A Year of Civil War

Chrysanthemum made with Civil War Fabrics

We are getting closer every day to being ready for our year of Civil War projects. While it won't officially be ready until after January 1st, we are getting ready for it. We have pretty much got all the projects started and some are actually completed. We are still taking names, so shoot us an e-mail and let us know if you are interested. Letting us know you are interested does not obligate you in any way. csteff46@tds.net By the way, we started a new blog just for the Civil War Stitch Along Club, and you can visit it already and get in on the "cutting edge." Here is the link: http://civilwarstitchalong.blogspot.com/

Happy Stitching! Carol

Civil War Stitch Along Club

We will be having a Civil War Stitch Along Club. Anyone that is interested, please drop me a line, csteff46@tds.net so that you may be added to the growing list. There will be three options and you may do all three if you like. If you love Civil War Fabrics, then this is the club for you. Details will be e-mailed after the Thanksgiving Holiday, requesting information does not require you to be a part of the Club. Tell your friends or anyone who might also be interested.

Happy Stitching! Carol

Freedom Is Not Free

To honor my husband who is a Viet Nam Veteran, and all veterans who have served us so unselfishly and with the courage that most of us can not even imagine. We are PROUD, of your COURAGE, and give THANKS, for our FREEDOM. He was very moved by this little wall hanging that I made for him a few years ago, so I know the feelings run very deep.

God Bless the Veterans and the United States of America

"I sing because I am happy,

I sing because I am FREE,

for his eye is on the sparrow,

and I know He watches me."

Civil War Nine Patch

Civil War Nine Patch

Had a full day of sewing today, and got a lot of little things done from my "To Do" pile. I did finish the binding on this piece that I did recently. It is a throw about 55"x 65," and also a table runner. So many times customers tell me that they would like to find patterns that would go well with a lot of the natural colors in their decorating. I think these pieces would work great. The runner is about 16" x 38." I researched about 1200 Nine Patch Blocks and could not find this one anywhere, so I don't know if I have actually come up with a new one or not. It really doesn't matter, I like the way it turned out anyway.

I have quite a collection of civil war fabrics, and I am eager to start a couple of new pieces. So we will see what tomorrow brings. My little Honey (that's my puppy) is patiently waiting for me to go to bed. She comes and sits behind me when she thinks it is time for me to quit working on the computer. I love that little squirt! That's what my husband calls her, Squirt!

Good Night and

Happy Stitching! Carol

Civil War Fabrics

I don't know what it is about the Civil War fabrics that make me like them so well, I certainly can't remember that era, but they stir something inside of me that makes me want to work with them. Althought this picture isn't the best, I took a couple of pieces that I really liked and I made this ministure 9 patch variation quilt. Two color quilts were popular during that era., and I wanted to do something that would go with a lot of todays decorating ideas. Lots of people decorate their homes with a lot of natural colors. This arrangement would be a great piece to add some nostalgia to a little corner. I also made a runner and a throw also using this color combination.

The history that goes along with the Civil War prints is very interesting to me now, however, I certainly didn't care about it when I was in school; I really didn't care about any history, come to think of it. Ha! I didn't even care about the History teacher. He made fun of me all the time in kind of a joking way; I think he knew deep down that I didn't really care that much about his dumb old history, and he was right. Oh well, it is intersting today, and I certainly will be making a lot more quilts using the Civil War prints. My favorite fabric designer is Judy Rothermill of Marcus Fabrics; I don't think she has designed anything that I didn't like. Windham also has some nice Civil War prints. Well, I better get going a new quilt!!

Happy Stitching! Carol

New Quilt Pattern

Flying Goose Corner

It has been a while since I have turned out a quilt pattern, but here is a new one using the Holly Taylor Botanical line. I think it works well as either a Christmas wall hanging or a table canter.It measures slightly over 36 inches square and goes together real easy.
This past week we have been very busy getting things ready for the Houston Market. While we will not be attending, we will have several new items there that some of or distributors and quilt shops are taking.The last of everything went out today, so we are all kind of resting tonight.
However, just as I finish one project I have about 5 others going in my brain, so as soon as I can see my way clear of the clutter from our busy week, I will be ready to go on to the next thing. You will have to keep watching as around the first of the year we will be ready with a whole new line of Vintage ornaments.
Thanks to all of you who have been such good customers this past year, drop us a line and tell us what you are up to; we love to hear from our customers! I really enjoy visiting with shop owners when they call in orders.
Well, keep those needles oiled up for some fun stitching coming your way real soon.
Happy Stitching! Carol

10-10-10

My Girls Mittens & Patches

Let this day go down in history as another ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS DAY!! What else can I say? Thank you, God!

Happy Stitching! Carol

Taking Time To Reflect

Today I took some time to just sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Although I shared it with the ladybugs and box elder bugs, it still was awesome.

