Porter Couty Fair: Home Decorating Articles

Section 110 (c.) PillowsMy Original DesignThird PlaceComments: Beautiful Craftsmanship. Good Color and pattern choice

SECTION 110 (e.) OtherBuzz My Grapes Tabletopper and BellpullDesigned by Claudia Dutcher, Dutch Treat Designs, c.2000,First Place
Comments:Very beautiful!! Thank you for all the extra effort on the back of your piece. The bee buttons are just adorable.

2007 Porter Co Fair -- end of report : )

Sampler TabletopperDesigned by Claudia Dutcher, Dutch Treat Designs c.1998Comments by Judge: Back is as pretty as front! Stitches even. Nice color choice. Beautiful.

Stitched on 18ct. Anne Cloth [9-square tabletopper] - apx 22x22". Watercolour Mocha Rose; Perle Coton #5 as suggested. Nun Edge with Anchor pc #12 colour 926.

My Original DesignPulled Thread PillowComments by Judge: Beautiful workmanship. Nice use of variety of stitches. Just beautiful.

Stitch size 7.5" x 7.5". I used DMC ecru cordonnet (30)AND Anchor perle coton #8 colour 926 on 19-count Antique White, cork linen. Stitches used: Reeded Stitch; Open Trellis; Rosette Stitch; Finnish Stitch; Three-sided Stitch; Honeycomb Stitch; Mixed Faggot Variation Stitch.

N.Hinde 1778; A Miniature Samplerc.1991 The Scarlet Letter; Historic Needlework ReproductionComments by Judge: Really cute. Excellent job - Where is the "J"?

I used Red Silk, AVAS colour 945 - on 32 count Antique Ivory Linen. Stitched over one thread. 88w x 56h Per instructions "feel free to personalize your sampler with your own name or initials & the date..." I continue to ponder using my name or the sampler-makers names when stitching a repro piece.

Tin Pin Heartc.2001, Ruth Sparrow, Twisted ThreadsComments by Judge: Beautiful & unbelievable tiny stitches. Do you have x-ray vision? Love it.

Stitched over one linen thread with DMC 221 - red & Anchor 152 - navy blue on 32-ct Platinum Belfast. 46w x 46h. Mounted into TF04 Tin Pin Square.

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OK, my stitching pals ... now it is your turn. How did you do at the fairs this Summer? Congrats to Deb L [w/o blog] for being awarded the Champion Rosette at the Porter Co Fair. Well Deserved. Beautiful L&L piece. Congrats to Sue D and Elaine H, too, for all their ribbon-wearing entries!!! Great job : )

Tonight ... Open House for the Lake County Fair. I have different projects entered. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! In the past, I've been awarded a couple sweepstakes rosettes on my beaded pins; however, I'd flip for a sweepstakes rosette on any STITCHED piece. That prize continues to pass over my entries year after year : )

They land on Sue D & Deb L's entries!!! They are tops at what they do best : )

Looking for linen ... found cat buttons & overdye fibers!

Did you read Vonna's blog about her linen ... effects from baking it??? And the results were very good! Kewl Beans. Check out her post & picture.

This is my ONE and ONLY try with Apricot Tea. it was a NANI challenge & I decided to use traditional blackwork motifs with non-traditional silk colors. I did manage to get the color I wanted with apricot tea bags & soaking in a large pan.

Does anybody want to be in an e-mail recipe exchange? If yes, send me an e-mail [link in sidebar] I have an e-mail & need to send it to ten people. I have a feeling most of the people I know already are involved. I do have a nice cookie recipe -- a very EASY recipe. So, let me know.

I spent the entire afternoon looking for a scrap of linen .... knew I had a piece of blue-green linen & the hunt was on. Meanwhile, found so many nice patterns, buttons, over dye fibers, etc. Found three cat buttons + the pattern that goes with them!! All in one bag : ) Found 'Moon Garden' pattern -- not sure if I have the linen & over dye stuff. What an enjoyable afternoon!! My closet has many treasures. I'm looking forward to getting some of these going in 2007.

Anna: if you like the LHN I'm working on [YES, there is a row of stitching on that linen - tho the photo is quite krappy] there is another one by LNS you might prefer (totally cute rabbits)

It is called Morning Berries.

Photo from the web site:

I saw this one AND I was so tempted to purchase it; however, opted to work on Herb Garden first!!

Lake County Fair

This was my favorite entry -- and I wasn't awarded a sweepstakes rosette ... maybe next year!

My Entries:

Handicrafts I

Holiday Decoration
720 Paper: Bell Ringer Santa (Mill Hill Kit) 1st
726 Not Specified Above: Bargello Stocking / freebie 2nd

Handicrafts II

Miscellaneous
853 Bead Work (glass): Scarf Ring 3rd

Jewelry
860 Plastic: Beaded Button 2nd
861 Bead Glass: Braclet 2nd
862 Metal: Beaded Button 3rd

Needlecraft II

Counted Cross Misc
1118 Miniature Item: Eliza's Pyn Pillow / freebie 3rd
1120 Pillow: Betsey's Butterfly 1st
1121 Pulled Thread: Original Design 1st
1122 Table Cloth/Runner: Sampler Tabletopper 1st
1123 Not Specified Above: Two Pinkeeps 1st

Photos: here

Tori's friend picked up a kitten yesterday; however, brought it back this morning. She had an allergic reaction & couldn't keep it. Sorry to hear that. Sue D is coming in a couple hours to pick out a couple kittens & the rest will go to the Humane Society on Thursday. I hope they are all adopted out this week-end.

Original Design

This is a pulled thread pillow I designed & stitched. I used 19 count cork linen & stitched with crochet cotton (DMC 30-cordonnet) and DMC perle cotton. The finished size is about 11 1/4" x 11 1/4".

I took an EGA Course on pulled thread. Learned many stitches! At last, I have finished my original design into a pillow.

SBQ - Stitching Blogger's Qustion

#25 - 17Aug05: How often do you wash your fabric for each project? Do you wait until the very end to wash it or do you wash it more than once? A. I rinse my fabric BEFORE I start a project. If there are folds that won't budge, I don't use the fabric. Rinse & iron after the project is stitched UNLESS done with silks. For silks, I just spray small amt of water on the back and iron.

#24 - 10Aug05: What do you do with the framed stitching that you keep? Do you hang it up & leave it in one place, never to move it? Or do you have a rotation, where you have one place for stitched pieces & switch them out according to mood or season? Maybe a mixture of both.

A: I don't frame much. Maybe have 5 stitched pieces in frames. I have a few nails into the wall near my creative corner. Two nails have scroll frames with 'someday' projects. (Scarlet Letter Ann Scutt sampler & EGA Mystery Sampler) One is being used for a cross stitch (original) design by Grammy K. The small picture is a friendship gift from my friend Aggie G. Most of my stitching are small items or household (towels, holiday accents, tabletoppers). I arrange things around my stitching area. Those I rotate by seasons - or - whim.


#23 - 3Aug05: Have you hand-dyed your own fabric? Why or why not? Would you like to try to do so?

A: Yes -- ONCE. Don't think I'll try it again. I used tea & when I folded over the linen, there was a dark line of dye in the center of the fabric -- I managed to use the linen, but will leave the linen as I get it!! The project was a challenge for our EGA chapter. I had taken blackwork motifs I liked, combinations of stitches I liked, silk colors I liked, & an often spoken saying in our household .... created a simple pillow. My girlfriend, Sue D, said I should put tassels or a cord on it. Maybe. I'm undecided. Entered the piece into the fair - blue ribbon.