Gorgeous day here in Chicago!

And I should be outside painting my porch. But instead I am inside working on my next model because I have decided to join the Needlework Show in October, and I want to get 2 more patterns done for it! I am so excited about doing this show and getting my designs seen by more people and more shops! Here is a little peak at whats in my hoop, I will be releasing 2 Christmas designs.

Workbasket Wednesday!

This week's tool is the Boo Boo Stick. Sadly, I use this tool a lot! But I love it because once you are done frogging out all those mistaken stitches, this little thing works wonders for getting out all of those little tiny "hairs" that are left behind. This is especially effective when you have used a black or red fiber, which can actually leave a little shadow on the fabric.

I don't know where I got this tool, I've had it for years. But if you don't have one and you ever come across it don't hesitate-its a great tool!

P.S. that sweet little blackbird is an unfinished exchange piece I received this week from Chris over at the OOE bulletin Board. It's a freebie design from Waxing Moon, isn't it cute!

Workbasket Wednesday!

This week's tool is the embroidery hoop. I love these beautiful wooden Hardwicke Manor hoops. They are made from birch, and they have a beautiful finish. They have a tightening screw made from brass, and they are very lightweight and easy to hold.

The skinniest one in my grouping I actually bought from Hobby Lobby. I was so surprised when I brought it home to see the Hardwicke stamp on the side! The finish is a little different, still smooth-perhaps a different wood? The price was a lot less, I think it was about 5 dollars.

The 2 larger hoops are 6" and 8" wide. I have wrapped the inside hoop with bandage gauze to protect my fabric. The only caution I have is to be careful when pulling your fabric taut, if the hoop is too tight it can really damage your linen, especially on the looser counts such as 28 or anything lower. Love these hoops though-try one!

Sunflowers chart is ready!

The chart for Sunflowers! is ready. You can order at my website on the stitchery page.

www.anniebeezfolkart.com

On another note, I received a wholesale catalog from Just Another Button Company yesterday, and there are just so many cute buttons to use in my designing! I'm really excited about the idea of doing a cute Christmas stocking using some of their buttons. Well, more later!

Sunflowers

My newest offering is Sunflowers! The chart will be ready early next week. I am so happy with the way the framing came out, the frame is absolutely perfect! My daughter Chelsea said it looks exactly like me-she called it "happy folky!" Click on the picture for a close up. Thanks so much for looking!

Workbasket Wednesday!

This weeks tool of the week is "My Favorite Doololly". I love this little gadget!

If you are like me, when you turn over your project the back is littered with little thread "tails"! Either you left a long tail when you began your thread, or you only ran it under a few stitches when you ended it. The solution for a quick tidying up of the back of your piece is this little tool. You run the loop end(the part that looks like a needle threader) under several stitches, then you use the little hook to pull the thread tail through the loop. Pull the loop through the stitches and your tail is secure! Who ever came up with the idea for this little gem is a genius! I love this little thing and keep it on hand wherever I take my stitching.

Such a busy weekend!!

We had relatives visiting from out of town, and they were kind enough to watch the kids while Gary and I went out to dinner Friday night~alone! I cannot remember the last time we had a date like that! It was really nice.





Saturday morning Isabel and I had the girls leadership club. This is an awesome thing where girls come and do a craft, which I help my really talented friend Elda organize, and then some teenage girls do a little virtue talk. There is nothing like a teenage girl to get the attention of younger girls-it is a wonderful mentoring opportunity. Saturday's talk was about friendship, they talked about how to be a good friend and not gossip, etc. the teenage girls put the talk together themselves and then answer questions and give advice. It is really cool. We had the girls make a journal using Stampin Up supplies, they all came out SO cute! During this time all of the Mom's get together in a separate room and listen to an adult virtue talk, very inspirational and designed to speak to the spirituality of mothers. The whole thing is very cool!

Then it was off to Isabel's first soccer game of the season (which they lost 2-1), and later that night the Back-to-School Sock Hop! which was a blast! Sunday was of course-All Football All the Time!!(along with a mountain of laundry and plenty of stitching time thrown in!) Fun weekend-now I need a nap! haha!

Another little tease!

This is a little part of a chart that should be ready by the end of the week. It is the first in a series of samplers reflecting the seasons and done on this pretty misty blue linen. I can't wait to show you the whole thing!

Design teaser!

Here is just a small sample of what is currently in my hoop. This will be an upcoming Fall release. Thanks for lookin'!

Workbasket Wednesday!

Wednesday is hump day here in America. A day right in the middle, easily the dullest day in the work week. Not early enough in the week to feel ambitious, and not late enough in the week to start looking forward to the weekend. Its the hump you have to get over. So in celebration of hump day, I am starting a new weekly post called Work Basket Wednesday. Each Wednesday I will feature a different tool from my work basket, why I like it, how I use and and where I got it. I think every embroiderer has their tried and true tools that they just can't live without, and I thought I would share mine. Maybe you will see something you don't have, and need, or maybe you have something that does the job even better. Feel free to post any and all comments!

I have decided to start this off with the workbasket itself. This is the little sewing box that I use every day. It is a fabric covered box that I made myself, from one of those oval shaped paper mache boxes you can buy at the craft store. I covered it with a pretty green floral fabric that I like, and made a matching pin cushion. What I like about this box is that I can turn the lid upside down and it acts as sort of a handy little tray that I put all of my tools, threads and pincushion on. No more losing scissors or needles. I am a many-needled-embroiderer! Meaning that I like to have a needle threaded in each color I am working with, so this little tray-pincushion combination works great for me.

I have left my pincushion messy so you can see how I work-all of those needles are for a single project. When I am done for the day, everything on the tray goes inside the box and I pop the lid on and everything is safe and sound until the next stitching session!

What city do you belong in?

You Belong in Paris

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What City Do You Belong In?

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