Punch Drunk Needle Works

Update on the Bee skep

2012-05-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been a slow process in creating the look of a woven bee skep. I finally finished that part and now onto the rest of the creation. I stitched on a few of the bees but not completely sure if I like the way they look. Would love to hear your comments on those. I will be adding tongues on the bottom with a bee on each one. Then a backing and stitching on the outside with three little tabs for putting a dowel so that it can be hung.

This is still a work in progress so I will post more as I complete it.

Everything seems to take so much time. I am trying to be patient but I need to stay off the computer and get busy with my projects more.

2012-05-22T10:14:00.002-07:00

OMG, has it been that long. I guess we just get tangled up in our lives and forget to let others in. I have been working on several different projects and will try and up date a little later today. This is the current work that is taking up my time. It is a Bee Skep that I am doing in penny rug fashion, however the skep itself is taking a little longer then anticipated.

This is just an early peek and I will post more later.
Have to go to a Tuesday Tea Party but will get back with you all later.

Drum Roll...... We have a winner..... Pam Gracia

2012-03-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Pam, I hope that you will enjoy the vintage design bag. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know your mailing addy.
This is the final pic of the purse . I did add a couple of things since I posted the giveaway.

I will get that mailed tomorrow.

I wish I could send you all one but unfortunately there does have to be losers to have a winner. Better luck next time and I promise there will be more giveaways soon.

Many thanks to all that entered. I hope you stay in touch and visit often so you can be the first to sign up for my next giveaway.

I Think It's Time For a Give Away / 4 Days Left To Sign Up

2012-02-28T11:53:00.003-08:00

It's been a long time since I hosted my last giveaway and I do believe the time is right for another. This purse doesn't scream Summer or Easter but It does scream Vintage design. It is all hand stitched in Penny Rug Fashion and made of wool felt and lined with a nice soft fleece. It has faux tortoise shell handles that complement the design well.

I have also posted pictures of this handbag a few days ago on my blog.

Okay, here are the rules. Very easy to do.
1 Be a follower

2 Post about it on your blog, if you don't have a blog let me know.

3 Be sure to leave me a comment with a way to contact you
Now all that seems fairly easy. I would love to give this to one lucky follower.

Sign up begins now and ends on March 10th. I will draw the name on the 11th and ship on the 12th.

Good luck and hopefully you will have it for St. Patrick's Day

Jan

My Vintage needle case

2012-02-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I got my vintage needle case the other day and it is everything that I thought it would be. I has one section that looks like it would hold some buttons or extra thread and three layers for needles and pins. The ends are padded for pin cushions and the leather center looks like it was used to push a needle through heavy fabric.
As a collector its everything I expected. It would have been nice if the velvet on the ends was in a little better condition but heck this is from the 1800's and I think it is okay for that age and it looks as if it was well used not left to admire.

This is one of my other newest needle cases. It is more Asian in fashion but still very cute and unique.

I also got a vintage sewing basket that has a nice but well worn red silk lining.

The way I look at it if you are going to be sewing you may as well enjoy the tools of the trade and enjoy looking and using tools that were used by someone else many years ago.

I scored

2012-02-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

I collect vintage needle cases and I think that I just scored with this find. Obviously the Amish one is in better condition but are the same design.

I bought this vintage needle case on etsy for $45 then saw this Amish Rollup needel case on ebay that is selling for $500+ I think that considering the difference in condition they are of the same design and age.
The one I bought is from the 1800's

My newest creation

2012-02-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

This was designed after a vintage purse that I saw on Pinterest. It was sewn in penny rug style with felt applications using a blanket stitch. It is lined with a soft fleece lining and is completed with a nice Tortoise design handles.

Its Done

2012-02-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I think that I am pretty happy with the way it all turned out.
I have a few ideas that I will change on the next one but all in all, I think its pretty cool and large and very functional.

Handles are wrapped with red wool and then crossed wrapped with gold thread

Inside of lid is padded and then ribbon has been crossed, stapled and stitched to reinforce it.

It is lined with Onasburg fabric and the bottom is lined with red wool felt

The lid is padded and trimmed with vintage cotton lace and the center is punch needle stating She Seeketh Wool & Flax .

The basket itself is a vintage picnic basket that is in awesome condition.
This is for sale if any one is interested in it. Just email me and I can give you all details on dimensions

. Price is $150. plus shipping.

Putting it all together

2012-02-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well I have all the pieces and parts and I have begun the process of bringing it all together. I still need to line the inside and also put a backing on the inside of the lid.

Finished product to follow soon.

Punch work is done, Yea!

2012-02-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the Needle Punch is done, now I am just waiting for the picnic basket to arrive to plan on the application of the piece to the lid of the basket. I still don't know what the basket condition is like but I want it to be a primitive nature so it doesn't need to be perfect.
I plan on lining the inside of it and putting a batting on the underside of the lid and then cover it with a nice coordinating fabric and make little pockets that you can put pins and needles and a little pocket for the scissors and Thimble. Okay, I have all this in my head now I just need to get the basket so I can pull it all together.
I am tired now so if I were like my sweet Baxter I would be doing this.

