Hooking

Good morning!

I started a hooked rug last year and haven’t had a chance to work on it. I’ve Decided  to spend a couple days adding to my my freestyle rug.

Since I follow restricted lines for my punch needle patterns, for this I decided to just let my imagination run. It feels really good for a change.

It will end up being a modern rug....but that’s ok!

My home is an eclectic mix...of my arts from present and past. A complete mush mash of furniture and trinkets collected over the years....most of my furnishings have come from flea markets, friends and the side of the road, Painted or refinished to my liking.

Over the years there has been a multitude of changes in my arts and my home. But antiques will always stay very close to my heart, especially early American..! I don’t own a piece but enjoy looking on Pinterest at everyone else’s treasures.....they are far beyond my budget.

I am a very private person, I spend most of my time alone in my art bubble. 

Please be patient with me as I am trying to open my home and my heart to the internet. I do feel I owe my followers this. Till next time, I’m off to hook.

Enjoy,

 life, the arts and above all yourself,

Kate

Rocky Coast

Good Monday morning to ya!

Today I'd like to offer this summers 1st punch needle pattern. Available now in my Etsy shop.

It's named "Rocky Coast"

This is a two and three strand punch. The lobster is the two strand.... because of the highlights and shadows. Two strand works very well in the CTR 3 strand needle.

It has a easy to follow color code using DMC floss.

and measures 8" inches high by 5 1/2" inches wide

It is available two ways 1). As a printed pattern on paper, other options printed pattern on paper plus plain weavers cloth or printed paper pattern plus pattern pre-printed on fabric... these are all shipped by snail mail.

Or 

you may also choose the downloadable version for instant gratification!

Here is an easy link to my shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/briarcottage

Also I am working on the enlargement for Scrappy so it can be rug hooked or rug punched.

My goal is to make it long and narrow. We'll see what happens. Look for it by the end of the week.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Enjoy,

Kate

The New Year

Hello all you punchers out there.

This is the first new pattern of the New Year.

"Penguins"

It is a DMC only color coded punch needle pattern, using 1, 2 & 3 strands. 

It measures 6 1/2" wide by 7" high.

Now available in my Cottage Etsy shop:

Click Here

A little Teaser: 

The second punch needle pattern is a Valentine's pattern, coming soon.

It's on the frame and almost finished...I hope to have it posted and coded by the end of the week.

It is a 3 strand punch, measuring 4 1/4" High by 10 1/2" wide.

The detail work is done using DMC and the background is a lovely Valdani Perle cotton. 

Looking forward to the new year, with many new designs to choose from.

Another project I'm working on is 1 year of stitches.

It's a group of talented ladies, that have committed themselves to stitching a bit of embroidery daily.

It can be one stitch, or many as long as you stitch daily.

I haven't done embroidery in so many years, it sounded like a good idea. The end result will be a surprise. For those of you that would like to follow along, I try and post daily to Instagram.

Click here to Follow.

I am hoping that this year will be a year full of creativity!

Follow along on 2017's journey!

Happy New Year,

Kate

A New Year

Here we are in 2017!

This will be the first pattern of the new year....coming soon!

The Holidays were wonderful, I enjoyed my family and friends with a welcome break.

My hopes are that yours was a special season also!

I want to thank everyone that purchased patterns from me in 2016.  Your kind words likes and comments are overwhelming. The year was a wonderful success. Thank you!

There are many more patterns to come, I would like to work on changing of thread count and the size of needle in one piece..to be worked as if painting with a paint brush! This will give a much more advanced look and feel to the punches. 

Please don't hesitate to approach me with any questions or suggestions for the coming year! 

I do love hearing from you.

If you follow me on Facebook? This years side adventure is 1 year of stitches. (Embroidery) 

Don't worry punching and needle design is still my first love.

It's not to late to join in or you can follow along on Instagram #1yearofstitches.

Happy New Year to you all, 

Kate

Inspiration

I came across a women called Jude Hill. She does things with fabric that is just amazing! 

I thought, well I have been trying, to figure out another way to finish the Punch needle models.

I like things framed, boxed, etc. but my favorite is the mat itself. I feel, no.... I think, fabric kind of needs fabric to ground it...I think?  So because of Jude it gave me the idea, it would be wonderful as a wall hanging...fabric within fabric...form within form.. I am playing with two of the punch models and adding it to a wall hanging...I have begun to embroider, quilt and just have a blast with it, freedom! It let's me break out of the box, create a free form,  relax and not be so boxed in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying doing it. Thank you Jude for your wonderful inspiration. If you get a chance head on over to her blog.  http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/

 Let me know what you think. I would love your feedback good or bad!

