Let the Stitching Begin....

I took two days off of work to spend the time stitching with friends. We are all gathered at Mama Joan's house and our theme this year is "Under the Sea." Our stitching extravaganza started yesterday and will continue through Saturday. While I was off of work yesterday and today, tomorrow, I have to go back to work. :(

Each year we assemble gift bags for each other; we try to locate things that fit with the theme. Here is what I collected for the girls:



The bottom tray is like a three-part snack dish - it has "sea characters" on it (octopus, turtle, fish, etc.) Has anyone tried these smore flavored goldfish? In the middle section, a quilted pincushion that I made using fishy fabric, a mermaid scissor fob, and some threads (CC Shrimp Cocktail and CC Deep Blue Sea). On the right, some fish shaped soaps (need to keep my stitching buds smelling good, right?)



Here's a closer look at the fobs that I made - everyone has their special color! The "mermaid" is taken from a Country Cottage Needleworks pattern.



And here's a closer look at the quilted pincushions using fishy fabric:



I will post pictures of the gifts that the other girls brought after retreat.

Our task yesterday was to complete the "A Token of Friendship" booklets that we had been stitching for each other all year. We really underestimated the time that it would take to finish these books. Here's the group hard at work:



As of this morning, I have all of my blocks basted to the skirtex and all but two blocks have the lining fabric basted on the back. Today, I will continue with the assembly!



More updates on our retreat to follow in the next few days.

Before I go...check out the cute LHN ornament that I received from Joan from the LHN exchange a small group of us did. Isn't it sweet? The beaded edging is really cool! Thanks Joan!



Gotta run -- the girls are waiting for me!

More to Share

Thanks to those who stopped by and visited my last post. It warms the heart to read your comments. I have a few more finishes to share with you!

Last month, I stitched Lizzie Kate's summer fob, but didn't have time to do the finishing -- here it is:

Now I better dig out the spring fob and get that one finished too!

I also participated in an exchange recently, the theme was LHN. I stitched and finished this little ornament and pincushion/mason jar cover for Marie. Both are stitched on 40ct Iced Cappucino using the called for fibers.

Liberty and Justice
Little House Needleworks
40 ct Iced Cappucino

I've been cleacing the house today and digging around in my stitching stash today. Looking forward to relaxing in the stithcing chair tonight!

Disappearing Act

Sorry, didn't mean to "disappear" for such a long time! Boy, summer sure is flying by fast and before long the kids will be back at school and the leaves will be changing colors. We will be taking my daughter to college in less than two weeks; it's going to be a big change with her not at home!

I've got a few things to share with you. Despite busy days at work, I have still managed to find time for stitching at night.

I finished my blocks for A Token of Friendship (Ackworth). You might recall that a group of us have been working on these squares for the past year. We will all be getting together next week to swap squares and put our books together. Can't wait to see this project finished!

Next up, I finished my pincushion that I started at the Silver Needle retreat! The stitching was done (well, except for the cross stitched eye on the blackbird!) I put the last stitch in it last night and pulled out my finishing instructions and voila! It looks great don't you think?

Birds and Berries Pinkeep
Blackbird Designs (Silver Needle Class project)
30 ct WDW Baby's Breath
CC/GAST Fibers

Here's a side shot of the box so that you can see how we distressed them when we painted, sanded, and waxed them at the retreat.



I also forgot to share with you a pincushion Joan had given me at the retreat. She is always so thoughtful and good about marking the occasion with a stitched momento! (This is from the Autumn Tulip design in the Thank you, Sarah Tobias book by Blackbird Designs.)



And more Blackbird! I started stitching this design when we were down in Tulsa. I thought it would be good to work on there; I wouldn't have to pay such close attention to the pattern since I was using one color of floss! I personalized this with the year my mother was born and then stitched her name and birthdate on the back side. Purple is her favorite color!

Vintage Pincushion
Blackbird Designs (Joyeux Noel book)
R&R 30ct Antique Hydrangea
Belle Soie Elegant Eggplant

I have more pictures to share, but I think I will save them for another time. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a great day!