Now I am off to finish my penny rug purse. I have half of it done.

Peek a Boo from Our home to yours

2012-01-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

Well we have been playing and sewing and trying to keep busy which isn't difficult with this little guy.Baxter is keeping all of us going including his soul mate, Phoebe.

I am just finishing the punch needle that I am going to attach to the top of the vintage Picnic basket. It should be here soon. I got it off Etsy and I hope that it is as in good condition as it looked in the picture. I will back it with some nice wool then either glue it or stitch it on. I suppose a lot depends on the condition of the basket.
I made this one before using an old sewing basket. I like the idea of the size of the picnic basket.

Just a little update.

2012-01-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I need to readjust my schedule as I was thinking , duh, that today was Super Bowl Sunday. Just goes to show how much I pay attention to the football scheme of things.
Well I suppose that Phoebe and Baxter will be ruling the roost as soon as the sun is up but for now they are snuggling down.

I am playing catch up on all my WIP. I swear that I have at least a dozen or so right this very minuter but these are the ones that I am working on a little more diligently.
My Punch needle is coming right along as long as my eyes will allow. I swear that they get tired faster and I just don't know why.

My penny rug purse or runner, still haven't decided is sort of half way done.

I have 140 wooden spools on their way so that will be one more WIP but one that I can work on when I am watching TV and don't need to be following a pattern.

I am still working on my rug hooking of Sweet William Wallace but am sort of setting it aside for a bit. I still miss his sweet nature and snuggle that he used to do. Baxter seems to be doing the same snuggle that Wally used to do.

So I guess if I am going to get anything done, I best get off of here and back to work or pleasure depending on how you look at it.
Have a great day and please, If you should drop by, just leave me a little note to say Hi, I stopped by.
Hugs to all of you my friends.

My newest WIP

2012-01-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am insane I admit it but there is no remedy for what I have. It is OC at the worst, or maybe the best. heheh
I saw this awesome antique wool purse on Pinterest and I decided to try and reproduce it using the penny rug fashion. Now that I have it in progress, I can't decide whether or not to make it into a runner or a purse. Help me decide. It will be lined with a soft sage green fleece. or matted onto another piece of felt if I make it into a runner.
All suggestions appreciated.

I love the look of the purse but just not sure if I would get the use out of it that I would with a runner. I could sell it.

What do you think???

Keeping up with the times

2012-01-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, sometimes, Time seems to slip away. I just seem to be so busy with the newest addition to the family but here is a update of my latest WIP

This is our newest addition and he is also a WIP. His name is Baxter or
Snickle Fritz or Mr. Rodgers depending on what he is doing at the time. He has also been known as you little pee pot. hehehe Like I say he is a WIP
He isn't too cute, is he?

Between his new big sister and him, I think I am going to have to get me a couch. I think we may have out grown the recliner

Newest WIP

2012-01-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

She Seeketh Wool and Flax
I did this once before and put it on top of my sewing basket. I haven't decided what I am going to do with this one.
Yes, Here I go doing more then one project at a time. I think that my CS days are reaching an end. I just can't see the fabric as clearly as I used to. But I haven't quit yet.

OH NO ! ! I FORGOT HOW TO Cross Stitch

2012-01-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

I did this sampler last year for my Youngest daughter. I am currently working on one for my middle daughter but it has sort of been put on a back burner.

With all the other needle work I have been doing this last year, I have lost my knack to CS. Not only that but I find that my eyes aren't what they were either. I am liking punch needle a lot more as it is easier on the eyes.

Wow. Who would've thought that I would forget how to do this. My mind was a complete blank.

Seriously though, I just couldn't even remember where to begin. I did get my fabric stretched onto my working frame only to realize that I used my punch needle fabric VS my Cross stitch fabric. DUH ! ! ! I did manage to change that last night and I am already working on a new sampler for my New years journal, so to speak. I have two plans of attack. I am going to do one sampler as a review of last year, and I am going to do an ongoing sampler for this year sort of a monthly journal of sorts. Well, that is the plan and you know what they say about best laid plans..... heheh

Hope you all get your inspirational caps on and are starting those New Year projects.
Happy New Year 2012

Back to the Swedish Weave

2011-12-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I am going to try and finish up my Swedish Woven Afghan for another gift if I can. If not, Well there is always next Christmas. I am not going to stress out about it as its not worth it to stress myself out about anything. After all, When has getting stressed out EVER helped anything??? Its hard on your nerves and your body too. One day at a time and don't try to rush into the next. Just make the best of every day. That is why GOD gave us 24 hours. Time to rest, and time to play, time to work and cherish what we have.

I am sitting here watching The Golden Compass. I love this movie and I love the Polar Bears.

