Cool Joe...

So my

team may

not

be the

best...

but the

ice cream

at this

place

rocks!!

GO CYCLONES!!

(Grandma is counting the days until she gets a chance to see this little one again...just 6 more days!!)

It's a FREE shipping weekend!!

In celebration of Columbus Day,

Country Stitches is offering FREE shipping on internet orders!

Offer ends Monday, October 11th at 10:00 PM CST.

Offer not valid on international orders.

Visit us online at www.countrystitchesonline.com to take advantage of these savings! Due to the holiday, our office will be closed on Monday but you can shop the website 24/7...we are always open for business there!

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Look at what I found!!

It always seems to amaze me what thoughts run through your head as you awaken in the night.

Or is it these thoughts that awaken you?

At about 2:23 am to be exact I'm laying awake thinking about frames...

I'm thinking that I may have ordered more then one of the frames like was used on the "Give Thanks" pattern.

So I get up this morning and run down to the back room at Country Stitches and up on the top of a shelf I spotted a brown box...

a brown box with a cute pig sticker on it.

Could it be?

Do I have more of these frames?

I opened the box, feeling like a kid at Christmas time as I wasn't sure what I'd find...

and holy moly (to quote Grumpy Old Men...love that movie!) there still neatly wrapped in brown paper in 2's

are 9 more of these frames!!! I looked at the shipping label and I purchased these in 2006...have no idea what design I was going to use them with...

must have had a change of heart. But I must have liked them, liked them so well that I thought I needed 10 of them... I tend to have this problem with other things also...what disease is this??

So, long story short...I have 9 of these to sell. I ordered them as pictured, black over honeycomb (ivory). These will be sold as is. You will need to paint them to match floss colors in the Give Thanks sampler or maybe you have a Halloween piece that would look nice in them as is.

So give me a few hours to find the invoice for these...need to go back to 2006 paid invoices, may take me a bit....

Once I have them priced, they will be posted for sale on our website. Hurry though, there are just 9 of these...when they are gone, they're gone!!

Enjoy your day,
Brenda

Thankfully, it's finally done!!

You may remember photos of this piece in a hoop, being worked on in a previous post.

After several inquires as to whether this was going to be offered as a pattern and even emails coaxing me along to hurry up & get it done...

I can finally say,

IT'S DONE!

I charted this design last year and over the coarse of time, kept changing the turkey. I think I have this chart saved 5 different ways...5 different turkeys! I chose to go with the turkey whose tail feathers look like little pennies on a penny rug.

Today's goal was to have a Friday Finish! The piece was done, just ready to be framed or sewn into a pillow...

BUT

my eye kept taking me to a pumpkin,

a pumpkin that didn't show up,

a pumpkin that needed to be a different color of floss

SO

I spent most of today ripping out a tiny flipin' pumpkin and restitching it in a thread which gives a nicer contrast. At one point I felt like just covering it up with a patch... Did I mention ripping out 28 count over 1 isn't fun & it takes forever??

NOW

onto the frame of choice...

I know I'm going to get asked, is the frame available? This is a frame by Hog River Frames that I purchased several years ago. To my knowledge they no longer are selling frames...boo hoo, cause I loved their frames. If this isn't the case, please correct me and let me know how to get in contact with them...thanks a bunch! And I beg you not to throw rotten pumpkins at me for choosing this frame BUT I live in small town Iowa with not much for frame selection AND there wasn't time to special order a frame PLUS I needed to get this finished SO it can get into the hands of my customers BEFORE Thanksgiving...how's that for a run-on sentence? The frames were painted pitch black...not quite appropriate for the Give Thanks design. So I decided it was time to try out the Country Living paints that I ordered at the Creative Connection Event back in September.

I gave the black frame a coat of the Country Living Chocolate textured base coat, then a coat of chipping cream (this is what makes it look so wonderfully chippy & old) and then a coat of Cobblestone. After the piece was dry, I took an old spatula and scuffed the frame up and then rubbed on a coat of the Country Living Toner. These products work amazingly with wonderful end results.