The leaves are some of Gods best work

surrounded by a clear blue sky,

it seems to take my breath away

and leaves me with a nature high!

It was quiet, no wind, so I had time to think, and this fall weather always makes me nostalgic. I remember piling up the leaves with my brothers and sisters and then jumping into the pile, the smell of leaves that are burning, and the clear, cool fall air in the evening. The harvest moon that shines so bright and lights up the dark, and pumpkins that now peak out after the frost has taken their leaves. A high school football game on a Friday night in our small hometown, meeting our friends and having no idea what was going on in the game. We were having too much fun

on the sidelines. Supporting my sons at their football games, now my grandsons are playing. How did that happen? It was just yesterday when they were little jumping in my leaf piles as I tried to clean the yard. Life has a way of getting away from you.

Both of my parents passed away in the fall, Dad in September, Mom in October, a brother in November.......not all at the same time,.......... thank you God.

Our hometown has just lost a young soldier serving in Afganistan, 22 years old, a bright, young man devoted to his country......leaves behind a grieving family and community. It's just hard to put it all together sometimes and makes sense of it. Thank God for FAITH.....and something to busy my hands.

Happy Stitching! Carol

Fall Is Here, But So Is Spring!!

That sounds like I am talking in circles!! Fall is here, but so is Spring. What I meant was my Spring Sampler of the Seasons Stitcheries that I have been working on is ready. Now on to Summer, then all four will be done.

So what's everybody been up to. Getting back in a routine here, after a fun summer but a hot one. So the cooler fall weather has been a treat........it just wouldn't have to be this cool.

We are vending at the Walker Minnesota schoolhouse this weekend. Should be a fun time, I am staying home to try and get on top of some things that NEED to get done. This is a first time event that they are planinng to make an annual event. Hope that things go well so they can make it an annual event. Stop on up there if you are in the area and take a peek, should be able to see some nice fall color up there in Northern Minnesota.

Well, I better get busy....time is a flying!!

Happy Stitching! Carol

Early Morning Thinking!

"Katie"

Isn't she just a little lady? She loves to be groomed and sits so pretty. Such a sweety!

Well, I am officially ready for the next week. I hear it is suppose to be hot and humid. Didn't we just have that? Come on weatherman, shake it up a bit!

What I meant by being ready is I moved a table into my sunporch, the one that is airconditioned and I have been collecting Civil War prints for quite a while now, and my intention has been to make some new quilts with it, so that is going to be my project for the next week when it is suppose to be so hot. If they turn out like the visions in my mind, I may just put together a little book of them. Not sure why I am attracted to them as well as the 1930's fabric, but I am. Everybody has their thing, and for some reason I like them. I have been putting together some layouts on graph paper and I think they will be different , at least I am hoping they will be. Coming up with "different " in the quilting world is getting to be a challenge especially when it comes to blocks, etc. But we will see how they come out, and if your lucky, you may get a glimpse of them here as I usually share what I am working on. Well, it is 4:30 am and I guess I can make that first pot of coffee this morning. Not sure why I am awake, but didn't want to rattle around the kitchen too early as it would wake up my husband, so I put off the coffeemaking for a bit here. But, I can't hold out any longer, besides that cup of coffee in the morning
Happy Stitching! Carol

Picture I Promised!

"Katie"
Oh what a beautiful morning! Here is the picture I promised about my new little friends. She is so special, just a little lady, and weighs just barely 5 lbs. The perfect lap dog she is! Rarely do you get everything you want in a pet, but this one is a Bingo! Maybe that is what I should have called her, but she came with the name Katie and it just kind of fit her so we stayed with that.
You all have a good day, and hey ladies (and gents!) today looks like a great day to stitch out in the porch! The weather here in Minnesota is beautiful today, "thank you God", after yesterday!
The temperature was 90 degrees and the humidity was about that, very uncomfortable to say the least. It is cool enough today that I might just even cook something in the oven for a change for supper. Oh well, lots of stitching to do before then!
Happy Stitching! Carol
"I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free, for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me!"

A Beautiful Morning!!

