State Fair Entries

 Hi friends!  Well my State Fair entries for this year are ready. I would like to share them with you. I have one cross stitch piece this year. This is God Bless America by Artful Offerings. 

I stitched this one over two on 40ct Vintage Country Mocha. I used the thread conversion by Jeanne Horton of Country Sampler. I made changes to the pattern. I got rid of the alphabet under the American flag. I put in Land That I Love instead. I got rid of the circle of  13 stars and put in the 30 stars that would have flown in 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state. The pattern originally showed 1776 on the side of the barn. Since I am from Wisconsin, this has special meaning to me. 

I bought this barn wood frame from Hobby Lobby and Emerson cut it to size for me. The lower left corner may appear to be cut "off", but it is not. The barn wood is uneven at the point. The corner does meet perfectly, just not directly at the top. 80% of the corner connects perfectly. I love it in this frame.

Bowl of Pansies

This is my entry for Punch Needle in the State Fair. These took me three and half months to create!!

I bought a miniature punch needle to create this project. The needle is the size of a needle you get an injection/shot at the doctor. You insert one piece of embroidery floss in it at a time. 

I used this book bought for me by my Mother 10 years ago, to create these pansies.

As you can see, I changed all the colors of the pansies. I chose my own colors, and boy, that was not as easy as I thought it would be!!

I punched each pansy piece or leaf on a matching colored cotton fabric. Then seam sealed it with Fray Check. Twice. Then sealed the back with Gem-Tac. Then the nerve wracking part. Cutting each part out directly next to the stitching. 

I then had to use Madeleine's water colors to mix and match the perfect color to paint the small white wires for the backs. Once these were dry they were also glued. I bought green wire for the backs of the leaves. 😉😊

I had never done floral work of any kind, so this was a learning experience. I had to construct the pansies by layering, twisting and connecting the wires to a stem and adding the leaves. 

I inserted them in foam. And rearranged. And rearranged. And DONE! 😵

And now I am VERY MUCH ENJOYING stitching Christmas ornaments for my family once again!

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1Peter 3: 13-17

Thank you for stopping by today my friends! Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie