stacynash : The Silver Needle, Fine Needlecraft Materials


*'Early Primitive patterns... Stitcheries wrought by my hand. Each piece is a reminder of earlier, simpler times.'* This is a collection of charts for sewing rolls, pockets and bags, pin cushions and pin drums, slipper pin cushions... a delightful assortment of needlework smalls. VERY primitive in design flavor, each chart includes complete finishing and assembly instructions and staining information using Stacy's Walnut Crystals.
Animal Crackers and Crumbs This is an ever-growing set of charming stitched stand-up animals and smaller animal face fobs -- all presented as separate charts. Each is stitched on hand-dyed linen -- various colors -- choose any count you want. On 32 the CRACKER stand-ups finish approx 3 x 7-ish... Harrison is 10-1/2 inches though because of his ears. Cute and very vintage, decorate each with old ribbons and buttons... The smaller ANIMAL CRACKER CRUMBS are the little faces and they're all around 3 inches in size. How fun to tuck a couple of them into your ever-growing basket of stitched pin cushions???? Then add a couple of the standing ones in there too! Stacy has plain fabrics on the backs with a pouch to hold scissors, and you can see that Theodore is wearing a little thimble pouch as well! Such a neat set we have now!!!!
Boo Sewing Basket and Seek Goodness Pinkeep Drum Stacy Nash has two new offerings... Boo Sewing Basket is a super-simple and cute! You are stitching each of the 5 pieces individually -- they are only about 3 inches in size -- the bottom square is only 2 inches! After the cute pumpkin vine with kitty stitching is finished (Sampler Threads on 36ct), you use your Magic By Mona Finishing expertise to cover the side boards with your fabrics, and then whip stitch them together into the charming little bowl! (Bowl finishes less than 6 x 6 x 3, and Stacy gives you the actual-sized templates to cut them out of something stiff!) If the bowl thing scares you... just make 4 little pin cushions and don't stress about it! Cute chart anyway! The finishing idea was first presented in Stacy's Limited Edition Kit from last Spring's Market... THAT design is still available (her Rose Garden Sewing Basket) -- but it's $54! This is $12! Seek Goodness Pinkeep Drum & Strawberry Emery -- Just drab green stitching on natural linen... dress this up with a pretty antique cotton fabric top on your drum, maybe some wool on the bottom, and a coordinating mangy little berry on top that nobody would DARE eat -- except your dog! The little drum measures about 3-1/2 x 4-1/2, and the berry is just 2-inches long -- a perfect snack size! Again, actual-sized templates are included with the chart to make the drum and berry!
Summer House Pinkeep This finishes into a generous 5-1/2 x 7-/12 inch pin cushion! Stitched on 36ct Natural linen with Gentle Art Sampler Threads of Apple Cider, Freedom, Straw Bonnet, Carriage Black, Chives and Cranberry. I like the uneven border all around. It adds to the primitive feel of this. Instructions included for age-staining when you are finished.
New Arrivals Vintage Thread Cards... also The Animal Crackers Series and Rose Garden Sewing Basket... all new this month! Aren't these fun? Heavy cardboards covered with vintage prints, they measure approx 3 x 4-1/2 and feature 8 holes to loop your stitching threads. Use them to organize works in progress, or to decorate the insides of your stitched cases. They'd even be pretty tucked with stitched pin cushions in a basket or bowl... and the rabbits and lambs could perch beside some Easter Eggs! Assorted Vintage Halloween, Christmas and Animals... if you have a preference, let us know!
The Rose Garden Sewing Basket This is Stacy's Limited Edition Market Special kit for spring of 2017. ULTRA-charming... it finishes about 6 inches in size... you can see it in relation to my hand in the pic. Presented as a kit, you get 35ct Natural Linen, Gentle Art Sampler Threads, cotton lining fabric, pre-cut chipboard box pieces, chart and assembly instructions. Each of the insides feature stitching, this is such a unique little tray!