Sew Special Pinwheel Charm
The sun is shining brightly, the humdity is not bad, the temperature is 68. It's going to be a great day! Besides that we are having a birthday party for my seven year old grandson, so cake and ice cream later. A perfect day!!
I am also writing to introduce my newest little friend. I got a new puppy, well not exactly a puppy, but she is three years old, and her name is Katie. She is a toy Pomerainian, and she barely weighs 5 lbs. She is white on the bottom, and a mix of cream color and strawberry blond on top. I do not have a picture of her yet, but I will have later today. I am so excited about her; she stole my heart at the first glimpse of her. She is the sweetest little thing and my husband actually likes her! He does not like "yappy" little dogs, but she is not yappy, and she is so special. I love having a lap dog and one that lays at my feet when I sew, and besides someone to talk to when my husband is off all day doing his work.
Now, I can get down to some serious sewing. This week I will be releasing patterns for three new miniature kits that I have designed, all using reproduction fabrics. I am also going to start working on the designs for my book which will also be all quilt patterns using only reproduction fabrics, both the 1930's and the Civil War era. I am totally in love with those fabrics, and I don't know why. I am really excited to get started though. Last year we spent so much time on remodeling the house that I didn't get many big projects done, so now I can get started on those.
Have a great day everybody, and check out my pictures later on today or in the morning, and
take some time today to spend with family or take a stitching projects out onto the porch and stitch in this beautiful weather. For those of you who have had bad weather, and are experiencing floods, power outages, or extreme heat, just know that we are all thinking of you and praying that your weather gets bettter soon.
Happy Stitching! Carol

Special Requests!

Josh's Hamster Shirt Design

A great Sunday afternoon; enjoyed it sitting in the porch visiting with the kids, grandkids, and some friends. Everything is lush and green in the flower gardens today after last nights wonderful rain.For those of us who stitch and sew, sometimes we get special requests from friends to make something for them.Today, I received a special request from my grandson Josh. Josh is an animal lover like no other and hehas an imagination that goes far and wide. He has a little pet hamster amd when he arrived today, he came walking up to the house with a clipboard that he had drawn some pictures on. (He is also a little artist!) On the clipboard was a design that he had made and his request was that I make him a shirt for his hamster. He has the front and the back all drawn out for the shirt. (See picture.) Now how cute is that?? We decided that we probably had a little "Tommy Hilfiger" in our family.

Well, guess what Grandma is doing tonight?? I am sewing a shirt for Josh's hamster!

It just doesn't get any better than this! Love those kids! I will post a picture of the completed shirt later.
Happy Stitching! Carol

Should I or Shouldn't I??

I am looking at a new house dog at the shelter, and she is really cute. I am trying to decide, should I or shouldn't I? I miss the company of a dog laying at my feet while I sew. Does anyone else enjoy that?? She is two years old, a tri-color Jack Russel, rat terrier mix, house trained and loves to sit on your lap. Can I possibly go wrong?? I think rat terriers/mixes make the best house dogs, they are low maintenance, easy to keep clean and groomed, and usually pretty loveable.

I think I talked myself into it!! I will have to wait for her to get spayed, so I have time to get ready for her.

While I am waiting, I will contine to work on my "relaxing in the porch project." I have been working on these little ornaments that I think are turning out so cute. They are the perfect easy little project to work on while listening to the grandkids talk a mile a minute, they are all taking turns at Grandmas for the early part of summer. We will have a "just before school" session too. I love them all, and they are so full of "vim and vigor" and just love to hear scary stories that Grandma makes up as I go. Of course I have to use their names for the characters in the stories. Sometimes they get so scary, that they all end up on my lap. Pure fun!!

Next week, it is time for some serious sewing!!

Until then,
Happy Stitching! Carol

Minnesota Does It Up Big!

Just thought I would share with you a few more of my new line of "Sew Special" Ornaments. I just started this line, only have about five of them ready, so they will keep coming for awhile. We have been at the Minnesota Quilt Show for the last two days, and "Wow," what a good show it is. If you are in the area, and haven't stopped to see what is all there, I highly recommend that you do tomorrow. It will be the last day, but it is worth the time. A great bunch of quilters who stopped to make purchases, and chat a bit. It was fun seeing them all.It makes me happy to be a part of this industry. Women and fabric just go together!! I even saw a few guys there and even one dog!! It is really nice to see husbands who come along to help tote stuff for "their women." They are good guys that keep their women happy! So keep on stitching ladies, it looks like there are more quilts needed as many blew away in the tornadoes that went through Minnesota these past couple of days. I think Mother Nature is having menopause or something! Remember all those who had damage or were injured in your prayers tonight, please.

Happy Stitching! Carol

Feathered Star Ornament

It's been a quiet day, very cool after the heat 0f yesterday so I worked on a new ornament line that I am planning to have ready by the MN Quilt Show which is June 17th, 18th, and 19th from 9:00am-5:00pm at the St Cloud Civic Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Hope to see some of you there!
The clock is striking 1:00am so I guess I should call it a day. For some reason the days are rolling by really fast!! I find though that I really like the hours from about 1:00pm to 1:00am for getting stuff done. It is quiet and I can really concentrate on what I am doing.
It was a good day to sit and stitch and think about those who have gone before us, especially those who have given their lives for our country and our freedom. It is the ultimate sacrifice and I for one am so grateful to them. Since I am not that courageous, or physically able to fight I guess my job is to keep all of them in my prayers and ask God to hasten peace for our world.
Have a great Memorial Day!
Happy Stitching! Carol

You Asked, and We Answered!