The Give Thanks design fits an easy-to-find 5" x 7" picture frame. Go to your local discount store and pick up a cheapy frame and give these Country Living products a whirl ladies & gents...you will love it!

One last thing...the Give Thanks chart is worked on 28 count Cashel linen. The motifs (including alphabet, pumpkins, keys, turkey & bittersweet) are stitched with Weeks Dye Works flosses. The pattern is now available for purchase on our website. We will begin shipping these patterns on Tuesday. We will be closed Monday (Columbus Day), as there is no mail.

And a little heads up...shop with us online on Monday for our 2ND Annual Columbus Day Free Shipping Day. More details to follow...

Have a good weekend. The weather here in Iowa has been beautiful, the trees are about at peak color and the leaves are just beginning to rain down. Hoping to get outside for a good walk this weekend and enjoy the colors and smells of autumn in Iowa.

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Ann How 1794

She hangs low on my wall,

right at eye level when I'm sitting in my favorite settee.

The settee in which I can be found sketching, stitching & creating in the quietness of the early morning hours.

I admire the work of Ann How's hands and use her for inspiration...

Ann How 1794 sampler is stitched on a finely woven tammy cloth (a rough-textured woollen cloth used for straining sauces, soups, etc). The piece is worked in cross, eyelet and petit point stitches.
A sweet flock of sheep fill one corner
&

two facing stags are the main focal point

of the sampler.

The frame is old and chippy, with a top coat of brownish black paint with hints of creamy ivory and red peeking through
here
&
there.
A wonderful patina,
just the kind I like...

A palish powder blue alphabet is stitched using the eyelet stitch...

A stitch that has always fascinated me,

although

a stitch in which I have yet try.

My eye is always drawn to these rows of letters ...so delicate.

A brick cottage fills the other bottom corner.

My idea of a dream home...

a cozy little retreat, nestled in the singing woods, where one's days are filled with stitching

from

sun up

to

sun down!

Flowers, plants, and fishes, beasts, birds, flies and bees,

hills, dales, plains, pastures, skies, seas, rivers, trees,

There's nothing near at hand or farthest sought

but with the needle my be shaped and wrought.

- John Taylor, 1634

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

Number 2 in the broom series...

INTRODUCING

"Sweeping Snowflakes" cross stitch chart!

Now available for purchase here for your stitching pleasure!

The 2nd cross stitch chart in our broom series is released! Design is worked on 28 count Cashel (color- Flax) linen over 1 thread. The piece is then turned into a band and adorns a sweet antique whisk broom. Simply hang from a peg or cupboard knob for a fun winter time decoration. Remember, ebay is a good source for locating this sweet little brooms with that "time-worn" look that we all love.

With thy Needle & Thread,
Brenda

My Right Hand Man...

I sent my dh off to work this morning

but not before I

helped him into his contraption...a cupless bra would be the best way to describe it.

Put his shirt on him

Helped him with his pants & belt.

Put his socks on him.

Put his shoes on him.

My right hand man

is a one handed man

for at least 4 - 6 weeks.

Did I mention he's a tad bit grumpy, too?

As I was putting his shoes on him, I mentioned that perhaps he was to the age where velcro shoes would be appropriate. He didn't seem to see the same humor in that comment as I did....

See those bright red & shiny roller blades? These are used for one of my dh various forms of exercise. A roller blade ride for the dh isn't just a little spin around the block or up and down main street. It's a 10 mile work out around the lake.

It was in those bright red & shiny roller blades he came upon a stick on the bike path cruising along at about 8 - 10 mph. Not a good combination.

End result,

broken collar bone in 2 locations.

We are hoping things heal with the figure 8 brace in 4 - 6 weeks and no surgery is required.

Hmmm....looks like just me, myself and I gets to do the raking this fall

&

praying for no snow for the next 2 months....

Have a good day,
Brenda

Sharing??

An informational read about pattern sharing.

Please read it here.

Have a good week,

Brenda

What's for supper?

