The Sheepish Needle...sneak peek!

Welcome friends!

Today is a warm summer day filled with warm

summer winds...stay cool!

♦

After thoroughly enjoying a stitch filled weekend,

I thought you might enjoy a little sneak peek of the

first kit design for The Sheepish Needle...

 This little pewter sheep kindly helped hold my needle

 between threadings.

Sunday, was an absolutely beautiful day out, 

cool and no humidity!

A perfect day to sit on the back porch and finish

stitching the Willow whips on this Willow tree!

I'm looking forward to the finishing, so I can reveal the

model just as soon as possible.

♦

I have a rabbit keeper who watches over my front porch

flowers...

 I love the gentle and graceful look of Petunia's.

 From this angle my rabbit keeper looks a bit shy!

♦

While out rummaging through our sheds, 

I thought I'd share some of the great old character marks... 

I love, love, love this old weathered sliding door...especially

the "star" hardware! 

 They sure don't make brackets like this any more...reminds me

of the 4th of July!

This is the inside of our machinery shed...

All the beams are very old and filled with character

marks. 

 Such as the warning marks on this one...probably

 put there after accidentally backing into it! 

Check out this great old sliding door...

 The small white arrow in the center is pointing to a

hand carved date.

 Getting a little closer...

Dated September 21, 1908...that's 107 years old!

♦

While at a stop light, this car was in front of me...

 I love creative license plates!

♦

~ Studio News~

 With endless sampler ideas dancing in my head 24/7, 

I've decided I need another life time just for 

designing!

Knowing that's not a reality...I'll be pushing myself extra

hard to get extra designs finished

between club kits.

I'll keep you updated on my progress!

♦

Have you enjoyed any lovely evening skies lately?

♦

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

 my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

 my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, 

and my high tower.

~ Psalm 18:2...KJV ~

♦

Have a great and productive week my friends.

Please check back on Friday to see what's new at 

Scattered Seed Samplers!

Sheepish Needle and Cotton

Today is the last Friday of June...how quickly the days pass!

Are you enjoying your summer so far?

♦

The Sheepish Needle Samplar Club Update...

From my collection of antique sheep goods.

I love collecting these kinds of beautiful old signs.  This one

was printed on heavy card stock with a stand up prop

attached to the back...so pretty!

From the days gone by when shop keepers gave out these

types of complimentary tokens.

The first Sheepish Needle Samplar design is well on its way!

The threads and linen have been carefully chosen,

and the stitching began on Thursday...yay!

This first project will have a very different finish, 

and will require some cotton batting.

 I was happy to find nice 100% natural cotton batting

at Hancocks.

I'm hoping to start the finishing over the weekend,

and will reveal the club model either the Friday before 

or the Monday after the 4th of July.

I have given several very subtle clues so far in this post!

The first club kits are scheduled to ship on July 20th.

It's not to late to join the Sheepish Needle if you 

haven't already!

Many payment options are available...YOU

choose the method YOU prefer!

A full year's membership can be purchased directly

from my Etsy shop by clicking onto the direct link ~

/

//www.etsy.com/listing/235452467/the-sheepish-needlesamplar-club-one-full?ref=shop_home_feat_3

~ Or take advantage of the quarterly installment plan ~

The installment plan is four quarterly payments approximately

every three months.

You choose which payment method you prefer...

~ invoiced through PayPal OR

~ credit card over the phone by calling (608) 799~4418 (Studio)

If you choose the PayPal invoice method, I just need an 

email for sending the invoice, plus a shipping address.

If you have any questions, please call of email me.

♦

With the lovely mild summer we are having so far, 

Wisconsin's roadsides and hills are bursting with green...

My personal favorite is the wild vines that grow up the 

power lines.

Just a little wider view...only a couple of miles from our

farmhouse!

♦

The flowers just love the cool nights with the random

gentle rains...

So many pretty flowers this time of year!

♦

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

Every time I pull out of our driveway and pass by our field

that's posted...I think of these words!

♦

Hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend in your neighborhood!

Until Monday...take care and stay cool!

Tutorial ~ From Me to Thee ~ Strawberry Pinkeep

Hello friends...hope you had a great weekend!

Today has been one of those days with endless

distractions!

My day started out with good intentions,

and then everything just seemed to

fall apart at the seams!

♦

Today's post will be a tutorial for the 

Humble Hare Handwork Club's 

first project...

"From Me to Thee" Strawberry Pinkeep

 Please click onto each picture collage for easier viewing.

Then read the corresponding instructions to

the number on each photo.

Photo Numbers 1~4

No. 1 ~ stitch design using 1 strand of DMC over 2 linen 

threads...for rabbit tails use 2 strands of Blanc

No. 2 ~ using see~thru template plastic such as Velum or

"Quilter's Template Plastic" available at Hobby

Lobby trace around strawberry cap & strawberry

placement diagram...cut out templates

No. 3 ~ position the see~thru strawberry template on top

of stitched linen matching up the placement of 

the heart, bird and key ~ once centered trace 

around template with pencil (being careful not 

to move line out of alignment) 

