Gifts and Tiara Retreat

One of my good stitching buddies recently found out that I just LOVE Hello Kitty.  There's something about the simplicity of her little face that just tickles me.  I remember the first time I was introduced to Hello Kitty. About 25 years ago a friend in Fort Wayne, IN took my daughter and me to a store in a mall that was all Hello Kitty. It was so cool. She has had a soft spot in my heart ever since. My friend passed away soon after that visit. Sad and sweet. When I saw The Inspired Stitcher at a recent stitch in she gifted me with this little tin.  Isn't it cute?  Thanks a bunch Lisa.  I like to get it out and take a peek now and then. 

I also received a huge mail parcel from my secret stitcher.  She's awesome.  I can't wait to meet her at the guild's Christmas party where she will be revealed.  A nice Halloween card to start things off.

She found out that I love the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series. I've heard all of the audio books (except the most recent) and stitch while I listen to them.  I even got my DH to listen to one of them on a road trip.  I still can't decide between Ranger or Joe Morelli. Diesel's up there to if you read her in-between books. So, this will be a fun to read.

 

A nice piece of sparkly linen which make great ornaments.  Candy Corn thread.

A great chart from Home Spun Elegance, 'Witchville'.

Another great chart.  I pulled all the DMC threads and Autumn Fields linen to stitch this up.

Aren't those spiders creepy cute?

Here's everything all together.  What a big bunch of lovelies.  Thanks again secret stitcher.

I spent the weekend at Higher Ground in West Harrison, Indiana for the Tiara stitching retreat.  From Friday afternoon till late Sunday morning it was stitch, stitch, stitch and eat, eat, eat.  They feed you a little too well at this place but no one's really complaining.  Our rooms were right upstairs so when you got tired at night you just went up to your bed to refresh your finger and a__ for stitching the next day.  Here's the view from my end of the room.  I think close to 40 women were in attendance.  Rita, Pam and Marie did a great job organizing it for us with door prizes, a tea party and every person's name stitched as a place card.  If I forgot your name and you helped organize something I apologize and thank you too.

One of the pre-planned activities was a smalls exchange.  Numbers were pulled and you got to pick a gift bag.  Either one that was still available, or one that someone had already picked, but you couldn't open them until all the numbers had been pulled.  I was lucky and picked One Stitch Closer to Nirvana's bag and no one stole it from me.  Yeah, Ollie the Owl is mine.  An awesome little needle minder.  I was so inspired that when I got home from the retreat, I ordered Percy the other needle minder,the pincushion and thread winder items to match Ollie.  He's that adorable!  Thanks Jenny.

Here's Jenny with all her treats and her Daisy Tweet too.  Christie's in the background stitching away.

We were able to bring items that we had finished and show them off.  These are some that I got pictures of. Diane stitched this beautiful Rosewood Manor piece with her own touches.

Here is Evelyn's lion.

And these are works of art other stitchers stitched.

Here are my stitching peeps with our accoutrement's and briefcases. 

 

We had a great time.  A few of us made great headway on items for upcoming classes.  I did not start my Lucet bag stitching but I did finish Peony Hill.  I will take a picture of it soon. Thanks for visiting.

Marsha

I forget where I saw this first but let me just say, I'm not a flag or red, white and blue kinda girl.  Now don't get me wrong, I do fly my flag on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day (when I remember) and I did just take the Long May She Wave class from Ellen Chester but that's about it.  But something about this chart tickled my fancy.  Had to have it. Love the macadamia nut linen that Jan hand dyes herself.  I have too many projects going on now to start this but it's all kitted up and ready to go when I'm ready.

Someday I'll be able to take a good picture of linen and threads.  Here's as good as I can get for now.  36ct Macadamia Nut linen and some of the Weeks threads - Havana, Curry, Bluecoat Red, Blue Jeans, Navy and Whitewash. BTW Karen over at Wasatch Needle Craft is having a sale on Weeks linen and threads 'til Sunday 'cause their price is going up.

In a couple of weeks I'll be going on a stitching retreat.  I can't wait.  Friday night will be a small exchange.  I've had this stitched and finally finished it today.  It will be my offering.  It's a 'Just Nan' needle tweet - Daisy.  I know some of my peeps read this so the cat's out of the bag.  Hope you like it, or you'll know to pick a different bag.  The beaded pins were my own creation.  So easy and so cute.

I wish my blanket stitching was a little more even.  I always think I'm putting the needle the exact same distance as the last stitch but, well, it just isn't so. Sorry to whoever gets this for the blanket stitching.

This past weekend DH and I visited my parents in Pittsburgh.  They are 87 and 84 and still going strong.

