Carolyn Pearce's Home Sweet Home Book

April 22, 2014, 9:35 am

≫ Next: Pacific Ocean Retreat and Stitchy Update

≪ Previous: Stitchy Update, RAK, and A Little New Stash

I mentioned a few months ago about reading on Mary Corbet's blog about a shop that was kitting up Carolyn Pearce's Home Sweet Home Embroidered Workbox.

I got on their waiting list on Dec 29, 2013. And it came last week!

It felt like Christmas!

This is the book I am talking about in case you are not familiar with it. Below are photos of the threads and fabrics that came in the kit. The book is not included in the kit.

If you are interested in learning more, contact A Stitching Shop in Denver. They might have a few more kits available. Scroll down on the home page for more info.

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Pacific Ocean Retreat and Stitchy Update

May 6, 2014, 8:32 am

≫ Next: Still Stitching!

≪ Previous: Carolyn Pearce's Home Sweet Home Book

It was time once again for my annual Pacific Ocean retreat.

Here is the view!

The first day we had beautiful sunshine and warm spring weather! The remaining 3 days we had rain and wind. Very typical weather for the west coast :)

Here is our large stitching and dining room. You can see the edge of the round dining tables on the right side of the above photo. We had a lady come from Pennsylvania and one from California. The rest of us were from Washington and Oregon.

We had a charity auction and raised over $700 for a Newborn Care Unit that cares for drug-addicted newborns.

We also had a small sales table and lots of beautiful show and share (of which I forgot to take any photos!)

Here is our little mascot. He is really mascot #2 as Joey, our mascot #1 was back in his room asleep for the night. The red pincushion in the photo was a gift from one of the participants to all of us! Wasn't that a sweet and generous gift?!

P>S>this mascot is stuffed :)

Here is what I worked on over the weekend-a pincushion for an upcoming exchange.

L'Atelier Perdu 2012 My Christmas Stocking-

All over one stitching on 32 ct lambswool linen

I completed the back portion first and the blue star on the right is the start to the front piece.

This is a wool applique wall hanging that I purchased on my Alaskan cruise last fall. It is a birthday gift for my husband and all the blocks are finished and ready to be sewn together and backed.

Little Brooke's Christmas stocking is started!

Another new start by CherryWood Designs-A Baby, A Manger

I saw this one finished at Acorns & Threads in Portland last month. It is a beauty!

The December block to My Woolly Good Year quilt is also finished.

And last, but certainly not least, I worked on Debbie Stiehler's American Patchwork. It is the first time I worked on it since I took the class nearly one year ago :( I still love it!

Work is busy. Two more retreats are coming up in June. Including another one with Meg Hawkey at Crabapple Hill. It will be a busy month.

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Still Stitching!

May 27, 2014, 4:44 pm

≫ Next: Retreat with Northwest Sampler Guild (Picture Heavy)

≪ Previous: Pacific Ocean Retreat and Stitchy Update

Yes, I'm still around and still stitching. It has been a month of TWO's.

Life is still busy with TWO new consignment sellers for my ebay business.

And I have TWO real estate closings this week.

And I'm preparing for TWO retreats in the month of June.

And I have TWO new finishes to share with you-

Finish #1-SAL Sopresa 2012

I would love to sign up for the 2014 SAL but it is 55 euros. The latest exchange rate to dollars is approximately $74-whew! A little too steep for me for a mystery project :) Is anyone signed up for it? I can't wait to see it on someone's blog.

Finish #2-A Baby, A Manger

Cherrywood Studios

I saw this one in person at Acorns & Threads in Portland. It is so adorable finished as a no-sew stand up. It was also a quick finish since I used some 28 ct grey linen from my stash. Sorry for being too lazy to iron it before the photo.

Here is an update on Shepherd's Bush angel stocking for GD#2

I have TWO new starts to share-

New start #1-Shepherd's Bush Fold-pretty pathetic start. I already made a change in the house and put the chimneys down where they belong :) I do love the linen.

