Threads of time...

Introducing the "Threads of Time" sampler jewelry line...

~small snippets of antique handwork are carefully framed in each piece~

These pieces feature some new charms & jewelry findings that are hand crafted in Guatamala. These pieces will be posted on our website for purchase later this evening.

brenda

Going on vacation...

We're heading to the mountains to see our boy!

Dear husband and son are going to ride in the alpine road ride, Copper Triangle. I'm hoping the husband has trained enough to survive riding at 11,000 feet altitude!

As for me...

No, I am not doing the bike ride...

I have all I can do to survive the car ride up into the mountains! I will be fine once I get out of the car and can actually relax my toes & dig them out of the bottoms of my shoes!

I plan on relaxing, taking in the beautiful sights of the Colorado Rocky mountains and doing a little sketching/design work.

Country Stitches will be closed for vacation July 28th - August 3rd.

You are welcome to shop online during this time, but orders will not be shipped until August 4th. At that time we will fill/ship orders in the order they were received.

with thy needle & thread,

brenda

New additions....

Newly created jewelry pieces...

(click on photos to view larger image)

...now available for purchase on our website! All jewelry pieces come in a darling purse-shaped gift box...perfect for gift giving!



Have a good week,

brenda

Just gotta do!

"Sampler Sisters of the Thread" by The Primitive Needle

We just got some new patterns in from some of our favorite designers ~

The Primitive Needle

Midsummer Night Designs

Shakespeare's Sampler

&

Teresa Kogut

The Sampler Sisters of the Thread is definately on my "to-do" list...love this one! There is just something about a long & skinny sampler...

Hop on over to our website to view these new goodies....

I'm off to work,

but to the post office first...

am expecting my last cross stitch design in the mail today...wooohooo!

Then comes the scary part of...

do I frame it,

do I sew it into a pinkeep,

to over-dye

or to not over-dye....

With thy needle & thread,

brenda

p.s.

Our jewelry findings/charm shipment arrived yesterday...for those of you waiting for these goodies, your orders shipped yesterday!

Can it be?

Received a phone call last night from this little guys mommy announcing another first.....

ate his first graham cracker

Can it be...

he is growing up so quickly ...

learning new things weekly...

I saw this verse by an unknown author...really liked it & am going to share

It's such a grand thing

to be

a mother

of a mother...

that's why

the world

calls her

a grandmother.

have a good day,

brenda

A Sneak Peek

Just a little peek....

Three of the 4 new cross stitch pattern designs are back from the stitchers. I've been busy finishing up the final instructions & framing the finished pieces.

I am hopeful to have the 4 new cross stitch patterns ready to go by month's end....

New pattern titles are:

Happy Halloween!

Cat Tricks

Miss Snow Fairy

My Hearth & Home

...that's it folks, no more hints!

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Turn Scrap Booking Paper into Jewelry!

I'm just thrilled to pieces & doing the happy dance to have found another use for scrapbooking paper. I have a fetish (or addiction, perhaps) to scrapbooking paper....I LOVE it almost as much as I love buying fabric. I am so excited ... as I don't scrapbook!

Here are the latest jewelry creations....

all made with the Patera Jewelry Findings & Scrapbooking Paper

All pieces are now available for sale on our website.

Blessings to you,
brenda

New hand-crafted jewelry!

More new pieces of jewelry have been created & are now available for sale on our website. Pieces are listed under the NEW ITEMS & PATERA JEWELRY FINDINGS categories...check out both locations! Thank you to those of you who have already purchased pieces of our work...it has been great fun & exciting to work with a new medium.

Visit our website often as we will post new pieces as the jewelry is created. This jewelry is hand-crafted right here at Country Stitches.

~One of a kinds, hand-crafted one at a time~

have a joyful day,

brenda

P.S.

The response to the handcrafted silver charms has been overwhelming, even selling out of several. Out of stock charms will be ordered next week.

SIMPLY CHARMING!

We have had several requests in regards to the silver charms that we have on several pieces of our jewelry...and YES we are selling these charms!! They just arrived and one is as cute as the next...


Also...we have sold out of some of the jewelry pieces on our website. I will be adding more to the website as they are created...these are one of a kinds, made one at a time.

Hop on over to our website at www.countrystitchesonline.com to take advantage of our 10% off select items sale. Sale runs through July 4th, ending at 10:00 PM CST.

Happy 4th of July,
Brenda

Patera Jewelry Making Tutorial

We are pleased to be offering a new product line called Patera Findings. These jewelry findings are hand cast in the United States of 100% lead-free pewter and plated in a variety of finishes. Visit our website at http://www.countrystitchesonline.com/ and view these items under the Patera Jewelry Findings category.