Dec 25th & Be Kind & True Thread Keep Stacy Nash has 5 new designs -- two are pictured here, the other three are shown below. December 25th Merry Christmas PinKeep -- Super-simple in motif content, you've got the important date, the cute snowman, and delightful little spindle tree! Finishes approx 4-1/2 x 7 on 32 Dirty Belfast linen. Be Kind & True Thread Keep -- On 30ct Ivory, this finishes approx 7 x 5, and is worked with only Apple Cider, Garden Gate, Barn Grey and Mulberry flosses! I like how she's cut off the house -- you don't see that very often, and I guess it really DOES cut down the stitching time! So pretty, the model in the pic has been coffee-distressed.
Boxwood Manor Sewing Book & Thread Keep The repeating pattern of the brown bricks with the creamy mortar, then the white mullions in the windows... they mimic the basket pattern... and make everything look so organized in this. 5 x 7 Book and 4 x 6 Keep... just a few hand-dyeds on Week's 35ct Parchment linen. These would make substantial 'bowl fillers'... very pretty!
Freedom Needle Book Wow... I love that shallow bowl with the berry vines spilling out from it! Add a blowing flag and a noisy crow... very classic! Stitched on Weeks 30ct Linen, you are using only Gentle Art Threads of Linen, Endive, Cranberry, Brethren blue and Garden Gate to stitch this 4 x 7-ish piece! Another cute bowl-filler, too!
Lets Meet at the Garden Gate Pin Keep The little girl of the house wants to make friends... meet her at the Garden Gate... her little dog is coming along, she has a flower, and maybe you're having berries from the garden for lunch! Finishing approx 9-1/2 x 4-1/2 on 32 Cream Belfast, this piece has been MAJORLY distressed by coffee, tea, dirt or something really fun to make it look so old and well-loved!
Adam and Eve First, a bit about that little tray... Stacy has found a wood-artisan who made her this fun tray. It has the grain of reclaimed wood (but probably new), it is finished with a black/brown stain/paint. The edges are rounded and sanded a little to look distressed, and the whole thing is only about 6 x 7 x 1 inch high. (She is promising more cool stuff from this guy!!) Adam and Eve are busy on their farm -- complete with farmers jeans and homespun dress, all their animals are close by... and there's even a pitchfork handy to deal with the snake! Finishing approx 5 x 6, the complete kit comes with the 36ct Raw Edinburgh Linen, Gentle Art Sampler Threads of Wrought Iron, Straw Bonnet, Old Hickory, Picnic Basket, Endive, Woodrose, Carriage Black, Pomegranate, along with the cotton batting, mounting board and cute little tray.
Mary Bovee Sampler This is GORGEOUS in person! The cover picture really doesn't show the yummy gray/taupe colors of this fabric, and you don't often see pieces like this stitched on a darker linen. Stitched on Picture This Plus 32ct Murky Linen, it uses Gentle Art Sampler Threads of Apple Cider, Caramel Corn, Carriage Black, Antique Rose, Lambswool, Rose Garden and Old Hickory. Finishing approx 10-1/2 x 8, it has a pretty floral border, double berry baskets and the most awesome house, running rabbit and huge urn along the bottom. Offered as a chart.
Spotted Pigs Pinkeep How cute are these little pigs???! Mama and the babies, they are stitched on the same fabric as Mary Bovee (so if you get a fat quarter of it, it's a better price) -- Picture This Plus's 32ct Murky. Finishing a generous 10 x 7, it's kind of large for a pin keep, but do it anyway, and enjoy! Gentle Art Threads of Carriage Black, Apple Cider, Lambswool, Antique Rose and Rose Garden -- the same ones as Bovee!!
Halloween PinKeep 32ct Dirty Belfast, this finishes approx 8 x 6. Sampler Threads of Carriage Black, Straw Bonnet, Endive, and Gingersnap. Just a cute little thing, get some neat ball fringe or our chenille for edging. We have an awesome collection of Dames of the Needle's hand-dyed velvet for backing as well.... maybe you'd like some of that?
Jack's House Pinkeep 32ct natural Belfast linen, this finishes approx 5-1/2 x 9-1/2. Only three shades of Gentle Art Sampler Threads: Picnic Basket, Gingersnap and Roasted Marshmallow, it's a cute design -- with or without thebig white house.