New start #2-Gay Ann Rogers Samples

This is the first time I have stitched on linen congress cloth. Try clicking on the photo to get a better look. It should look ~~like~~ similar to this photo below when I'm finished-

Another thing I have been busy with is my local EGA chapter opportunity basket to the GPR seminar being held in Reno next month. Since there is no EGA chapter in Reno, all the participants will be flying or driving in. So I wanted to provide a "basket" that would travel home easily with the winner. Yes, it is assembled and shipped and hopefully will be a large fundraiser for the chapter!

Only one basket, not TWO!

One more TWO to share-

I was so happy to see SANQ thinking "out of the box" this month! And am in love with the half-doll pincushion on the front!

So I rushed right off to order the doll and realized that I had another GPA pattern in my stash that needed a doll. So, I ordered TWO!

Hey, Annette, I hear you are going to stitch the SANQ doll, too! If you build it (a SAL), I will come! :) And a lot of other stitcher's too, I'll bet.

Hope your Memorial Day weekend was fun and relaxing. We stayed home and entertained friends TWICE. And hosted a family birthday party for TWO family members.

(Couldn't resist two more TWO's :)

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Retreat with Northwest Sampler Guild (Picture Heavy)

June 10, 2014, 5:18 pm

≫ Next: Crabapple Hill Summer Retreat

≪ Previous: Still Stitching!

I just returned from the summer retreat in Goldbar, WA with the Northwest Sampler Guild.

Oh, the weather was lovely! And the church camp that we stayed at is located right next to the Wallace Falls state park. So walking trails were easily accessible.

There were 60 ladies from Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Hawaii, and several from Canada who gathered from Thursday-Sunday and admired each other's stitching projects. And got some stitching of our own done, too :)

Some of the highlights-show and share-

Look at the fabric on the one above! It is a pattern called Surrey (I forget the maker)

Acorns & Threads from Portland set up a traveling mini-shop and brought along trunk shows from Rosewood Manor and Erica Michaels

Anne Frazier from Gloriana Threads also joined us and brought seconds of her silk threads!

These photos were after the locusts descended and snapped up a ton of items!

I was able to buy the silk threads to kit up two new projects-

Elizabeth Pin Cushion Doll and Trunk

and

Rosewood Manor

Cornwall Cottage Sampler

I set up and took down the Trash to Treasure room.

Here is what I stitched all weekend on -

Before-

American Patchwork by Debbie Stiehler

After-

I'm starting to feel a finish coming on! This will be a boxtop to a Sudberry House shaker box. There is a scissor fob and a biscornu that goes with this piece. I haven't started either of them.

We had a pincushion exchange and this was the one I received (I forgot to take a photo of the one I made-it was a little 3-D chicken with wool felt comb and beak)

Some new stash-I bought the patterns to make both items below at my LQS-

Now it's back to normal until the next Crabapple Hill retreat :) Have a great week everyone!

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Crabapple Hill Summer Retreat

June 25, 2014, 7:29 pm

≫ Next: Summer Stitching Update

≪ Previous: Retreat with Northwest Sampler Guild (Picture Heavy)

I'm just back from the Summer 2014 Retreat at Crabapple Hill! The weather was perfect and Meg is a fabulous hostess! This is the 3rd retreat I have attended there. And I think it was my favorite.

Here is the exterior of Meg's workshop-

Here is our group-

Here are some pics of different parts of the room-

Meg and her son cooked for us all weekend. Here is an example of one meal-beef kabobs, couscous, melons and sweet Thai sauce. Absolutely yummy!

And here is dessert-ice cream floats and cookies. Yes, Meg made and decorated the cookies!

Delish!

Here is the weekend's project. It is one of four parts to a new quilt by Meg. The measuring tape pin cushion and the needlebook were in our project bag-that green polka dot one on the left upper corner.

Here is another project-a velour needlebook. This one is the example. I didn't even start mine.......yet :)

The instructions to this needlebook are in the picture below-

We also made a beaded thread separator. The rectangular charm is from a vintage hankie. We also made a bracelet (also using measuring tape trim) and some counting pins.

