Return from Park City

Hi All, I'm back from the fabulous Shepherds' Bush Retreat in Park City, UT, and of course wanted to share some of the fun we had.  Even though I took an extra day on either end, the time went way too fast (guess that's another sign of getting old, but let's not go there).


Our first stop of course was "The Shop" in Ogden...also known to many as "Stitcher's Mecca".

Unless you've experienced it in person, it's really hard to describe......the shop is sooooo full of goodies.....it's always hard to know where to look.  Every inch of wall space is literally covered with models......it's really unbelievable !!!  

I think you could spend days just looking at everything !!!

As you can see, it's a REALLY  fun place....at least Jeanette, Teri, and I think so.

This was my view of Paulette most of the week....besides being a wonderful designer, she's a professional photographer, at least in my mind !!  if you want to see really great retreat pics, check out her blog next week !!  I'm sure she'll have her "stuff" up by then.

After an afternoon of Oooohing and Aaaahing , we headed into the mountains to Park City.  Below are a few of the breathtaking views out our condo windows and balcony.

Jeanette (Jeanette Douglas Designs), Paulette (Plum Street Samplers), Pat Ryan and Ann Robbins (R&R Reproductions) and I shared a condo and spent many late nights and early mornings stitching and laughing together.  I loved every minute of it !!!

We couldn't wait to see each other's class pieces....so like little kids on Christmas morning, brought out our pieces, laid them out next to each other and "shreeked" because they all looked sooooo beautiful and really complimented each other.  You can't imagine how nerve wracking it is to not know what anyone else is designing until you get to the Retreat......

Here are the fabulous results !!!

First is Tina's for Shepherds' Bush................

Then Paulette's of Plum Street Sampling.......

Next is Jeanette's from Jeanette Douglas Designs.......

Then Pat and Ann's offering from R&R Reproductions.....

And finally, mine...........

The theme was "Over the River and Through the Woods" and Fall, and as you can see we all had very different interpretations........yet they all worked well together.

Cecile from JABCO also designed an adorable stuffed wool pumpkin with buttons of course, but I didn't get a chance to get a photo.

We all participated in making our own buttons under the watchful eyes of Cecil and Rachael on Friday night and I think I speak for all of us , when I say we have a new appreciation for that skill !!!!!

I've got a few more pictures to share, but my blog page is acting up and I'm afraid I'll lose what I've already done......so I'll try to be back with part 2 tomorrow.......stitch on something you love until then!!

Playing catch up !!

Hi All !!!!  Where has the late summer, early fall gone??  Can't believe we're in the middle of my favorite season, and I hardly feel like I've enjoyed any of it yet !!

I did manage to get the 2 latest installments of my clubs out in a timely manner and will give you a preview .......

The first design is for the old Mill Stitchery Club and would make a lovely place to park your work or display an unframed little piece.

This second design is for the  "Treasure box" for the "Chessie's Heirlooms" club for Tomorrow's Heirlooms.  The little pin pillow fits inside the box or can be used separately.

Now I'm off to pack for Shepherd's Bush Retreat in Park City.  I can tell you already.......it will be a FABULOUS time for all!!   Can't share that piece with you yet......nobody sees anything until the opening night .....but I will post pictures when I return !!  

Here are a few little fall bits I've put out this year.....I've become addicted to "Domes"...... they're so fun to fill !!!

My latest stitching addiction is Paulette's (Plum Street Designs) "Jack's Bash"........it's the perfect fall stitching project !!!!  I'm really loving all the colors she used and thoroughly enjoying every stitch !!!

Well, that's enough rambling for now......I must get packed and ready for tomorrow's travels.  
Until next time, I wish you all a wonderful new fall project to stitch.......busy fingers are happy fingers !!

Shepherds Bush Retreat

Sorry to be late in getting this report out to you, but I've been swamped with orders for the new fall designs and since I've always been taught...business before pleasure......I had to attend to that first. Oh, and by the way, the little book boxes for the "Autumn Sewing Book" design are again available from DCC Crafts...YEA!!!!!

Now, on to the fun stuff!!!!!!  OMG!!!!!! What a Retreat!!!!  Tina and Teri have out done themselves Again!!!!!  I was sooooo happy to be asked back to teach and the whole experience was as good, if not better, then I had remembered!!

I guess I'll just start at the very beginning......Sweet Nancy C picked me up at the airport and I immediately was enveloped in the majesty of the mountains as we drove toward Ogden.

Before going up to Park City, of course we had to stop at cross-stitch Mecca...better known as Shepherds Bush !!!!

