Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Brigitte Comes To Life




When I first saw Linda Ragno's Garden Ladies by Cooper Oaks Design, I was totally charmed. I just had to stitch this lovely flower lady with her basket of lavender. French Country style simply makes me happy. (Click here to read more about this artist and to view a catalog of her designs. Her work is available here at the Needleworks.)


Wall of Needlepoint Canvases @ Needleworks
Stitching is a favorite pass time and yet another passion in my life. I'm one of those travelers who pulls out the yellow pages when I arrive somewhere and check out the needlepoint shops in town. Anyone else out there do this?


I named her Brigitte, and here she is after I stitched the canvas. Every stitch brought sunshine to my days as my sweet Brigitte came to life!

With Brigitte stitched, I shopped my fabric stash and pulled out some of my favorite Souleiado fabrics from Pierre Deux. With only a small remnant of the blue, a patchwork idea quickly began to evolve.



I worked up a plan,

gathered everything together,
and took it all to my friend who is a master finisher.



VoilĂ , Brigitte completely finished!

With this sweet face and French fabrics,

I decided she must share the upstairs guest room . . .


with another young French lady
who loves to pick flowers from the garden.


Sophie is a handmade limited edition doll from the Fritzi-Contini Collection. She has always been content to while away the days in her antique Thonet rocker, but I thought she might like to join Brigitte on the wicker settee and visit about gardening.

These two were getting along splendidly,

when all of a sudden 
mademoiselles Gabrielle le chat

and ZoĂ© le lapin called 
out from across the room.


They begged and pleaded and insisted that Brigitte join them in their comfy spot atop the quilt on the bed. The work of Ilonka, a California artist, these two captured my heart back in the 1980s. They always seem to get their way with me, so Brigitte happily snuggled in between these two charmers.

But look who is patiently waiting in my needlepoint basket. She hopes to be stitched up this winter and join the other girls in the French guest room. Until then she seems happy to have two little Russian girls to keep her company. I just hope she doesn't let that rooster crow when the sun comes up.

I originally posted about Brigitte here, but reworked this post to share for Kim's Before and After Party this week. Click here to join Kim and see her latest paint transformation. You'll also find a list of others who have a Before and After to share.
Also linking to






Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

42 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah! Oh, how sweet and what a beautiful job you did with your needlework! I love love love the pillow you created with her! So pretty! Love your little cuties on the bed!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  2. Hi Sarah! I remember this wonderful post! You know I love all of those wonderful French country fabrics and the basket of lavender! You are such a talented lady! And the kitty...what a cutie! I hope you are havng a great week!...hugs...Debbie

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  3. Oh, Sarah! Your needlework is just out of this world. And the pillow you created is a work of art. Love it in your sweet guestroom with the rest of your treasures. I love the kitty, too! Wonderful job!

    XO,
    Jane

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  4. Sarah, this is just absolutely adorable! You really did a super job on Bridgette, and the others are so cute! And a darling guest room, too. Loved this post. Thank you for sharing this cuteness with us!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  5. Sarah, you are a jack of all trades. That is just beautiful and the fabrics are perfect. I love those patterns. You are a stitching queen and your post was quite fun. Thank you for joining in this week.

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  6. What a sweet little lady Brigitte is! I am going straight to the site to have a look - I might as well just admit that I have an addiction to needle work!

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  7. Miss Sarah!!! That is just the cutest pillow!!!

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  8. What lovely little characters you have around your home- You can see they are so happy to live life with Sarah.

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  9. Wow! I have a local shop with all sorts of needlework available but have been chicken to even try a project. Your little lady and that fabulous pillow design are absolutely gorgeous!!!

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  10. Dear Sarah,
    you have so many talents. Long time ago I stiched a lot of nice things. This was a lot of work. And I love how you combined it with original Provence fabrics. I can really see how proud Brigitte is, to be part of this wonderful cozy cushion. And her company is as cute as she is. Nice compagnions.
    All your vignettes show your humor and your good taste in home decorating. Thank you for showing that post, because I have missed the older one.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  11. Sarah this is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful work you do!

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  12. Sarah this is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful work you do!

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  13. Sarah, your needlework is just beautiful. And I love the way you finished the project. I do not have the patience (much less the eyesight) for such fine work, and I admire those who do. Just beautiful, and your little vignette of the "friends" is charming! Kat

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  14. Oh my Sarah...beautifully inspiring...you are magnificent..dazzling and sweet and so gorgeous..thanks for sharing your magic!!

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  15. It's utterly beautiful! I love to stitch.. needlepoint and crewel..Xstitch I have done very few..You made a most gorgeous pillow..everything looks so pretty!