Wooly's Pinkeep I like the colors in this -- 32ct Charcoal linen with Sampler Threads of Old Red Paint, Straw Bonnet and Chamomile -- it's a simple design that finishes approx 8-1/2 x 5-1/2. Consider using Simply Wool for the sheep -- add a little fuzz!
Mary's Work Sampler Bag This is stitched on a 32ct linen with Classic Colorworks hand-dyed cottons. Change the Mary part to your name... Stacy has this finished as a bag, lined with more linen and backed with homespun fabric... but I am not sure where the opening is! I think you can get creative with this finishing. Finished stitching measures approx 13 x 7..
Peacock in the Pumpkin Patch PinKeep A cute little Stacy Nash design, grab an 11 x 19 cut of Week's Dye Works 32ct Parchment Linen and Gentle Art Sampler Threads of Apple Cider, Gingersnap, Woodrose, Straw Bonnet, Garden Gate and Lexington Green to make this actually-rather-large 5-1/2 x 13-1/2 inch pin keep. The penny rug border treatment along the bottom is kind of fun because it is very irregular. Something to nestle into your basket of cushions!! Offered as a chart.
Midnight in the Strawberry Garden Stacy Nash has several new designs -- 6 of them deal with animals -- so I've collected them all together on her inside page! Meanwhile, I really liked this Thread Board idea, and LOVE the colors she used. A 5 x 7 board with charming stitching on one side, along with a scissor pouch and ruler pocket on the other... it features mother-of-pearl thread rings along the bottom to organize your working threads. Strawberry Garden is worked on Week's 35ct Dolphin Linen with Gentle Art Sampler Threads. Choose 2 more Schnigglet cuts of Week's woolens for the inside and pocket pieces (we have a million choices with that)... you can recognize the Kelmscott pearl rings and ruler as well. (A neat finishing idea, you know... what's to stop you from taking a small motif from a favorite piece you are working on now... stitch and assemble it like this -- add some of the left-over threads from that piece, and display this right next to that finished piece???) This is offered as a chart.
Brown Cow Sampler Bag and Pinkeep We think this little gal is kind of long for a cow... but I'm a city girl, so who knows! Bag is approx 7 x 8, pin cushion is about 3 x 4. Weeks 36ct Confederate Gray, with GAST of Picnic Basket, Straw Bonnet, Woodrose, Garden Gate and Endive.
Prized Pig Sewing Book and Flower Urn Pinkeep Both of these finish approx 5 x 7 on Weeks 36ct Confederate Gray... more Sampler Threads, interior wools and Kelmscott's mother-of-pearl thread rings. Offered as the chart!
Spotted Chickens Sewing Bag and Pinkeep I LOVE those chickens!!! The linen bag finishes approx 8 x 7, the cushion 10 x 4-1/2. Worked on Week's 36ct Confederate Gray with Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Stacy gives sources for the hand-dyed velvet and silk ribbons she uses for finishing. I think the design on the bag would be stunning stitched on a piece of linen, and hemmed into a kitchen towel! THEN, the more you use it... the more mangy and old an authentic it becomes!!!
Squirrel Pinkeep and Flower Basket Thread Boards OK.. back to the finishing of the Midnight Strawberry Garden piece! A 5 x 7 board, woolens for the backside, mother-of-pearl thread rings jutting from one side, you could even use matching velvet for that backing -- just like on your 4 x 10 pin cushion. Kind of a skinny squirrel... I guess he's found his Autumn snack, so he'll fatten up for the winter! Gorgeous GAST colors of Chamomile, Picnic Basket, Woodrose, and Endive, fabric of choice is 36ct Weeks Beige.
Tabby Cat Sewing Pouch with Mouse and Strawberry Oh my gosh, this is so cute! Stitch that little linen bag with the very calming and organized kitty on the front. Then, add the little stuffed mouse with his gigantic strawberry pinkeep! TOO CUTE! 36ct Weeks Beige Linen, I thnk this would be fun displayed kind of the way it is. Prop up the bag, and make sure the little mousie is on the outside clutching his ever-important berry! Pouch is approx 7-1/2 x 9. Mouse is about 3 x 6.