Today's blog will be an instructional tutorial on jewelry making using these Patera findings. Please join us and see how fun & easy it is to create your own one-of-a-kind jewelry.

Items Needed:

1. Scrap booking paper, photos, digital collage art, or any photo that you can print on a laser jet printer...the possibilities are endless, be creative!

2. Mod Podge

3. DG3 Art Gel

4. paper punch (optional, but cuts paper to fit pendants precisely)

5. paint brush

6. Patera jewelry pendant of choice

Let's Begin...

Turn paper punch up-side-down and slide paper of choice into the punch, centering design. Using firm pressure on each side of the punch, punch paper out.

Cover work surface with a piece of wax paper. Apply Mod Podge to backside of paper with paint brush.

Flip paper over and place paper down into pendant.

Using the point of your paint brush or a clean pencil eraser, press paper into jewelry finding. Start from the center of the piece and work towards the outer edges, removing any air pockets and forming a nice tight bond between paper and jewelry finding.

Apply a coat of Mod Podge to seal the paper. Allow Mod Podge to dry thoroughly. Apply a 2nd coat and allow to dry thoroughly, once again.

Now it is time to fill the Patera Jewelry Finding with DG3 gel. Do not shake the DG3, as that will cause more air bubbles. Start the flow of the DG3 gel off to the side on the wax paper and then start filling the Patera pendant. Begin filling around outside edges, working towards the center of the piece.

Fill pendant full, until the gel has a rounded appearance along the outer edges.

Once piece is filled, check for air bubbles. To remove an air bubble, gently place paint brush down into the DG3 gel under the bubble. Gently pull brush out of the gel, removing the air bubble with the brush. Check piece periodically to see if any more air bubbles form. Remove additional bubbles as instructed.

Place a clear plastic lid or drinking cup over piece to prevent any dust or other particles from falling into piece. Allow to dry. The drying process can take 24 - 48 hours, depending on humidity. Piece is now ready for final embellishments.

That's all there is to it...fun & easy for all ages!

have a good week,

brenda

Coming soon...easy & fun jewelry to create!!

Do you like the soldiered jewelry but are sick of burnt fingers, cut fingers from working with glass, or are you just plain afraid to use a soldier gun? We have a new & fun line called Patera Jewelry Findings, to create your own jewelry!

You simply cut out paper artwork to fit the jewelry frame, using the paper punches that exactly fit the jewelry findings. You can use old photos, new photos, collage sheets, or scrap booking paper. Laser jet prints from your printer work too...the possibilities of what you can scan & print are endless! You seal the paper and place into the Patera Jewelry findings. A liquid acrylic is then placed over the photo. The dried acrylic gives the appearance of glass!

We are carrying various shapes & sizes of the pendants along with several styles of chains, bracelets, charms & accessories. Also available will be the acrylic glaze and paper punches. As soon as I get all the items photographed, I will have them posted for sale on our website under a new category ~ Patera Jewelry Findings. I'm hoping everything will be posted by the end of next week.

We will also be offering a limited amount of finished pieces of jewelry for sale on the website.

Keep an eye right here on my blog for an instructional tutorial for a fun, new & exciting craft....jewelry making!

Here is a sampling of various ideas...

~fun patriotic pendant using a scan of an old post card ~


~1 1/4" pin made using a scan of a quilt block ~


~fun bracelet with a 13/16" charm using a scan from an old post card ~

~ 1 1/4" gold pin using a scan of needle work ~



~ 1 1/4" square pin with a scan of a punch needle piece ~


~pendant with scan of punch needle piece~



~necklace using scrap booking paper ~



~scan of a quilt block ~


have a good weekend,
brenda

It's Ready....

....tis sweet corn season!

A young Minnesotan was selling Missouri sweet corn in town over the weekend. What is a Minnesota boy doin' sellin' Missouri Sweet Corn in Iowa??? Good question...I wondered the same thing!! It doesn't seem to matter how much the corn costs per dozen...we will pay anything for that first batch of the summer...$7.00 a dozen! Not sure if it is the supply and demand theory here or if it's the cost of gas for the Minnesotan to drive to Missouri to sell sweet corn to us here in Iowa! When our Iowa corn is ready, we will pay around $3.00 a dozen. Our Iowa sweet corn is probably a couple of weeks away from being ready. Once the sweet corn season is in full force, we will enjoy corn each & every day...or until we feel like a pig & decide we possibly cannot eat another ear. That usually happens near the end of the summer...

There is something about fresh sweet corn

& grilled food....
...delicious!

Sharing today, my Chuck Wagon Ribs & Sweet Corn recipes...