Many of you have asked if we are going to print the Spring/Easter line of ornaments in the tea dyed version. So, we decided to do it, and here is one of the first ones completed. We do not have them all ready yet, but you can watch for some them to be added to the website within the next week. I really like them done like this, however I like the Natural too. They are great fun to do and you can do one easily in an evening or two.
Also, just a quick reminder to folks that we will be at the MN Quilt Show which is going to happen in June in St. Cloud, MN at the Civic Center. Show dates are June 17th-20th. It should be a great time, and it is always held at the Civic Center which is located on the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River. A great view while you are looking at all the quilts.
Stay on touch because we will be adding lots of new items just prior to the show or right after.
Happy Stitching! Carol

Hoppy Easter!!

Easter is fast approaching and we are well on our way to Spring here in Minnesota! Yeah!!!

Spring does bring along it's share of clean-up, and work to be done outside. Every year I dream about this wonderful looking yard and garden; I wonder if it will happen this year? My grandkids are getting big enough so I can probably talk some of them into helping. Last year they all wanted to plant seeds, so I got some cute pictures of the two smallest ones doing some planting. Their attention spans are not quite long enough to finish the job though and so Grandpa and Grandma ended up putting the shovels and rakes away after the big planting session. It was fun though watching them digging in the earth and having the enthusiasm that we tried to instill in our children when they were younger that planting seeds and watching them grow is definitely a worhwhile thing to do. Not to mention if you plant the right ones, you get the added reward of being able to eat what you have sown. Spring also brings out the usual "bumper crop" of dandelions especially here in the country. Over the years I have always wrestled over the notion of whether to spray them or just let them run their course and put up with it for a couple of weeks until they have formed their little "puffballs" and the wind has carried them off to places far and wide. I have bought weed spray and have a hard time putting it down on the yard. I am too concerned over what the chemicals would do to our songbirds that enjoy our yard this year. I will have to see how bad they are and wrestle with that again this year. I have also received a bumper crop of seed catalogs in the mail this year, some that I have never heard of before.Hmmm, wonder what that is all about??

Oh well, I think I need to get back to my stitching, the only big decisions I have to make their is whether to buy some more fabric!
Happy Stitching! Carol

More Spring Ornaments!

Heirloom Ornaments

I am having a ball with these Heirloom Ornaments! I call them Heirloom because, can you imagine ever throwing one away?? I think they deserve to be passed on, at least that is what I am doing with mine. I purposely put a solid color on the back, (off white) so that I can personalize them and date them so when my grandchildren pass them on, they will have a nice remembrance of their great grandma. It is so much fun creating something that I think is truly a "future heirloom." Check out all of them on my website, www.chickadeehollowdesigns.com
Have you ever done something so bad that it took you several months to fess up? Well that has happened to me. Last summer I agreed to become part of a Round Robin, you know where you get a group together and each one does a round on a quilt. Well, that was me, five in the group, my fist block came in the mail, I was so excited to get started on it because when I opened it, it was a patriotic block. I am the biggest fan of patriotic or Americana things. I started on it right away, wasn't sure how it was going to look but did one side of the block to see if I liked it, and I did. So I proceeded to cut the fabric for the other side, and when I was cutting a strip off of a piece of fabric, I didn't realize that the finished part had gotten under my rotary cutter. Needless to say, it wasn't good. I cut a big chunk out of the block that someone else had made. OMG!!!

That was several months ago, and I finally fixed it as well as I could, made a little (iron on patch)patch to hold it together. I stressed over it several months before I decided to fess up to the owner, and you want to know what she said, "That will just add to the memories of the quilt when I do receive it back home." Now, is she the sweetest lady or what? All that stress, and the procrastinating I did. I guess the lesson in that is, that the best thing to do is "come clean" right away! But it is true what they say, the older you get, the less you stress about stuff, it is the little things in life that matter. Have a good day and...........

Happy Stitching! Carol

Spring Has Sprung At Chickadee Hollow!!

Even though the snow is still deep, we have been having some beautiful sunny days and it has given me "spring fever." I can't wait any longer to let all of you in on what I have been doing. Why stitching of course!! I am having so much fun with these eggs and bunnies and flowers that I may just have to think of something bigger to do with bunnies.

I have designed a total of 20 items in my Spring/Easter line, and we will release them as they are ready.Check in again next week for the next bunch!