BBD Part III

I still have many wonderful photos to share with you, I hope you don't mind if I continue to dwell on last weekend's Blackbird event at the Silver Needle!

One of my most favorite parts of an event like this is spending time with other stitchers who have a mutual love for the art of needlework. Ask Joan and she will confirm for you, I spend more time flitting around from table to table visiting with people than I spend on my butt stitching the project. Clearly this explains why Joan's class projects are already finished and mine are not! But I digress...

It's fun meeting other stitchers, especially those who I have met in blogland. I posted a picture of PJStitcher with my very first post. Here are some other blogger friends that we met up with at the retreat:

Here's a picture of Michelle and Karen. Please check out their blogs for more BBD reports!


Here's a picture of me, Edie (no blog, but stalks and comments, LOL!), and Joan.



See what I mean, Edie and Joan are both busy stitching! Me, I'm working the crowd, taking pictures!


One of the fun parts about visiting with others is admiring their finished projects that they brought with them. There was a table of ladies that had completed this 2006 BBD Loose Feathers called Secret Garden. Here's one of the finished boxes, inside and out - isn't it gorgeous?




Another lady had finished this box using this BBD Loose Feathers #33 Keepsake Box and Pinkeep (thanks Carol!)



And check out this beautiful box finish. This was a class project that they taught at Old Mill Stitchery in Liberty, MO. This stitcher did a beautiful on her box - it was so cool!




Finally, here is a pincushion. I believe this design is from the BBD Loose Feathers called Winter Wonderland.



There were other bloggers there who I really enjoyed meeting - wish I had taken even more pictures! It was a wonderful weekend and I hope to do it again soon!

Thanks for stopping by - hope you enjoy your weekend!

Back for Part II

I'm still reminiscing about the fun weekend in Tulsa. In my last post I told you all about Friday's events; but the main event occurred on Saturday!

Joan and I were up bright and early and one of the first ones in the door when the Silver Needle opened at 8am. We weren't going to buy anything on Saturday, having made all of our purchases on Friday night (yeah, right!) The class with the Blackbird glas started at 9am, so we did our speed shopping and headed over to the classroom.

A retreat with Barb and Alma is like a feast for the eyes...they always bring lots of models with them. From a tree adorned with some of their stocking finishes...



....to some of the Anniversaries of the Heart pieces completed and framed...



I took a picture of this finished design; I think it is the Glad Tidings chart - I really like it!



Here is the most current Loose Feathers project - Hedgerow Birds. The bag is much larger than you expect and the linen color is more gold than pictured on the cover of the pattern. It's really a pretty design!



Scattered about on the table were a number of projects that Alma and Barb have completed using stitched fragments...



... or colored copies of designs that they have stitched.



Here's Margaret Harris:



Our main project for this event was this pincushion in an oval box and a needlebook that folds in thirds.




Our main project on Saturday was to paint and wax the boxes. Barb told us that when we were finished with it, the box needed to look worn - like it had traveled across the prairie in a covered wagon! Here's a picture of some waxing and buffing in progress:




My pincushion is not quite finished yet, but it will be soon. For a look at a finished pincushion, check out Joan's post from Sunday, July 18.

Well, I think that's enough for tonight. Believe it or not, I have more to share with you. You will have to wait for Part III...

I Heart Blackbird Designs

I love Blackbird Designs. I love everything about them - their charts, the fabrics and fibers they choose for their designs, their finishing ideas. And then the two women behind Blackbird - Barb and Alma - they are just amazing. So creative, warm, and fun to be around. After seeing them this Spring at the Stitchville retreat, I hoped that I would be able to spend time with them again. Little did I know that it would happen again so soon!

My friend Joan and I were fortunate this past weekend to be able to attend the Blackbird Designs event at the Silver Needle in Tulsa, OK. It was my first trip to the Silver Needle.