Here is the stash I brought home. A new quilt pattern called Deck the Halls. And the thread pack.

Now for some stitching news, I have 3 finishes!

Finish #1- Bearly Tracking in Alaska wool wallhanging. This is the kit I bought in Alaska and it was a gift to DH for his birthday. He hung it in the bedroom.

Finish #2-American Patchwork by Debbie Stiehler

Finish #3-Scissor Fob to American Patchwork

I also have 3 new starts-

Start #1-American Pin Cushion by Debbie Stiehler

Small that goes with American Patchwork

Start #2-Blackbird Designs Land of the Free

Start #3-Cherrywood Designs Cherrywood Acorn Pincushion

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Summer Stitching Update

July 12, 2014, 11:56 am

≫ Next: Summer Update

≪ Previous: Crabapple Hill Summer Retreat

Happy Belated 4th of July!

We had a quiet night here. And spent the long weekend working outside. My garden is going great guns. I'm not getting as many strawberries as usual. So it's probably time to move the bed. The pea pods, lettuce, and green beans are already coming on and I am busy canning. Here is yesterday's results.

As many of you know I have been working on Crabapple Hill's Gardener's Alphabet quilt. Here is a photo of what it will ~~look like~~ resemble someday :)

Here is an old photo of what some of the blocks looked like after I finished coloring them with crayons and before I stitched them.

Here is what I have finished so far. Please forgive the wrinkles-

The following three blocks are the ones I finished recently-

And I have traced the next four letters I-L-

I also finished the Spring Crabapple Hill retreat project-

And I finished the Summer Crabapple Hill retreat project-

Here is new start #1-Wooden Spool Designs Pear Medley. It was a class at my LQS and Debbie Busby came to teach it. She is a good teacher and her classes are very enjoyable. I think she is coming back for another class in November.

Here is how far I got during the class-

Here is new start #2-Crabapple Hill Sunflower Stitchery Holder

Here is what it should resemble when I finish it-

Then it folds up into a holder with a pocket inside.

That's it for now. Have a great weekend!

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Summer Update

August 2, 2014, 6:01 pm

≫ Next: Summer Weekend in Leavenworth, WA

≪ Previous: Summer Stitching Update

Summer is moving along at a fast pace. And I am not getting as much stitching done as I would like.

My ebay consignment business is keeping me busy. My latest client just filled my car up twice with items to sell. She is a quilter (that's how I met her) but she is a collector of many things. And I'm expecting more stitching items from NY.

Here is another reason why I'm not stitching as much as I'd like to-

This is today's haul from my garden. The strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes and zucchini are not included here. I have canned 62 quarts of green beans, 14 pints of zucchini relish and pickles are next .

I do have one finish to report. This is the biscornu that goes with the American Patchwork Shaker box top and scissor fob I showed in my last post.

Or maybe I should say "kinda" finished as I have to design my own bottom to the biscornu. The photo below shows the extra canvas for me to use. I have a couple of ideas.

Good News!

I finally got the fabric this week to start Elizabeth the Pincushion doll! OK, Annette, count me in on your SAL. Here is a photo of all the items I have been able to put together for her.

Are you thinking that I have enough stitching on my plate right now? You would be absolutely right! But whenever did that stop me???? I got the pincushion doll bit between my teeth and this is what happened.

When I ordered the doll body for Elizabeth, I reminded myself that I had another pincushion doll pattern by Guilia Punti Antichi. Here it is below!

I ordered the little Dutch girl body to go with this pattern and the windmill box with smalls pattern that I already had in my stash. Yes, I have the fabric, hornbook and box too! Doll #2

Oh my, what about the GPA doll pattern that I had in my stash from the Gift of Stitching magazine? Yes, it needed a doll body and a chatelaine (even though she has a thimble holder). Doll #3

Did you know that Elaine at Brier Rose also sells Guilia's pincushion doll patterns? So I got this pattern and doll body along with my order too! Doll #4

And last but certainly not least, Guila has a new pattern out for another gorgeous pincushion doll so here is the doll body and chatelaine for her. No, I don't have the pattern yet, but I MIGHT find something else to work on while I wait!!! :) Doll #5

What else have I been doing? Babysitting grandchildren, working my real estate job, and I went to a local quilt show yesterday. This is what I came home with. A pincushion & ort bag that sits on the ironing board (or couch). I have been planning to make myself one for ages, but why bother for $15? It is stuffed with walnut shells, my favorite.

