Covered Bridge Embroidery

I really enjoyed stitching this design, but then I always do love these vintage embroidered scenes.  All of the threads used are overdyed or multi-colored.  One of the reasons I like to use these types of threads is I feel that they help me get away with not doing shading.  Why don't I use shading in my embroidery?  Because I just don't have the artistic talent to figure it out.  In this picture the inside of the covered bridge is darker than the rest of the building, I guess I was capable of realizing that simple logic, but that is the extent of my shading abilities!  The other reason I like to use these threads is they are so much fun!  The lazy daisy leaves on the large tree were done with Cosmos Seasons 8024 which is just about my favorite green.  It seems to have about a dozen shades of blue and yellow greens, I love it!

The tree trunk and the red on the building were made with rows and rows of split stitch, a very easy but time consuming stitch, but one of my favorite ways to fill in large areas.  This pattern is available on the Flickr group, "Hoop Love Vintage Transfers," or just Google "Covered Bridge Embroidery Pattern" and you should be able to find it easily if you want it.  I mostly stuck to the pattern but added a few of my own embellishments such as the sunflower and peach colored flowers and the weeds around the small tree.  I wish I knew a better way to do the river water, though, does anyone have a suggestion? 

Here's a couple of pictures of Pepper, one of the two newest additions to our kitty family.  She and her mother Sarah are fitting in very well with the others cats, they no longer need to stay in a separate room.  Harley and Maggie were somewhat stubborn in accepting them, maybe because they were previously the newest kitties before Sarah and Pepper came along.  

Pepper is growing like a weed and she definitely has a mind of her own, she is so independent for such a little one!  As you can imagine, she has us wrapped around her little paw!

Here she is snuggled up with Tigger.  They look so much alike, doesn't it look like Tigger could be her baby Daddy?  One last picture before I end this post, several weeks ago we kept noticing that some robins were hanging around my truck where it parks in the driveway.  We didn't think much about it until I took the truck in for an oil change.  While I was waiting at the service station, Bill, the owner said, "You have to come and look at your engine."  Here's what was under the hood:

A robin's nest with eggs!  I'm not sure how many trips to town were taken with the nest in place, the robin parents must have wondered why the place where their nest was built kept disappearing.  I tried to save the nest for them by placing it in our large lilac bush, but it didn't work, they never came back it use it again.  I think the eggs were probably cooked from the engine heat so they probably wouldn't have hatched anyway.  I felt sorry for the poor birds whose time and hard work were wasted!  Thanks in advance for any comments you might leave, I recently discovered the blog setting that sends your comments to my email making it very easy for me to reply to you, so I have decided I would like to answer each one from now on.  One of the nicest things about having a blog is reading the messages that you write, I really appreciate it!  But even if you don't have time for a comment, that's ok, too, your visit is still appreciated, thank you!

Just a Bunch of Pictures

I was in a picture taking mood today!

Inside plants.

Sedum in bloom.

Flowerpots in barn.

Burr plant.

Maggie

Mother barn swallow feeding babies.  She's hovering over the one on the far left.

 

 My new tattoo!

The new baby in the family, we finally decided on a permanent name for her--Pepper!

I hope you're having a wonderful summer!  Thanks for visiting!

Margaret Wins the Chart!

Although I have to say, Margaret, your chance to win was pretty good since there were only two entries.

Yours and Newfie Princess'.  I was going to have my husband pick one of the papers from the bowl, but when I was ready, he was napping.  Cricket was nearby, so I set the bowl down in front of him.  I decided that whichever paper he made leave the bowl would be the winner.  He just looked at it for a minute, then took a swat at one and sent it across the room.  It was the one with Margaret's name on it.  But since there were only two entries, I would also like to send a little something to Newfie Princess.  I see from your blog, Newfie, that you like Prairie Schooler.  I have some tiny little charts from them, if you would like to have them you can send me your address and I will send them on their way.  Margaret, I still have your address from before and I will get the Jenny Bean chart out to you right away.  Thank you both for entering my {tiny!} contest. 

Cricket, taking a well deserved rest after the difficult chore of choosing a winner.
Now, I have a new bag to show you:

I used an embroidery that I made some time ago from a vintage pattern.

A large pocket on the back and some vintage buttons from my button box.

Inside.

The nerd-like ink pen pocket, I should probably see if I can find one of those plastic pocket protectors for it!  Now, I'm off to the sewing room to make yet another bag if you can believe it!

Here's Sarah Bean and her little one--we've been calling her Butter Bean--out in the cat house today.  Our other kitties have been gradually getting used to them, there have been lots of hisses and growls, but so far no carnage, so I'm grateful!  Thank you for visiting again!

Jenny Bean Sampler Finished!

I finally got it done!  I used a combination of Belle Soie and Gloriana silk threads except for the brown and gray around the edge and the large lettering, that was Mandarin Floss by Rainbow Gallery.  It's made out of bamboo but it has a silk like feel to it.  Here's some more pictures of it:

There was a small over 1 section, I hadn't done that in a while, but it wasn't too difficult.

Instead of stitching in the name of Jenny Bean, I decided to put in Sarah Bean.  If you read my last post, you may remember this is the name we gave our new mother cat.  My husband had come up with the name Sarah, and I must have had the Bean name in my mind because of working on this sampler.  I thought it would be neat to have her name there, so whenever I see the sampler I will remember how when I was stitching it she came into our lives.  I will probably also recall that I stitched most of the blue waves while waiting at the hospital when my husband was there for a couple of days.  He had a G.I. bleed for which he was taken in an ambulance to the hospital.  It was very scary, but he's ok now.  Do you ever remember certain momentous events that you associate with whatever you were stitching at the time?  I have a feeling I'm not the only one!

I enjoyed stitching this sampler, but I won't be doing it again, so if anyone would like to have my copy of the chart--and I warn you, it's quite battered, although still readable--I would be happy to send it to you.  If more than one person wants it, I will do a random drawing to decide who gets it.  Just leave a comment on this post and I will put your name down for it.  And now here's Sarah's little one, she's grown a little bit and she can now walk around without her legs being quite as wobbly as they were and she's becoming quite playful!

She posed so nicely in this miniature chair, I don't think she has any idea how adorable she is!  Thank you for stopping in again, and I appreciate any comments you care to leave!
 







Edited on 5/29:  just wanted to say I appreciate all comments left, but if you would like me to enter your name in the drawing for the Jenny Bean sampler chart be sure and let me know in your comment.  I will draw a name on Wednesday, June 6.  Thank you!