Monday, April 28, 2014

Just Returned...

...from a delightful weekend in Indianapolis! I took very few pictures, but couldn't resist these beautiful outdoor photos in Carmel, IN where Spring has already arrived!


















Enjoyed three lovely days of stitching and took classes with Lauren Sauer. These were my first classes with her - what fun! Day One was a stitching day, Day Two we worked on the "Mistress L Sampler" and Day Three we worked on Cottage Conservatory. Both pieces are lovely and I look forward to finishing them!

Best of all though was the time spent with the friends we have made in the Indianapolis area. On Saturday night, a group of us gathered to visit, eat, stitch, and we enjoyed this delicious peach caramel pie!







Wonderful weekend....

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, April 18, 2014

Fob Finished

Yes Joyce, I conquered the remaining nun's stitches and finished my fob!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Over One...Ugh

Ask my friends, there are two things that make me whine...

1) Getting up before 7am, and
2) Stitching over one!

It wasn't so bad. My scissor fob that coordinates with the Quaker Sewing Roll is stitched and ready to finish! Stitched over one on 40 count!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Quaker Sewing Roll Finished

I still need to stitch and finish the fob...the sewing roll turned out great!





The initials represents my Mom and three of my aunts; all talented needle women!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hardanger Finish...

This was a project through one of our local guilds; the design is from Carol Pederson. It was an interesting project. We manipulated the variegated threads to ensure that colors were placed strategically. I made some slight modifications...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Spring Fling 2014 - Part III

And before we all know it, it is Sunday and our weekend of fun is about to end! As you can see, the snow is almost all gone. The sun was shining and it was difficult to take a picture without the reflection.





The project is beautiful and I look forward to stitching it! I made a fair amount of progress on the pocket; not quite enough to share with you yet. Here are some pictures of the model.












Here are some closer shots of the sampler version...also stunning...












Many thanks to Deb C. And Deb S. For a wonderful weekend. And thanks to Cynthia Zittel for making our retreat such a special experience!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Spring Fling 2014 - Part II

Looking out my window Saturday morning there was still quite a bit of snow left from Thursday evening's storm. At least the sky is blue and there's a bit of sunshine. Good day for stitching.






One of the best things about retreat is the projects that are brought for show and tell. Lots of beautiful Drawn Thread designs!
























We spent today working on the main project- the stitcher's pocket. More pictures of that tomorrow...

Look at this empty table....where did the stitchers go?





Shopping at Stitchville of course!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, April 07, 2014

Spring Fling 2014

Another Stitchville Spring Fling has come and gone. We wait with anticipation from one year to the next, and then the weekend comes and is gone in a flash.

Mother Nature tried to interfere this year. We had about 10 inches of snow dumped on us on Thursday night. Everyone arrived safely - the weather did not interfere with our plans. Just to be safe, some of us stayed at the hotel on Thursday night. This was the view outside my window on Friday morning.





After breakfast, we found a spot where we could stitch and visit until the retreat was scheduled to start.





As you can see, the stitchers are ready...





And at 4pm, the doors opened and the retreat began! The tables were lovely, as always.





We were greeted by Deb from Stitchville and our guest of honor was introduced...Cynthia Zittel of The Drawn Thread. She revealed our project for the weekend. We had the option of stitching the sampler or the stitchers pocket.











When I returned to my room at the end of the day there were caramel treats, this sweet bird candle holder and this welcome note! It's these small little details that make this retreat so special!


More tomorrow....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Neither Rain....

...nor Sleet, nor Snow, nor Dark of Night...



...will keep me from Stitchville's Spring Fling!

Decided to stay an extra night and arrived a day early. We are having a major snowstorm in MN and I didn't want to make a snowy commute tomorrow. Enjoyed a nice dinner with many good stitching friends.

And my friends who traveled from Indiana, brought me a piece of pie from the Norske Nook! Delicious!



Looking forward to the weekend...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Spring Fling #4

The 2013 Spring Fling was with Linda Lautenschlager from Chessie and Me!  We were so very excited to meet her and what a delightful weekend of stitching it was!


Each year, the tables are festively decorated.  It's always fun to see what The Deb's are going to come up with.


On Friday night, we were stitching and painting and stitching - we made one of Linda's very popular little boxes!



See how busy everyone is?


The main project for the weekend was this beautiful sampler entitled "Springtime of Youth."


We "oohed" and "aahed" over the models that Linda brought with her for the weekend...



A good time was had by all!  At the end of the weekend we were excited to learn that Cynthia Zittel would be coming for 2014 Spring Fling!  Watch for the full report next week...

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Spring Fling #3

Here we are at Spring Fling in 2012...we anxiously wait to enter the stitching room to see what surprises Stitchville has in store for us.  "The Deb's" from Stitchville are the "gatekeepers!"



Another Canadian designer this year, Eh?  We provided Thea Dueck with a warm Minnesota welcome!


Our comfort level with finishing was challenged (for some of us) with this year's project, but what a sense of accomplishment when it was finished!


Lots of Thea fans in this room; look at them all busily stitching away!


And lots of finished Thea projects were brought for show and share...








We always have a great time!  The weekend goes by so quickly though and then we're waiting in anticipation for next year's retreat!


Next post...2013...