I also got a few little kits at the stash enhancement stall.

I spent a day working on beading and came up with some scissor fobs. These are the only two I could find at picture time.

Yes, I made myself a Snooty parrots scissor fob as I plan to start the sampler this year (not sure when though). The other scissor fob is a gift to my secret pal in EGA.

That's it for now. I'll try to post more often. It is only a few more posts and I will be at 400 posts on my blog! Then it will be time for a giveaway!

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Summer Weekend in Leavenworth, WA

August 11, 2014, 10:53 pm

≫ Next: Buggy Barns Quilt Classes-picture heavy

≪ Previous: Summer Update

I'm sorry that there is no stitching to report. I have been a little busy and here is one reason why-

Yes, 4 month old little GS#2. His mom just went back to work and I am helping out with his daycare. Just one day a week but it is an exhausting day. When my 9 year old GS#1 was a baby I had a lot more energy.

By the way GS#2 has red hair. DH and I are tickled about it. DH had a full head of red hair when we married 35 years ago. Now he has only a brown fringe around the sides :)

I wanted to tell you a little about this past weekend we spent in Leavenworth, WA. It is NOT the home of the federal prison!

It is a Bavarian-themed village in the mountains of WA state. Since DH is German and plays the accordion, it is the perfect getaway for us. DD#1 and her family came along as well.

This is a look down one end of the main street with a view of a mountain in the background. Do you see the haze? That is smoke from some forest fires in the area. We watched helicopters carrying water back and forth in the mountains all weekend.

We ate lots of good German fare. Schnitzel, spaetzle, red cabbage, bratwurst, etc.

And after our Saturday evening meal we were walking back to our car and what did our ears hear??

Yes, is was a German band called Alpen Folk playing music in the town gazebo. There were polkas and various other songs like Edelweiss from Sound of Music, and a cute little diddy about a famous Austrian actor turned governor :) We stopped and listened until they took a break. DH bought both of their CD's and the music is quite good. We really appreciate the hammer dulcimer because DH's mother used to play one.

There was also an art show going on. And there was a farmer's market on Thursday evening. Horse-drawn carriage rides, too.

And on Sunday morning just before we left for home, out came the "beer wagon"

One other place we visited was a large antique mall in Cashmere, WA called Apple Annies. It was about 12 miles from Leavenworth. Next door in the same building was a restaurant called the 59er Diner. This kitchen vignette was part of the diner décor. Isn't it lovely? Oh, it takes me back.

But this is my favorite photo of the weekend. GS#1 sitting on a stool with a milkshake in his hand. He was great fun and took the store full of "old stuff" in stride. His reward was time in the swimming pool back at our bed and breakfast.

I didn't get a photo of the new Leavenworth Quilt Company quilt store. It just opened in Nov 2013. I spent Friday morning there while the others went horseback riding. Oh, I had more fun than they did!

Now it is back to real life and I put up 16 pints of bread and butter pickles today. I'm also picking out a theme, fabric and threads for a round robin band sampler that will be starting soon with the NW Sampler Guild.

And trying to kit up several of the pincushion dolls.

I have another exciting weekend coming up later this month. I'll keep you posted!

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Buggy Barns Quilt Classes-picture heavy

August 25, 2014, 9:37 am

≫ Next: 3 Finishes!

≪ Previous: Summer Weekend in Leavenworth, WA

I was off to Reardan, WA last Monday for three days of classes sponsored by the Buggy Barn quilt shop. If you have never been there, the store is located over 1 mile down a gravel road!

I couldn't pass up the chance to attend a class by Gail Pan. She designs beautiful embroidery work AND flew all the way here from Australia!