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  16. Omg! This is absolutely beautiful, Sarah! I am in awe with full admiration as I sit on my chair....Christine

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  17. Omg! This is absolutely beautiful, Sarah! I am in awe with full admiration as I sit on my chair....Christine

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  18. How goregous. Many years ago, in another lifetime, I used to look for needle work shops. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the days. But I tell myself that my children will not be home forever and there will be plent of time for those types of endeavors. In the meantime, I'll swoon over your perfect work of art. Not only is the needle work perfection, but how you designed and executed the pillow is amazing. You are a seriously talented lady.

    - The Tablescaper

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  19. Oh, and one more thing, to think that you put that pillow together out of the remains of fabric that you had at home, makes it all the more amazing.

    - The Tablescaper

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  20. Sarah, and what a stitcher you are! You have created such lovely things with needles, thread and pretty fabrics, all after my own heart as I love French country as you do.

    Perfect!

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  21. Your work is so pretty - Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  22. All your girls are lovely.Your guest room looks very inviting. I can tell you are a girlly girl, nothing wrong with that. Thank you so much for visiting Nanniepannie, come back soon and stay awhile.

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  23. I'm so glad you showed some close ups because I was leaning forward toward my computer screen and squinting to see the details because I think these are SO WONDERFUL!!!!

    Oh, how I wish that I could get the hang of needlepoint. It's just beautiful.

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  24. That is the cutest pillow I've ever seen in my entire life.! What stunning work you do.

    Now, I am wanting to see more of that bedroom...it looks sooo pretty.

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  25. Were there not already such a word as "voila!" it would have been invented just for this.

    Simply charming.

    rachel

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  26. Hi Sarah,
    Wow! so much talent- love the pillow.
    I used to do a lot of needle work but I got lazy!
    Thank you for your kind words,

    Carolyn

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  27. What a FABULOUS pillow you've created~ the colors & fabrics are wonderful! LOVE Brigitte with the little bird perched upon her hat! She is in good company with Sophie, Gabrielle & Zoe :-) Thank goodness I don't have needlework to compete with my other addictions, LOL!

    Thank you for your wonderful email, I'm remiss at responding! You are so generous with your comments & visits!

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  28. Sarah, at first, I was so excited to think that you had gotten back to your needlework. :D Then I read that Brigitte was created last year. LOL I know how much you love stitching....me too!

    Your pillow turned out beautifully! I have some of that same Frenchy red fabric in my stash. GMTA

    Your guest room is just lovely, BTW.

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  29. It was so lovely to hear more about Brigitte, the pillow that your sister created is wonderful.
    Maggie

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  30. Oh my goodness Sarah...I had no idea where this project was going! Tha pillow is darling, and you did a fantastic job!

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  31. Your needle work is so beautiful. I love,love,love the pillow. What a beautiful idea. I would love to stay in your guest room, what lovely stories in all of your decor. I too always check out all sewing, dollhouse and antiques stores wherever I visit. I enjoyed your post so much and you inspired my to purchase one of those lovely sewing projects.
    Hugs,
    Carey

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  32. Oh Sarah, what charming treasures fill your guestroom! Of course, I love Brigitte. She is wonderful, and those fabrics and fringe are the perfect surrounding for her pretty little self. The quilt on the bed looks beautiful, and I love the wall color and the iron bed. This looks like a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. May I make a reservation? laurie

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  33. Wow you are so very talented. You have made some wonderful things. They are all lovely. Thanks for sharing. ~~Sherry~~

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  34. What a beautiful inspired pillow! Love the story in your post and all your little friends look so sweet~ I agree, your Sophie and your wee animals look happy with Brigitte- wonderful job! Thank you so much for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday this weekend! :)

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  35. Yes, I love it! You must show us more of this gorgeous and fanciful room! Please?
    Brenda

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  36. How beautiful! What talent you have! The pillow is just lovely, a real work of art.
    I can't do needlework, so I admire anyone who does it well, like you!

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  37. Oh Sarah,
    I LOVE this story!!! AND you do the most Wonderful Fun things. Your needlework is exquisite, I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE that pillow and I(as a doll collector)am "IN LOVE" with all your sweet ladies... Your post was SUCH FUN... I have bookmarked where to find the canvases(Thank you)... Hugs to you, Donna

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  38. Sarah your Brigitte needlework is so beautiful! She has such wonderful detail. I used to do crewel work and embroidery but as my vision changed as I got older I found it less enjoyable.

    Your other dolls are so sweet and beautifully made. They do look like they are having wonderful conversations with each other :)

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  39. Just popped in and noticed your exquisite cushion, I love the colour combinations used too!

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.