She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Pleasures of Stitching

This piece hangs behind my stove so I can enjoy it while I cook or make soap.


As I've visited some of our blogging friends lately, my love for stitchery has been rekindled ~ Friends like Pam From Bear Creek and Kathleen of Yesteryear Embroideries have shared some beautiful examples of their handwork.

Dani of Eagles Wings has even created a darling stitchery blog called China Lake Newsletter with some of her lovely stitchery work, wonderful links and even treasures for purchase as well. You can visit her shop now for a nice giveaway !

This piece hangs above my bed.


Stitching is my first love in the old arts. My sweet friend, Diane, taught me to stitch when we were teenagers. I still recall my first little one inch stitchery of a rooster that I did back then.

For many years, I spent all my free time just stitching away. All my coffee breaks and lunches at the office were spent with needle and thread. That's probably why I weighed only 85 pounds! LOL Guess I need to stitch a lot more now!

This piece finds its place in our family room.


Many of my stitcheries hang in the homes of family & friends. But these are a few that I've kept for our home.

This piece hangs above my quilting & patterns bookshelf.


And so, I've poured over patterns this week and sorted floss and searched for just the right piece of linen to begin a tiny Thanksgiving sampler. I'm finding that my eyes and back have undergone some changes in the last several years ... could it be that I'm aging? But I won't let that stop me. I'll just get out the magnifier and some fluffy pillows and keep stitching!

Smiles,
Lea

39 comments:

KKJD1 said...

I with you on the bad eyes and back. I love all the pieces youve done the one at the sink is my fav.
Blessings, Karen

Debra said...

I have given your blog an award- just goto my blog to pick it up!
www.pilgrimsandpioneers.blogspot.com

Pam said...

Lea, your stitching is just beautiful. You are so talented.
I understand what you said about changing eyes.....I have found that my eyes have changed and not in good ways! I now require bifocals (yecch), and very strong light to stitch!!
Thank you for sharing your recipe; you have a very kind and generous spirit.
Hugs,
Pam

Renna said...

Lea, the pictures are beautiful. I am so impressed! I used to cross-stitch (loved it!), but didn't have the patience to finish pictures such as the one of the quilt on the sewing machine.

In recent years, I gave up cross-stitching, as the strain on my eyes was too great. I do still occasionally do primitive stitcheries, which aren't nearly so taxing on my eyesight. ;-)

The Stricklands said...

Oh Lea, your work is absolutely beautiful! I only did a few cross stitch pieces years ago, but I never enjoyed sitting still for very long. Now that I am a "little" older (ahem), I need to try it again. Have you ever looked at the Crabapple Hill site? She has adorable stitchery patterns. I embroidered one of her fall pumpkin patterns and gave it to Randy's mother at Thanksgiving. I need to make another one for our home.

Thank you for your sweet words and gift of encouragement. You are a sweetie!

Toby Parsons said...

Well, your stitches are just beautiful Lea! :)

We're the boys actually interested in the picture in Above Rubies magazine??? :)

Brooke also took the picture of Nancy and her granddaughter on page 2, and the picture of Evangline's daughter on page 3. Kaylene took the picture of Evangeline and all of her children in the garden on page 3. Brooke made certain that I knew that she helped Vange 'a lot' in that garden. :) Our issue of the magazine just arrived too; Brooke just stared at the pictures of Nancy, Vange & the children. She said she misses them so much.

Our granddaughter comes this weekend, and we will spend each day with her at day camp (WNW - a creation day camp) next week. Brooke is a counselor there, so Gracie (and me) will get to see her often as well. :)

How do you deal with all of the ticks and chiggers in your area Lea? Brooke battled ticks daily and had 3 rounds of chiggers.

Have a wonderful day! :)

Julie said...

Your stitcheries are amazing. I used to cross-stitch, but I can't seem to concentrate that hard anymore. I do primitive stichery now and I love it!! Hugs. Julie

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Lea,

Very beautiful stitching! Unfortunately I have no patience in stitchery or sewing or knitting...that kind of art. I would however spend lots of time in the kitchen baking or making jams or cooking. :)

Anonymous said...

I have'nt done cross stitch in years!!! I used to have it all over my hose! The last thing I did was a baby sampler that took 5 months, because it was so big, and the person has NEVER hung it up!!!! I will never do one again!!

JenW!~ said...

Your stitcherys are lovely. I'm not really one for stitchery but I love looking at others work.

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Oh my! What beautiful stitcheries! I love them all! I'm ashamed to say that I staerted one about 5 years ago and it still sits unfinished. Maybe one of thee days I will be inspired to finish it.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting about my giveaway....the pillowcases are not hard to do, no cross stitching either that I can see...and don't feel bad a about bifocals, Pam....I have trifocals!
Your needlework is lovely, Lea...I specially like the hen and rooster and the old sewing machine...

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

Your samplers are beautiful!!! And how special they hang in your home!:0) Thank you for sharing them!! Hae a great Blessed day!~Wendy

Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ said...

Lea,
Your stitcheries are so detailed and intricate! You can tell they took alot of time and love! I love the one with the quilt in it and the rooster one!

