Hello Spring? Coming soon? It doesn’t seem like it the past couple of days. At least not here in Chicago, nor all of those other lucky people who were blasted with FEET of snow! I am used to Mother Nature and her surprises for us in March and April sometimes. But I won’t show you photos of the mess! I am thinking Spring today. This tiny little pillow was once a free pattern out there on the internet, but it seems to have disappeared. I love it because it not only had a Shamrock for March, but extends into May for Les Muguets Day (May 1st…in France) with the tiny little Lilies of the Valley. I believe it was by Danybrod.
Finishes better late than never:
This one was stitched by Southpaw Stitcher and it is one of my favorites! I LOVE the lone deer and the quiet dusk-like feeling you get with the blue linen and barren trees!
Southpaw also did this Winter Cardinal. She LOVES stitching birds and has quite a collection of them!
These were gifts for the holiday each one done with the recipient in mind. A project roll with a matching project bag! The project rolls open on the end and can hold thread, scissors, needles, patterns, etc. Fun to make and they include charm pulls on the bags dedicated to each person’s interests.
Here is another winter cardinal. This one is Little Red Bird from the Little Stitcher Shop on Etsy. It is SO nice to just go on-line and be able to download a PDF pattern! If you haven’t tried it…you need to! Instant gratification!
I do a LOT of pillows for my client Pat and this one is fun and amusing! I love the fact that the dog has no eyes. He/she could be ANYONE’S pet! And that HUGE bone…why surely that is any dog’s dream! I love the colorful fantasy flowers as well. Fun just to look at!
Here is another one done by Pat. Brings me into Spring for sure. It is so soft and delicate and the purples and blues so pastel. I hand-dyed a silk ribbon to match. Beautiful.
This Lavender Needlebook was stitched by Lynn. I adore lavender (although I can NEVER seem to get it to grow in my garden). The inside has a lavender lining and wool lavender pages for needles. I hand-dyed more silk ribbon for the closure. Lovely.
New Techniques and Stitchers Alive and Well…
It has been very busy the last couple of months stitching French Boutis needlework. I will be teaching a couple of classes in French Boutis coming up soon and I have been busy with stitching more patterns for other classes and kits. It is nice to know that there are adventurous women out there wanting to learn this ancient art. So often we look at our young people today and wonder if the Needle Arts will disappear. I don’t think so. We had this discussion just the other day at a needlework group with waning membership. One friend mentioned that she knows of a lot of young people doing stitching…they have lots of digital connections and just are not joiners of our “old” needle work groups! (So true Marj!)
So keep on stitching everyone and keep on learning new techniques and methods and pass them along to our young people everywhere!
Amities, Averyclaire
Averyclaire 
Alice C.
Mar 15, 2017 @ 20:06:05
Lovely stitching and beautiful finishes!
averyclaire
Mar 15, 2017 @ 20:22:32
Thanks Alice!
Anne Leonas
Mar 15, 2017 @ 22:00:17
Love all your finishing, Karen, especially the birdies! So pretty!
Sent from my iPad
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averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 07:01:52
Thanks Anne…good to see you recuperating nicely!
Mary
Mar 16, 2017 @ 01:49:28
Such pretty projects. Where do you teach?
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 07:04:33
I will be teaching at Heritage Quilt Guild in Crown Point, IN on April 25th and at Waterfall Glen Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America in Lemont, IL on May 9th. Both of these places are within the Chicago area. But if anyone is interested in my teaching Boutis in their group, just email me or contact me through Facebook.
KerryCan
Mar 16, 2017 @ 05:26:42
What a nice collection of finishes–it almost makes me want to take up cross stitch (but not quite!) I agree about the future of handwork–I think lots of younger people are doing it on their own terms. When I look objectively at the quilt guild I’m in, I can’t really see what we would offer to 30-somethings.
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 07:06:20
Thank you Kerry. Yes, none of my groups offer much to young people. My large quilt group Quilters’ Plus in Glenwood, IL is large (about 140 or so members) and we do have some younger people. I think most young people work today and don’t have time for these fine arts.
Catherine
Mar 16, 2017 @ 13:22:07
Beautiful finishes! There seem to be quite a few ‘younger’ people getting involved in stitching. I thinks if nothing else, it provides a disconnect from the constant on demand of our lives these days. I don’t know if online groups are growing but I do like physically meeting up with people myself!
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 13:23:49
Hooray! I was hoping younger people would find my post and tell me they in fact love stitching and stitching groups!
Catherine
Mar 16, 2017 @ 13:35:34
It’s the one thing I’ve missed since moving to the UK. I’ve got a couple of groups now so I’m happy. I’m also rather chuffed at being called ‘younger’!
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 13:42:27
I love your blog and you do look very young in your photo. Young or old, like me, I am just happy the women (and men) of the world still love stitching and are more than willing to share their work! I belong to several stitching groups and wish we had more people willing to join us. We have a few “younger” members, but alas it is difficult to keep them going without newer, younger members to take over.
Catherine
Mar 16, 2017 @ 15:50:42
Oh you are too kind! I’m not that old I suppose, but I do feel old today after a long day at work! It would be wonderful if there were more people willing to take over or set up stable stitching groups. They are such wonderful groups of people, and although at times I think I do more laughing than stitching, that is a good thing too!
lucyannluna
Mar 16, 2017 @ 15:18:25
They are fantastic
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 15:20:33
Thanks! They were all fun to finish!
Southpaw Stitcher
Mar 16, 2017 @ 19:21:28
Love all of your exquisite finishes, gifts (oh, yes, the gifts!) and the little cardinal that you did for yourself. They are all fabulous and you are an inspiration to so many people.
averyclaire
Mar 16, 2017 @ 19:25:53
Thanks! It’s easy when I have such lovely stitching such as yours to work with!
Carol
Mar 17, 2017 @ 11:21:13
You’ve finished (and stitched!) so many lovely things, Karen! You and Pat make a great team–I’m sure it’s an honor to finish her lovely pieces and I know she is thrilled when she gets them back looking so perfectly finished 🙂
Love the way those project rolls and bags turned out–what a special gift for your stitching friends. I have to say that I am noticing more and more young stitchers on Instagram and it is so heartening! They stitch different things than I would pick, but the point is–they are stitching! Hooray! Glad your classes have been going well–I’m sure you are an excellent teacher.
Happy SPRING to you on Monday 🙂
Margaret
Mar 19, 2017 @ 08:38:20
I’m so ready for spring. Here’s hoping for no more snow or freezing stuff! Love all your work. You do such beautiful finishing and stitching. So great about your classes too!
Jackie
Mar 19, 2017 @ 11:42:14
Absolutely beautiful!
Spring has been here since January. I wish it would stay!
Sheryl
Mar 21, 2017 @ 12:10:18
Pretty stitching and finishing as always Karen, I love seeing the variety of work and patterns … although poor dog can´t see ..
Marlene Bush
Mar 24, 2017 @ 11:39:21
As always such beautiful things! I particularly love the cardinal…one of my favorite birds. blessings, marlene
Brigitte
Mar 26, 2017 @ 04:29:44
Absolutely gorgeous again, the finishings you are showing here. What a nice variety.
thistlecovefarm
Mar 27, 2017 @ 10:26:40
Your work is so charming! As to using the photo…YES, please do and thanks for asking. We’re all in this thing called LIFE together and am delighted to help.
averyclaire
Mar 27, 2017 @ 17:08:44
Thanks so much for your kind words. Please know that I am always praying for you and the trials you have gone through and are still going through today! I LOVE your blog and always look forward to reading it! I love that photo.