Hey everyone, happy Friday to you! I still have a couple of days left in my Red, White, and Blue summer retreat at The Gathering, so that is where I will be spending the majority of my time this weekend. The forecast is promising to be rainy, windy, and super humid so I’m perfectly happy to stay inside and stitch. The humidity in WI can be brutal and I never appreciate spending a bunch of time in the morning washing, drying, and flat ironing my hair, only to have it frizz up and start taking prisoners as soon as I step foot outside. Indoors is fine by me if Mother Nature insists on having one of her little fits – so be it. I have plenty of retreat projects to finish up!
Speaking of retreat projects, in my last post I mentioned that I might have some good news to share with you today, and I do indeed! Normally, retreat projects are not available to the general public for a month or more after the event is over with, but because I’m in one heck of a red, white, and blue mood, I felt like I couldn’t hold these fantastic new projects hostage any longer. After all, the 4th of July is practically here! What better way to get into the spirit of the holiday than a brand new collection of patriotic projects to work on? Check these babies out…
First up is the “Flag Day Penny Banner.” Measuring in at 16″ x 28″, this pretty penny mat can be done on your choice of a gray or tan background. Created using my Primitive Gatherings Wool Pennies on a homespun background, this patriotic banner represents our nation’s flag in a stunning and unique way. Display it as a table mat, or hang it in a frame. Either way, you’ll impress your holiday guests with your own “Flag Day Penny Banner” this 4th of July!
Gnome what I love most about the 4th of July? All of the fun and shenanigans! Everybody knows that gnomes and shenanigans go hand-in-hand, so let me introduce the newest members of the PG gnome family – “Liberty Gnomes!” This mischievous little pillow is done with wool appliqué on my latest patriotic fabric line, American Gatherings II, and is 13″ x 17″ when finished.
There’s nothing better than a patriotic pillow project than a quick and EASY patriotic pillow project! “Lov’n the USA” is a simple yet charming pillow that will go together in a snap, making last minute holiday decorating a breeze! Done with our famous Primitive Gatherings Hand Dyed Wool on an American Gatherings II background, “Lov’n the USA” will fit right in with all of your red, white, and blue décor, and can be left on display year round if you feel like it.
If “quick” isn’t a necessarily requirement, but absolutely gorgeous/stunning/awesome IS, check out the “Happy 4th” Pillow.” Hands down, almost everyone’s favorite pillow project at the retreat, “Happy 4th” Pillow” might take the longest to stitch out of all the options, but the results are worth it. “Happy 4th” Pillow” is 16 1/2″ x 19″ when finished.
If wool appliqué isn’t quite your thing, no worries. My “Because of the Brave” pillow is 100% hand embroidery – no wool on this one. Featuring the words, “Land of the Free, Because of the Brave,” “Because of the Brave” is the perfect way to express your appreciation and love for the USA, but also to show off your hand stitching skills. All finished, “Because of the Brave” is 12″ x 16″.
Switching gears completely, we have the last – and biggest project in the bunch at 85″ x 85″. “Then and Now” is my latest quilt inspired by one of the red, white, and blue antiques in my collection. It’s done using a single block pattern featuring half-square triangles and rounded edges. Isn’t she charming?
Alright stitchers! That’s all she wrote for this week. My phone just told me there’s another band of “drenching strong thunderstorms” heading my way, so I better get back over to The Gathering, before the rain hits. I don’t want to turn my hairdo into a hair DON’T! I’ll be back next week with more fun and things to do, but until then, have a great weekend! ~Lisa