Yes, we call that meal supper! Growing up a farm girl, in the Midwest, dinner was always called supper. The meal at noon time was called dinner....not lunch. Lunch was the mid afternoon meal of Mom's home made caramel rolls or fresh baked cookies and coffee or milk....geez, I miss those caramel rolls! It was also common for Dad to take a quick nap at this time of day before returning out to the fields or barns. Jeepers almost forgot about breakfast! Yes, breakfast on the farm was a meal of eggs, bacon or sausage, toast and orange juice. Yeppers, we pretty much ate around the clock on the farm. No wonder mom was always in the kitchen doing dishes.

About 3 o clock each work day I ask Bev (the lady who carefully packs all of your orders), "What's for supper?" It is at this time of day I start to think about supper...

After the days mail is dropped off at the post office, it is pretty common practice to go home and surround myself with cook books...looking for something quick & easy. Today's chosen recipe for supper (aka dinner) was

Garlic Chicken Pizza....yummy! Definitely gets a smiley face.

Give it a try...bet you can't eat just one piece!

Garlic Chicken Pizza

1 box of Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix

2 Tablespoons cornmeal

1 small jar Alfredo Sauce

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

10 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 grilled skinless, boneless chicken breast diced (I used chicken fajita meat from our cold meat deli to speed things up)

1/4 red onion, sliced

1 tomato, cut into small wedges

1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced

1. Prepare Hot Roll Mix using the Pizza Crust recipe on the side of the box. You will have 1 extra crust, or you can double the topping if you choose to make 2 pizzas.

2. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Sprinkle a large pizza pan with cornmeal. Roll or pat dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is the diameter of the pizza pan; place on pan.

3. Spread dough with sauce (you won't use the whole jar), then sprinkle with garlic. Cover with cheese. On top of the pizza, arrange cooked chicken, green pepper, onion and tomato.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until dough is baked, cheese is melted and toppings are slightly browned.

Now isn't that a pretty pizza?

Enjoy!

Brenda

Plan ahead!

With just 86 days until Christmas we are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed,

sort of snowed under...

Our busy time is upon us here at Country Stitches!

Just a friendly reminder, please plan ahead! You need to allow 10 - 14 days for receipt of orders during the months of September through December. We urge our customers to order early in the season to avoid disappointment. Back orders are inevitable with heavy demand. We haven't yet learned how to read our customers' minds, but we are trying! You can help us all out by planning ahead, ordering early to allow for the holiday rush season that is already upon us.

Thanks,

Brenda

Beautiful Autumn Day & Comfort Food...

After several rainy days, we awoke this morning to a clear warmer Autumn day with just a hint of crispness in the air...

not a cloud in the sky,

the lake looked like glass...no wind today.

The weatherman says we have a beautiful week in store... in the low 70's, no wind or rain...perhaps the nicest week of the year.

It was a good day to open up the windows & let the fresh outside air into the house.

Just the type of day to start the oven and prepare a meal of comfort food...

so that is just what I did.

Join me as I make

Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Herb Sauce

Peel 3 carrots and mince in a food processor or chop finely by hand.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat; add 1/2 cup of minced carrots to the oil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove carrots from pan with slotted spoon.

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to pan and melt. Heat until mixture becomes foamy looking, but not smoking.

Sprinkle pork tenderloin chops with freshly ground pepper and sea salt. Place into pan and cook until lightly browned.

Flip and repeat for other side.

Remove pork from the pan and place onto an oven-safe plate and cover. Place into a 325 degrees oven and bake for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, you can prepare the sauce. To the drippings in the pan add, 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules. Stir, working flour into butter/oil mixture until smooth.

Whisk in 2/3 cup light cream, stirring until thick.

Stir in 1/4 cup white cooking wine.

Add cooked carrots into sauce.

Stir until well blended. Heat mixture through, stirring frequently. Do not boil.

Remove pork tenderloin chops from the oven. Pour Creamy Herb Sauce over pork.

Serve with fresh green beans & garden squash for a wonderful autumn dinner.
And last but not least...a caramel apple for dessert! To ease the guilt, I just kept telling myself that I need to get more fruit into my diet...yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Have a good week,

Brenda

Finished!!

