Lots of Punch Needle

It's been a hectic week. I did want to post during the week but work has been busy. After work I end up in my big leather chair with my mohair throw watching some TV and snoozing for an hour. Then it is a full evening of creative work.

I am preparing for my show in mid-November so getting a lot of punch needle done. Did manage to design a couple of kits where everything is supplied except for the hoop. Great for those wanting to try this new craft. The first picture is a sheep on an Ohio Star quilt background. It is made up as an old fashion pin keep. The second piece is a pincushion based on a old applique quilt block.

Also worked on making six little pincushions with old time quilt patterns that will go in six little boxes. I'll show those later in the week.

The upcoming week will be devoted to putting together some rug hooking kits for the show. A festive seasonal snowman rug and a round one for a chair (I love these designs) I usually do a geometric and add some flowing elements like flowers or leaves. I had read somewhere that a good design is a balance of both. It works for me!

I picked some lovely apples last weekend and they are still waiting to be turned into a strudel and apple crisp. I discovered a new one for me - honey crisp. They look like a gala but I find are much sweeter. Apple season is such a wonderful time of the year.

I signed up for an online felting course so I can use all that wonderful roving I have piled in my work room. Now to get down to doing it. I would love to make some sweet sheep to hang from my tree this year. Peter is busy making spicy beeswax Santa's. He has started candle production with the new Christmas scents for this year. This year he is trying wax tarts along with the seasonally themed wax embeds and votives. For the next couple of weeks I will walk into the house fragranced with the current scent of the day. Today was Winter Wonderland - peppermint wafting through the house!

A new punch needle pattern was released this week - finally! It is called Little Blue Jug and was a design that started one way and ended up looking like something else. That happens with me. I mull over ideas for a bit and them expand on that. I started with the background - I wanted it all monotone but enough of a difference so that you could see the basket quilt block emerge from it. I had a lot of fun with this one - although I agonized over colour choice. It is done with my hand dyed wool threads. You can find the paper pattern here on ETSY or you can get the pattern as an instant download here on PATTERNMART.

copyright - Joni Black c. 2008

Off to get some supper and finish punching the last of the pincushions. Good night and have a wonderful week. J.