Happy Stitching! Carol

Bluebirds & Quilts

Bluebird On A Fence Post
Yeah!! January is over and it won't be long and we will be seeing the bluebirds checking out their nesting spots. If you have bluebirds who typically nest in your yard or nearby, do them a favor and clean out their houses for them. If the weather gets nice, you can see them as early as March.
This is a pencil sketch that I did a while back and I also used some watercolor touches on it. It just reminds me so much of spring that I just had to share it with you today to hopefully make it seem like Spring is not that far off. Our Winter started early this year the first of December we already had snow on the ground and it was bitter cold and it has continued through January except for about a week when we had a break of 30 degree weather. So we are ready!!!!
I will be posting some more of my Spring Ornaments, by the end of the week, which by the way are called the Heirloom Ornament line.
Thanks for checking in.
Happy Stitching! Carol

Spring In My Heart, But Winter Outside!!

Peeper

May Flowers

Here in Minnesota we have had every imaginable combination of weather in the last couple of days. It is downright miserable out, every time you look out at the weather it is changing. Snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, slush, wind, and drizzle. Soooo I tend to keep busy stitching when it is like this. It makes great stitching weather. My collection of Spring and Easter ornaments continues to grow. They should all be done by the end of this week.

Tommorrow is the big game between the Vikings and the Saints, so I will have to have some stitching ready to do during the game. I am one of those people who has to be doing something with my hands when I am watching TV, and stitching is better than eating snacks. You can eat a lot of snacks during a 3 hour game and that is not good!!

Tomorrow, I am going to make some of my homemade boiled ham dinner. This is a great dish for a wintery day. Besides being healthy and good for you, it is easy to make. I am going to share the recipe here with you:

Carol's Hambone Boiled Dinner

Ingredients:

Hambone with a fair amount of meat left on it.

Cabbage

Potatoes

Carrots

Onions

Place the ham bone in a large pot along with enough water to cover the bone. Bring to a boil and then turn down to medium for about an hour or until the meat falls easly from the bone. Don't trim it before you cook it.

After the ham bone is cooked, remove it from the liquid, and let cool until you can cut the meat from the bones. Remove all the meat, trim out fat skin and bone. Cut the meat into bite size pieces.

Peel and cut up about 4 medium potatoes. Chop into 1/2" to 3/4" pieces and add to the liquid.

Cut up about 4 medium carrots or two cups of the shorcut carrots and add to liquid.

Cut up one medium onion and add to liquid.

Cut up 2-3 cups full of cabbage and add to liquid.

Cook until all the vegetables are tender, add some pepper. Taste the liquid before you add salt. There is usually enough salt in to ham so you don't have to add any. You can also add extra water if it gets too thick.

This is so good, let me know how it turns out!

Happy Stitching! Carol

Spring Preview

April Showers

The weather has been great here for the last week, with temperatures in the low 30's. That is wonderful for January in Minnesota. It sure does get the spring fever going though. But I have lived here long enough to know that we have a lot of winter ahead of us yet. But, I can pretend it is Spring as I work on some new things for Spring. I am teasing you today with a little Spring/Easter Ornament or Charm, whatever you want to call them. We should have them all ready by the last week in January.
I think the winter is going pretty fast, course I spend a lot of time here in my "happy room." It helps to have something to do. We have several shows coming up and also a lot of trunk show to do, so we are basically booked up until the Minnesota Quilt Show which is in June. After that it will be time to start working on things for this fall.
Remember to take some time and count your blessings and pray for the people of Haiti and please if you are able to donate, give if you can. They can use all of our prayers and anything else we can share with them. I did hear that right now is not the time to start donating quilts and other furnishings. Right now they need water and food to survive and rest will have to be for later.
Enjoy the rest of the winter season, and will share some more goodies with you later in the month.
Happy Stitching! Carol

A Time To Be Grateful

Freindship Charm

Thank You to all my faithful customers for this past year. You have blessed me in so many ways
with all of your nice comments, your support of my products, and the encouragement that I get
from so many of you. I enjoy hearing from all of you, and it is a pleasure to meet so many of you
via cyberspace. In the coming year, we will continue to bring you some new ideas and more
"fun stuff." I can not do this business by myself, and I have to mention the gals who help me with
various aspects of the business. Thanks to Vickie, Judy#1, Joyce, Judy#2, Christi, and my
husband who run errands, makes trips to the post office, and supports me in many ways. Thanks
again to each and every one of you!!
Happy Stitching! Carol

It's Christmas,and then the New Year!!!

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

to all of my faithful readers and customers !

It has been a very good year in spite of all that is going on nationally and internationally. I hope that all of you have also had a good year. Even though it makes me a year older, I am excited to be able to have the promise of a New Year. So much about what kind of a year it will be, or even a new day, depends on each of us individually and how we face the new day or New Year. If we face it with enthusiasm , and with a good attitude

for the most part, we will have a great year. It is so true that the only way to find true happiness, is to reach out to others and bring happiness into their lives and the more we do this, the happier we will be. Being happy is a choice, and happy people don't necessarily have a perfect life, they have just chosen not to let the imperfections in their lives ruin their perspective on life. So be happy, pick up some stitching or quilting when times get tough and enjoy the process of creating. And if you really want to be happy, teach a child how to embroider, sew, or quilt. By doing this, you are teaching them something that could become a major part of their life.