Primrose Farm Sewing Basket and Heart Pinkeep Stacy has covered a plain paper mache 5 x 7 oval box with her farmhouse and horse scene. (So it's technically not a basket at all!!!) Stitched on Week's 36ct Beige linen with Gentle Art Sampler Threads, she includes instructions for assembly. She's simply done something else with the box lid... and lined with with wool and fabrics. Colors featured are Straw Bonnet, Chamomile, Woodrose, Apple Cider, Picnic Basket, Rose Garden and Carriage Black.
Buttermilk and Blue Sampler Sewing Bag I think this might be really pretty framed! Stitched on Weeks 32ct Parchment Linen in Sampler Threads of Barn Grey, Portabella, (5 skeins!) Freedom, Maple Syrup, and 5 more skeins of Oatmeal, find some buttons from your grandmother's button jar and embellish! I like the balance of the alphabets getting larger as this progresses, and then all the neat floral plants along the bottom. Offered as the chart.
Miss Baxter's House Oh, everyone loves this cement and log cabin house -- it's quite large, and together with that border will give you LOTS of hours of stitching. Worked on Week's 32ct Beige, the little chickens in the yard are SUPER SPECTACULAR! They are shaped well and stitched in dusty blues and a deep red. If nothing else... make fobs or cushions out of those only!!! Stitch count of 221 x 186, this finishes approx 12 x 14. Love it!
Pumpkin Harvest Pinkeep Another cute chicken, this finishes 8 x 13 on 35ct Confederate Gray linen. A lot of stitching in that house... save that part for a time when you don't want to have your chart with you to keep up with -- just mindless, relaxing repetitive stitching!!!
Mourning Tree Sewing Bag Ok... this goes a little stranger into the why factor! I'm not sure I would want Ebenezer and his casket to be remembered on my wall... but the tree is neat, and the bag is cool... so I can adapt! 32Ct Weeks Tin Roof... finishing instructions for the bag are included. 11-1/2 x 12-1/2 in size.
Potions Sewing Pouch This would make kind of a fun Halloween candy bag! Stitched on 35ct Confederate Gray, it finishes approx 7 x 8, and looks great as a door hanger decoration as well.
Thistles & Spells Pinkeep Another eerie graveyard scene this design finishes approx 8 x 9 on 32ct Tin Roof. Huge for a pin keep, small for a pillow. It really coordinates with the Potions, Mourning tree and Pumpkin Harvest piece.
Sisters Three Pinkeep Here's a sweet piece -- finished into a small pin cushion pillow. Stitch count is 51 x 64, making it finish approx 3 x 4 on 32ct. With the bit of homespun finishing fabric, the overall pillow will be 4 x 6-ish. Worked in Gentle Art's Brethren Blue, Straw Bonnet and Apple Cider, it will make a nice addition to your basket of stuffed cushions! (Note: the stitch count and finished size is mis-quoted on the instructions... be advised when you cut your fabric. Doesn't hurt the design... just confuses you a bit!)
Old White Farmhouse Sampler Denim, dingy white and soft browns, this is kind of a two-part piece. The pretty urn of flowers at the top with the big house down in the bottom section, you could almost do this in two different parts! Offered as the chart or chart with 6 complete skeins Classic Colorworks hand-dyed flosses, this measures approx 7-1/2 x 11 on 30ct R & R Mink Linen. Subtle and stately... it uses Polliwog, Onion Skin, Eggshell, Desert Mesquite, Dulce De Leche, and Barrel Cactus.
Emilia Poole Sewing Basket This is a neat combination of patterns... one covers a paper mache box, and the corresponding design makes a book cover. Stitched with Gentle Art's Chamomile, Roasted Marshmallow, Toasted Barley, Picnic Basket, Straw Bonnet, Espresso Bean and Woodrose, everything is worked on Weeks 30ct Dolphin Linen. You don't use the box lid, so the book -- you could make it a stitching journal standing up as in the pic --- shows well... and you'll want something gorgeous fabric-wise to line your box. THIS is where you can rationalize spending a fortune on expensive fabric -- you don't need very much. A charming project.
