New Pattern Available!

No weekend photos this week, Bill had to work one day and the other was spent catching up around the yard. The weather was nice but too gusty for me to paddle in.

Today I finished working up the pattern. It is a pdf pattern so once you make a payment, you will receive it within 24 hours. Usually you get it right away, but I do have to sleep so no over night deliveries;)

I took a photo of the piece after I antiqued it, but it doesn't really show how nice it looks in person. It gave it just the right coloring to age it without ruining the design. The finished piece is 5" x 7" and I left it flat so I can stick it on anything I want. I use double sided rug tape and it is a nice idea if you want to put it on a basket and then change it with another design. The only thing you need to do is put on a backing or the tape will pull out the loops.

Here is a photo of the piece by itself, you can see how the colors are more aged and darker, compared to the first photo. I still had to lighten it up for detail, so that changes the actual colors, as well. For the pattern, I added two drawings, one larger and one that is the actual punch needle size, so you can just print it out.

I thought I would play with photoshop and color in the design to see how that would look. I am not a good computer artist, I think I would do better if I hand painted it. I filled in color and then put it through filters to give it a painted look. I lost a lot of the lines and sharpness, doing this, so not a good way to do up designs.

Friday Finishes ….. Almost

It as a slow week this week, but I did finish a new punch needle piece. My friend Kelley sent me a pattern, a few years ago and I decided it was time to finally do it. The design is by Brenda Gervais and she put hers on a hornbook. I am still deciding on how I want to finish mine, I need to go down to my supplies and see what fun things I have to mount it on or maybe make my own.

I still need to age it a bit, I don't want to darken it too much but I want it to look old. I used different heights on this one, so the letters stick out a little more and the light background is at the shortest height.

Today I sat around waiting to feel better so I could clean the house, that never  happened. I gave up and started a new punch needle. This is a freebie from Robin of Bird In The Hand Primitives. She has put up two freebies, so check them out, both are fun to do in any medium.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Pumpkin Punch Finished!

Last week I started a punch needle piece for fall and today I finished it. I had to work two days straight, but I got it done. I also got all of the applique done on my wall quilt, now I can quilt it and finish it.

The pumpkin is a pattern by Brenda Gervais called Boo and Jack. It was a lot of punching, the finished size is 7" long and I am a tight puncher. I used DMC for the main colors and valdani for the kitty. I love their black shades. To get the multiple colors, I just grab similar colors and punch in random patterns around the pumpkin. I have a collection of tree branches that I save for projects like this, so I used that instead of a pumpkin top.

I hope you enjoy my newest piece and everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Christmas Punch Needle!

I bought a couple of new patterns when I went shopping and one was Seven Snowmen by All Through
the Night. It is a penny pattern, done with wool, but I like the small version for an idea I had. This will be the front of a pouch bag for a swap I am doing. I started out using 3 strands and valdani, but when I got to the background I knew it would drive me nuts, trying to fill it all in, so I switched to 6 strands and changed the height to make the background shorter. This way the design stands out more and gives it a 3D effect. It is hard to tell by the photo.

The tree is done with a floss that I over dyed. It looks crooked because I have it sitting on the frame. I also see some white, I still need to go over it and fix a few things and fill in the bare spots. I also plan on adding a few embellishments, that is why I left the buttons and star out of the piece. Of course I will have to antique it too. Once it is done, I will make it into a simple bag with a handle to hang on a door or peg rack.

Unfortunately the flash tends to darken areas of a piece and then when I lighten it in photoshop, it over lightens areas and makes the darker ones appear too dark and contrasting.

The Boatman Punch Needle!

I finally finished my new piece and I hope you like it, as much as I do.  I adapted this new design from an antique quilt. I love the designs on the quilt and am hoping to do more in the same line. I used a variety of flosses and techniques which are in the pattern. The new pattern is in a pdf file, so you will get the colors if you would like to do yours in the same way.

This piece is 6" x 5 1/2" and I finished it off with a larger piece of jute rope to keep with the nautical theme. This weekend I need to get busy making a ring pillow for my DIL, I finally decided what to do and that is hand stitch it, since I have no idea how to use my embroidery machine and size things, so I will be very busy stitching since it needs to be done by next weekend.

The pattern includes the design and a photo of my finished piece, the border is not included in the design. I think it would look wonderful with a quilted style border, maybe flying geese.

New Epattern and Help a Friend!

I have made my newest punch needle piece into an epattern. You can also use it for rug hooking or as an appliqué piece, whatever  you would like. As with all of my patterns, you can make them for yourself or sell them on ebay.

This week, from now until sunday at midnight, I am going to donate a dollar for every pattern sold, to help a family of young boys who have recently lost their mom. The oldest boy came home to take care of his brothers who are still in high school. They work during the summer doing odd jobs and are always there to help others in need, so we want to help them by giving them a gift certificate to help them while they go through this transition. I will tally up sales from any pattern sales, a dollar for the 3 dollar patterns and more for the higher priced patterns and booklets. So, here is  your chance to have a fun pattern to create with and help others. You can see the full story at Kelley's blog.

This pattern will come in two files, one with the finished piece, the second with the design and color choices. You can buy this pattern, directly, with the button on the left, of visit my ecrater site for more pattern options.

Antique Dog and Bird Punch Needle!

I finished a new piece today, this is based on the design I made for my quilt. I wanted to try it as a punch and I really like how it came out. I do plan on making a pattern for this piece, just didn't have time tonight, so hopefully I can have it up tomorrow.

