Halloween,............What?

What can I say?  I'm behind in my blogging.  I don't profess to be superwoman.  You know the type.  Spic and Span house, works full time, kids in all activities possible, dressed up cute - all the time, president of this and that, and artsy craftsy.  Yeah, I gave up on that craziness. Not worth it. So, instead you get a blog post when  I can squeeze it in. For months there have been technical issues also.  That's the most aggravating part.  But, I am now using Google Chrome as my browser to blog and things are working much better.  I don't have all my blogs bookmarked over here so I'm sorry I can't hook you in to those yet.  That's an afternoon's computer time I'm not willing to spend yet.  Heck, I have a new lap top with Windows 8 that I've opened about 3 times.  I DID hook up our new printer though yesterday and it is much easier to use and it works! I'm so excited and relieved about that. 

I guess I went off on a tangent there.  He, he.  Last little bit of Halloween pleasure.  I finished two of the three kits that I received in the SAL.  I will save the third one for next year. They are so cute.  Here's the first one.

Here's the second one.  I got the little pin on top separately.

I loved the trim that was sent with the witch so much I asked how it was made.  It's eyelash yarn that is corded.  I made this ornie last year and it needed something.  Got some eyelash yarn, corded it up and added it on.  Much better.

So, that's it for Halloween.  Guess I need to take it down and move on.

One of our guild members finished this sampler a couple of years ago.  It is gorgeous.  It is Hidden Magnolia
by Catherine Theron and the only way it's available to stitch is by taking the class.  I've been looking for it for years and Lisa, 'The Inspired Stitcher' found out that the Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild was going to offer it.
Joined the guild, made travel plans with Lisa, and took the class.  Not a sampler that will be done any time soon but it is gorgeous and I'm so happy to have it.  Lisa gives a real nice synopsis on her blog about the silks etc.

Here's our teacher Catherine Theron.  She's a wonderful and patient teacher .  There is very little cross stitch.  All specialty stitches. Yep.

Here's Lisa.  My travel partner and stitcher enabler.

The place we stitched in was very cool.  Some day I'll have to go back and take the time to explore the park.  It is so unique and pretty. This is where we had lunch.

Looking outside.

This is the building.  So cool.

 This barn is also on the property.

Last, but not least.  The stitching that was completed.  Part of the border and part of one of the trees. Smyna cross stitch.  I will finish this tree and then put Magnolia away for a couple of months.  I have a huge quilt to square up and bind, Christmas ornaments to make, a new SAL starting Dec.1st over on Carol's blog (iStitch) and other gifts to make.

 

Happy Stitching!

Marsha

Kentucky Wool Festival

I thought I'd start with the third project in my SAL group.  People are so creative. They are giving me some ideas for my kits.

Friday my DD and I got to spend the day together.  That hardly ever happens so we were excited to go to the Kentucky Wool Festival in Falmouth, Kentucky.  It was a beautiful day for a drive in the country.  One of our sheepish greeters.

 It was nice and hot the day we went so I'm sure these sheep loved their haircut.

All kinds of fiber producing animals were in attendance.  Angora rabbits had a small presence.

A new baby.

Here's DD taking her own pictures.  After about tossing her cookies in the animal tent, we decided she's not really a country girl.

The food smelled wonderful.  Every kind of fair food was available.  I couldn't believe the size of this skillet for frying up potatoes.

Another greeter.

One of my main objectives in our trip was to find a new supply of clean wool. I love using it in pincushions and stuffed ornaments.  The closest I got was roving ready to be spun.  Thanks to Punkin's Patch I got my roving and this cool felted wool ball which is sitting on the roving.

I found one craft vendor I really liked and parted ways with some dollars.  A pretty bone dish.

Christmas ornaments from old quilts.

And a green frog, the first I've seen.

  I'm so glad I had my daughter to visit and laugh with. It was a beautiful day at the festival.

Marsha

Some Smalls

I made my first Altoid box for the Tiara Retreat smalls exchange.  This is a freebie chart 'Boo Tyme' by Homespun Elegance.  I changed the floss colors after googling boo tyme and seeing that others had changed them. I think the linen is Dubloon, my favorite.  I used a couple of on-line tutorials for 'how to' cover the tin.

Red Lead is a great on-line store for tapes and other cool stuff for finishing.  That's where I got the alphabet tape.  The ric rac is from Victorian Motto.  Another great source for finishing touches.

 
Card stock for the upper lid and very old fabric that I've had over 20 years for the bottom.

This is the exchange piece I received.  It's so cute, I love it. Thank you Judith.

I recently agreed to a private SAL.  Not really a SAL. Projects spread out through out the coming year.  I have gotten three for Halloween.  They are so stinkin' cute.  Here's the first.  I started her the evening I got her 'cause she's just so cute.

Here's all the stuff to make it up.  Cool stuff.

Here's the second kit.  How cool is that?  I almost opened it in the car but knew you'd love seeing the special packaging.

There's part one.

Oh my, a package within a package.

The threads!

The third package came this weekend and I haven't had a chance to take it's picture.  I'll share this week.  I made a trip to the Kentucky Wool Festival on Friday with my daughter.  I have a few pictures from that too.

Happy Stitching!

Marsha

Tiara Retreat Part I

Amanda and I have been hosts of the Tiara Retreat for 3 years.  The first year there were about 6 of us that worked together and the last two Amanda and I took on ourselves.  Tiara is a group of women that like to stitch and get together to do it. This year the retreat was smaller and cozier and held once again at Higher Ground in West Harrison, Indiana.  It took me awhile to think up goody bags and I had help from The Inspired Stitcher, Lisa for ideas.  Here they are all bagged up.

This year we have needles and needle cases, a beeswax thread conditioner from a pumpkin mold and whipped pumpkin salt scrub.

Finished and ready to hand out.

  .
I roamed the room and took random pictures of people working on their projects.  Lots of loveliness being created.

Anna Mae worked on this cup and finished it by the end of the weekend.

Look, it's Lisa's hornbook.

Peggi and Pam trying to look busy.  They always had their corner of the room laughing.  Anna Mae's looking on in disbelief.

 

We had a few knitters and crocheters working on pretty stuff too.

Char is known for working on gorgeous big projects on dark dark linens.  We all are in awe of her projects.  She claims it's easy as pie.

Christmas ornaments were making their debut too.

Halloween had a piece of the action.

Here's my start of Christmas ornament making.

Here's my Margaret Cottam.  She should be much further along but that brown roof line has been ripped out at least 3 times but probably more like 5.  I finally stitched the inside of the house, once again incorrectly stitched the brown roof line, ripped it out and Lisa came to the rescue.  She offered and I accepted.that she stitch in that brown. What a relief.  Fingers crossed that the gray around it now goes in smoothly.

Well, I think that's enough for today.  We had a smalls exchange on Friday night.  I might refer you to Lisa's blog to see those pictures when she has them up.  Mine are all on my phone and I'm not familiar with how to get them here.  We'll see.  I'm a little tired of learning electronic BS.  Love it but hate it, if you know what I mean.

It was a good weekend.  I wish I could have gotten more stitched but when you're in charge, as easy as it was, you just don't get to plop down and go at it.  But next year...........I'm out!  It'll be all stitching.



Marsha