A Needle Pulling Thread

I know it's hard to believe that it's not all knitting, all the time around here. There is actually quite a bit of machine and hand sewing going on as well. I'm even considering a pretty serious upgrade to my sewing machine which is about 15 years old but is in good condition and is quite serviceable. Upgrading is really not my specialty. I usually leave that to my Sweet Man who is famous for it. I'm the make-do-with-what-I-have-until-it-doesn't-work-anymore-because-I-can't-justify-replacing-something-that-is-perfectly-fine girl. Methinks that is about to change.

But I digress. I've been making a point to carve out time for embroidery lately and thought I'd share some of my favorite tools and supplies. There is something very soothing for me, about creating something with fiber and my hands. I sit with my hoop and floss or my needles and yarn and my blood pressure immediately lowers. Add a cat in my lap, a cup of tea and a favorite movie or podcast and I am practically asleep.

I have mentioned before how much I love Creative Bug. For $5 a month you have access to all kinds of classes. I put my membership on hold for a little while but was able to save a certain number of classes including Rebecca Ringquist's embroidery class. I've been embroidering since I was a wee girl but there is still plenty to learn. For instance, I was doing the backstitch wrong. What? It's possible that it's too late to change that but I'm enjoying learning all the stitches I didn't even know existed.

These are some of my current favorite hand stitching books although I have several more that I really love. Flora and Fauna are actually magazines that have a selection of crafty projects. You may still be able to get these back issues here.

Here are some things I love for embroidery:

Samplers by Pam Garrison, Charlotte Lyons and Rebecca Ringquist.
This clover hoop.
Needle Minders by Cynthia Cranes Pottery
Artbin sliding lid storage boxes
Frixion pens which disappear with the swipe of your iron.
A pretty place to store all of your supplies. This felt house is from Wisteria but was purchased many years ago and is likely no longer available.

By the way, no part of this post is sponsored. I just thought you might like to see what I enjoy using. There is something about trying a new craft or technique that just fires up my creativity. I have so many ideas that I can't wait to try. Of course to find the time I will need to put the knitting needles down more often. I'm not sure how realistic that is.

Friday Favorites

I have not done a Friday Favorites post in ages but this week has been so full of little things that have made me happy that I felt compelled to share them with you. I'll start with this Blueberry Crumb Cake that I enjoyed with a chai latte in the studio with a friend this morning. That's the way to start off a day! It's also the last sweet treat of it's kind for me for awhile as I am starting on a doctor advised Gluten elimination diet. Any helpful tips welcome!

To inspire my creativity I am loving all the classes at the Creative Bug website! Well worth the $5 per month to access it all and you can try it out free for two weeks. How will I ever find time to do all of the classes that interest me?! Also, I am adoring these podcasts from Jooles at Sew Sweet Violet. It's like sitting down with a cozy, sweet friend and talking about crafty things.

With there being quite a lack of anything worth watching on television right now, we have been enjoying watching Season 1 of the BBC's Cranford. It's not quite Downton Abbey worthy, but it is charming and quirky and the actor that plays Carson is in it, and I happen to have a mad crush on him! We also watched the movie Big Stone Gap on Netflix with Ashley Judd which I loved! How did I not know that was a movie? What a happy surprise! Last weekend we saw Florence Foster Jenkins and laughed so hard! I don't know how, while sharing the screen with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, but the piano player steals the movie!

Last, but not least, while I'm holed up waiting for the arrival of autumn, I'm loving this candle. It's a bit of a splurge, but a worthy one. Some women love to buy shoes and clothes. I buy books and candles.

Happy weekend! I hope yours is full of favorite things!

Friday Favorites- The Mother's Day Collection

Mother's Day can be so wrought with expectation and disappointment. I hope that you Moms are celebrated and cherished on Sunday. If not, you have my permission to celebrate yourself on Monday and treat yourself to something nice.

I love this ring dish so much that I had to get one for each of my girls too. Find it at anthro for only $12!

Hoping my breakfast includes a favorite beverage in this glass, also from Anthro and also $12.

This wonderful book by the uber talented Elyse Major who happens to be one of my favorite blogger girls of all time! This book is so charming and fun and fresh and the projects are so approachable. I'm planning on doing several with Emma this summer as part of our weekly studio time. I can't wait to dive in!

This has become one of my favorite shows. It always makes me think of the movie Doc Hollywood from back in the day. I adore any book, movie or tv show about a small southern town with quirky characters. Hooks me every time. As a matter of fact, if you can recommend any to me, that would be like your little Mother's Day gift to me. While we're on the subject...

 

This book! The book, not the movie. The movie is good, but the book is amazing! One of those books that stays with you your whole life. I have it on my nightstand and I'm going to reread it this summer. I can hardly wait to wake up early while Emma is still sleeping and sneak out on the back porch for some quiet time with these old friends.

That's it. Celebrate your Mommas if you've still got them! Treat them right and tell them how much they mean to you. It's a privilege to have the opportunity!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! We finally have some Spring weather headed our way this weekend so I am very happy about that. Today I want to share some good for you favorites.

Yoga.
It is my new addiction. Every week if possible. It is making a difference for my back, flexibility, strength and posture. And it totally makes me feel peaceful which was a surprise for this trying-to-reform type A personality girl.

This face wash.
I know. Avon? Yes, Avon. Maddie and I have both started using it and we're amazed by the results.

This cream:

I have very sensitive skin and have suffered from eczema my whole life and this doesn't aggravate it at all and is very soothing.

These pj's from Target.

I have a pretty serious pajama addiction. We love spending the not-so-occasional weekend day celebrating our love of jammies around here. These are only $12.99 and are so ridiculously comfortable.

You know what else is good for you? Taking some you time! I'm reading and loving Homespun Style by Selina Lake. Happy and colorful, page after page.

These are some of my favorites right now. I'd love to hear about some of yours and if you feel like blogging about them, come back by and leave a link in the comments. I love discovering new things.

In other news, I loved hearing about your traditions and heard a few I'd like to incorporate into our lives as well. Thanks so much for sharing them. The winner of my giveaway is another friend from the early days of blogging, Deb over at Posted from Home.

Friday Favorites

I'm always thinking of things I find that I want to share with you. Either things I personally love or things I've found that I'd love to have. It might be a product, a recipe, a book or a even a blog but it will definitely be something that is a favorite of mine. I'm hoping to share these with you on Fridays. Probably not every Friday, but often on Fridays.

This lip balm from Anthropologie. It's a good product and seriously how gorgeous is the container?

I love a fresh scent and I'm really loving this perfume right now.

This watch from Target which is a lot like one at Anthro but much easier on the wallet.

The movie Moonrise Kingdom. It's quirky but not so quirky that you don't get it. And it's funny! And the main female character reminds me of Emma. Or at least what Emma would be like if she were a little insane. Mostly I think it's her books, vintage clothes and her record player. And the kitten in the basket.

The book The Art of Handmade Living. There are a lot of fun projects in it. I can't wait to dive in and try some of them. Plus it's pure eye candy which is a requirement for me for any non-fiction book I buy.

This blog: My Old Country House
Seriously good stuff. How did I not know about this blog? Did you know about and you didn't tell me? Shame on you.

 These are some of my favorites right now. I'd love to hear about some of yours and if you feel like blogging about them, come back by and leave a link in the comments. I love discovering new things.