Our Monday class was held in this quaint, traditional church. Very typical of small town USA. The sanctuary inside had stained glass windows and a hand-painted mural.

I love the wooden pews. And you can see a peek of our classroom.

Here is Gail working away on last minute class preparations.

Here is some of Gail's work that she brought with her on display.

This is our project for the day-

Here is my packet. And I brought Gail's new book and another magazine which she graciously signed.

Here we are at the end of a happy, busy day. From l-r: Jennifer, me, Gail, Debbie and Becky.

You can see more beautiful quilt work on the walls. The bright quilt behind Jennifer was by Pat Wys who was teaching on Tuesday in our classroom.

Tuesday and Wednesday was a 2 day class by Crabapple Hill Studio's Meg Hawkey. This makes my 4th class with her this year. (I'm afraid she will think I'm a groupie! :)

Here is our class in the Reardan community center.

This was my place at the table. It was a complete kit.

And here is our project for the day.

Here is what I had finished at the end of the day.

On Wednesday we got two extra projects. One is a needlebook and the other is a bracelet.

Guess who won the wonderful door prize?

Here are all the goodies I got. Meg is a very generous and talented lady. Thanks again, Meg!

The fat quarters, threads and one of the patterns in the door prize were for the quilt below. And I already have one of the blocks finished (upper right). It was the project at the summer Crabapple Hill retreat I attended. Woo, hoo, I love having a head start!

Lastly I want to share a photo of GD#2 who celebrated her first birthday on Thursday. Where does the time go? Here she is with Grandma.

And here she is with her sister and her cousin. The other two had been in the swimming pool.

Have a great week all!

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3 Finishes!

September 3, 2014, 5:44 pm

≫ Next: Giveaway Winner!

≪ Previous: Buggy Barns Quilt Classes-picture heavy

I finished GD#2's Christmas stocking!

Here is what it looked like before-

Here is what it looks like now-

Shepherd's Bush Sadie stocking on called for 18 ct natural linen and stitched using called for threads in perle cotton.

In case you have forgotten, this is GD#1's Christmas stocking (Shepherd's Bush Mary stocking). I added the embellishments and took a new photo. They are both off to the finisher!

Here is Finish #2 WAY before-

Here it is before-

And here it is now!

Crabapple Hill Sunflower Stitchery Folder-

now I just need to finish-finish it.

And last, Finish #3 before-

Here it is now-

Blackbird Designs Land of the Free

From Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine July 2011

It called for all Belle Soie silks. I pulled threads from my stash. It is also on the way to the finisher. And the linen is an overdyed pale yellow scrap in my stash.

In honor of my 400th blog post, I am giving away the magazine that this design is in. It is not in my post title as this is for my faithful followers who read this blog. :) I will also be including a little surprise.

Please leave a comment on this post and I will draw the winner in one week on Sept 10, 2014.

Yes, this giveaway is open to countries outside the USA. Please be a follower or become a follower.

I am feeling the pressure to start 4 new items :) A Christmas biscornu exchange, a Christmas series piece, Elizabeth doll pincushion and the sampler guild band sampler round robin. More news to come!

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Giveaway Winner!

September 10, 2014, 3:29 pm

≫ Next: Three Finishes, Two Starts & Some New Stash

≪ Previous: 3 Finishes!

The winner of my 400th blog post giveaway is #6--

Thoeria!

(I had to take a photo of the random generator on the computer because I couldn't get it to show up otherwise-what a mess! Trust me-it does say 6!)

Congratulations!

I have emailed Thoeria and told her about her win.

And I also promised a "little extra" to the winner.

Here it is-

A Pine Mountain Christmas pillow kit!

Enjoy Thoeria, and thanks to everyone who takes the time to follow and comment on my blog :)

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Three Finishes, Two Starts & Some New Stash

September 23, 2014, 3:26 pm

≫ Next: Four Fresh From the Finisher!

≪ Previous: Giveaway Winner!