Here we are sharing a giggle.  My Mom and I spent the day shopping. We ended at The Quilt Company one of my favorite quilt stores.  I found a project to sew but have to keep it secret for a while.

Buddy went with us and it was the first time my parents got to meet him.  They thought he was cute and well behaved.  He WAS on his best behavior.  They loved Clark and were very sad when he passed.  They were sure I would have a puppy by last Christmas but it was too soon for me.  Funny though, Buddy was born on December 22nd.  Anyway, here's my Mom loving Buddy up and he's in heaven.

He was pretty comfortable.  It was a good weekend.

Marsha

Giveaways and new Mystery SAL

I love to see blogs from around the world.  It keeps us in touch with what other stitcher's are being influenced by and what their delight is. 

In that vein, go see Kitten Stitching.  She's having a giveaway.   This giveaway is complete. Congrats to the winner.

On that note, here is another giveaway that Happiness is cross stitching is having.  So pretty.  You still have time for this one.

Now, if you're interested in a mystery SAL go see iStitchaholic.  Her charts are great, I have quite a few. I signed up, come join in.  I've started mine and will hopefully get it complete to send her a picture by Friday.  It's really delicate and pretty.

It's Daffycat is having a giveaway and it ends tonight.  HURRY OVER!!!

You know I shouldn't be telling you all this because you're going to decrease my chances of winning LOL But, hey, if we're going to bother to blog it's so nice knowing people are reading.

Here's a giveaway from a designer Samplings from a Blue Ribbon Girl.  Take your pick from one of her newest charts!  Get thee there.   This one is over too and there were 3 lucky winners with new charts.

Tree of Life Samplers is new to me and guess what?  She's having a giveaway!!! Go and be a follower and maybe you can win her new Emma Rose, with floss and with linen.  WHAT!!!!  Tree of Life Samplings 

This one is completed also.  I guess I wasn't feeling lucky this time around.

OK, I'm sure there are more out there but these are all from my blog list.  Follow the rules, have fun and maybe I'll have some pictures to share soon and gee, maybe I'll win something! That would be great.

Marsha

OH, I forgot to say for all you Bee lovers out there, have you seen the new Beeskeep Needlefob in the August edition of Gift of Stitching on-line magazine.  It's cute and looks easy to stitch and finish. And if you aren't a subscriber you should be.  It's a great stitchy magazine.

How I spent my weekend

I had a very productive weekend while DH was away in Erie-land at his annual men's party.  I didn't get a thing stitched but did other things to be creative.  Friday night was poker night with my girlfriends. We call it poker night but we actually play all kinds of games.  This particular night we played Scrabble, Buzzwords, poker and Mexican Train. We eat chips and dip and drink refreshing beverages and have a grand 'ol time.

The next morning I was full of energy and began the day by making soap. I had learned a new way of mixing a soap recipe at the Ohio soap makers gathering in April. Instead of waiting for the lye to cool and melting the fats ahead of time, the lye solution is added to the fats as soon as the lye has dissolved.  It shortens the process a lot.    So much so, that I made two batches and then decided since I had 3 molds just go ahead and make a third batch. Here are the first two. One is Bay Rum and the other is Patchouli.  My dear BIL can't decide which he likes better and his supply is almost out so I made both.  I'll keep a few bars back for myself, especially the patchouli.  You either love it or hate it and I LOVE it. 

 

I had a nice surprise in the mailbox.  love the tissue paper

My order from Daisy Cottage Quilting arrived. I love Cinderberry Stitches  and have a hard time finding her patterns in the US.  Daisy Cottage had brought in Natalie's book 'Cotton Floss' and has other Australian designers too.  Here are my latest stash builders.

I've wanted Flat Nat forever and Sharon had one left. 

Of course the problem with Internet shopping is everything else you see on the way to what you first had in mind.  So, here are my other 'found' items

For some reason when I'm in the mood to make soap I'm also in the mood and want to bake.  There's a connection there somewhere,  Recipes, Stirring, Mixing...... something.

So, after cleaning up soap supplies, I had in mind a homemade pizza for my dinner.  Put the dough ingredients in the bread maker and viola.  Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, onions, olive oil and fresh basil, oregano and thyme.  Before...

And after.  It was delicious.

Still feeling creative and and running across my dog biscuit cook book, I decided I should bake a batch of dog biscuits for Buddy and his dog friends.  More ingredients into the bread machine for the dough, then roll it out and bake. 

Buddy loves them.  As my friend says, they are like 'dog crack'.  Well, that was an industrious Saturday.  Sunday was much more relaxed and included lots of clean up and putting things away.  This weekend will be spent at the hospital working - what can I say.  A necessary evil of working in the medical field.  Oh and DH had a great time at his party too.

