Country Woman October/November 2018

After moving to Maryland years ago, I joined a local stitching group. The first Friday of every month would find us around a dining room table, which was covered in snacks and stray threads, with needlework projects in our hands. A mix of ages and skill levels, the gathering was a source of camaraderie and inspiration. It was also a nudge to get out my cross-stitch projects and do a little work on them. I moved away, but those gals still craft together, welcoming newcomers regularly and recently celebrating their 25th year. I miss the personal bonds we formed around that table, and this sense of wistfulness grew as I read your stories about your own craft groups. Some formed to work on a collaborative project; others are more like the one…

To create the quirky little pumpkin owls on our front cover, gather up vintage architectural hardware like drawer handles, bolts, screws, springs and door knobs. Wood slices, bits of lace and other embellishments work well too. Lay the pieces out on a work surface and arrange to look like an owl face, thinking about the eyes, wings, chest feathers and feet. When you’re satisfied with the arrangement, use a hot glue gun to adhere the design to a pumpkin, or affix using nails or pins pushed into the gourd, depending on the weight of the piece.…

Q: How do you hand-make Halloween? I have fond memories of my mom sewing my costumes. She transformed me into a strawberry, created a whimsical Hershey’s Kiss costume and made a pink princess dress when I went through a fancy phase. When my daughter was born, my mother handed down these costumes. My daughter fit into my first costume, a pumpkin, so it only seemed appropriate for her very first Halloween. I’m not as skilled with a sewing machine as my mom is, so I create costumes with reused clothing and easy sewing. Sometimes my kids’ ideas are simple. Other times they’re more complex, like when my daughter wanted to be Katerina Kittycat from her favorite show. I found a green dress and combed through my local craft store to find the…

I am a city woman who absolutely loves your magazine. I use at least one recipe a week from Country Woman. And while cooking or baking, I look outside and imagine acres of grains, fruit trees and vegetables growing out back. The reality is a fence! This city gal wants to say thank you for feeding my imagination and making my time in the kitchen much more fun. The word that comes to mind when I think of Country Woman magazine is wow. SHELLEY LEIS KITCHENER, ONTARIO We love hearing from readers, so drop us a note! feedback@countrywomanmagazine.com…

Clover Collections Calling all 4-H families and alumni: Do you collect 4-H memorabilia? Have you held onto the trappings of your days (or your children’s days) as a 4-H’er? Tell us about those pins, scarves, belt buckles, handbooks, banners and uniforms. Include photos, and show off your purple-ribbon best. Road Tripping Postcards, magnets, maps and globes…as we move further from summer, we’re reflecting on the day trips and vacations we took and comparing notes on the souvenirs we’ve gathered over the years. If you have a collection of travel magnets, bumper stickers, coffee mugs or snow globes with a story to tell, we’re ready to see the slideshow. Take a Book, Leave a Book Built by volunteers, Little Free Libraries aim to connect communities and foster a love of reading. Millions of books pass through…

Our Circle of Friends volunteers help provide the creative ideas and authentic stories you see in every issue of Country Woman. Visit countrywomanmagazine.com/circleoffriendsfor more information or to apply. SHARON BLUMBERG MUNSTER, INDIANA TERI CAROTHERS PORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA BRENDA DAVEY GREENBRIER, ARKANSAS SANDY ERDMAN WINONA, MINNESOTA HELEN FLETCHER SHAD BAY, NOVA SCOTIA DANIELLE GLASGOW UNION MILLS, INDIANA MARIE HILLIARD NEWBORN, GEORGIA MARGIE LYTLE WASILLA, ALASKA JENNIFER MILAKOVIC CAMPTON HILLS, ILLINOIS STEPHANIE MORGAN EWING, KENTUCKY HAYLEY MOSS HULL, IOWA MELODY RICHARDSON MIDDLESEX, VERMONT CATHIE SCHOER SHEPHERD, MONTANA JAMIE TAYLOR MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN JESSICA WAGNER VERSAILLES, OHIO WENDY WALKER EUSTIS, FLORIDA…