I'm back from another weekend at the Pacific Ocean! It was 3 days of stitching, eating, stitching, eating & more stitching!

Here is what I worked on-

Start #1 Jeannette Douglas My Stitching Treasures

This is what it should look like when I'm finished. This project was a gift from a very generous stitching friend and it is turning out beautifully. And yes, the box was included in the gift!

Start #2-Northwest Sampler Guild Huswif Needleroll

This is my band sampler project for the round robin starting on Oct 1st. It's not a typical band sampler, but it is constructed in the same basic style. It is just smaller. I don't think any of the participants will mind a smaller project :)

I already changed the pattern and used my own monogram instead of the sampler guild monogram.

(This was actually started before I left for the weekend. )

Finish #1-Renaissance Designs Eight Candles Glowing

Finish #2-Renaissance Designs Nine Stockings Swirling

These two Christmas pieces are off to the finisher tomorrow. Now I have only 3 more pieces to stitch to complete this series. There is a 13th piece that says Merry Christmas, but I don't have it.

Please email me if you know where I might be able to find it :)

Finish #3-Dinky Dyes & The Cat's Whiskers Winter Wonderland Biscornu

I used a scrap of misc linen from my stash and some Gloriana silk overdye thread-don't know the name (something Garden, I think)

I just need to assemble this one and it is ready for the EGA retreat exchange in Nov.

Now for some new stash-

I received the pre-stitching for this Jeannette Douglas class I'm attending in October. Isn't it adorable?!

And I signed up for Patricks Woods Mr Button's Souvenir Satchel class thru Shining Needle Society. Love this one, too!

I even have a finish-finish to report! I found a frame at a garage sale for this finished piece . It was included for free because....

I bought this sewing machine too! $50 I thought it was a great deal. It is the Singer centennial edition-1851-1951. Is this considered a featherweight? No accessories or case.

It runs great, but I'm thinking about taking it out of the table and using the machine as a decoration in the house???

That's it for now. Have a great week!

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Four Fresh From the Finisher!

September 27, 2014, 4:18 pm

≫ Next: Traveling Treasure Chest Has Arrived!

≪ Previous: Three Finishes, Two Starts & Some New Stash

This needlepoint piece languished in my finishing drawer for over a year. Doesn't it look great as a tote bag? The lining fabric is a small blue print. It is lovely!

Plum Street Samplers

Betsy's House

Finished as a stand up.

Jardin Prive's Joyeux Noel aux Rennes

Also finished as a stand up

The Scarlett House

Maddie Button

Finished as a frame weight.

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Traveling Treasure Chest Has Arrived!

October 11, 2014, 11:07 am

≫ Next: More Stash Enhancement

≪ Previous: Four Fresh From the Finisher!

Thanks to Kim at Wisdom With Needle & Thread-

She is the creative originator of the Traveling Treasure Chest and I was the lucky first recipient!

After much indecision and thought, here are the two patterns I chose from the Treasure Chest-

1. Lorri Birmingham designs Pansy Scissor Fob-a beginner's stumpwork piece

2. Little House Needleworks Chocolate Box

Thank you, Kim!

Now I have added some more mystery items and

the Traveling Treasure Chest is off to Linda of Stitchin With My Furbabies

This was fun :)

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More Stash Enhancement

October 11, 2014, 11:34 am

≫ Next: Stitching Update Finally!

≪ Previous: Traveling Treasure Chest Has Arrived!

Two posts in one day! I think its a record :)

I was tickled to receive this kit from Lois at Elegant Stitch. It is her yearly fundraiser for breast cancer research. Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs collaborated with her on this years project. It is called "By The Numbers". If you are interested, check out Lois'webpage.

2 project bags and an Eiffel tower pinkeep from Barbara over at My Needlework Gallery. They are beautiful and really professionally done. Feel confident when you order from her that you will be getting a quality piece!

Here is my order from Sara Guermani on Etsy. She is the Italian designer of the Spring SAL I finished this year.

My recent ebay stash :)

And an order from 123 Stitch!

OK-time to go stitch. Hopefully some stitching to update next time :)

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Stitching Update Finally!

