Crewelwork Sampler

My favorite-est birthday gift, presented by Patrick, was this unfinished sampler of different crewelwork stitches. Does he know me well or what?! Eventually we'll have it framed up, needle and all--the growing pile of "art to be framed one day" is another story. For now, I've rearranged the inspiration boards in my studio and have hung it front and center. It's a mesmerizing muse and color palette of stitchery for the new year.

Pure Kaleidoscope

Speaking of recently acquired crewelwork I must show you this incredible piece. In a spontaneous ebay bid I won this pure kaleidoscope of needlework. I was drawn to its color (who couldn't be?), its Springtimey-abstract-landscapish feel and most definitely my favorite part of many things....its backside. It didn't hurt that the project was started in the Spring of 1974 (my birth year) and I love the fact that it was completed over 4 years later and didn't become one of those unfinished projects that plague many makers of things. I would love to tell Christen Baldwin--wherever she is now--that the piece of needlework she painstakingly invested hours of stitching is being wholly admired and enjoyed by me and mine.

Cheery Crewel

Thought I would greet this new week by sharing a cheery crewelwork piece I picked up earlier in the month. How could I resist these sweet lovebirds? The piece was probably intended to become a pillow but now that it's mine it will be stuck in a frame and hung up in Lizzie's room.