Wednesday Wine Country Monograms -- A

By now, you're probably thinking I'm nuts! More monograms! But, I just am having such fun creating them! 

And, it blocks another blog day...which will be great this summer when the garden has all those veggies that need my attention. Wouldn't want ya'll to miss having something to stitch! And, if you don't care for the flowers on French Script Saturdays...just kick back with a glass of wine (or a cup of tea) and stitch these grape inspired monograms...or applique` them on some quilt blocks!

StitchMap Moderator Challenge

Once upon a time, there was a lovely lady named Shari. She spent her day caring for her family and enjoying her needle arts. As she stitched, a little fairy came and whispered into her ear..."shari...share...". 

And Shari began to see a fantasy world before her where ladies (and perhaps a few men) were all stitching and talking and laughing. Those that knew how to stitch were showing those that did not. Those that could use their needle with the most skill were sharing that knowledge with those that wanted to learn how to make their needle work like that too! Each had a book with pages of instruction so all learned the proper way to work their needles. The group had some jesters laughing and encouraging each other. Much fun was had!

Really, this little story is my interpretation of a wonderful Yahoo Group that I belong too (well, actually, I belong to several wonderful Yahoo Groups... but today I'll talk about just this one). StitchMAP is a group where volunteers that know about a specific type of needle-art are willing to share that knowledge and their time with others that would like to learn more about that specific needle-art. Instruction is structured so everyone in the group is getting the same information; it progresses at a pace that is different for each person, tailored to their schedule and ability; each "apprentice" is assigned a "mentor" who helps them work through the course of instruction on a chosen needle-art technique; many photos are shared; and much general fun is also had with games and such!

I am lucky enough to be one of several moderators for StitchMap...and help mostly with preparing some course instructions. If you want to learn about needle-arts...Crazy Quilting, Hardanger, Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Surface Hand Embroidery, Tatting, Brazilian Embroidery, Needlepoint, Quilting, Blackwork, Cross Stitch, and other Counted Thread techniques...any other type of needlework that you can think of (and I can't at the moment...)..then StitchMap is a group you should consider. 

And the courses and instruction is FREE! No cost at all! There are simple guidelines (rules if you will) to keep everyone on track and involved...but you can progress at your own pace until you finish a course. And you can sign up for many things and have fun with other non-course activities to learn along the way too! 

Any how...the reason for this post was actually to post this sneak peek to my other moderators...because we are involved in a swap. Our precious Shari sent each of us a beautiful magic peacock feather at Christmas...and challenged us to make a beautiful object for a fellow moderator. We are soon exchanging these items...and mine went into the mail today. Can't say "who or what" until it is received...but I'll post a complete photograph next Tuesday!

Spring Basket Sampler

Here's a cross-stitch sampler for you. The colors are your choice!

Afternoon Delight!

Buddy and I took a little walk around the back yard this afternoon...and check out all of the blooms we found! And the smell is wonderful too!

And these beauties are inside the house...a miniature rose that my dear friend Pam Naugher brought to me on Saturday...isn't she a sweet friend! She knows how much I love roses!

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 5/9/11

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 5-6 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

Happy Mother's Day & a Give-A-Way!

Today we celebrate out mothers! Some are superwomen, some aren't...but, we would not be here without their efforts...so for all, we celebrate their life.

I am fortunate to be a child of a supermom...who in her late 70's still is a wonder to me every day! Here's some flowers for all the Mom's! Happy Mother's Day!

Love you Mom!AND to really celebrate LET'S HAVE A GIVE-A-WAY!There are 3 prizes available! I will use a random number generator of all valid entries to determine the winners. The Give-a-Way is Open until midnight CST on Saturday, 14 May...one whole week!Read the Entry Instructions Below carefully...

Here is prize #1...Approximate Value is $120Included are 3 pkgs (1/8 yd ea) of designer fabrics; 10 lace motifs; 10 spider motif bead kits; 12 spools of perle cotton thread; 3 packages of Hoffman Bead Soup Starter; 6 tin boxes with clear lids; 8 silkie prints; 8 packages of rickrack; 1 pkg Pebble beading needles, 1 spool (750 yards) quilting thread; 1 Kumihimo Braiding Disk; 2 Judith Baker Montano 4mm silk ribbon; 2 pkgs Judith Baker Montano silk thread; and a jumbo selection of sequins (not photographed).

Here is prize #2...Approximate Value is $50Instant Memories French Pages, ready-to-use scrapbook pages with CD images for MAC & PC plus an assortment of scrapbook supplies.

Here is prize #3...Approximate Value is $35Instant Memories Love, ready-to-use scrapbook pages with CD images for MAC & PC plus an assortment of scrapbook supplies.
Woot! Woot! That's over $200 in total prizes! And, I'm giving you lot's of ways to get an entry!
1- For one entry, comment on this post and tell me which charm and lace items you would like to have from the Shawkl Design Studio website.

2- For another entry, write a blog post about this giveaway (or just about the blog if you don't want the competition) and leave a comment saying "I blogged!" with a link to your post. (Your post must also include a link to Shawkl blog - but you knew that, right?)

3- For another entry follow the Shawkl blog and leave a comment letting us know that you do.

4- For another entry  "like" us on facebook and leave a comment letting us know that you did (include your facebook link).

5- For another entry link to the Shawkl blog on facebook and leave a comment telling us where it's posted (include your facebook link).

6- For another entry link to Shawkl blog on twitter and leave a comment telling us where it's posted (include your twitter link).

5- For three entries, place an order at Shawkl Designs or tell us that you have already placed an order in the past (include name of person order was mailed to so we can verify).

That's a possible NINE ENTRIES!

