Joy

I really wish I could put into words how very special the women in my stitching group are. Here is an example to give you an idea. The above work is "Friends Count" by Mary Garry. It is an out of print chart by a woman who no longer designs. It is a chart that is very hard to get. Jayne, pictured above, had the chart.
Barb, pictured below, wanted to stitch this piece, so Jayne lent her the pattern. Get this, before stitching the piece for herself, Barb stitched it for Jayne. Not only stitched it but personalized it so that we are all represented on the piece.

Below are all of the people who are represented on the piece. Teresa is symbolized by the quilt, I am represented by the book, Cathy is represented by the Inspired Needle itself, Karin is represented by the Dutch tulip, Linda is represented by the crow, Pat is represented by the hypodermic needle (!) as she is a nurse, Patti is a teacher and so she is represented by the ABC and Barb is a cyclist and is represented by the bike!
Barb charted all of those symbols herself. What a beautiful work of art!!!!!!! So you see, my stitching friends are truly one in a million!!!!!!!!!

P.S. The picture of Barb with the Carriage House Samplings 1848 Reproduction Sampler is special too! She knew that as soon as we saw her finished stitching that we would all want that chart!!! She was right, and she was prepared. She had purchased each of us a copy of the chart!!!!

Can't Explain

Even though I have not gone to see a movie in a theater in several months, I do love the whole movie going experience. One thing I can't explain is my love for these studio logos that start everything off. I just think the designs are so cool!


This Columbia Pictures lady is my favorite!
This RKO logo is really old and really cool!

Christmas Stitching

I am so excited!!! I am off to stitch night tonight at Inspired Needle and I am bringing this chart with me. My friend Pat is going to do a conversion from DMC to variegated thread. I am totally in the mood to start this project stat!!!!! I love to stitch on Christmas related projects during this time of year.

Last weekend I went on the 2010 Count Me Inspired stitching retreat sponsored by my incredibly great LNS, Inspired Needle! It was so much fun that I did not take any pictures! For shame! We were there from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. It was like being in a perfect stitching bubble all weekend. We had a great time looking at each other's works in progress and rifling through each other's stitching bags. Our retreat was held at the Farmstead Inn in Shipshewana. Not too close to home and not too far. I even was able to get something on my wish list in town. The new Vera Bradley Kiss and Make Up bag in Twirly Blue. I copied off my friend Karin. She has one in another pattern and uses it to carry her notions in!!! So fun!

Bring 3. Pick 1.

I am so incredibly lucky to have a group of friends who love to cross-stitch. Every time we get together it is like a little slice of heaven. We are all passionate about stitching, new charts, new accessories, old charts, new thread, laughing and being positive and happy.
Recently we were able to celebrate a big birthday for Linda. We gathered at Karin's house and just had a great time. Key words are birthday cake, stash room, and fun.
As we were stitching someone told a story about a group of stitchers who had a great idea. I am stealing that idea.
Here is the scoop: at our December stitching get together at Inspired Needle we are all going to bring 3 projects. They can be works in progress or just a chart that we have but have not started.
Then everyone will vote for one of the three charts for each person. The task then will be to finish that project by the end of 2011! Isn't that so much fun!!!!
I vow to document the day with pictures of all of our choices and the winning projects.
Hence, the title of this post "Bring 3, pick 1!" Half the fun is going through my stash to pick which three projects I bring!!!

Eye Candy

Tomorrow night is stitch night!!!! Can't wait. These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago....above is Teresa with her Gettysburg Address in progress....it really looks good!!!!
Here is Linda's Plum Street Sampler ornament from the current ornament issue. I am sure this is done by now because Linda is a diligent and organized stitcher.
Here is Barb's progress on Swan. I have the feeling this is done also! Can't wait to see it!
This is Jayne's gorgeous Dutch Strawberries! Are you done Jayne?
Above and below are the totally great and cool Tulip Woman and Tulip Man by the Good Huswife as done by Karin. Love, love love these!!!! They are out of print!!! Why!!!!!!??????

Above and below are Teresa's finished class projects from our BBD retreat. Gorgeous!

Above and below are masterpieces stitched by Linda M. Harvest Fairy is on the top and Halloween Fairy is on the bottom. Truly amazing work!!

Above is a shop model of the new BBD ornament....Cathy has the fabric and thread for sale in a little kit. Very good idea.
Above is a shop model in progress. It is a Primitive Needle design and it is stunning!!!
Above and below are some "smalls" made by Debbie. They are breathtaking!!!
Below is another masterpiece by Barb. The Queen's Diamond by The Good Huswife. Another out of print design. Click to make the picture bigger....it is so gorgeous.

