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!!!

Interview with Teresa

The June small over on the 2012 Year of Smalls blog (Liberty Sewing Pouch by Stacy Nash) was selected and stitched by the lovely and talented Teresa Whisson.  Every month we do an interview with the stitcher who selected the featured small.  I know how I love listening to and reading stitch talk; so I thought I would post this month's interview for you all to see. 

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Q:  What made you choose this month's design?

A: Laura told me to pick  it.  (Editor's note:  Really?  Am I that bossy?  Probably.)

Q:  Could you give us your "craft history?"  For example; when  did you start stitching?  What other crafts do you enjoy?

A:  I  started sewing when I was 8 and I just loved it. My dad would buy my  fabric only after I finished the previous garment. I wish I still had  that discipline!  And I wish my dad would still buy my stash. LOL.

I couldn't wait until I was 16 so I could work at the fabric store.  I  applied on my 16th birthday and was hired on the spot.  I worked there  through high school and college.  

I started cross stitching in about 1980  after I took a class with my sister. I cross-stitched off and on throughout  the years but have been stitching non-stop since about 2000.  I also picked up quilting  along the way and have made over 100 quilts. 

Q:  Would you tell us  some of your favorite stitching designers?

A:  Blackbird Designs and  Prairie schooler are my favorites.

Q:  Tell us about your idea of the  perfect stitching day?
 

A:  I LOVE shopping with my stitching buddies.  Road trips and retreats are the best. Stitching is great, but the  friendships I have made are beyond measure. I adore my stitching buddies
 

Q:   Do you have a stash?  And if so, how do you organize it?

A:  I have  taken over the hall closet (walk-in) for my stash. I have the kits and  charts organized alphabetically!  I also have an Excel spreadsheet  listing every chart and the fabric I have for it (if kitted). There are  over 1000 entries on the chart so I guess I have a pretty nice stash!  

Q:  What is your favorite part of being a stitcher?

A:  See #4 above! (Editor's note:  ME TOO!!!)

It all started with......

It all started with this chart.  Actually, it wasn't the chart, rather it was the finish.  My friend Brenda graciously invited us over to see her stitching room (which is pure heaven!) and an added attraction was seeing her finished pieces all over the house.  Brenda is a long time stitcher and she actually finishes projects, frames them and hangs them up!  (I want to be like her when I grow up!!!)    Anyway, she did the above three charts on 25 count Lugana over one and they stole my heart!  I am serious!  I was having heart palpitations just looking at her wee darling little samplers.  I was hooked and had to try this myself!  Stat!

 

I have been on a Prairie Schooler bandwagon of late (well, always, but recently I have been highly enthusiastic about PS).  I did not have the Garden Sampler chart in my stash, so I thought I would try the 25 over one with this darling Christmas Day chart.

Here is my start!  Isn't it so dear???  I really love stitching over one on evenweave.  Dare I say it?  It is kind of easy (with the right magnification!)

Some of my friends have quite an extensive collection of the PS charts.  Why, oh why did I not just buy every one of them that came out?  Why did I stop stitching for ten years?  What was I thinking??  So, now when I see OOP PS charts I am snapping them up.  Above and below are some new finds.

Moving right along, I saw this darling chart on The Sampler Girl's site......Love it!  I am really hepped up about this summer with the Olympics in London and the Queen's Jubilee.  I hope to see extensive television coverage of both!  I will definitely be stitching The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Sampler this summer.

I had to get this chart to as it features a lovely line from Jane Austen's Emma.  I saw the most recent BBC version recently and it was divine!!!!

Okay, back to the over one stitching!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Mike and I are running away down to the Indy 500 this weekend! I can't wait as it is one of my passions........stitching, reading, music and Indy car racing....those are my love.  I have the feeling we are the only race fans who are planning stops at bookstores all the way down to Indianapolis! 

June 2012 Small

Here is what is going on over at the Year of Smalls blog.....

 Happy Mother's Day!  I thought it would be fun to get this month's small up early on a day that everyone feels celebratory.  


This month's small is Liberty Sewing Pouch by Stacy Nash Primitives!!!!!!  Isn't it wonderful???  Just gorgeous and totally cool!


This small was picked by Teresa and all the pictures on this entry of the finished piece are from her.  She did a great job stitching and fabulous job finishing this piece!  I think all of us will be lined up outside her door to request her services!

 Look how cute the kitting is!!!!

The kit will contain Weeks Dye Works linen in Confederate Grey, plus 7  skeins of DMC floss, plus the pattern.  There are two sizes of linen  available, both 30 and 35 count. Both kits are $25.  If you need Aida, please call or email Cathy at Inspired Needle and she can set you up.

Here is the link to Inspired Needle:  CLICK HERE!

 I love, love, love the designs by Stacy Nash!  You could give me any one of her charts and I would be happy!

 Here are some close-ups of Teresa's fine stitch work!

This is a great project to start the summer with don't you think???

Top of the Bag

Here are the projects that are at the top of my bag......I just received the second of the Prim Sisters project in the mail.  It is adorable and I can't wait to start stitching it!!  As you can see it is by Primitive Betty.  The Prim Sisters club is run by The Country Sampler shop in Wisconsin. 

I recently discovered this amazing bargain and totally great book by La-D-Da!!!  Eight projects in this book that costs about ten dollars!  And every project in the book is great.  Especially the one pictured below.  It is now on my short list.

I started the small project in Rain, Rain, Go Away!  I love her!!

Here is one of the projects I forgot to show you when I was having my Prairie Schooler inventory.  Love it!  I know I have more PS projects started upstairs too.....will have to get them all in one bag.....hmmmmm, one new Vera Bradley bag just to hold PS projects!  Great idea!!!