The best word I can use to describe how I felt when I walked through their front door - mesmerized. The Vera Bradley collection was to my left - to my right and straight ahead was a multitude of charts, fibers, kits, fabrics, and finishes. I know I had this "kid in a candy store" look on my face for a few seconds! The shop was filled with other anxious retreat goers - it was a hoppin' place! Here's what I enjoyed most about this shop -- all the finished samples. Many projects were stitched over one and were finished into flat folds, boxes, ornaments - it was such a delectable feast for the eyes! I regret now that I did not taking pictures of some of the displays in the shop...

Our retreat started on Friday evening at about 6pm. There were many blogger friends that both Joan and I looked forward to meeting. Here's a picture of me with PJStitcher. Pam does not have a blog, but she frequently comments on blogs. It was a real treat to meet her!


Just to give you an idea as to how popular this event was - take a look at all the stitchers!


There were about 150 stitchers from 20 different states and Canada that came to this event in Tulsa!



After dinner on Friday night, we had the plesure of listening to Barb and Alma share some of their stories with us - how they met, how Blackbird Designs got started, where they get their inspiration from, etc.



Barb and Alma had brought some of their sampler collection with them. These samplers have been found at flea markets and thrift stores and have inspired some of the fabrics and cross stitch patterns. (Sorry, the pictures of Barb and Alma are a little bit fuzzy.)




One of my favorite samplers from their collection was this orphan sampler done with black thread on a white/cream colored fabric. Do you recognize it? This sampler inspired the alphabet sampler design that was used in their first fabric line.



This is the original Sarah Tobias...



And this is the sampler that inspired some of the designs in Joyeux Noel...



And some of the other lovely samplers that they brought along...




Our first afternoon and evening in Tulsa was quite nice. Joan and I went back to our hotel and looked forward to the day ahead. More to come....

Random Act of Kindness

Before you continue, I have to warn you that my pictures for this post are not the greatest. It's late and my pictures are dark. You'll just have to deal with it!

A most special thing happened today - I received this lovely pincushion in the mail from Faye (Caroliner Stitcher). I'm touched that she thought to gift me with this lovely finish. It's adorned with some really cute pins that Faye also made. Just love it. Thanks again Faye!

On the stitching front ...

...two more blocks done for A Token of Friendship. These are Lori's.

...and Lizzie Kate's limited edition summer fob. Just the stitching is done; I still need to finish it. If you want to see the finished product, check out Jill's or Joan's finished fobs.

Counting down...in less than three days I will be at the Silver Needle enjoying a weekend of stitching and stashing and visiting with Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs!

Happy Independence Day!

Hello Dear Friends!

It's Monday, July 5 and I am enjoying an extended weekend with a holiday from work today. Yesterday was Independence Day and we celebrated by grilling burgers and watching fireworks. Of course, there was time for stitching too!

I'm also celebrating another finish! I just loved this design so much that it was hard to put down. This is Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers #3 - Evening Shades the Garden. I've stitched it on WDW 35ct Light Khaki; it's a creamy soft yellow. For the most part, I used the recommended fibers, with one or two changes because I think the dyelots weren't quite right. It's not very big, approximately 5 inches X 6 inches. This one will get framed soon!

Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers #3
Evening Shades the Garden
35Ct WDW Light Khaki
GAST/DMC Fibers

I've also been working more on This is the Day. I had run out of GAST Tomato and picked up another skein the last time I was at my LNS. Now I've run out of Picnic Basket and Pumpkin Pie! I can finish the lettering at the top and do the filling stitches top and bottom until I get more of these other two colors. I also want to find a replacement fiber for GAST Camouflage; it has too much blue in it (IMHO).

Hot, sticky, cloudy, dark -- not a fun day outside today in Minnesota. As I right this blog post it just started to downpour outside! I've been working on various projects around the house and am in the midst of cleaning through my stitching stash and finishing supplies. Couldn't be happier!

Hope you had a nice weekend; thanks for stopping by!