You Are Not Alone

Click on this link: Mavis Staples. It will take you to NPR Music. I heard the interview this week on the way to work. I knew about this album and knew I wanted to hear it; but it is even better than I expected. You can listen to two of the songs when you press the link.

This is a new album that was produced by Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and sung by Mavis Staples. Remember that song by The Staple Singers, Respect Yourself? I always loved that.

The songs on this CD are so beautiful, gorgeous and touching! I am hoping to get the whole album this weekend. Here is proof of beauty and goodness in our world.

Happy!

I found these images over at Digital Two for Tuesday which is a most wonderful blog that puts up vintage images for anyone to use in their cardmaking and crafting. These two just struck a chord with me this fine Saturday morning. They made me happy!

Free to a Good Home (edited to add winner)

I was able to purchase this chart by Little House Needleworks at the House of Stitches "garage sale." I already had one at home, but I figured I should get one for someone who might not be so lucky!!!!! Please leave a comment on this post and let me know if you would like this chart. If there is more than one person; I will pick a name on Friday. (My chart did not come with the little red beads.) Please make sure you leave me your email address so I can contact the winner.

WINNER!!!!!!: Thank you all for leaving a comment, as always I wish I had one to send to all of you, but I picked #3 out of the hat. That means Sally wins! Sally, please email me your address. My email is duetabode@comcast.net.

Three Posts in One!

I have been having some busy and FUN days lately!!! Saturday, August 14th was a very exciting day!!!! Seven stitchers went to LaPorte, Indiana to visit the great House of Stitches!!!! They were having a "garage sale" where ladies brought charts and stitching supplies they no longer wanted and we were able to buy stuff for a song!

Above is a part of our group right before we went into action!!!! Left to right is Barb, Linda, Jayne and me. Missing from the picture are the photographer, Karin, and Teresa and Pat who beat us there and were already inside casing the joint!!!!!
Here we are at the wall-o-linen!!!!! It was fun to see all the different counts and colors and manufacturers.
Every single one of us bought the same chart by C Street Samplerworks. Here are the threads that are called for...great and luscious colors!!!!! We are calling it our "class project." It is the Quaker Medallion Sampler. The best thing about it, aside from its amazing beauty, is that the designer is a woman who lives in LaPorte, Indiana! We heard she was in the shop when we were there; but found out too late to gush over her and tell her what a genius she is!!!!! Here is a link to the chart we all bought......CLICK HERE.........
These are some shots around the shop........makes you crazy doesn't it???
Below is a darling design by Prairie Moon....I think three of us bought that one. One of the fun and hilarious things about us all shopping together or stitching together at Inspired Needle is that we are always finding a great chart and then there is a run on it!!!! Our friend, Barb, is usually the leader of the pack in this regard. She can find the most gorgeous charts!!! My current project is one that she pointed me in the direction of. (will post pictures of the charts I got later this week!)
We truly had a perfect day!!!!!! Even topped it off with ice cream at the end!
Post Number Two: My Mom's Birthday!!!! August 15, 2010 is always a special day as it is my Mom's birthday. This year I went over to her house so we could stitch and hang out. The book above was part of her birthday present. It is a quilt book by Blackbird Designs; but there is so much more than quilting contained within. There are recipes and lots of projects and even some cross-stitch. Even if you don't quilt I can highly recommend this book. I had it at my house for about a month before my Mom's birthday and I must have looked at it 100 times. Great inspiration!
Above is a mix of some of the stash I got in LaPorte the day before and some of my Mom's birthday presents.
Above is one of the old postcards my Mom has in her collection. Can you say darling?????
Post #3: Last night was stitch night at Inspired Needle (first and third Tuesdays of each month).........Above and below are pieces recently finished by Barb and the frames they are going into. Love them!!!
Barb got her acorns back from the framer! Perfect!!!! I so want to find a perfect little frame and put something in it!!!!
Karin finished up Shepard's Bush Quaker Heart and it is such a wonderful little piece!!!!!!
Barb had "A Weeping and a Blessing" framed and it was ready for pick-up last night. Love the gold fillet around the piece!!
Linda finished Bluebird by LHN and it is just darling!!!! This is a definite must stitch!
And the fun is not over!!!!! We are getting together to stitch this Saturday too!!!!

I am just so happy to be part of a wonderful group of women who are so friendly, helpful, giving, funny, smart and supportive! Lucky!!!!!!!!