He is risen!

April 21, 2014April 21, 2014Out of the Thistle Leave a comment

We thought we’d share some of our favorite snapshots from our Easter preparations! We used a white paint pen to draw on farm fresh eggs, and we love the way these turned out! Although, it really isn’t a craft geared towards young children. It can tend to get really messy!

We also did a round of royal-colored dyes on farm fresh eggs. We used a RIT dye color guide, and these deep colors were just what we were looking for!

We made some of these carrot-shaped candy wrappers from coffee filters. The filters were dip-dyed in some of the egg baths, then laid out on kraft paper to dry before wrapping up the candy. These little “carrots” only held about 1-2 pieces of candy, which is great because we really aren’t big on candy at our house (we’d rather eat cake!). So they got less, though it looked like more. Another bonus: no plastic eggs hanging around for years! We stuffed about a dozen of these carrots in their baskets with books, movies, bubble toys, etc.

Thread Bears® Blog / He is risen! Coffee filter carrot-shaped candy wrapper

Speaking of cake…some of these “carrots” were used as a decoration on the naked carrot cake.

Although, this day is not just about coloring eggs and eating delicious cakes. Words cannot begin to describe how grateful we are for this holiday, that we may come together as a family and celebrate the importance of this day–the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is because of this ultimate sacrifice that we are able to spend this joyful day with our family, that we have hope for the future and eternal life through knowing Him. We find peace in knowing that Jesus fulfills the promise He made on this day: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.” He is risen!

Our time for harvest.

April 18, 2014April 19, 2014Out of the Thistle Leave a comment

Thread Bears® Blog

Spring is always such a glorious time of year. The warmer, longer days make way for more time in the garden, enjoying the flurry of flowers that arrive. This time of year is so coveted after the long, cold Winter. Those short, grey days of Winter make the bright blooms and warm washing of sunlight even more enjoyable when Spring arrives. The wait builds anticipation of new growth, new opportunities.

Now is our Spring. We see the lushness and peachy glow out our windows, and we see the freshness and thriving potential in our business. We’ve had a long, hard Winter–both out our doors, and in business, and we are welcoming this Spring. We are welcoming the newness. We are welcoming the growth.

As you may know, we’ve come a long way in business. We’ve acquired much and learned much, only by the help of our Lord. We’ve had battles that other small, family businesses don’t endure. Those bitter, burdensome battles have made way for us acquiring Intellectual Property. They’ve strengthened our faith, and our confidence. From those experiences, we believe our business will continue to grow and flourish. During our experiences, seeds have been sown. We thank God for the patience and understanding during our time of tilling the soil, watering, and waiting for the new growth. Now is the time for our harvest.

No complaints about coziness.

April 10, 2014April 19, 2014Out of the Thistle Leave a comment

We could gripe about how long this Winter weather has lasted into Spring, but we’re sure you’ve heard it all. Even our Arizona-based family saw a light dusting of snow last week! We would have much rather been outside toiling in the garden instead of shoveling snow or looking out on a greyish-white landscape. However, we used the long, treacherous weather to our advantage.

The effects of a long Winter gave us more time to grab a hot drink and create a few new goodies from fiber…

more opportunity to cozy up with loved ones and (including sassy grandbabies and a new little man in the family!)…

blog1

more time to find rustic inspirations in the rugged landscape…

…and more time to indulge in comforting foods.

We could play “Guess What We’re Making,” but you’ll just have to check back in a few days to see what will come from those teasers!

Recipe Links: The Apple Frangipane Galette, The Chocolate Bread Pudding (we substituted half the chocolates for fresh blueberries and used whole wheat croissants), Garden Tomato Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons.

First Knitted Sweater (shirt)

February 21, 2014April 16, 2014Out of the Thistle 1 Comment

By: Rhonda Potteet

I hadn’t knitted a sweater before because I love the instant gratification that comes in knitting hats, gloves, or scarves. Also, I was a little bit put-off by needing to sew on sleeves, or to deal with button holes and so on. Well, I found this pattern for the Immie Tee by Madder, and I fell in love with it. How could I not make this sweet little shirt for my little one! It has a beautiful lace panel up the front, and the short sleeves make it versatile, which is important with fickle high-desert weather.

The great things about this pattern is that it was a super-quick knit, being finished in a few short days, and I didn’t have to sew on the sleeves or deal with the fussiness of attaching buttons and knitting a half-dozen button holes. It came together so fast and with such ease that I hope to make many, many more.

Of course, I couldn’t do as the pattern called for exactly… I did lengthen the mid section, since we are a tall family, and our kids’ shirts usually end up being cropped tops. I didn’t have the yarn on hand that the pattern called for, but I did have a lot of Knit Pick’s Gloss on hand and it was close to the same gauging on the packaging. So, I just used a size 4 circular, and it worked our perfectly. I also used Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Stretchy Bind Off for the neck, and it shows the lace panel detail at the top as well. I love it. It’s ready for Avery to wear it the Autumn!

Thread crocheted mini.

January 16, 2014April 16, 2014Out of the Thistle Leave a comment

I am offering, WiLLie TeD, a miniature teddy bear, made out of crochet stitches of fine cotton thread.

He measures only 2 1/4″ tall and he is fully thread jointed. WiLLie TeD was designed to have details similar to larger bears with his detailed limbs with a body fully stuffed — he just begs you for a hug. His sparsely stitched nose, mouth and eyes are all embroidered. A little shading was added for detail. He wears a red bow for his new owner. He has been made to look passed down — A perfect addition to any miniature collection. I always strive to offer quality unique items which I hope will be treasured for years to come.

This item was designed and handmade by me, Sue Aucoin of Thread Bears®.

No longer available.

Lovely Little Legwarmers

January 15, 2014April 16, 2014Out of the Thistle Leave a comment

These adorable, super soft, delicately cabled little leggings are now available! You can purchase them Here.

These leg warmers were created with a very fine gauge, supple and soft nylon/acrylic blend, which makes it gentle on sensitive skin, especially great for little ones learning to crawl– they cut down on rash-y knees! The many, tiny stitches allow these leggings to be worn as boot toppers/cuffs for older children without having the bulkiness of some leggings. They are lightweight, yet keep bare legs warm. They are a perfect Easter/Spring accessory since they come in a fresh, minty hue. Easy for mom to care for!