For those of you who might be interested in doing our ornament line as a Stitchery of the Month, you can check out the details on our website, http://www.chickadeehollowdesigns/ click on the Santa in the ornament section to get all the details, or send me an e-mail. You may also want to check out our Christmas Club.

Have a great holiday and I will be in touch in the New Year.

Happy Stitching! Carol

2009 Ornament Series

Vintage Quilt Shop Ornament
Today, I am posting the last ornament of the 2009 ornament series! These have been so much fun to do, and I can hardly wait for next year to start my second series. If you haven't started making this series yet, go to our website, www.chickadeehollowdesigns.com and check them out. We also have a SOM (Stitchery of the Month) option for those of you who would like to save a little money but get all 18 ornaments done in a year. Remeber to click on the View Details option beneath each ornament, it will give you a large colored picture of each ornament that you can print for floss color placement. The SOM option includes the floss pack in the total price. Also,wo do have floss packs available for the entire set for $10.00 I hope you enjoy them.
Happy Stitching! Carol

New Ornaments

It is getting close to Christmas! We are winding down on our ornaments for this year, today, we add two more and the last one for 2009 will be sometime this weekend. These guys have been so much fun for me, and apparently others too, because we have sold a lot of them. Some shops are also going to do them as a SOM (Stitchery of the Month) for the coming year. That is a good way to do them! Most of them can be completed in a couple of evenings. These also make great gifts for your stitching friends.

Happy Stitching! Carol

Needle Magazine Premiere Issue

We are so happy to be a part of this! You can read all about it and subscribe to the online magazine if you choose. Go to the link shown to read. Our ornaments are featured as well as the process I use to create them.
Happy Stitching! Carol

My Favorite Time of the Year

Isn't this just the best time of the year? Getting ready to hunker down for the winter and endless days filled with stitching!! The best birdwatching is in the winter when the birds are no longer able to find food in snow covered fields. I have to admit that I really do like winter. I get a little tired of the lack of sunshine but all in all it is a good time of the year. This week we can look forward the best meal of the year. What is better than a turkey dinner with all the trimmings? My favorite part of the meal is the stuffing and squash. that is the best!!!
I also like the Norwegian Rice with Raspberry Sauce that usually shows up, and of course my daughter-in-laws apple and pumpkin pie. Yum, I can't wait! Remembering to give thanks is also something that I take very seriously. We have so much to be thankful for.

I want to share with you a new ornament today. This is my little ginger bread boy!! There are three more ornaments in this years ornament series, that will be out some time this week, and I will share them here with you.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year and I have decided to pass along some of my good fortune andI am having a contest. Here are the details. I will give away 5 of my ornaments, your choice to these lucky people. 1. The first person to comment on this blog post.
2. The person who answers this question in the best way? What is the one thing that you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving.
3. The last person to comment on this blog post up until 12:00 noon on Thanksgiving Day.
4. The one who says the magic word. (I have chosen a word associated with Thanksgiving
dinner.)
5. What do you like best about my blog?
Get going now and post your comments!!
Happy Stitching! Carol

Designers Are Thinking Spring

Roses For Mom
Even though Christmas is right around the corner, people who design are thinking of spring. You have to be one season ahead of everything in order to design, get photographs, and have your products ready to sell right after Christmas. It is hard to think spring when you are just fiinishing all your fall outside work and getting ready for Christmas, but today I started my thought process. actually I did a while back already because I did purchase some georgous fabric for a spring quilt from Robyn Pandolph's line Somerset Cottage about a month ago. I have the quilt pattern all drawn out on graph paper and am ready to start doing a test block to see how that will look. It should be kind of fun if it works as I have designed it.
The other thing I did was go through my stash of finished embroidered pieces to see if there were some little treasures buried there that I wanted to resurrect. And lo and behold I did find an embroidery that I was working on when my Mom became very ill and passed away. I decided to call it Roses For Mom, and after she passed, I couldn't quite bring myself to do anything with it, but I am at a better place with all of that now and I think I would like to do something with it for this spring. I think Mom would like that. Hmmm, maybe a little verse around the borderwith some little pretties tucked in here and there. we will have to see what becomes of that.
I am curious, do any of you finish little things and then stash them away for awhile until a notion comes about what to do with them? Write and tell me about them if you do. I think it is fun to listen to stories about things that people find in their stash that they forgot they had.
Well, it is the magic hour when it is time to go to bed, say my prayers, and then dream about what to design next.
Happy Stitching! Carol