Sharing Bonnie's finish of our Broom Hilda design. Bonnie of MA located her old whisk broom at her local antique shop. The fun of this type of finish is the hunting & gathering of the antique piece used to complete the project! Thank's Bonnie for the photo and great job on your finish!!

Broom Hilda pattern is available for purchase here. The 2nd pattern in our broom series is on the hoop...watch for this pattern & other new cross stitch patterns coming soon!

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Happy Fall...

I'm sneaking off shortly...

to catch a train.

Beckham, Mommy & Grandma are catching the train...

Thomas the Tank train!

Can't wait to see the expression when Beckham see a real, big, life-sized Thomas the Tank train...oh, and Mr Sir Topham Hatt is going to be there too! Should be fun...the camera is packed! Not sure who is more excited....

Have a good day,

Brenda

More sewing birdies...

will be available for purchase

on our website

today at 4:oo PM CST.

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Just waiting...

to be turned into pinkeep bases!

Are you in need of oil cans for finishing your punch needle pinkeeps?

I was able to locate 5 sweet little oil cans, all the appropriate size for our punch needle pinkeep bases, at the Junk Bonanza.
I will be offering 5 oil cans for purchase on our website beginning tomorrow Sunday, September 19th at 4:00 PM CST.

Kind Regards,

Brenda

While I was away...

our long awaited shipment of

Weeks Dye Works 30 ct Onyx linen arrived!

Soooooo....

those of you who have this on back order

and have been so patiently waiting for this,

we will get your linen

out the door

to you

first thing Monday morning!

Going to spend this cold, wet & dreary Saturday cleaning & then decorating our home for Halloween. I bought a couple of fun Halloween ditty's at the Junk Bonanza and I now have the urge to decorate. I must take photo's of these and share them with you all....stay tuned!

Have a good day,
Brenda

Country Stitches will be closed September 14th - 19th. Orders placed during this time frame will not ship until the week of September 20th.

I'll be spending these days with my sisters, Linda & Sandra. While there probably won't be much time for knitting and crocheting...

I am looking forward to some "girl time".

We are heading to Minneapolis, MN to attend the Creative Connection

and

Junk Bonanza shows.

Until later,

Brenda

"I shall

not

go to town

when

the bittersweet

is

blooming."

(Verse taken from a favorite purchased autumn picture, author unknown.)

Have a good week,
Brenda

New arrivals & the word about the bird...

New charts from a couple of my favorite designers arrived this week.

Pineberry Lane

&

Stacy Nash...

"The Rising Harvest Sampler"

"Four & Twenty Blackbirds Sewing Pocket Roll"
"Guided by Virtue Sewing Purse"
AND...
The word about the bird!!
Sewing bird clamp/pin keep, that is.
We've had several emails from eager customers in regards to wanting to be put on a waiting list or to reserve one in their name. It has been decided, in all fairness to everyone, we will not be forming a waiting list or pre-selling. We will be listing more for purchase on our website next Sunday, September 19Th at 4:00 PM CST. A post will be posted on this blog as well. Thanks for understanding!

Enjoying this beautiful autumn-like day,
Brenda

Thinking Autumn...

Dragonflies in the cornfields

Crickets singing

Monarchs hanging from the crab apple trees

Blooming bittersweet

Farmland turning from shades of green to autumn waves of grain

Busy squirrels...

sights and sounds of the approaching Autumn.

I work within the season, my color palette changes as the seasons do.

This is what I'm hoping to be doing this weekend...

Just my needle & I

and lovely

flosses in shades of bittersweet, acorn brown & lumina pumpkin.

You'll find me in my stitching chair working a late autumn design that I actually charted last year.

It's time to stitch it...don't you think?

It is a quick stitch

and I'm thinking horn book

as finish on this piece...

but don't hold me too it!!

Also,

we've had request for more Sewing Bird Clamp/Pin keeps...

we are expecting more to arrive next week. Will keep you all posted!

Wishing you all a beautiful autumn-like weekend,

Brenda