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Welcome to American Homestead. I'm happy you have found my blog. Make yourself comfy and see what's been happening around here. I write about the things that interest me ~ creativity, travel, food, nature and a happy life. I'd love to read your comments.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Before and After Silver Haul


I had a meeting in a town about an hour and a
quarter away from my house earlier this week
and on the way home I stopped at a thrift shop
for a look around and found a pile of old silver.
I imagine a family emptied out someone's home
and sent it all to the thrift shop.  Probably many
of these pieces were wedding gifts back when
people got silver for their weddings.  There were
so many cool pieces, a huge circular tray that
must have been 2' across, coffee pots, creamers,
footed water pitchers...  and I didn't buy anything.
NOT ONE THING!  I thought, oh, you have so
much already, where will you put it?

And then I regretted it.  I thought about it all
week.  I really wanted the huge tray.


This was our wedding anniversary weekend and we
were out of state all day on Saturday so I made a deal
with Mr. Wonderful.  I said if we got up early on Sunday
 and got all of our outdoor chores done, could we head
back down south and see if any silver was left?  He was
up for it and off we went.  Of course many of the good
pieces were gone, including the huge tray.  But I did
pick up 10 pieces.  And I got it all for $20 which is the
weekend limit I usually set for myself.  So it was a score!

I polished it all as I was watching the final Lewis on
Masterpiece and now it is all packed away in the china
closet.  I think we will have a silver themed Thanksgiving
and Christmas this year!



Sunday, August 14, 2016

American Homestead Pincushion/Ornament Class


This post gives information on my Ornament/Pincushion
Class that I teach to guilds, stitching groups and retreats.


There are many ways to use the projects that you create.
Here are the various ways you can use the ornaments.


You could also embroider a name and date on the back
to make it a special keepsake ornament.  I know people
who make them for their kids or grandkids so when they
grow up and have their own homes, they have a collection
of ornaments from someone they love.


You can also add a little pocket to the back to hold
a gift certificate.


If you decide to make a pincushion you can place them
on a metal candlestand which looks lovely.


You can also frame them, they look great grouped 
in three or four on the wall.


You can also put them on dowel sticks and
add them to a floral arrangement.


You have two choices to make:
1. What pattern do I want to make?  There are 13 to
choose from.  They are shown below.
2. What colorway would you like to work in?  There is 
a brighter group of fabrics called the European Folk
Art Collection and a deeper group of fabrics called the
Pennyrug Collection.  Here they are:


Patterns created in The European Folk Art Collection


Patterns created in The Pennyrug Collection


This is what you need to bring to class: (it's so 
simple, you can bring it in a little basket!)

Scissors: sharp scissors to cut the wool felt and thread
Small pincushion with a few pins
Needles: appropriate to your choice of thread or whatever
feels good for you.
For ornament: 2 - 6'' x 6'' squares of cotton batting (scraps
from your quit projects are great)
For pincushion: a sandwich size ziploc of fiberfill
Floss/Thread:  There are as many opinions on what is the
best thread as there are brands of thread so I let my students
choose their favorite.  I generally use DMC embroidery floss 
and the correct color numbers are shown below.  If you prefer 
another thread or floss then just search for a comparison chart
for the brand you choose.
For European Folk Art Colorway:  Ecru - 806 - 3347 - 742 - 816
For Pennyrug Colorway: 677 - 920 - 826 - 816 - 732 - 742 - 310


Now choose one of the 13 patterns.  The photos show a
European Folk Art colorway example on the left and a 
Pennyrug colorway example on the right.













Here is a video about the class:


I hope to see you sometime very soon!!  ~ Ellen