My Little Chickadees

By Carol L Steffensen

Chickadee Watercolor Painting

Everyday I like to spend a little time watching the birds. Today, as I watched, the chickadees were feeding in earnest. I have always liked chickadees, plus the fact that we have lots of them at our place here in the country. It is also part of the reason I named my business Chickadee Hollow Designs. Long before I started designing quiltng and stitchery patterns, I did a lot of painting and drawing, and of course one of my favorite subjects was birds and other wildlife.
I think the good Lord knew what he was doing when he created the earth and gave us all the beautiful wildlife, flowers, trees and terrain for us to look at. Have you ever thought about what this world would be like if there were none of those things I mentioned. Just think about it for a minute, and look around you and see how many things, tangible things, that would not be part of your world, if those things were gone. Pretty scary, isn't it. Then the other things I think about are like the war riden countries like Iraq, and Afghanistan. What happens to all of that wildlife and beauty? I can't imagine birds stick around when there are bombs going off. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Happy Stitching! Carol

The Needleworks Show....Retail

Reminder!!

Don't forget to check out the first on line retail needlework show at the link shown above. Show starts tomorrow, November 5th and goes through November 8th.
Lots of great items to choose from. Check it out.







Happy Stitching! Carol

58 Days til Christmas, Yikes!!

Yes, I am afraid it is true, 58 days til Christmas; why does it always seem to come so fast? I think the problem is that I just plan too many things to get done before Christmas. I want to thank all of you who are enjoying my Vintage Ornaments. The ideas keep coming and I keep stitching and who knows where it will end. Today I am going to share a couple more with you.The first one is a church, which reminds us what the Christmas season is all about.

The next one is one I really enjoyed making. As you may know, I love cats, like many quilters and stitchers do and I couldn't resist making this little gal. I have three cats, and my absolute favorite cats have always been calico cats. Wonder what will be next? Keep checking in with me and see what my upcoming ornament ideas will be.

www.chickadeehollowdesigns.com

I am also working on a redwork project, if you remember the redwork teapot that I posted aqbout a month ago. I wanted to share it with you, but have temporarily misplaced it. Can you imagine that?? You could if you could see my studio! The worst part of this wondeful job is cleaning up the shop! I need to be in the mood to do it, and they don't come too often, but my husband is going on a four day goose hunt and the weather is suppose to be gray and dreary so I should be able to fit it in sometime in the next couple of days.
I am in the mood to throw a quilt on the quilt frame and do some hand stitching. I haven't done that in a long while. For me, it is very relaxing to to do hand stitching. My favorite kind of hand stitching is to do it with Perle Cotton. I am interested in knowing if any of you also like hand stitching with Perle Cotton.
Well, on to the next project, and remember the countdown to Christmas is on. I will be sharing projects that I am making for my family for Christmas.
Happy Stitching! Carol

We woke up this morning to the most beautiful snowfall. Here is a look out my backyard, about three-four inches here, the earliest snow that I can remember, and apparently there has only been snow this early about eight times since they have been keeping records. Awwwh!, We love it here in Minnesota!!
I finally finished my miniature heart quilt, so here it is Scrappy Hearts & Lazy Daisies!

I've been having some troule with my camera, yesterday we had the big pumpkin carve and I tried to take pictures of all the grandkids and ity didn't work for some reason. But enjoy, and remember you can purchase any of my designs at www.chickadeehollowdesigns.com

Happy Stitching! Carol

A Sign of Things to Come

Redwork Teapot
Today I finished this Redwork Teapot, and I really like how it turned out. It is fun to finish something; gives you a sense of accomplishment. However, this project is far from done as this is just the beginning. I can't tell you what it will become, but just keep watching and I will keep you up to date on the progress.
Can you believe that right now in Central Minnesota, October 9th, we have one inch of snow on the ground.? Well, it's true, if it wasn't dark outside I would have taken a picture and posted it, maybe I will do that tomorrow. We are suppose to have our annual Fall Fun day with our family, do a hayride, carve some pumpkins, eat my daughter-in-laws homemade apple pie. Not sure if the hayride will happen; it is also suppose to be very chilly and windy this weekend. But, we will have fun no matter what we do, hope all the grandkids will be feeling good, some of them have had the flu.
Went for a ride today through the State Park that we live near, on my way home from the beauty salon, the trees are just turning here, which is very late, but some really great color starting, however, with this snow and the freeze warning, there may not be a lot of nice color for very long. I have noticed that the birds are feeding more at the feeder already and they are really picking away at the suet. I love watching the birds in the winter, especially after we have a heavy snow. They come all crouched up to the feeders and sit there like little feather balls picking away at the seeds.
The clock is striking 1:00am so I think I better shut this thing down for the night. Enjoy my teapot!!
Happy Stitching! Carol

Autumn Cherish It!