The winners will be announced on 15 May...make sure I can contact you or your prize will be forfeited, and I'll draw again. 

French Script Saturday -- K

I'm playing with monograms again! 

This font is French Script; and I'll post a new monogram each Saturday!

Found a great blog!

Leelou has a super great blog. And she has lot's of give-a-ways...so go check her out! Become a follower to keep up with all of her great contest!

This is NOT a Joke or a Skam!

My friend Kassandra is a great mom and a super friend! She is trying to change the lives of two adorable boys...and just needs a little help.

Please read their story at Kassandra's blog...Coffee and Kisses.I will vouch for her, she is a good person!

If you can help in any way...please do so. I only had $5 in PayPal so that's all I could do money wise; but thought that posting about it would be helpful too.Hugs to all of you...and I hope these two boys have a great Mother's Day next year...with a mom that cares about them.Hugs to them...and to you!

Flashback Fridays

As I was blog surfing the other day, I came across a topic titled "Flashback Fridays" which included older photos of the blogger's family. This was intriguing to me. So, thought it might be of interest to ya'll as well. My photos will include family...but will also include past fashion and such as well.

To start off, this is my Great-great grandmother Farmer. I was too little to remember when she passed. She was a large woman; very tall and very sturdy. My mom thinks that she could be where my love of stitching came from...as she was always doing something with her hands. In her time, it was usually hemming pants, sewing buttons, darning socks, or crocheting. She was a work horse...cooking 3 large meals each day, washing clothes by hand, canning foods, gardening, taking care of the house and her seven children. Sunday was the only day she was still...and Mom says her thumbs were constantly moving as she rocked in her chair...as though they just could not keep from doing "something". She is the mom to my Grandfather Robert Farmer her youngest child...and she babied him.

Here are my grandfather and grandmother...Rob and Margaret Farmer. My grandmother did not sew that I am aware of...but she is the only grandmother I have as my dad's parents did not live near us. I only met my grandmother Seaman once in my lifetime...and I was in my 40's by then. But, that's another story...for another time perhaps. I spent time in the summer helping them in their chicken houses when I was a teenager. When I was younger, we lived with them some of the time, and played in their yard. My grandmother always made the best breakfasts when we stayed in the summer!...or perhaps it was just that I was so hungry after working!

First Thursday Thimbles -- May_2011

The first Thursday of each month, I'll be posting a new thimble for you to stitch. The photo can be resized to fit your given project idea. Most will probably be embroidery work; but there could be a cross-stitch or other style mixed in as we progress. The designs will just depend on what my Creative Muse directs!The first is in honor of May here is a little Queen Bee thimble!And, you don't have to worry about being stung! 

Wouldn't this little thimble look lovely on a name-tag! Or as the center of a little pin cushion? Or follow along for a few months...and you can have a bell-pull...or quilt squares! I'd love to see what your version looks like...when you finish...come back here and comment with a link to your blog! Or send me a jpg file and I'll add it to this post with credit if you don't have a blog! 

More Brazilian Embroidery

Between the weather and the garden, there has not been much stitching going on here at my house of late. One small project, another CQI Round Robin block, was completed. 

This is my last round in the Brazilian Embroidery robin, and this block only had a small "pie slice" of gold fabric to cover. I started by adding trim above and below to frame out the fabric. Then stitched a simple stem-stitch vine with detached chain leaves. A trio of extra long bullions in graduating lengths created some whimsical blossoms along the vine.

The whole block was just gorgeous! My stitching buddies included Diane M., Karrin H., Deloris D., and Rebecca B. and all did wonderful work on all the blocks. I can't wait to get my own block back to see what they created for me!!

And here is my favorite part of this block..of course you could have guessed it would be the ROSES that Karrin stitched! I just wish I had stitched it! Aren't they just gorgeous!If you enjoy crazy quilt blocks...and want to stitch and see other's work as well...I encourage you to consider joining Crazy Quilter's International (CQI) Yahoo Group. They have numerous round robins going ALL THE TIME...giving members plenty of opportunity to stitch!And...if you are specifically interested in Brazilian Embroidery...please consider joining the BDEIG_Online_Chapter Yahoo Group (BDEIG=Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Group). They have loads of good information about Brazilian embroidery and great eye-candy in their photo section.

Beading Lust is Alive!!!

Oh goodness! I have found a great site for beading information. Beading Arts has a free E-book chapter on surface beading available!

And she has follow-on Chapters 2 through 5 available for sale (only $3 each...for 60-90 pages each chapter!). I just had to have all of them! And, each one is just great! Beautiful photos and simple how-to instructions...and lovely charts and diagrams! Wow!So run over there and check this great deal out! I am flabbergasted at the amount of information in each of these chapters...for only $3!...and now, can't wait to see what else she creates.I'm also her newest blog follower!

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 5/2/11

Sharing more of the pages from J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. Here are pages 3-4.

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

Mother Nature is Busy!

Today is a nice restful Sunday...a slight breeze is blowing and the sun is shinning! But, Mother Nature is still busy at work. Our garden is planted (mostly) and look what I found popping their heads out!

Mom has tomatoes, green beans, and squash up on her garden spot. I'm still waiting to see my squash seeds sprout up. Also planted lima beans and okra...so hoping they will get growing fast too! I still have a little part of two rows that need something in them...but have not decided what. Leaning towards peppers...
We still have about 30 tomato plants that are in little cups...if ya'll need any, come on over! I'm thinking about taking a couple of them and putting two large pots on the steps...for Aidan to have a "garden".  She has that little bed over at her play house...but it is full of bulbs and her rose bush. I don't want to do anything that would hurt them...so thinking pots might be a good alternative.