Eliza Poole Sampler For some reason, I am really drawn to this piece. I'm not sure if it's the mis-matched border or the balance and content of the motifs, or the red, pink and brown colors. I've made up the story -- Ms Eliza traveled from England (the horse trainer and pony) in 1795 with her dog (lower left corner) on a big ship (can't miss that one -- it might even be at anchor in Boston Harbor). She now lives in a big white house with a tended garden surrounded by her picket fence (in the front yard.) She takes horseback riding lessons, but has just picked a flower from those lush gardens (the huge florals) and along with her kitty, might be running to meet the newly arrived ship! (The bunny is there to eat the flowers and tease the dog!) Offered as a chart, this is stitched on any hand-dyed you love -- approx 10 x 12-1/2 on 35ct -- with 10 different shades of Sampler Threads.
Turkey Hollow Farm - Part of the Houses of Berry's Chapel Road Another fun farmhouse scene by Stacy, this features an un-even border of Autumn flowers -- with a spindly vine on the left side. You have pumpkins still growing in the garden, but the farmer and his dog might be coming to check on the excited turkeys and leaving the pumpkins alone. Finishing approx 13 x 10-1/2 on 36ct Weeks Beige Linen, this calls for Weeks threads of Gunmetal, Palomino, Twilight, Hazelnut, Tiger's Eye, Schneckley, Dolphin, Havana, Straw, Loden and Whiskey. When you stitch the house, work the front in horizontal lines of the Whiskey -- then do the side -- that way your thread variations will form the corner of the building.
Halloween at Hollyberry Farm Another of Stacy's grand farmhouses dressed for the season, this one does look kind of empty, desolate and creepy! I guess because the resident witch is out in the yard grilling! The alphabet spells out BOO, and there are some great design elements -- like that spindly fence and the burial urn in the landscaping as well. Stitched on 35ct hand-dyed linen, this finishes quite large at 16 x 23. Worked in only 7 colors of Gentle Art Sampler Threads, Stacy has distressed her work even more after the stitching was finished to give it an even eerier feel! Offered as a chart.
Summer at Hollyberry Farm What a fun place this would be to live! A pretty border of berries surrounds the cursive alphabet but the real showpieces in here are the house and flag! Look at the roofs on the main house and porch. Stacy has stitched diamond shapes in there first, with hand-dyed thread, and then gone back and filled in the areas. You can really see the hint of shingles. Yummy colors of Gentle Art Sampler Threads -- Apple Cider, Country Redwood, Walnut, Oatmeal, Old Blue Paint and lots of other soft browns. Stitch count is 285 x 224 so on 35ct Old Mill Java, which is called for, this will finish approx 13 x 16. Offered as the chart, this will look really nice on most any brownish colored linen -- stay away from yellow undertones.
My Name is Lidya Stacy Nash has a lovely new book -- 96 pages in softcover format -- that celebrates on antique sampler in her collection that was stitched by Lidya Corker in 1803. Filled with delicious pictures of the original, Stacy has recharted the sampler and adapted several new pieces inspired by the old. She excells at making everything look old and worn, and the book goes into great detail about kinds of fabrics and threads to use, as well as finishing fabrics. Projects include the actual sampler, sewing rolls, a gathering pouch and sampler bag, a pocket roll, pin keep drum, a little woolen quilt and lots of different and strawberry pinkeeps. There are templates for all the different projects in here, and good close-up pics of the finishing and decorative stitching... so you have lots of inspiration. Lots of primitive flavor! ***This is the Second and CORRECT printing of this book! The publisher originally produced the first run -- full of the errors that still needed to be fixed -- and had to re-print! So, we now have our corrected editions, and they are once again... ready to go!
Cat & Mouse Pinkeeps & Slipper Stacy Nash has a few new designs, the finishing on this one is fun and different. Worked on week's 30ct Cocoa linen in only 4 shades of floss, the main cat pillow measures approx 6 x 8, the pinkeep is 3-1/2 inches square and the cute little slipper is only 1-1/2 x 5-1/2! It's a cute set... and if you do nothing else... LOVE that little slipper... and finish some other designs that way! What a fun piece to tuck into a basket of finished pin cushions!
My Stitching Book Measuring approx 6 x 14, this is worked on hand-dyed linen in Gentle Art's Pomegranate, Apple Cider, Chamomile, Straw Bonnet, Walnut and Lexington Green. When you fold it closed... the urn of flowers is folded in half -- so you see it on both the front and the back. Offered as the chart.