Have a wonderful creative day,

Kate

New Location

Dear friends,

I am excited to announce that Briar Cottage Studio has partnered with Red Rabbit Antiques owned by Darlene Schwab on a new venture! Together we have opened a booth at Kensington Court's new North Hill's location at 3464 Babcock Blvd near Three Degree Road.

Public Grand Opening will be this Friday, January 9th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.  Winter season hours are Friday thru Monday from 10am to 5pm.  Hope to see you there! 

Open House

Join me for the 2014

 Holiday House

Saturday, December 13th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

​

Briar Cottage Studio

2330 Wyland Avenue

Allison Park, PA 15101

All are welcome, bring a friend!

Featuring Winkles, Yarn scarves, Punch Needle & Rug Hooking.

Unique Holiday Gift Items

Merry Christmas

Follow me all year, on the web at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KateGillery

https://www.etsy.com/shop/briarcottage

https://www.facebook.com/kate.gillery

http://briarcottagestudio.blogspot.com

http://www.briarcottagestudio.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

GIVING   THANKS

For Friends and Family,

For Health and Happiness,

&

For Daughters who can Cook!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kate

Announcing!

I do hope everyone had a safe and Wonderful Halloween! 

Now that we are getting close to Thanksgiving

 I am getting a little anxious finding the time to finish all my creations for the Holidays.

I struggle every year since my cottage studio closed. Do I have my annual Open house or not? It means decorating my home for Christmas starting now, not such a bad thing, except Thanksgiving feels more like Christmas. 

I so miss seeing my customers throughout the year, an Open house gives me the opportunity to visit them all again. So, wait for it....... I have decided to open my home for another year! 

Join me for

2014's 

18th Annual Christmas Open House 

December 13th,  from 10:00 am to 3:00pm.

I hope everyone can come!

Somethings new

I have put together a new website if you get the opportunity do check it out.

I will be adding to it as time permits. Hopefully some how to's and what not's. Join my email list so you can get the up dates as they arrive.

CLICK HERE

I have also listed some new spindles on my Etsy site

Click here

Witch & Pumpkin Head plus a few other listings. Do stop by.

The Winkles are calling me, I must get back to work. 

Have a wonderful creative day!

Kate

Published in Prim's

Published in Prim's

 Fall winter 2014 issue

I'm so excited the new issue has arrived at my doorstep. I can't tell you the feeling of seeing my Winkles in a National magazine., Published w0w!

 I want to thank Danielle Mohler, the editor of Prim's magazine, for inviting me to be a part of the magazine,

 such an honor. 

If you would like to purchase this wonderful publication head on over to 

http://stampington.com/prims

Thank you for your interest, Kate

The Challenge, two

Witch Hats, Black Cats, Broomsticks and stinker!

Stinker how'd you get in there. Neighbors cat stopped by to say hello.

Have my paint clothes on, High.....ho,  High...ho.

Great Day!

K.

The Challenge

Witches Hats, Black Cats, & Broomsticks Challenge

The Basics, the structure is finished.

Next a few days of detailing.

Have a wonderful Day! 

K.

Good Morning

Good Morning!

 It's a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, PA. I have a busy day ahead, Commissions to tend too, fall projects to start for the Fall Festival in Bedford, PA. And on top of that ... I have joined a challenge on facebook, if you would like to follow the project friend me at: ( https://www.facebook.com/kate.gillery ). We are to post pictures of the project in progress. 

The Whispering Pines Festival went very well, tiring, but well. 

I have entered a store with Red Rabbit Antiques in Bedford, PA called Anderson House Antiques (like them on facebook to keep up on new antiques and artwork for sale).

On The Hoop:  I have started a new punch needle pattern for fall, (pic above). The pattern will be available on ETsy, soon I hope. I am thinking of putting together some kits for sale with the pattern on linen, and threads to finish your project... I would also like to sell hoops, thread and needles on ETsy, anyone interested please let me know.

In The Studio: I need to add more paper clay to the figures, for the challenge.......more on winkles and the recent post .....   click here.

At the Cottage: I still have to finish fixing the paintings and the frames. They are so big I had to move them out of the studio and into the office, they are staring at me as I speak.... FIX ME.

 Plenty to do, Better get to work!

Have a great day,

K.

Rainy days on Mondays, are always a busy day!

