Today and yesterday were busy, for me! But I finally finished the last cross stitch chart of my Spring Bees series. I don't know why I am into such muted palettes lately; I think it might have to do with "watching" somber British mysteries while stitching and charting. I keep them on as some sort of "company" as I stitch. The landscapes are so washed out, not by blazing sun but by lack of it! Come summer here, however, I will be wishing I was in one of those chilly, drab climates.
I did live in a tiny log cabin on a little island in the Pacific Northwest for a few years. It was beautiful, in its way, and I absolutely loved the unusual plants I was able to grow there (like wintergreen and monkey-puzzle trees) but there wasn't enough sun, not enough warmth, and near-constant light drizzle. For all the years I lived there, there were only two days when I didn't need a fire or the heater (run with stinky heating oil), and I never was able to wear anything lighter than a thick long-sleeved shirt. I grew up not even wearing long pants in winter. I had summer shorts, and winter shorts.
I finished this stitchery as...a pinkeep sachet! Oh, I'm getting wild, mixing it up here -- to finish not just as yet ANOTHER pinkeep but one with a handful of lavender inside.
Link to my Etsy listing for the chart: HERE.
Actually, the pinkeeps are pretty versatile. I mainly use them as decor. Some call them "cabinet tucks" when they are used like that.
I really miss the "open table" days at my local beadshop. Those were times when you could bring whatever you were working on, and just sit around the big table or on the old comfy armchairs and visit and work on your project. COVID ended that! I still do beading, and I like to add beads to my cross stitch, too. But how I miss the company of others who love handwork. It was my absolutely favorite part of each week.
Has anyone else experienced the end to a really fun activity due to the lockdown?
As always, thank'ee for stopping by. Now I am off to read the blog posts I have been saving as a treat!
Kind regards,
The Merry Olde Dame, Holly
I like that term...Cabinet tucks. It sounds delightfully old-fashioned.
ReplyDeleteI am missing Church, the online services are just not the same. I have never heard the term cabinet tucks before, I love it.
ReplyDeleteHow darling is this? Teeny tiny stitches, good eyes. I like the colors too, I think I am more of muted color person myself, and am fond of the ecru/cream background, it goes with everything. Just in time for Easter.
ReplyDeleteAnother darling piece! Yes I belong to a rug hooking guild and all in person meeting have been canceled and all of my rug hooking retreats have been too. I miss them, there is word that some may come back this year. I am vaccinated so if I can attend I will (yes I will still wear a mask) but I need the company of others like you.
ReplyDeleteWe still have lots of snow but now spring is showing up in warmer temps now and then so I am hoping for spring to come. I am ready for some shorts.
Cathy
This is a very nice piece, love the rabbit.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visits!
Have a nice day
I'm missing the few quilt shows and 2 EGA needlework shows I could get to in my area. Though I don't *think* the EGA shows I get to were scheduled for 2020? I've lost track of what shows are what years, I hope the newspapers have a write up when they happen again so I don't miss them!
ReplyDeleteMy language course is not running, nor is my sports course ... and only the meetings in the cafe or in town ... and my fabric shop is closed, really bad. What do I have to think happy it, we had snow for skiing for 4 weeks - from the house into the forest - and now spring is coming with flowers and green ... your embroidery is wonderful, the bunnies make me think of Easter ... have a good time.
ReplyDeleteMany happy greetings to you.
Yes, that is good to look on the bright side, but that is a lot of activities that are closed! I hope they will reopen soon, especially the fabric shop!
DeleteYour sachet is so cute. I like the rabbits on it. The tiny log cabin you lived in sounds charming. My house is small in the mountains, but it's a sturdy house, and some of the walls are pine. You did a great job with the cross stitch piece. It looks really nice.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have good March days. Yes, the one thing I miss is shopping - sometimes not even buying things, but just browsing. : )
~Sheri
Yes, this pandemic has certainly altered our way of living and I miss many activities (like going to movie theaters for one). Love your handwork as always & thanks for the spring bulb tip!!
ReplyDeleteThings here haven't changed dramatically since the lock down. That's because we are now retired and running our Etsy shop from home. Of course, we're not going out to dinner, but we like to cook at home anyway. We do miss our road trips, that's for sure! We missed an important one last summer to meet with friends in Missouri who share common creative interests. We hope to be able to get together this year. In the meantime, we're grateful to live in the age of computers so are able to continue to communicate with friends and family. Before retirement, the lock down would have severely changed our lives. We were at sea ten weeks, then home ten weeks for hubby's job.
ReplyDeleteI SO admire your ability to hand stitch. I was born with a rare form of arthritis and have no pinch grip, which you need if you want to use a needle (or pipe cake frosting). Your cross stitch is lovely, and the beads add an additional beauty. It is just in time for Easter, too. The bunnies are so, so charming.
ReplyDeleteI miss going to lunch with my friend and neighbor. I never have a long term project, though. I work on immediate art, and it's usually paper or fabric, occasionally sewn on a machine.