Marsha

This past Wednesday night was the Queen City Sampler Guild's third Wednesday of the month stitch-in.  There's also a stitch-in the second Monday of every month (except Dec.).  LP The Inspired Stitcher, CM of Indigo Rain, and I were, of course, foolin' around.  See SB behind LP, who has the camera?  You'll see some of her amazing work in a moment.  Anyway, we were going to call our posts Pete and Repeat because we both took similar pictures. 

  

Here are a bunch of stockings that LK has stitched up.  Aren't they cool.  She's an amazing stitcher also and has stitched many of the models at our LNS.  She's a fun person too but DOES NOT WANT ANY PICTURES OF HER ON THE COMPUTER!  We love you anyway LK.

LP stitched this up at a recent stitch-away that she went to in Russelville, KY.  You'll have to visit her blog,  The Inspired Stitcher to read all about it.

PA is another stitcher extroidinaire.  We have a lot of them in the guild.  I consisder myself mediocre compare to these ladies.  Anyway, PA has been to Celebrations in Nashua, NH many times.  She brings back many cool projects.  This is one of her more recent finishes.  Love the colors and her finishing is always great too.

MW is another friend at the guild.  She's been working on this for not that long but she's glad it's done.  It's all over one.  Click on the picture to see it in detail.  MW knits quite a lot also and makes fabulous knitted scarves etc.  I saw her latest WIP Saturday at a Tiara all day stitch in.  That was fun too.

OK, remember I told you to see SB behind LP?  This is her work.  It's an anniversary piece that Catherine Theron designed for our guild last year.  All specialty stitches - no cross stitch.  I didn't want to take too many close ups for the designer's sake.  It's beautiful and intricate.

Have you tried Groupons yet.  I signed up and got a great one for Swatches.  $40 for $80 worth of goods.  Swatches is like Calico Corners and is all decorator fabric.  I knew I'd find something I had to have.  The fabric in the middle was a remnant.  It's textural and I took a close up so you could see.  The other 3 fabrics I got at the Loveland Quilt Studio.  Both places can make one swoon.  The fabrics are delish.

I am going to make this bag and this fabric is perfect for it.  Don't be looking for that post for a while yet. That's the large size and I'm not a giant purse person.  It's gives directions for small, medium and large.  I picked the medium size.  Wish me luck! 

Here's the close up so you can see the specialness.  Makes me happy.  Looks like a good fall type bag.

Marsha

Michigan Vacation

This post is picture heavy but no stitching pictures. There, you've been forewarned.

Rich and I were invited to a cabin in Michigan by his brother and SIL.  It's been in our SIL's family for a long time.  Tucked off the main road with a 1.2 mile driveway, it's a little slice of heaven.  This is the view from the ridge where the cabin is.  Very few cabins are on this lake so it's very quiet and peaceful.  Stars galore at night, loons call to each other, and the weather was perfect. 70's, low humidity, good company, great food. It was a great vacation.

Everyday we took a boat ride on the lake.  Puttered around to see the sights.  One of our favorites were the turtles sunning themselves and swimming in the water. 

There was the main cabin and this was where Rich and I slept - the bunkhouse/bungalow.  There's a girl side and boys side.  The original family had 7 children so they built this for the children.

We took Buddy with us, of course, and he loved every minute.  He wore himself out every day.  One evening he even went in his crate before it was full dark - he was DONE.  Here's his first meeting with a fish. Not quite sure what to make of them.

DSIL brought her faithful companion, Cricket.  He's getting on in years and only wanted a couple boat rides.  He tolerated Buddy which was great.  He's a sweet old boy.

There were a few loons on the lake that would call sometimes during the night.  I loved waking up and hearing them and wondering what they were telling each other.

A few places had beds of lily pads.  This lake had lots of shallow areas and then all of a sudden it would drop off to deep dark green.  It was mentioned that it was thought that these deep areas actually fed into one of the great lakes. Pretty amazing if true.

Buddy really enjoyed the boat rides.

A great blue heron fished on one of the shores.  Our last day, I spotted a beaver swimming.  That was the first I had ever seen a beaver in the wild.  We also saw a bald eagle fly by a couple of times.  A very impressive, LARGE bird.  Very exciting. I also fished for one of the first times ever.  Between Rich and I we caught over a dozen fish.  It was so much fun.  That night we had a very tasty fish fry.  MMMMi

It was a great vacation.  I started a new project on the way up but decided to read on the way home.  I'll have pictures of that later. Here's dusk on our last evening on the lake.  ahhhh..............

Marsha