October 27, 2014, 3:48 pm

≫ Next: Busy November Started with Disneyland!

≪ Previous: More Stash Enhancement

A while back I got an email informing me that the Spokane Falls Sampler Guild had booked Jeannette Douglass to come and teach in October. Of course, I signed up right away and began thinking about what show and tell I would be able to take to class. Well, my one and only Jeannette Douglass piece looked like this-

So, I dug it out and began working on it and now it looks like this!-

Finish #1-My Stitching Treasures

Jeannette Douglass

Sorry for the crappy photo again. I tried resizing it and took another photo with a different camera and they all came out bad. :(

Good news is that I have the box for this design! The entire project including the threads, embellishments and box were a gift from a very generous stitcher! You Know Who You Are-thanks again!

Here is a photo of the two ladies that made the class so fun-Jeannette is on the right and Betsy is the person who booked Jeannette for the guild. Thanks for a great class, Betsy and Jeannette! Betsy is holding a cute little design called Take Time to Cruise from a cruise she went on with Jeannette a few years ago.

Here is the project Jeannette taught to us-

Here is Jeannette's finished model piece-

Here is what I completed-a little biscornu (my first!) and the beginnings of the sampler. Jeannette taught us how to back a biscornu with wool. No need to stitch 2 sides now-yippee!

One of the members of the class-Claudann- brought her completed Treasure Box. She used overdyed linen and it turned out beautifully!

Check out the inside of her box, too. It is lined and look at the smalls-even a Jeannette Douglas wooden thread keeper and some mother of pearl accessories--darling!

Here is part of our class on the second day.

Should we talk about stash enhancement? Probably not (this picture says it all).

Now, for other stitching--

Remember this biscornu that I stitched for an exchange at an upcoming retreat--

well, now I have the makings of two biscornus instead of just one!

Here are the results-Finish #2-on the left is the biscornu for the retreat exchange and I added a ribbon and have the ornament for one of my Christmas exchanges-Finish #3.

I made a boo-boo on the ribbon when I was finishing the biscornu. I put it on at the center point of the top design instead of a corner point. Of course I didn't notice until after it was completely finished. So I had to snip it off and change the position of the ribbon. But it was too late to insert the ribbon in the seam and I'm not satisfied with the way I attached it.

Any ideas?

I signed up for a "Thread Challenge" with my local sampler guild. Each of the participants received an envelope with seven different threads in it. The challenge was to stitch a piece using some of each of the threads. We all got the same exact threads-silks from Gloriana. (There is a green cashmere blend missing from the photo below).

This type of challenge was done several years ago and some members brought examples they had completed from the previous challenge. My goodness, some of them were so amazing! Small and medium sized samplers, boxes, etc.

Trust me-I was no where near that motivated! An ornament would work fine for me. So I found the small red ornament frame in my stash and went to work with my Just Cross Stitch DVD looking for the perfect ornament to fit in it and here it is!

Finish #4-Together At Christmas

Designs from Margaret Lee

2004 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Edition

Of course, I need to finish-finish it, but this project won't be on display until February. So there's plenty of time. It's a great feeling to be ahead on something :)

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Busy November Started with Disneyland!

November 26, 2014, 5:07 pm

≫ Next: Stitching Retreat-Photo Heavy!

≪ Previous: Stitching Update Finally!

Sorry it has been so long since I checked in!

November started with a trip to John Wayne Airport in So. California.

We arrived just as that latest large cold front and windstorms hit the Seattle area.

My cousin was so kind to allow us to stay at her home while we were there. The weather was beautiful the whole week.

Thus embarked an 8 day trip with 5 theme parks to visit.

I will not bore you with a ton of photos, just my favorites.
Here is Disneyland.

Grandson got selected to become a junior Jedi. Here he is practicing against the Star Wars villain Darth Mal.

Darth kept scowling at the really little kids sitting close by (4-6 yrs). I thought they would cry!

We arrived right at the beginning of the Christmas Celebrations and here are a few photos of the street dancing.

