! Love the cute little garden flag. Found it at Michaels Craft Store. It is one of the new items for this Fall. Reminds me of the Mary Englebreit cross stitch design of the little witch. So adorable! :)
Hoping to start the new chart "Ida Mae Crow" by the Goode Huswife, really soon, along with "Miniature Samplers" by Homespun Elegance, and "Buttons & Pins" by Blackbird Designs.Also picked up a pair of neat little scissors. These are Kelmscott Designs, Putford Scissors. Love them!

I have been trying to stitch a little bit each night, even if it is only just for a little while. there is so much I want to do, and so much I want to stitch! :)



Raggedystitches,

Redwork

This was stitched on tea stained fabric.
I love Raggedy Ann, and couldn't pass up on this design. So Cute!
:)
Not sure what I will do with it yet, perhaps frame it, or make a pillow.