Chuck Wagon Baby Back Ribs

4 - 5 pounds pork loin baby back ribs

2 cups pineapple juice

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup yellow mustard

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 tablespoon black pepper

2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

Cut ribs into 2 to 3 rib portions. In a small bow combine pepper, salt, chili powder, sugar, onion & garlic powders, parsley and oregano. Sprinkle rub evenly over both sides of ribs; rub with your fingers.

In a large bowl, combine pineapple juice, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard & bourbon. Stir to combine.

Place rib portions, bone sides down, in a large roasting pan. Pour sauce over ribs. For a charcoal gill, use the indirect heat method for grilling ribs. Place uncovered roasting pan on grill rack in center of the grill. Cover; grill for 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hours or until ribs are tender, spooning sauce over ribs every 20 minutes.

Perfect Sweet Corn

Husk, wash and remove silk from corn. Put corn in a large kettle and fill with enough water to cover corn nicely. Add 3 tablespoons sugar & 3 tablespoons lemon juice to the water; stir to mix. Bring water to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove kettle from heat and cover with a lid. Let set for 10 minutes. Roll corn in real butter & salt and pepper the heck out of it....delicious!

Enjoy & Happy Summer!

Brenda

To a sweet couple...

Another year to create

precious memories together.

Another year to discover

new things to enjoy about each other.

Another year to build

a life rich in love and laughter.

...wishing you lots of love

and happiness today & forever!

Love,

Mom & Dad

A brown stone & pass the guacamole!!!

We enjoyed our family get together in Chicago, and of course the time just flew by too quickly. We stayed in a lovely brown stone in the Lincoln Park area. This completely furnished home had everything needed...minus a potato masher (more on that later). It nicely slept all 7 of us and worked great for a family with little ones. So much easier then hotel rooms and had a lovely "home" atmosphere. We enjoyed having a kitchen and grill on the back patio for family dining. We were just a short train ride to Wrigley Field and within walking distance to the Armitage shopping district. Lots of fun little boutique shops, a cupcake bakery & The Paper Source....love that store!

I've noticed that son Matthew likes to share his cooking skills when we gather together. He seems to always treat us to something yummy. Last trip home it was his home-made buffalo chicken wings on the grill. This trip it was his home-made guacamole. One small glitch, NO potato masher in the kitchen...not one to be found anywhere. Not a good thing when the avocados are a day from being good & ripe...but he improvised and after a curse word or two the dip was made & enjoyed by all...even mom who doesn't like guacamole!! Guacamole, give me guacamole... this is a new "acquired taste" & I keep craving this darn dip. Now granted, avocados weren't exactly something a Minnesota farm girl was raised on, but boy I did not know what I was missing!!

MATTHEW'S GUACAMOLE DIP

3 avocados (peeled, chopped & mashed with potato masher)

juice of 2 limes

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)

1 - 2 T. fresh Cilantro (finely chopped)

1 tomato (chopped finely)

1 tsp. fresh minced garlic

pinch or two of cayenne pepper

Mix all together and serve with corn chips

Avocado Facts

• Avocados contain 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein, which some studies suggest help maintain healthy eyes.
• Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet.
• Avocados, due to their mono and polyunsaturated fat content, are a healthy substitution for foods rich in saturated fat.
• One-fifth of a medium avocado (1 oz) has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals making it a good nutrient choice.
• Avocados contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Enjoy & pass the guacamole,

brenda

My bags are packed...

...and we're headed for a long weekend in the windy city.

Chicago here we come!

This family get-a-way was planned by son-in-law Rob & son Matthew.

Now when you let 2 guys plan a vacation....

this is where you will end up....

...at a ball park for the series between the Chicago Cubs & the Minnesota Twins!


Now, you are all probably thinking that we are a "Cubs Fan Family", right??!



No, we are one of those "house-divided" families...



Some will cheer for the Twins & some will cheer for the Cubs...



Here is a break down of who cheers for whom:

Darling Husband - Twins fan

Myself - Twins fan

Daughter Erin - Twins fan

Son-in-law Rob - Cubs Fan (so die-hard of a fan that he even has a brick at Wrigley with his name on it).

Son Matthew - Twins fan (an obnoxious one too) He has reminded his brother-in-law several times that if he ever wants to cheer for his team in a World Series he really needs to find a new team.

Sons girlfriend Megan- Twins fan

and then there is this little guy...

Now, I know his daddy has sang him the Cubs fight song at least once a day, everyday of his 6 1/2 month life....

And Daddy also thinks his first words are going to be "Go Cubs"...

BUT....

...he looks awfully proud in his Twins jersey!

Go Twinkies,

brenda