Stitching Weekend - Day 1

 Last weekend my stitching group went on a retreat....we planned it on December 26th and set it for a weekend in April so that we would have something to look forward to throughout the winter.  Our destination was Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  On our way up we stopped at Lynn's stitch shop in Madison.  We were looking around the shop in a state of frenzy and then Karin heard her name being called...it was fellow blogger Laurie of Corgi Cottage!!!!  She was on a weekend with her guild group and just happened to stop in the shop at the same time we did!  It was so cool!  That is Laurie and Karin pictured above.

 Well, we were in the shop for about 20 minutes when I decreed that we had to have lunch STAT!!!!  I could not concentrate on all of the great charts and the Scarlett Letter trunk show on an empty stomach.  So here is a blurry picture of Patti, Kellie, Karin, Linda and Brenda at Granite City restaurant.  We had a really lovely lunch there.  Apparently I need to learn how to use my camera properly.  I have it set up for close-up stitching pictures and I can't figure out how to set it for regular photos.  Oy!

 Back at Lynn's of Madison now...here is a picture of The Manifesto by The Scarlett Letter.  A couple of us bought the chart....just to study and covet.

 So, our ultimate destination was The Second Story at The Country Sampler.  The Country Sampler is a world class stitching and quilting store with lots of other fun things thrown in.  The second floor is a fabulous apartment that sleeps seven and that is where we spent our weekend.  I always envision having pictures that will tell the story of our weekend exactly as it happened, but there is no way to capture that much joy and giddiness in pictures.  So, over the course of the next several days, I will just show the pictures I have and you will have to imagine how exciting everything was.  As Jenny said while we were in the midst of a shopping frenzy, "I have excitement cramps!" and that is how it was!

Above is a La-D-Da finish by Kellie.  We found the chart at Inspired Needle.  I think it is an older one.  I have never see it before.   Kellie brought it with to show how much better the finish is than the picture of the chart is.  Lucky me, I got the hand-me-down chart in our "free to a good home" exchange!

Here is our retreat project!  The sentiment was perfect for us and it is such a gorgeous piece.  Brenda kitted them up for us at her LNS, Welcome Stitchery.  Isn't that the best???

Karin brought his new Plum Street project to work on.  So beautiful!

 Here we are in all of our glory ensconced in The Second Story!!!!  I did not get Patti in this picture, but she is sitting right next to Kellie.  I was in such a frenzy that my documentarian skills went right out the window.  Here you see Karin at the head of the table, then Linda, Brenda, Jenny, Teresa, Pat and Kellie.  This is the perfect apartment to spend the weekend stitching in!!!!  (not to mention there is a fully stocked stitching/quilting/home accent store right below us!!)

Here is Kellie working on one of her gorgeous projects!  It is May I by All Through the Night.  Here is a link to their website: CLICK HERE!

 Patti finished this Stacy Nash project while we were there.  Love it!!

I saw the shop model of Peace House and went insane for it.  I worked on this piece all weekend.

 Oh, did I tell you??? Kellie is a trained chef!  And she volunteered to make some meals for us!!!!  She thinks it is fun to cook and bake!!!!  Polar opposite of me.  We are a lucky bunch to have her taking care of us!

 Here is Linda going through the stash purchase from day one!!!  We all went a little "ape" if you know what I mean.

Linda, Karin and I were lucky enough to be the last few people to sign up for the Country Sampler Stacy Nash club!!!  Here is the current project.  Who could resist???

 Here is Friday's dinner made by Kellie.  Chicken pot pie and a beautiful salad!!!!!!  Needless to say I am still dreaming about this meal!

 Linda was working on this Tra La La design.  I am in love with this!!!!!

This is the last shot from Friday night.  Pat is working on Mary Edmunson by Pineberry Lane.  This is a super project that I love so!!!

More to come!!!!  I can't tell you how happy this weekend was!  We just laughed, stitched, frenzied and had the best time together.  I am one lucky girl.

Sunday Afternoon - EDITED TO ADD SHERRY AS THE WINNER!

Just sitting around with Mike, watching TV, took a walk, stitching and reading.  Perfect day.  I finished up Salt Box Houses by Little House Needleworks.  Wonderful design.  It is ready to go to the finisher.

I don't think I showed this fabulous finish....I stitched it, but I had it professionally finished.  This is a great old design from Heartstrings Samplery.  I just love the vowels on this piece.  It reminds me of being in grade school.

This is the fabric on the back.  Love it and the big ric rac!!!  This is a lovely addition to my treenware bowl.  I will have to take a pic of the whole bowl.  I need another (bigger) one already!!

This is a Prairie Schooler finish.  Love it!!!  So dear!

Attention!!!!   Chart giveaway time!!!  If you would like to have this chart please leave a comment letting me know.  I will draw a name on Wednesday and mail it out to the winner.  Please make sure I have a way to contact you.  

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS - THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR PICKED SHERRY AS THE WINNER!!!  

Need vs. Want

Last Tuesday was stitch night at Inspired Needle.  I went for the stitching...oh, and one skein of thread I needed to complete a project.  There it is pictured above.  That is all I needed.  That is all I planned on buying.  Hah!  You know being in a stitch store is like being a kid in a candy store (actually it is way better!!!).

I went in for a skein of thread and I left with another project!!!!  I have been drooling over this Jeanette Douglas design for some time and my friend Pat is stitching it in wools so.........I had to do it too!!!  Gorgeous!!!  

Happy Sunday!