I think that just might be something I would be interested in. I used to do cross-stitching and crocheting (back when I worked too...on breaks and everything)...but other things croweded in and well took over..

Keep on stitching because you're good at it!

Have a great day!
Tammy

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Lea - you said what I was thinking recently. Seeing what others are stitching makes me want to get out my patterns and do more. I too made many to give away and now I need to make more for me - if my eyes and back cooperate!

hugs, Linda

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

You know that I love the one of the old Singer, right?
I will try to post some of my work. It's just hard to sharefor some reason....

Anonymous said...

They're all just so pretty! I envy your abilities, because I can barely sew a button on one of my husband's shirts without poking my finger with the needle or sewing the sleeve to my pant leg. I'm not kidding. I'm hopeless!

Anonymous said...

You have me itching to stitch! I have done cross-stitch for years, although in later years, it has mostly been stockings for my children. It takes me about a year or two (with lots of long breaks due to life)to get one done, but I love it! I need to get back to working on my current one so I can get it done in time for Christmas.

Thanks for the inspiration! Your artwork is so beautiful!!

Blessings,
Nancy

Anonymous said...

Woohoo!! I'm a soaper too!! Gotta love it.. I made 26 lbs the other day, several scents, and colors.

Toni said...

That`s great Lea!!Your work is beautiful!! That stitching on the right side of your blog of the lamb and the willow tree...did you make that one too?I love it!!Blessings!

Farmchick said...

Hello--
I found my way to you via Behind My Red Door..your stitching is beautiful!!! I love the one that hangs above your stove. Stop by and visit me anytime!

Anonymous said...

Lea,
You are so multi talented I think maybe you would have fit right in as a homemaker in any area. I have a few of my crosstitch and various needlework hanging around here. But like you I haven't touched any of it in a long time. Deborah

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Your work is breath taking!! Thanks for mentioning me on your post, you are so thoughtful. I love the way your work looks and I loved reading about how you learned to stitch. Blessings, Kathleen

hobbygirl1991 said...

Good morning, I am new to blogging and I would love it if you could read my post from today and give me your insight. I am going to homeschool for the first time this year but cannot quit my job yet. Any and all advise is appreciated. I love your site.
Donna

naomisnotions said...

I love the one with the quilt on it! Just beautiful! You did all those????

Great job!!! :)

Naomi

KKJD1 said...

Lea, Hobby girl is one of my best buds here at home. She called me this am. and was telling me she had checked out Farmhouse Blessings.I said oh yea thats Lea shes great! Hope everything is good with you today. Blessings, Karen

KKJD1 said...

Good mornin, just thought Id let you know Im having a book giveaway over on my blog. come over and check it out. Have a great weekend! Karen

A Hint of Home said...

Oh my! Your pieces are just gorgeous. I've never seen any like them. You are very patient, I see. Great post.

~*Marie*~ said...

What lovely work, I just cannot do it anymore with my carpel tunnel...oh well.
I am giving you a blog award...please visit my blog for all the details and rules.....congraulations!!!

Farmchick said...

Hi again
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment! Would you like to exchange blog links?
Farmchick Tania

Aunt Jenny said...

Oh your work is just beautiful..I especially love the quilt one..just so pretty!!!
Have a great week Lea!!

Farmchick said...

Hello again!
Drop by my blog--I have an award for you....

Kindra-At Home With K said...

My mom taught me how to cross-stitch when I was young. I haven't done it in a few years. I know it takes strong eyes and good counting. :) My mom made a quilt cross-stitch for every month. They are really neat. The one you made reminds me of them. They are all so beautiful.

Gettysburg Homestead said...

Thank you so much for visitng my blog and leaving such a sweet comment on my cabinet. It is my favorite piece I own.

What beauitful stitcheries you have. Do you have any strings you can pull anywhere I have a friend who is looking for a specific stitchery pattern and found it has been discontinued. :-) I know I'm a new friend, but I don't know where to begin looking for it.

Mary

Memphis Mimi said...

Hi Lea,

Your work is awesome. I agree with kkjd1. I love the rooster. I had a banty rooster that looked like that one a few years ago. He was so cocky. He went nose to nose with my lab once over a bone and when Lucky snapped at him the rooster jumped up on the dog's back. He was so beautiful with his iridescent feathers. I also liked the sewing machine because it reminds me of one my grandmother had when I was a child. I didn't see any of your work on etsy. I'm disappointed. Hi Colton.

Alice Grace said...

Beautiful work! Thank you for sharing your stitcheries! I love your blog!

CathyJean said...

Lea,
Your stitching is beautiful!! You have inspired me to do a post with my cross stitch pieces :)
I also don't stitch as much as I once did because of the problem with seeing and it's gives me too much neck/shoulder pain. *sigh*

Have a great week!
Hugz,
Cathy

Paula said...

Oh, those are gorgeous, Lea! You do such wonderful work. And of course, I LOVE the rooster! (Imagine that!!LOL)

Toby Parsons said...

I'm re-visiting this post Lea. I used to love to quilt and embroider. I don't have time to do it anymore, but I sure do love reading about your treasures. :)