You asked about the Twinkling H2Os. They are infused with mica. They are solid little pots of glimmer that you activate with water then spread on using a brush. They are so intense in color, a little goes a long way. They often have interference colors, too. Thanks for asking, Holly.
I am sorry to hear of the pinch-grip problem. That is a big obstacle to doing needlework. It basically puts the quietus on any needlearts. But your artistic talents are obvious in the gorgeous and clever paper art I have seen on your blog! I must get some Twinkling H2Os, because I am a sucker for glimmering things! And especially interference colors!
DeleteOhhh, what somber British Mysteries have you been watching????
ReplyDeleteWe like 'Vera' as is evident, since I am using her, for my Icon. -grin-
Would like to hear more about your living in a tiny log cabin on a little island in the Pacific Northwest for a few years.
I watched Broadchurch, and loved it but I always love anything with David Tennant in it. I also watch Shetland, Death in Paradise (love), Miss Fisher (love), Sherlock (love Martin Freeman in anything), River, Luther (but it was a bit gory for me), Wallander, Mr. Wincher, and Grantchester.
DeleteI enjoy British Mysteries too. Do you have a favorite?
ReplyDeleteYour work is lovely.
And do share more stories about living in a tiny log cabin in the Pacific Northwest. I have never been to the Pacific Northwest.
Carla
My very favorite was the Miss Fisher series...
DeleteI enjoy your visits and comments. Also, the lovely work you do. I did a lot of this in younger days. Have too much now.
ReplyDeleteI miss knitting every week with the group.
ReplyDeleteHolly, you asked about how to participate in a link up party like my T Tuesday group. First, you take a photo or photos of a drink, a cup, mug, teapot, coffee pot, cup of coffee, tea, glass of water, beer, wine, orange juice, milk, etc. By now you get the picture that the photo needs to include something drink related.
ReplyDeleteYou may schedule your post if you want to. I post every Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. my time. I'm central time, so I suspect you are mountain time, which would put it at 3 p.m. your time. The reason I post at that time on Monday, even though it is called T Tuesday, is because of that pesky 24 hour time zone. Many of the participants live in countries other than the states, so it's actually Tuesday in their world.
If you want to play along, the first thing you do is add your name. You can call yourself Holly or Merry Old Dame. You should be consistent, though, so people know who to look for each week.
The second line in the link up is your post. Be sure it's the entire post, NOT just your blog. Here is your blog post for this latest post:
https://www.themerryneedle.com/2021/02/a-finished-spring-stitchery-at-last.html
This is what I meant by the entire post, not your blog in general, which would be:
https://www.themerryneedle.com/
I forgot to mention that I also love British mysteries. I'm a big fan of all the PBS mysteries. I got to see the first five or so seasons of Death in Paradise before it was pulled off the air. Fortunately, my PBS station is going to start showing it once a week here beginning in March. It will be fun to look back at the old ones before the newer ones I haven't seen are shown in a few years from now on PBS. Have you seen Frankie Drake? It's not British, but Canadian. She's a P.I. in the 20s. It's great, too. I get it because I'm a PBS supporting member.
If I haven't made myself clear, please ask. If you don't quite know what to share, I suggest you check out Mae, CJ, and Erika's posts for a couple of weeks until you get the idea of what T Tuesday is all about. Just click on their names and you will be transported to their blog posts.
DeleteThank you so much for that information! Very thorough and I finally grasp it. I am going to try to participate, too! And I have not watched Frankie Drake, it sounds good!
DeleteHow cute and beautiful your works are! I like that kind of colours, they give a feeling of good old days. But when I do some cross-stitching I use most of strong colours. Maybe because that is what I have :) I love the Jeremiah Junction patterns, and they have much colours. It was so interesting to hear about your living on the island in the Pacific Northwest. I miss the Christian women group. And to visit family.
ReplyDeleteI just looked up the Jeremiah Junction patterns you mentioned. They are absolutely adorable! So fresh and cheerful, I love them!
DeleteJumpin' for Joy is delightful. I love the muted colors with a touch of brown, of course. This sachet/pinkeep would be so special tucked wherever the heart desired. As always, I enjoy reading your life stories. While I am still wearing a jacket and woolen pants inside, I am looking forward to getting my bare arms and legs out into the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteWow....I thought Nod was brutally cold....at least we have a few months during the year where we do not need heat and actually a bit of air conditioning and shorts are welcome. It is good to be reminded of perspective. What do I miss?? Visiting my mother. She is 91 and is in Assisted Living. I have not seen her for a proper visit in a year. (Stood outside her window in the snow and cold and talked to her on the phone as the tears froze on my cheeks, but that was it.) She has dementia and does not grasp (or remember even if grasped) what is going on and why she has been abandoned. I know it is wrong, but I am angry at the world for this most days. I love your latest finish....You always do such fun embellishments. I am a huge fan of muted color palettes. ~Robinm~
ReplyDelete