This piece was based on an antique quilt block. It measures 6" x 5" and is a mix of Valdani and dmc floss. The dog the the red shades are valdani and slightly raised in height. The green is dmc floss, that I over dyed myself. The piece was antiqued after I finished it, but it is hard to show the true prim look with a camera. For some reason, my new flash isn't working, so I had to lighten them with photoshop which makes the colors appear brighter. The edge is a combination of new and vintage wool yarn.

New Punch Needle: Antique Black Cat!

I thought it was time to make something new and a new pattern. This piece is based on an antique rug and then I added my own touches and motifs. I have kept with the simplicity of the original and even used scrap floss in most of it, in keeping with the original style antique rugs. I did use black valdani for the kitty, I just love how it looks in a punched piece. The pattern is a single pattern, you will get a JPG file that has a photo of the punched piece and the design, ready to print, as is. If you want to hook this piece, you will need to enlarge it yourself. There are no instructions or color charts, but I am always happy to answer any of your questions to help you in creating your own piece.

The piece is for sale, 80.00, shipping and insurance is included.
It measures 6" x 4". The edge is done with lopi wool yarn and the back is finished off with a piece of wool and a hand signed tag on the back. It also comes with a certificate.

Moki Caption Winner!

Today I needed to take a sewing break, my fingers are really sore. I stick myself a lot, the point in one finger and the eye in another. Plus when I sew, I tend to lean into my bad ribs, which is not a good idea. So, what to do, a new punch needle. I decided to make the pattern that Sharon sent me. I used colors from my scrap boxes, need to use those up. For the bird, I used the valdani black. The original pattern is by Brenda of With Thy Needle and Thread. It is pin keep on a base, so maybe I will mount it later. I actually made in this afternoon and finished it tonight, so maybe I will reduce it and make some smaller ones to put around the house.



And now for the winning number, it was number 21, Melissa of Farm Field Primitives! Congratulations Melissa! Please email me with your choice of pattern from my ecrater site. Thank you all for joining in and making me laugh. I still need to get some patterns made up and when I do, I will have another contest when they come out.

Halloween PunchNeedle!

I finally finished my new piece. This was done with a design from Primitive Blessings. She has lots of wonderful patterns for the fall season and fun to do in punch, stitchery or applique. I love patterns that are versatile and can be used in different mediums.
This piece is 6" x 5" and since I can only punch for so long now, it takes me longer to do pieces.

This one I did with valdani black, and then used some of my own over dyed variegated floss for the yellow and orange.
I only used a light spray of walnut on this one, the colors turned out prim, by themselves.
The edge was made with vintage yarns that I over dyed, love how it came out.

This piece and my witch rug will be on ebay, later tonight.
You can find my ebay on the upper left hand column.

Amish Autumn Punch Needle

I finished a new piece and with one of Tiffany's new designs. The original says autumn and has another pumpkin, but I changed it a bit to fit the pillow shape. On this piece I used a mix of two contrasting threads, to get the tweed look, on her dress. My hand was acting up this week, so I just made it through this piece. Now I need to give it a rest, so I don't mess it up again.

It will be for sale on ebay, later tonight.
If you would like to make your own piece, you can find the pattern at Primitive Blessings.
I think this and some of the others would make great hooked rugs and applique pieces too.



Here is a close up of the dress, you can see the mixed colors better.

New Halloween Punch Needle Piece

I wanted to make a punch with another of Twigs and Sprigs designs and my first attempt was a disaster. I punched a hole through the cloth, so I had to start over. This time I used my tan weavers, it seems to have more stretch than the white. I will save the white for 3 strand punch only.

This was a fun design to do, halloween and cats, two great subjects to work with.
I used valdani for the kitty, love their antique black. I also raised some areas for definition which gives it a more sculpted look on the face.



I decided to make a matching pillow with this piece. With the pillow I used my technique to give it that water stained, antique look and don't ask, it is a secret, lol;) This set is for sale on ebay tonight, if you are interested in this piece. Next I need to finish some winter ornies that I am making for the magazine, http://mercantilegatherings.com/shop/. The fall issue has a pattern for the crow and pumpkin that I did and some wonderful prim homes and articles.

New Punch Needle

I decided to put up another piece on ebay tonight, I am a glutton for punishment;)
This is another wonderful design from Kelley's booklet; Sweet Friends and Flowers. I used valdani for the kitty, I love their black along with some variegated linen and some of my over dyed floss.
Her designs are so fun to do using various colors and types of floss, it really gives it a nice prim look. This piece is for sale on ebay if you are interested.

Punch Needle Finishes

I finished a few punch needles this week, so I thought you might like to see them.
The first is a punch that I did using my friend Kelley's designs from her new book. I used the fall cat and changed the pumpkin into a snowball head. I added the tree too, not sure if it looks right.
I used strands of wool for designs in a higher height and the background is done with dmc floss.



The next piece is a design by Brenda of Country Stitches. A friend has given me several of her patterns and I love doing them. Of course it was a present and I love this design, so this one is for me;) It looks so much better in person than a picture can show. It looks great on my new rack. I did this one with 3 strands using DMC floss, but for the background, I used valdani antique black.



This last piece I did from an old rug design. I had planned on doing the entire design in wool, but it was really hard to do, so I got lazy and made it into just a deer pillow. This is all wool yarn, real yarn that I pulled strands off into smaller pieces. I love how it looks though, really nice texture. I will be spending the day tomorrow cleaning and cooking, so I may not be back for a few days. I hope everyone who visits has a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family and love.