I am also working on a Crocheted Popcorn hat. I have been searching for so long to find the pattern and finally found it yesterday so I downloaded it. I will show you when its done.
Hope you all have a great Christmas season and remember to keep the Christ in Christmas. That is what it is all about anyway, right??

Well I finally finished it

2011-12-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

I guess I may be too critical but I am not happy with the way that my Santa turned out.
I wish I would have spent more time on the finish work but it is done now and I will do better next time.
I think it still is a nice welcome mat to hand on the door though. I am still learning.

I do hope that my dear friend will like it because it will be hanging on her door as it is her Christmas gift from me.

My newest WIP

2011-11-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on a Santa riding a sheep and have a reindeer and welcome piece up and coming. I am STILL looking for some white wool in my price range. I keep checking the goodwill and thrift stores as that price range is right up my alley. Yes I am among the many that are suffering due to economy so I do with what I have or what I can find at a good price. Nothing wrong with that in my book. Hehe.
Here is the progress of Santa. I hope to finish him this week as I need to do a rush job on the reindeer. May not complete the welcome piece this year but that one was for me so thats okay.

So hows that for a succession of WIP heheh. I contemplated changing the color of Santa's toy bag just to make it more visible but have decided that time is of essence and I need to just keep going. It is okay I think. Next pic will be of the completed rug. Don't you just love hooking. I do, but my hands sure do take a beating on the frame from the gripping wires. I have to make sure that I don't bleed on the cloth. heheh
I made a couple of changes and finished up the sheep's hat.

Just a few more changes. A red nose for Santa's Ram and some nicer eyes. Okay, Now I am working on the background and since I have no white or cream I have chosen to do a winter sky of light grey and one a shade darker. Still being new to rug hooking I hope that this is the right way of doing this

Okay, I think that's all the changes, I need to finish this piece so I can get on with the reindeer for my friends daughter who is also my friend.

It is so nice to have such great friend to make things for.

Rug hooking for Christmas

2011-11-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

I love it but I am in need of some linen or monks cloth. Going to have to get online and do some ordering I guess. I am using some good burlap for two of the projects but they will be wall hangings so I done't have to worry about wear and tear on the backing. I sketched these myself but got some ideas from Dept 56 Krinkles for the reindeer. I don't recall where I saw the Santa but it was on the images for reindeer.

So far so good. My sweet little 100+lb lap puppy wants me to stop though. She keeps dropping her toys on my lap frame.

I just finished a penny rug of a moose but I can't believe that I gave it to her before I took a finished picture. Duh... but this is close to how the finished rug looked

I have also been making some cute crocheted pine cones. Once you add a bell and a little felt cap along with a nice Christmas ribbon you have an awesome Christmas door decoration.
I found the free pine cone pattern online http://planetmfiles.com/2008/12/18/free-crochet-pine-cone-pattern/
They are so easy but it works best if you use a heavy not too soft yarn. One with a bit of roughage so to speak. You will find out if you try the softer and thinner yarns that they just don't have the humph that the heavy weight yarns give them.

New candle mat

2011-11-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

I just finished this one this morning. Now on to my next project. I think I may do a little tweeking to the little angels on the tree. They need a little something more.

This is how it looks now since I tweeked the angels a little

One down and one to go

2011-10-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

I just finished the first of my kitchen curtains. I still have one valance to go.

I am doing the valances like a penny rug. The variations in the placements is intentional . I think I like em. How bout you?
The other valance will have 5 tabs vs the 4 on this one.
Ahhh... finally done. I love the way they turned out but sure was a lot of work. I went ahead and added a bit of a shear to the valance for just a bit of privacy. I am contemplating painting my kitchen the color of the background of this picture. It seems to go so well and I love the colors together.

Little Christmas Reindeer

2011-10-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

I bought one of these as a pattern this weekend and the other is the one I made.
Guess which is which. Oh darn I forgot to take the tag off. hehe

I plan on doing a little tweeking around the antlers and scarf but I think they are pretty cute. I want to make about a dozen or so for a craft fair in November. Do you see the crow. It is more of a Halloween gift for a friend. She loves crows as do many of us.

Its Done

2011-10-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

YEA! another project completed. Now what am I going to make. heheh
Its that ole OCCD ( obsessive compulsive Crafters disease ) striking me again.

Here is the Witches Hat that I hooked. It comes from a pattern in the October 2011 issue of Create and Decorate magazine. I added the date of the Salem Witch trails on the side.

Hum.... what to do next.

Its Done

2011-10-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Yea, I just finished up my Penny Rug this morning. I think it turned out great and I am happy with the results.
Now if the wool will just get here so I can finish up the witches hat I will be a truly happy camper. I will have finished two projects. WOO HOO! ! !

Here is my Fall rug along with a gathering of crows in the back yard finishing up some Delicata squash that I gave them.
It is great squash and they are lucky we saved them the rind. It was good right up to the skin. The meat of the Delicata squash is sweet and flavorful. I stuff it with butter , cardamon, brown sugar and a little honey. Bake until tender and YUM! best squash ever.
One of the great things I love about Fall.