1.19.2014

Love Struck!

Lots and lots of love-themed stitching has been going on!
Valentines Day always sneaks up on me.  
It' seems like I'm just recovering from the Christmas rush 
and Valentines needs to be done,
and now 
I have Easter in my hoop!

Happy to share with you
two new 
love-themed
 patterns.
Not to "Valentinesy",
 but perfect for this upcoming holiday!

~ CUPIDS ARROW ~
 Punch needle design inspired by old PA Dutch frakturs
 Reminiscent of old book plates created on parchment 
with watercolor and ink drawings
 many many years ago... 
This simple little rug will find a spot on one of my small antique stacking benches. :)


~ Mary Valentine's Handework ~

A  love-themed pattern filled with 5 quick stitch projects. 
 The "Forget Me Not" pinkeep is fashioned and sized to look like a vintage postcard. 
 A perfect little piece to place on an ironstone plate 
and surround with old buttons and thimbles...makes a perfect vignette.  

"The gift is small, but love is all"  These are the words that young Mary Valentine chose to stitch on her simple little sampler. 
 I've always loved this verse!
  A piece of worn ticking
 and 
old buttons adds extra detail and charm to the sampler.

The remaining 3 projects all center around re-purposing
 Russel Stover's or Whitman's Chocolates Valentines heart-shaped boxes.  
Mary's Sewing Box top is decorated with various cross-stitched motifs worked in rows, giving it a feel of a band sampler.   
The box is lined with old sheet music 
and old thread spools becomes it's legs. 
 Perfect for storing your needles
 and
 favorite embroidery scissors.
Posies for Thee
a smaller box, perfect for storing thimbles! 

 And lastly, Key to the Heart
uses just the bottom of the smaller box.  
 The little box becomes a little hanging display of a stitched vine and bluebird. 
 You will try your hand at building a bird's nest...
what fun that is, 
twisting and entwining thread remnants among flax!  
The verse, "feather your nest with love" 
and a little key finishes this piece off so sweetly.
  And yes, there are tiny eggs in my nest...
the little birdie must have approved of my nest making skills!!

All designs on this chart are worked on 35 count Old Town Blend linen using various hand-dyed flosses.

That's all for now, 
the bunny in my hoop 
is calling me!

Have a good week everyone,
Brenda



15 comments:

  1. Love the Valentine xstitch project. Can you tell me which pattern fits which chocolate box and also, would the design work if stitched on 32 ct?

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  2. Great designs!
    I would like to know where the pattern is for the heart at the top of the page on your header?

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  3. Beautiful Valentine designs!!!
    Can't wait to see what you and your bunny are brewing up for Easter!!!
    I just got your Easter Peep pattern and can't wait to stitch that cutie up!!!
    Prim Blessings
    Robin

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  4. LoVe the Valentine cross stitcheries! LoVe the heart Punch Needle design too.

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  5. If only the day job didn't get in the way of the stitching. Maybe I can stretch my day a little more as I do enjoy your designs. I was given a kit for Christmas which I've yet to start.

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  6. Yvonne,
    Box sizing is as follows - 1.75 size are used for Posies for Thee (middle right side)and Key to the Heart (bottom right side). The larger 4.75 oz size is Mary's Sewing Box (top right)

    Working these are a larger count linen will make them too large for the boxes I am afraid.

    Brenda

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  7. Diana,
    The heart in the top page header is from last years Valentine release titled, Valentine Sampler.
    Here is the link
    http://www.countrystitchesonline.com/catalog.php?category=28&page=2

    Brenda

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  8. Hello, I'm starting your " Paper snowflakes", i love it and i love all your works!!
    I have problems to find Valdani threads here in Italy, I hope to find them soon.
    Love from Italy,
    Naty

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  9. Can't wait to purchase and get started beautiful patterns.

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  10. So lovely! :)
    Greetings from Finland!
    Hugs, Ulla

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  11. Brenda, your message dated 1/6/14 shows photos of Russell Stover candy boxes, however, on the message above you mention Whitman's candy boxes. I went to CVS to purchase the candy boxes (thinking that the sizes were the same for both the Russell Stover & the Whitman's) but I discovered that they aren't exactly the same. Please, can you clarify whether we should purchase the Whitman's or Russell Stover? Thank you

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  12. Your work is so beautiful
    Kathy in Ozarks Missouri

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  13. What gorgeous projects these are!

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  14. Love your designs! Any news on when the Valentine patterns will be available at LNSs?

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