Stash Shopping

Enjoyed my recent visits to the Crosse Stitchery in LaCrosse, WI and House of Stitches in LaPorte, IN.  Whenever I visit a needlework shop I try to do my best to support them.  While online shopping certainly is convenient, it just doesn't compare to seeing the actual stitched models or the linens and threads up close. Sometimes the colors in the pictures are not accurate and I think we need to be able to see the "texture" of the piece.  Well anyway, I try to do my part in ensuring that the remaining brick and mortar businesses remain!

The trip to LaCrosse was especially fun because Ellen Chester had brought many of her finished models with her.  You can see a picture of the table in a previous post on October 28.  We all "oohed" and "aahed" over the assorted smalls she had brought along.  All of her patterns (non-teaching pieces) were available for purchase.  I have many of Ellen's projects in my stash already, but did not have one that I have admired for quite some time...Mrs. Waddelow's Basket and Accessories!

From time to time Ellen will post photos on her blog of finishes from other stitchers - there have been quite a few finishes of Mrs. Waddelow's Huswife - check it out!

Also while in LaCrosse I picked up this pattern from Shakespeare's Peddler:  This ragamuffin sampler was calling my name.  Have any of you stitched it?

Of course there was more - I picked up a few older Drawn Thread and BBD patterns from their clearance bins.  As I mentioned in a previous post.  The Crosse Stitchery was a cute shop, one that I would be delighted to have if I lived in LaCrosse!

The stash shopping at House of Stitches was equally as good!  Since my mission was to connect with Ruth Ann Russell of C Street Samplerworks, I had to purchase some of her patterns (I already own many of them, believe it or not!) --but I did not have these charts:

I also found an older Blackbird Designs chart that isn't always easy to find:

But the real treat was this hand-painted box from Liberty Hill.  I know these are difficult to find and after looking at it up close decided it had to come home with me!  The ruler, threadwinder and envelope for needles were included!

Sadly, I have done very little stitching these last few days.  My hours at work this week are not conducive to getting any stitching done.  Suffice it to say that I am looking forward to the weekend!  Here's a picture of what I have been working on.  In addition to the Hardanger angels that you saw a few posts ago, I have also been working on some crosses...these are going to be gifts for some special people...

Hope that I will have more stitching pictures to share after the weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your day.