Autumn Cherish It !
Here it is just as I promised, my new Crazy Stitching. I finally finshed it, and I am pleased with the results. I plan to sew it into a little shelf pillow. I hope you enjoy it. It will be posted on my website later today if you are interested in purchasing the pattern.
Happy Stitching! Carol

Stitching At Midnight & Scary Sounds

Do you like to stay up in the evening and stitch after everybody else has gone to bed? Well, I do. I enjoy the peacefulness of it and just the time for me to reflect on my day and mentally prepare for the next day. Running this business does require some quiet time for thinking! So you can usually find me up at least an hour or so after my husband retires to bed. Well last night about 1:00am, I was stitching in our four season porch which is all windows on three sides; I had a lamp on and soon I heard the coyotes. We live where there is a lot of woodlands, lakes and thickets, but also in a farming neighborhood. The coyotes are plentiful around here and we have sacrificed more than one calf from our beef herd to the coyotes. So I am used to their wailing and noises at night, but all of a sudden I heard this awful noise mixed in with the coyotes that I can only describe as a blood curdling roar that I have never heard before, but sounds like the noise a monster would make in a horror movie. The needle stopped, and I froze, the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention!!! I listened and then I heard it again and again for four times total.
I got so scared that I reached over and turned the lamp off and crept from my chair through my studio and crawled into bed and I actually woke my husband, I was so scared. It has bothered me all day as I try in my mind to figure out what it could have been. Today my husband asked me again to describe it and I said the best way I can describe it is like Sasquatch running through the woods screaming as he was being chased by coyotes. Brrrrrrrrr! So what am I doing tonight; sitting up writing in my blog and it is well after midnight!!
You have seen some of what I call my Crazy Stitching stuff before and I just love doing these things. I have finished a new drawing that I will print to fabric and then embellish with embroidery stitches or other items. This one is called Autumn, Cherish It! It is a collage of sorts
that reflects sights of autumn.

I just love how they look after I apply the stitches to it. Tune in again tomorrow and see what the finished product looks like. I am almost done with the stitching on it and I can hardly wait to show it to you. They are so much fun!!
Well, if I quick close and hurry to bed, I can get their before Sasquatch goes out for his 1:00am stroll!

Happy Stitching! Carol

Rainy Fall Days and Other Delights

It looks like we are headed for a couple of rainys days. I can't wait, I love rainy days in the fall. It freshens everything up and all of the flowers shoot out some new blooms before they get frost. I also get a lot of stitching done! I have some projects I have been trying to wrap up.

Every year about this time we plan a day for the family and we do a hayride and carve pumpkins. we usually follow that with a spaghetti supper and my daughter-in-laws Apple Pie. it is the best apple pie I have ever eaten, hands down! She is an excellent cook , and we all look forward to her apple pie. Of course, the grandkids have fun throwing each other in the leaves and trying to slime each other with pumpkin goo. It gets a little messy, so we do it in the garage and we store our little pumpkin carvers in a drawer so they are handy. The dads usually have to help with making the big hole at the top of the pumpkin, but after that the kids dig in and do the rest. It's great fun, and they each get to take their pumpkins home. We take pictures and just have a lot of fun.

Here is a quick sneak peak of one of my newest projects. Can't give all the details away yet, but you should be able to see it all completed in a few days. Bring on the rain!

Check back in towards the end of the week and I will have some more pictures of my projects for you.

Happy Stitching! Carol

Lavender Roses In My Stuff.

Lavender Roses
I was digging through my "stuff" yesterday and came upon this lavender rose that I had designed a couple of years ago, did the hand embroidery on it and put it in with my "stuff." It certainly deserves a chance to get out of my "stuff" pile and be made into something useful. I will have to ponder that awhile and see what I can make of it. Hmmmmm, I just recently joined a Round Robin group on line, maybe I will use it for my center block and see what can become of it. Do you have piles of "stuff" around that are just begging to get made into something? Being a quilter, stitcher, designer, painter, let me tell you I have piles of stuff around. i wish I could be like some people and be better at discarding things that most people view as worthless, but my problem is an imagination that I think it too vivid and so I can see value and worth in most anything that most people discard. I was raised in a family of eight kids and my parents were farmers, so we grew up ceertainly not destitute or poor in todays sense, but we defintely lived a life of frugality.
Getting back to "stuff," I used to do a lot of hand painting and so I would often search through garage sales, used a bit stores etc. to look for smaller wooden objects that can be refinished and used to paint something on, so I have a room full of that kind of "stuff" in the basement. And, needless to say I certainlty have a lot of sewing and stitching "stuff" around and a good share of it is in plastic storage tubs in my basement and it fills a couple of rooms. But, I do get rid of some "stuff' once in a while. I sent a huge box of stuff to Louisiana during Katrina to a quilter who had contacted me to say she was putting together a group of quilters who had lost their "stuff" during the hurricane. Thats a good thing and I try to give whenever I can to things like that. Well, I guess it is back to my "stuff!"
Happy Stitching! Carol