No. 4 ~ trace line is cutting line...cut out

Photos 5~8

No. 5 ~ fold linen in half, right sides together...do this by bring~

           ing left & right ends together, pin in place

No. 6 ~ mark out a 1/4" seam allowance ~ I love using disposable

1/4" seam allowance tape available at Quilt shops 

 and craft store...quick, easy and accurate 

No. 7 ~ stitch the side seam closed by hand (back stitching)

or by machine

No. 8 ~ if using the tape, peel off and discard

Photos 9~11

No. 9 ~ use pinking shears or regular shears ~

No. 10 ~ trim seam 

No. 11 ~ trim top edge

Photos 12~13

No. 12 ~ turn right side out

No. 13 ~ use a pressing tool or fingers to press seam to 

one side 

Photos 14~15

No. 14 ~ Using strong thread...upholstery is my favorite (it won't

break when pulling firmly the gathered top edge

No. 15 ~ I use a neutral color 

Photos 16~18

No. 16 ~ cut a long length of bringing the two cut ends together

No. 17 ~ forming a loop at the opposite end

No. 18 ~  thread the two cut ends through eye of the needle

(do not use any knots)

Photos 19~22

No. 19 ~ mark with pencil a 1/2" stitching line down from  

the top curved edge

No. 20 ~ run a gathering stitch all the way around the top edge

No. 21 ~ the starting and ending threads will be used to 

pull the opening shut

No. 22 ~ photo of running stitch

Photos 23~24

No. 23 ~ loosely pull the starting and ending threads together

forming the top opening of the strawberry

No. 24 ~ leave room for packing

Photos 25~27

No. 25 ~ start with a full 1 quart jar of sawdust

No. 26 ~ using a funnel helps for even sawdust distribution

No. 27 ~ Let the packing begin, pack and pull threads...keep

repeating.

Model was packed very firmly

 using a total of 1 and 1/4 quarts of sawdust.

 (or you can use your favorite filler)

Photos 28~30

No. 28 ~ cut a small circle from your cut off scrap

No. 29 ~ gently cover the top of the sawdust

No. 30 ~ tuck it into place while pulling the threads tighter

Photos 31~33

No. 31 ~ pull the running stitch threads together very tightly,

then run the threaded needle through the end 

of the thread with the loop to secure

No. 32 ~ hand stitch opening shut

No. 33 ~ close~up of the closure 

Embellish the back seam with a feather stitch

Use 1 strand of DMC 918

This step is optional 

Strawberry cap 

Trace around the strawberry cap template onto Weeks Dye Works

Kudzu Wool...trace line is cutting line.

Position the wool cap on top of strawberry matching up the 

placement with the leaf marked "side seam". 

 Hand stitch in place with a running stitch 

using a regular needle with 1 strand of DMC 3051.

Then, with the same piece of thread, slide the needle under 

the wool to the very center and coming up from that point

position the shell ring.  Attaching it by going through the

ring several times (similar to attaching a button).

Attach the brown ribbon to the amber ring...tahdah all finished!

Hope this tutorial will help make your assembly easy :)

♦

Mother nature loves the lower half of our old barn!

♦

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

~ Psalm 27:1...KJV ~

♦

I'm hoping to have a very productive week here in the 

Studio!  

Friday, I'll share an update of the progress on

The Sheepish Needle Samplar Club...coming SOON!

Have a lovely week my friend :)

~ Scattered Seed News ~

Fathers's Day Weekend...any special plans?

Wow, this week absolutely flew by!

♦

Little Sparrow Pinkeep Club ~ News

I am very happy to say that shipping is ahead of schedule!

Thursday while waiting at the print shop this fellow was

using the guest chair...

The owner had stepped out for a few minutes and "Fielder"

flew into the leather chair and waited patiently for his 

 return...never a dull moment at the print shop!

The good news is kits started shipping out on Thursday,

a large load shipped today and the last batch will

ship on Saturday...yay!

♦

Humble Hare Handwork Club ~ News

The tutorial for "From Me to Thee" Strawberry Pinkeep

is scheduled for Monday, June 22nd.

If you're not a Humble Hare Handwork Club member...you can

still join and receive this first exclusive club kit.

For all the details, please click onto my direct Etsy link ~

//www.etsy.com/listing/229937538/humble-hare-handwork-club-one-full-year?ref=shop_home_feat_2

♦

  Sheepish Needle Samplar Club ~ News 

I am "over the moon" excited to start designing the first

Sheepish Needle Samplar kit...hope to start 

charting the design this weekend!

I've already got the Civil War fabric picked out...

Little blue fern sprigs on overdyed cream background...perfect

 finishing fabric for this kit.

Love the name "Union Blues"...can't wait to reveal the 

finish!

For all the club details, please click onto the direct

Etsy link ~

//www.etsy.com/listing/235452467/the-sheepish-needlesamplar-club-one-full?ref=related-1

♦

 Scattered Seed ~ News  

My husband called me over to our old round building...he  

had something to show me... 

Not sure what to expect?

We weren't sure what kind of bird this homely 

little fellow is...

It appeared to be totally abandoned, no squawking parents

 anywhere...after a long period of time!

Worried a cat would show up, my husband prepared a box

for the little fellow... 

He stayed in my Studio overnight.

  This morning, very early, my husband set him back out in

the grass where we found him.  And then he waited, and waited, 

and finally a mama Blackbird heard him squawking and

swooped down with a mouth full of food and fed him!

We're so happy this story had a happy ending  

and glad to know it was a baby Blackbird!

♦ 

~ Weekend Soul Food ~

Ponder the path of thy feet,

and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:

remove thy foot from evil.

~ Proverbs 4:26~27...KJV ~

♦

Hope you enjoy a great weekend!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me today!