Okay, first of all....I need some staging skills!  I was trying to make a quaint arrangement of my finish from yesterday... which is the free chart from BBD called Souvenir de France........I added a card from my Mom and a couple of stamps from my collection.   I need some more practice at this.  Anyway, I was glad to finish this yesterday.  I started it a long time ago.....along the way somehow it got wet and there are some small imperfections because of that but I will leave it as is.   Love this design!

 Catching up on all of the gifts that I received at Christmas; my friend Pat gave me this great mug from Heartstrings Samplery and this darling needle minder. 

 Guess what???  I cleaned up my stitching station.  Here is what it looks like now (how long will this last???).  I must say it makes quite a difference and now I can easily fit my glass of Tab there too.

I was scouring around for things to photograph and came across this darling card my Mom sent me.  It is from an artist named Jonathan Wright.  So cute!!!

Okay, I am off to either continue working on a Christmas ornament or to start a big sampler......oh the possibilities!!!

Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Nashville Market, etc.

 I am so lucky to live near so many great stitching shops!!!  I was able to see the Market nights at Inspired Needle and Tomorrow's Heirlooms.  Both absolutely fabulous shops and, if you can, you must visit both!  Below are some of my new purchases.

I already started the Liberty Eagle pincushion from the new BBD release.  However, I took a picture of the front of the chart! The pincushion design is pictured on the back.  I could just stitch BBD charts for the rest of my life and be happy.  Barb and Alma are geniuses! 

I bought these two new BBD charts too.  Don't know when I will stitch them; but one has to have them to ogle don't you agree????

I did not intend to start another series.  However, did you see the upcoming release for the LHN Christmas village???  It is a train station.  I saw that and I was in!!!!  Love, love, love trains and Christmas time.  My friend Teresa had the idea of stitching all or part of the series in a straight line on one piece of fabric.  Of course, that means I will be doing the same thing.  We got some 30 count Northern Cross fabric to stitch on.  I love the look and feel of this fabric.

That led to kitting up this LHN sheep virtue with the same fabric.  I did not buy the first one in the series; but that may change.

This is not a new chart; but I recently saw it done on linen (instead of perforated paper) on the Inspired Stitcher's blog!!!  Gorgeous!  Click here to see it on her blog.  It was just so cool looking on the linen; had to add this to the stash.

Here is my progress so far on my Santa's village, Poinsettia House.  I also got the next one in the series.  Mrs. Claus' cookie house. 

My friend Brenda has these cool needle minders......whale and spool of thread.  I have admired them for months.  Our friend Teresa went online and found where they are sold in England.....so we all ordered various ones.  These are the two I got.  Love!!!   Here is a link to the shop:  CLICK HERE

Teresa made this amazing scissor keeper for each of us at Christmas.  Isn't it just too, too gorgeous!!!!!!!!!  She included the gorgeous scissors too!!!

All of the pictures up until this one really look cool, crisp, clean and uncluttered don't they????????  Well, here is the real truth.  This is the table next to my stitching seat.  What a mess!  I should really go straighten that up before I start stitching today!!

Hope everyone has a good Sunday and a great week!

Best Books 2012

I posted this yesterday on my book blog; but didn't want anyone to miss it.  I would love to hear what the best book you read last year was!!

 Here is the list of the best books I read in 2012!  This year I am going to start with #1 and go forward from there.  You can click on the title and it will take you to the Amazon.com page for it.

 

1.  What is the What by Dave Eggers.  I read this book at the beginning of last year and the story stays with me to this day.  That is the mark of a great book.  Highly recommended!!!!!

2.  Pure by Julianna Baggott.  Another book that has stayed with me.  Also, this is part one of a trilogy.  Part two just came out.  I am going to re-read Pure first and then read part two.  I liked this even better than Hunger Games (so that is saying a lot).

3.  The Fault in our Stars by John Green.  Wow.  Another one that has some staying power.

4.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  Talk about a page turner!!!!

5.  By the Iowa Sea by Joe Blair.  Amazing.  Could not put it down.  Highly recommended. 

6.  The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison.  Totally fabulously wonderful.

7.  Home Front by Kristin Hannah.  I admit it.  I was a snob and thought Kristin Hannah books were subpar.  But since two of her books on my end of year best lists I have to admit I was wrong. Very wrong.  She writes great characters and stories.  Stories you are swept up in and can't wait to get back to. 

8.   Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  Quite a story.  Great writing.  Very good.

9.  Bloom by Kelle Hampton.  A beautiful book about a family.  

10.  American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar.  Love this book cover.  Great story and writing. 



Would love to hear if you have read any of these and what you think of the list!


Hope 2013 is a great reading year for everyone!

February!

I am back! I just lost my blogging mojo there for awhile; but I think I have recaptured it.  I have been stitching a lot and my recent finishes show that I am still in a Christmas mood.   Above is the BBD ornament from the 2009 Just Cross-Stitch annual magazine.  I saw it done up at my friend Karin's house and I just had to stitch it.

Then I stitched the latest Lizzie Kate ornaments.  Love the colors in these two!

Now I am working on Poinsettia Place by Country Cottage Needleworks.  It is part of a darling series called Santa's Village.  I want to do each one and then have them finished as cubes and set them on the mantle at Christmas.  So cute!!!  So fun to stitch!  There are four designs out so far, but I started with this one as the colors were so much fun!

The latest issue of Antique Needlework and Sampler Quarterly has this beautiful chart featured.  I really want to convert it to wools and stitch it!!  This is something I am going to dream over for awhile before I stitch it!

I am looking forward to a weekend spent hanging out with Mike and then watching the Oscars tomorrow and stitching while watching the red carpet coverage.

I vow to be back soon.  I have missed you all!!!