Tree of Life Samplings Retreat

Last weekend was the Tree of Life Samplings Retreat in Terre Haute, Indiana.  You just can't beat a weekend of stitching with old friends and new!  Above are some new friends, Robin, Jan (Tree of Life Samplings designer and retreat thrower), Mary, Kathy, Candace and Carol.  As you can imagine, the laughter was flowing and the needles were flying!

 

 

 We saw someone else taking their picture with a frame so we had to copy!  Above are Barb and Ellen!   We are lucky cause they stitch with us at Inspired Needle.

 Here is Karin doing a solo pic!    Highly cute.

 Here are Patti, Karin and me. 

This is Ranae and Anna.  Total cuties!

 Anna was working on this cool BBD piece.

 There was an exchange.  Above is the really cool piece that Candace stitched.  Ranae was the lucky winner.

 Jan brought merchandise to the retreat.  Here are some of my scores.

 This is Emma Rose Freedom by Tree of Life Samplings.  I really love this one!

 Jan had hand-dyed fabric for sale. 

 Karin started on the retreat piece!!!  Looks totally gorgeous so far.

 Remember that bag I purchased from the Etsy shop, Dutch Sisters?  I finally broke it out and used it this weekend.  Perfect purse for a stitching weekend.

 Patti finished this great Stacy Nash piece!

 Here is another great design from Jan.  Penny America.

 Here is Emma Rose Christmas, What Love Can Do, and the finished class pieces.

 Ranae made this pin cushion for me!!!!!  Just because!  Isn't it sweet?????  I love, love, love it.  Thanks Ranae....that was really lovely of you.

 Robin stitched this small for the exchange and Ranae won it.  It is a free chart from My Big Toe and I can't wait to stitch it myself. 

 Above and below were some of the chart racks that Jan bought.  Lots and lots of my favorite designers!!!

 On the way to the retreat we stopped in Zionsville, IN in order to visit Persnickety Stitchers.  Was it on our way?  Of course not!  But we will not be deterred when an unexplored stitch shop is within 100 miles!!!!  What a great little town....we had lots of fun looking at stitch stuff, Vera Bradley stuff, antiques and had a great lunch!

Linda and Pat were my Zionsville models!

July 2012 Small

Here is what is happening over on the smalls blog.....

How delightful our next small is!!!  It makes me feel as we are out in a beautiful garden with just a hint of a breeze and the smell of roses in the air!

This lovely design was chosen and stitched (above) by Karin.  Later this month I will share the story of how Karin and I met.  It is the tale of two crazy stitchers!  This month's design is Crown Sampler by Niky's Creations.  And look at the finish that Karin had done for this design.....stunning!   What a great little project to sneak into your bag on a weekend away!

As usual, if you would like to order the whole project kitted up, Cathy at Inspired Needle is ready for you!!!  

The fabric used is Weeks Dye Works Beige and it is available in 30, 35 or 40 count.  There is enough floss in the kit to stitch the design.  The kit price is $29.00 which includes the chart, the fabric and the fibers (and a cute little bag to put them all in!)  Cathy will have a kit with Aida cloth available too; just ask!

So, here we are kicking off the second half of the Year of the Smalls!!  Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm.  So far, it has all been a total blast.  

Hope to hear from lots of you stitching this design (and any of the past ones.  True confession; I just started Small Token by BBD last night!!).

Show and Tell

 

Here are some recent finishes for show and tell!  Above is my dear little piece by Little House Needleworks.  This was a kit but I just stitched this one part of it and had it finished as a little pin cushion.  I love it!

 Here are some finishes from Karin.  She found this fabulous patriotic bowl at  a store called Ross and it was only 4 dollars!!!  Perfect for holding patriotic smalls.  I really want to jump on this bandwagon. 

 Here are some close-ups of the fabulous pieces Karin has stitched!!!

 The Let Us Be Truly Thankful piece is stitched on fabric that is named "Heroic!" 

 

Here is Karin's finish of Bloom.  This design was in a magazine.

 Karin finished Roses in July on 40 count and had it framed in this sweet little frame.

Lastly we have Easter Parade by BBD.  This was purchased by Pat on Ebay.  She found someone who stitched it on 40 count and since she probably was never going to do it on 40 count.....well, you know how that goes.  The cool thing is that the stitcher who made it is from Hungary!!!