Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Fr. Edward Seisser Memeorial Quilt aka: War and Pieces

It is rounding on 2 years since I lost my brother. Some days I still can't believe he is gone. I suppose everyone who loses a loved one suddenly and with out warning, feels the same. These days I often wonder what he would think and say about current events. He was very intelligent and always up on the news, and keenly aware of what was going on in the world. I know he would shake his head with the rest of us at a Donald Trump presidency, and mourn and pray as we do over the turmoil and outright defiance present in the (catholic) church today. And I'm sure he would love and spoil our newest grandchildren that he didn't get to meet, and he would have quietly buried our mother with dignity and compassion.


 But he is not here to experience those things with us, and we feel it deeply.

People often tell me that upon his death we now have a great advocate in heaven. I know that is true on an intellectual level, and I have seen evidence of it; but it doesn't give me comfort. I am selfish. I wasn't done with him yet. He took such good care of me and my family as I was raising my kids. He was always there to right every wrong and give us direction and guidance. I always imagined myself caring for him in his old age, paying him back in some small way for all of the things he has done for me. For changing my entire life and giving me the foundation and rock that I now stand upon, which is Jesus.
But alas, God called him home and I have to be good with that.
 When I think about the last 2 years of his life, and how tired he was, and how much responsibility his bishop piled upon him, I do feel comfort in the thought that he is as peace.
 I know he is with Jesus, and that he is happy.
 And that makes me happy. 

War and Pieces

So onto the story of the quilt.

I started this as a block of the month in 2001- yep, thats right 2001!
It was a kit that came with the pattern, all the fabrics and some instructions.


I always planned to give it to Edward, as he was a great Civil War buff. He loved all history, but especially the Civil War and WW1. Every year he , my husband and I took our kids on a family vacation, and very often we visited battlefields, presidents homes, memorials and anything having to do with the Civil War. 
But he died before I completed it.


And I still haven't completed it! 

LOL!


But I'm coming around the mountain, I only have 1 border left and then I can put the entire thing together. 
There is a little applique in the corners, but its  no big deal. So I think I may be able to get the top done by the 2nd anniversary of his death, which is August 16. I plan to embroider on it the initials of all of our little traveling companions, those of us who traipsed across the country together every summer for 17 years.
 After my father died in 2006 my mom began to come with us, and she traveled more after the age of 80 than she did her entire life previously! She was a trooper!

Here are some details of War and Pieces by Barbara Brannock, published under Sunflower Pattern Co-op


This is actually the side border. There are two long side borders like this, and 2 shorter ones that are similar for the top and bottom.


These 2 blocks are called Southern Rose and Northern Lily, and the lower one is Loyal Dog.


Christian block, and Hope of Peace.


This block is called Home Front.


Soldiers Wedding and Federal Eagle.



And of course, Abe and Mary Lincoln.

I am so close to finishing. I will definitely share pics when I have the whole top done with the borders, and again when I have it quilted. 
If you have hung in there this long thank you so much!
Happy stitches!
~Annie

Monday, July 17, 2017

God Save the Queen

This pattern is available from your favorite needlework source. If you don't see it just ask, they are distributed through Hoffman Distributors.

.
God Save the Queen
by
Annie Beez Folk Art

Models stitched on 40ct. Legacy linen by Picture This Plus, using 1 strand of NPI silk.

As of today, 7-16-17, this pattern is in its 3rd printing!
Thank you all so much!

XOXO,
Annie

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Thread Drops

Hey did you know this?



From Jean Farish.

Interesting, eh?

Happy Sunday!

XOXO,
Annie

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Embroideress by Examplerary



I have been busy charting my next design, so meanwhile I have time to stitch for pleasure. I have been working on Joanne Harvey's The Embroideress. This is an old chart from the 80's that I have always loved. I bought the kit a few years ago and finally decided to start it as my one and only "stitch May-nia" start for 2017.


In other news, my youngest graduated high school! Wow! I cant believe my kids are now all out of school! We have had kids in school since 1992-so it has been a long haul. They all went to parochial schools, so we won't miss that tuition either! LOL!

Here she is with the son of one of my best friends. They have been in school together since 2nd grade!

It was bittersweet having her graduate without my dear brother there. If he hadn't passed away in 2015, he would have been leading the ceremony as he was the superintendent of her high school.
Here she is with our close family friend we jokingly call our family priest!
His presence always makes these bittersweet occasions better for us!


Here she is with her best friend. 
So proud of them both!

XOXO,
Annie




















Monday, May 22, 2017

Count Your Blessings Charting Error

Hello folks!

 I have just discovered a charting error on NW-25 Count Your Blessings


Dang it!

Anyways, if you happen to get one of the charts with these symbols:

! should be: 0     Cidermill Brown
"  should be:  #        Old Blue Paint






*All of the white double diamonds should be the color " Old Blue Paint" by GAST. All of the black double diamonds should be "Cidermill Brown" by GAST. 

**on some formats the double diamond symbols do not appear correctly. If you don't see the black and white double diamond symbols on the correction, please refer to the written explanation above. 

And the chart says that Cinnabar is a Gentle Arts color (GAST), when it is actually a Weeks color (WDW).

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you!

Thank you so much!
Annie

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Floss Tube Video #1

Hey guess what! I made a flosstube video!!!
This is my first one so its just an introduction, some wips and some stash. Some of it is a little blurry but I'm working on it!


Hope you have time to check it out and maybe even leave me a comment and subscribe to my channel! That would be awesome!

See you on youtube!

XOXO,
~Annie

Friday, March 31, 2017

Spring Bunny Freebie

We are really pining for spring around here. Our new grand daughter was born on the first day of spring, but it has been dreary and cold and rainy every day this week. I keep looking out at the backyard and longing for sunshine to come out and dry up all the mud. I cant wait to get out there and start planting!

We will be bringing home new chicks pretty soon, I plan to try Rhode Island Reds this year. Its always so much fun to get the new babies, and watch how fast they grow. 

On the needlework front, it has been 6 months since I picked my needle up again after a 3 year break. Since then I have about a little less than a dozen finishes, and I have published 4 new patterns!
To celebrate, I have designed a little spring bunny pattern for you!
Thank you all so much for your support and kind words, especially on Instagram!
I hope you enjoy this little stitch!




Here is what I used, but feel free to use your own colors and beads as desired:



  Fabric
linen 28, Light Mocha

37w X 39h Stitches
Size:
28 Count,   2-5/8w X 2-3/4h in

Gentle Arts Sampler Threads
SMaple Syrup
g Old Blue Paint
î Dried Thyme
 Beads: (blue dot symbol)  Mill Hill 02097


XOXO,
~Annie