Tooled Leather Dundee Marmalade Place mats (2)

 In the Studio - I have three antique large frames and two paintings, that have taken up the entire studio. I have got to touch up some broken parts and fix the beautiful antique paintings. Restoring paintings is not one of my favorite things to do, but a friend ask me if I could do anything with them so she could hang them in her home. So I said I would! It's amazing how small my studio is when I get even the most common items in it. Maybe that's why I tend to do smaller items?

In the Cottage - I would also like to post some items on the computer today. I do apologize if I post to many, but a catch up is in order, especially on the fiber and archive pages. I would love to get the point where I am posting only the items that are currently in progress. Maybe someday?

On the Hoop -  I am finishing up some of the items in the evenings for the Whispering pines festival. Just finished a wall hanging (rug hooking) very colorful. and three or four punch needle pillows, patterns are available on Etsy. Hopefully later today I will be able to post them for all to see. 

Have a great and productive day,

Kate

Prim' Magazine

PRIM'S MAGAZINE


I am so excited..Prim's magazine has given me the honor of being in their nation wide magazine, with my winkles. I believe it will be the fall/winter issue. Looking forward!

Winkle Wednesday

Winkle Wednesday, sorry posted on Thursday!

A Welcome to Alice, Part 2 .........Read more

In the Studio - Most of today, and into this evening, I will be adding more details to the new Winkle Sculptures.

Into Fiber - I am working on a new Pattern for Etsy. When I am finished with it...I would like to get it into the hoop for a finished Punch Needle, or maybe a wool applique! We will see, stay tuned!

In the Cottage - I noticed that a miniature burning bush outside, has gnaw marks at the base, about 18 inches off the ground, so a deer rubbing is out of the question, its far to low. Does anyone know of a animal that would do such a thing? There is also, little round, light brown poop balls under it. Opossum, do they gnaw? Raccoon I don't know! But I will be searching the internet looking at poop. Isn't the internet wonderful!

Have wonderful day,

Kate

This & That

(I haven't come up with a name yet, any suggestions?)

How about: Politically Incorrect, Lewis. Let me go smoke my Pipe!

He is getting there.....Sir Caterpillar and the little snowman looking thing will eventually be the hookah pipe. I am working on 5 sculptures at one time, It works out well, Tidbits are added while the other one's are drying.

This is a pic of the spindle man base painted he is finished and ready to go! Am I repeating myself, I will post finished pics after the customer picks it  up.

In the Studio: More work on the sculptures. I was having so much fun with them yesterday, I didn't get anything else done. A must is the package for the event, it must go out tomorrow!

In the Cottage: The sun is shinning, which is amazing in Pittsburgh, looks like Spring is springing. A friend needs some sewing done, hemming pants. I will get to that today! Plus the sewing of the door pocket. Tonight!

Wishing all, a wonderful day,

Kate

A welcome to Alice

A welcome to Alice........

Guess who's coming to Briar Cottage!

These are the first steps to a project I have had in mind for many years!

I thought I would show you some of the steps to a sculpture as it comes to life.

Keep watching as it progresses!

The Cottage: I have been under the weather, so it's been a long week of R & R. Which absolutely drives me crazy. But I still get many things accomplished. I've been spring cleaning the old computer, for me it holds loads of information, and every once and a while it gets a little bogged down, don't we all. Iv'e also been getting a box together for an event that is coming up. I'm not going to let it out of the bag yet, it may or may not happen so until it does, I must keep it quit....But I am soooooo excited! Preparation is almost done, I'll finish it today, for the mail.

The Studio: I'll go a little further on the Winkle sculptures and start some smaller ones. Also, add the finishing touches to the Spindle Man, all he needs now is a little yarn around his bottom. I will show pics when the customer picks him up (don't want to ruin the surprise). 

The Hoop: This evening hopefully, I will put the finishing touches on a Pocket with wool and punch needle, they are all hand sewn so it does take some time.

P.S. Don't forget about the web show, I'm thinking around April 8th, at 7:00?

Have a wonderful day!

Kate 

Looking Forward to Spring

We did get the snow....and the ice

I was able to clear a little snow yesterday, and the sun is shining which is unusual in Pittsburgh.

My car doors are iced shut.... and my poor car, needs dug out. The temperature is not suppose to get warmer, so it looks like I'll be staying home for awhile. What a shame, another day Needle Punching. Ohhhhhh.... my!  I think I will work on Home sweet Home pattern.

Yesterday I was able to finish a punch needle, Jacobean Floral I will post it soon. I heard from a good friend of mine called yesterday, she would like another large Spindle person, she had purchased one in the past and would like a pair. So I will prime the spindle this morning and let it settle for painting, keep you posted!

Stay warm,

Kate