Using Pumpkins & Black Cats!

I loved Halloween Jack Needle Roll by Stacy Nash Primitives. 

I had this stitched using our Silk 'n Colors Pumpkins & Black Cats

I love the soft variation of color you get when you stitch with 1 or 2 strands of floss, even in a color as dark as this one is in the full skein.

I hand dyed the wool to use in finishing.  I quilted around the tree (?).  I like the effect of the quilting and it helps with the slight puckering you get when a piece this large is rolled up in needle roll style.  Originally I'd planned to quilt around all of it, but my daughter suggested that would be 'too much'.  What do you think? 

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Check back soon for the 'versatile blogger award' I am giving within the next couple of days.

Until later,

Cecelia

Be Happy

When I found these type set blocks on etsy I had to purchase them because this is what my Mom said each day to us as we left for school.  As a grumpy teenager I hated this, but now I appreciate the wisdom in her saying this to us each day.  I believe the 'be' denotes an action on our part to find happiness in our circumstances.  Thanks Mom for your wisdom!

The Witch Is In!

My Halloween Village is ready for trick or treaters to knock on each door.  Do you Dare?

After all, the witch is in. . . .

She also announces that the winner of our contest for the free bath salts and the wonderful halloween kit from Fern Ridge Collections is  Wendy!  You need to email me your answers after looking at Fern Ridge Collections website as stated in the previous post  and then I will send you your package.

All About Pumpkin & Blog Give-a-way

It's All About Pumpkins for me now that it is October.  Pumpkin plus Vanilla Hazelnut has to be just about the best pumpkin fragrance in the world this year.  Available in bath salts (pictured above) and in soap.  Now for that pumpkin recipe I promised:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

3/4 C white sugar

1/4 C vegetable oil

2 eggs

3/4 C canned pumpkin

1/4 C water

1 1/2 C all purpose flour

3/4 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t ground cloves

1/2 t ground cinnamon

1/4 t salt

1/4 t ground nutmeg

1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Oven to 375-400 degrees (we use 375)

Grease and flour muffin tins or use liners

Mix sugar, eggs and oil.  Stir in pumpkin and water.  Combine flour and spices with baking soda and baking powder.  Stir into wet mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Fill muffins cups 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Now for the give-a-way.  I'm giving away a pumpkin bath salts plus a kit Little Witches from Fern Ridge Collection.  I love their designs!  You must leave a comment and then if selected be prepared to email me three of the Fern Ridge kits names that use our threads.  This means that you must have visisted their website at:  www.fernridgecollections.com   Look under Counted Thread kits - needlebooks.  Enjoy their website and good luck with the contest.  I'll announce the winner and ask for you to email me your response next Tuesday.

Off to the dye pots,

Cecelia

   

Wool Pincushions

Three simply wonderful pincushions designed by Elizbeth Angus of Sunflower Fields Pattern Company use some of our hand dyed threads!  Liz is an amazing designer and beautiful needle artist.  She used our Silken Peart 30/3 and our Sanibel on all of these pin cushions.  She is selling patterns for these and all the threads are available from us for stitching them. 

Fall Pumpkins!  My favorite time of year.  If you'd like to see more of Liz's pincushions please visit her blog at:  www.sunflowerfieldspatternco.blogspot.com.  You can contact Liz for ordering assistance!  

Sunflowers - summers happiest flowers and such cute ants!  Love them on pincushions and not between my toes!!  I am loving working with wool and our threads. 

Next blog post will have a give-a-way plus a great fall pumpkin recipe.

Until Later,

Cece

Winner announced!

We drew a winner this morning!  Kathy Ayotte, you are the winner!!  Please email me at:  thethreadgatherer@msn.com with your address so that I can send you your threads and body care products!  Thanks to all who entered and I am sorry that everyone could not be a winner this time.  We'll have a thread give-a-way in the next few days on the blog.  

An Itty Bitty Reminder of a Great Big Contest

An itty, bitty picture of a soap bar to remind you to enter our contest for $100 in threads and body care products (retail value).  You must enter BEFORE Sept 1st by going to our facebook page for our body care business - Mathair Earth and 'like' our page on facebook and leave a comment that you are a stitcher.  I'm a little disappointed that more of you haven't done this - but such a great chance for those that have entered to win.  (Okay Liz, you must enter now and don't worry about giving someone else the chance!)  We make the best handmade soap - sorry this sounds a little braggy - but it is true.  Shea butter, olive oil, rice bran, grapeseed, cocoa butter, coconut, palm (sustainable), palm kernel, avocado are just some of the oils we use in our soap.  Lather - moisturizing - more lather, you get the idea.  Plus, the scents are to dye for!!

Anyway, gotta get back to the dye pots -
Until later,
Cecelia