Christmas at Hollyberry Farm Stacy Nash has sent a charming Holiday sampler that is very traditional in feel and color. Finishing approx 16-1/2 x 11-1/2 on 30ct hand-dyed linen... you can see how dark and mangy she has distressed this. Do it that way... or lighten it up a bit to suit the colors of your decor. Only 8 different colors of Sampler Threads, the border is thick, repeating evergreens. The trees and animals are very traditional, and that house is just stunning all the way around! Can you see how she has turned the linen edges of the piece under, and Whip-Stitched it onto a piece of primitive homespun fabric? Most antique samplers are stitched right to the very edge of that precious linen... they didn't have yards and yards of it laying around like we do now... it was very precious, and therefore valuable to the last 1/2 inch! Neat frame too... pick one up at an estate sale -- it doesn't have to be perfect -- let it be broken on the corners, and your piece will look the age and command the distinction it deserves!!!! Offered as a chart...
Wool & Flax Pocket Roll One of 2 new designs... *She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands.* From Proverbs, this is one of the characteristics of the virtuous woman. Finishing about 10 x 23 on 32 ct, with Gentle Arts fibers... Stacy made hers into a pocket roll, but it looks very worthy of a frame, too. Stacy even gives instructions for aging the fabric to make it look even more antique.
Halloween Jack Sewing Roll What a neat thing to roll up your sewing tools in! Stitched with one color of DMC, it measures 23 1/2 by 7 1/4 on 32 ct linen. Finishing instructions and fabric aging (distressing) instructions come with it.
Summer Gathering Pinkeep Drum, Slipper and Strawberry Oh, I love this set! The stand-up drum measures 4-1/2 inches high by 3, slipper is 5-1/2 x 2-1/2, and berry tucks inside -- like a little foot -- 3-1/2 x 2. Stitched on Weeks 35ct Parchment linen in just a few Sampler Threads, this is just really a unique little set of smalls. You'll want some neat wools for the slipper and berry finishing - Stacy uses homespun cotton for the top of the drum.
Tribute to Summer Sampler This is one of my personal favorites! Memories of summertime at Grandma's! Stitched on Week's 30ct Cocoa in Gentle Art Sampler Threads of Apple Cider, Toasted Barley, Chamomile, Wood Trail, Raspberry Parfait, Lambswool, Old Brick, Straw Bonnet, and Piney Woods -- I listed the colors so you'd know how pretty this is in person -- this finishes a mere 9 x 11. The original model is crystal-distressed. I just love the big white blossoms in the border.
Blackwater Hollow Sampler What a charming piece! Stitched on Week's 30ct Linen in Sampler Threads, this finishes approx 10 x 13. What a fun cauldron full of that flowing floral vine..., neat colors of Walnut, Gingersnap, Chamomile, Carmel Corn, Onyx, and Old Hickory.
Malabar Farm Pinkeep A peacock and flower urn... pretty classic! Generous in size, this finishes almost 8 x 8... stitched on 30ct Week's Straw linen. The back picture shows pretty finishing -- two different antique fabrics on there, she's made a storage pocket back there for scissors and such.
Pears & Strawberries Sampler Sewing Bag A pleasing shape to the front flap of this 8 x 9-ish wool envelope, the back of the chart shows the inside that is made with homespun fabric, a bit more cross stitch, and features a storage pocket treatment. Check out the yummy, fluffy chenille trim on the Bag front, just beautiful. 32ct Dirty Belfast, again, walnut crystal distressed... regular DMC flosses.
Spring Hare Standing Pinkeep Finishing approx 5 x 7, the finishing includes a simple homespun patch oif fabric on the back -- just for fun. You can sign it there, and even perch the needle with a bit of the leftover thread!
Netty's Sampler Pinkeep Drum Another small stand-up cushion, this one stands only 3 inches high and is 4-1/4 inches in diameter. A squatty little thing! 28ct, Regular DMC... weighted stuffing like walnut shells are better for this rather than lightweight poly-fil... you want this to stay put! I love that bit of red fabric on the top.