My favorite park was California Adventure. My favorite ride was Soarin Over California.

Here is Princess Sofia-taken for my 2 yr old granddaughter who dressed up as Princess Sofia for Halloween.

Lastly, the movie Frozen is VERY big right now in stores in Disneyland, California Adventure and Disney Downtown. This store was called Elsa and Anna.

And yes, there was a beauty salon in the back for little girls to be "transformed" into one of the princesses. Here is one of the them being transformed!

I skipped LEGOLAND and stayed home with my cousin while grandpa, mom and dad went with grandson. Then we all went to Universal Studios (liked the Orlando park better), and lastly was SeaWorld.

More to come!

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Stitching Retreat-Photo Heavy!

November 26, 2014, 8:00 pm

≫ Next: Sampler Guild Christmas Party & Stitching!

≪ Previous: Busy November Started with Disneyland!

I was home 1 1/2 days then it was time to leave for my November stitching retreat!

Here we all are busy, busy, busy!

On Saturday night we drew the winners of the opportunity baskets. There were 5 baskets this year and 5 happy winners (not me though)!

We also had the biscornu exchange on Saturday night. Here are some of them that were made.

This is the one I received-

This is the one I made (on the left) -

There was show and share-

And I got some items back from the finisher-

I actually got some stitching done, too!

Another biscornu for a Christmas exchange-

A pincushion -

Another biscornu from the Northwest Sampler Guild tea in 2011-of course, I had to change the date :)

And some recent stash enhancements from trash to treasure room & silent auctions at retreat, Swan Sampler Guild,and the Attic Needlework shop-

The sampler on the above right was designed for the 10th anniversary of my EGA chapter in 2002 and I found it in the trash to treasure room.

Good grief! My stash enhancement is happening at a much faster rate than my finishes !

I got home on Sunday, just in time to prep for Thanksgiving.

And it's time to list lots of consignment items on ebay. If you're interested in taking a peek, clickHERE. I'll be listing lots of items between now and Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Sampler Guild Christmas Party & Stitching!

December 17, 2014, 12:35 pm

≫ Next: Merry Christmas!

≪ Previous: Stitching Retreat-Photo Heavy!

Busy sewing, stitching and finish-finishing!

Here is the latest-

A no-sew stand-up finish of Cherrywood Studios A Baby, A Manger

My ornament finish of the Northwest Sampler Guild's Thread Challenge.

Designs from Margaret Lee

2004 JCS Ornament Issue

Pagoda pincushion finished from an EGA program.

2010 Sampler Guild Biscornu tuffet (top and bottom) finished with the 2014 date and a beaded edge :)

Debbie Stiehler's American Patchwork actually in the box!

And the American Pincushion biscornu top and bottom-finished with my own variation of Debbie's design on the bottom.

The scissor fob for this set is all that is left and I am working on finish-finishing it now.

Jeannette Douglas My Treasure Box is installed in it's box, too! Now it's time to start the smalls for this one.

Sara Guermani's 2012 SAL is framed and hung.

This is our Northwest Sampler Guild Christmas Party. I was sitting in the back and everyone was watching the ornament exchange.

Here are all the ornaments. I stitched the biscornu on the middle row on the left side. The ornament I received is below.

Show and share included a beautiful biscornu from a member that stitched it with her thread challenge threads!

Another member completed her thread challenge with this tiny sampler.

There is much more still to come before the holiday (including an EGA Christmas party) and I hope to be able to post again soon. But, if I don't, I'd like to thank all my followers and the comments left. They inspire me and I appreciate them so very much.

Have a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

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Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2014, 11:20 am

≫ Next: Goodbye to 2014!

≪ Previous: Sampler Guild Christmas Party & Stitching!

My EGA Christmas party is now officially over. Here are the highlights-

It was Secret Pal reveal day and I found out my Secret Pal was Sharon! No picture but Sharon gave me a bag of my favorite chocolates and miscellaneous stitching goodies-floss organizers, needle cases, 18 ct silver sparkly canvas, special threads & much more!