Even the entrance just pulls you in to investigate future....."Why do those sheep all have hats on?".......on top of everything else...it's Shepherds Bush's Birthday !!!!!

Of course, as you walk into the entry way......treats galore !!!!

When I first arrived the shop was teaming with customers..... I bidded my time until it cleared out a bit, so I could get a few shots of the sheer "jammed packedness" of cross stitch goodies this shop holds.  It's really quite staggering!!!!

Just choosing designs from the models covering every inch of wall space is overwhelming.

Around every corner, there's another hidden pocket of treasures.

Yes, that is a wall of linen as well as ALL the Christmas stocking assembled in one spot!!!!   Who could choose just one?

After a tiny bit of shopping, it was off to Park City , and the beautiful Canyons Resort!!

They put the designers up in two condos that were absolutely FABULOUS!!!! I got to room with Cece (The Thread Gatherer and Charland & Sydney (Charland Designs) and we had a ball together. Cece brought her espresso machine and I got to play with it all week...they all decided that if this "cross stitch" thing doesn't work out for me, I could start a new career as a Batista!!!   Syd taught us EFT (Emotional Freeing Technique) which works wonders for relieving stress !!  We managed to get a little stitching in each evening between the laughing and gabbing....not much sleep .....but hey...who wants to sleep when there's so much going on!!!!

This was the view from my master suite balcony.

Wednesday night, Teri and Tina took all the teachers out to dinner......a great time to renew old friendships and establish some new ones !!!!

Thursday was registration and "make it and take it" day......everyone one got one of these darling bags and a little booklet that we had all done small motif designs for .  It was fun to see how people chose to arrange the motifs on their bags. It's always amazing to me the see how all of our designs seem to fit together even though we never see them in advance.

Thursday night was the "BIG REVEAL".  The theme this year was "Christmas".   No one had seen any of the projects , including the teachers, so it was a hugh surprise when each of us got up and talked about and showed our design for the first time .  It can be kind of scary, as one after another project is revealed, thinking that yours will be the "ONE" no one cares for.  However, that didn't happen....... every project was unique and wonderful !!!!!

R&R's was "Home of the Holidays" and came with a special thread card painted by Liberty Hill.

Jeannette Douglas's was "Be Merry and Bright" and was stitched in all wool.

Charland did an adorable stitching roll..."Memories of Christmas", which she presented out of a hugh Santa sack, much to the audience's delight!

Paula (Plum Street ) designed a wonderful sampler, "A Yuletide Welcome" and the class project was a tiny pinroll that used motifs from the sampler.

Tina's design, "Three Ships"  was of course "darling" and just as wonderful as everyone had hoped for.

I never did get a picture of my piece, so I'll include the scan that was in the kit.......it's called (surprise, surprise) "Shepherd's Christmas" ........I fell in love with the verse, and the design just evolved from there.

After the "reveal" we all lined by like "celebrities on the red carpet" so everyone could take pictures.  What a "hoot" !!!!!
However, I know, as soon as this retreat is over, I'll be back home ....cleaning cat boxes and doing laundry...a celebrity no more!
You can see a little peek of Cece's project with Teri that they taught on Friday night.  It was a shared stitches piece that consisted of a wool book that Cece had designed appliqued portions of and Teri did a cross stitched linen page that formed a pocket when completed....and the best part was......."elves" had already sewn the books together, so when you finished the applique and cross stitch, you had a COMPLETED PROJECT !!!!!!

These are my teachers pet!!!!  They all did matching fobs and sat in the front of class with them on display.....we had a lot of fun together....they really were a wonderful boost for my ego!!!
Thursday night we also did the "cookie exchange"......each person got a cookie tin and then proceeded to different stations where we made various kinds of "cookies" which all turned out to be some kind of stitching tool......tape measure (pin wheels), marking pins (sprinkles), etc.  It was very clever and Jeannette D and I went around together and were proud to say....we completed all of our cookies !!!!!

 Friday afternoon we had some free time, and Syd, Cece and I took the cable car to the top of the mountain (8100ft).  The views were breathtaking!!!!   Literally!!!!!!

Here are a few views of the classes.......although all these ladies were serious stitchers ..........we did a lot of sharing of crazy stories, cat pictures and laughing at each other!!!! Oh, I mean with each other!

Those "teacher's pets" again, this time with "teacher" as well.

I must say , all of the classes were filled with some of the friendliest ladies I've ever had the pleasure to teach.........not one had a bad word to say all weekend....everyone was very upbeat and enthusiastic and full of lovely complements.  I know a big part of that was due to Tina and Teri......you NEVER saw them without a hugh smile on their face....despite any craziness that went on behind the scenes...and believe me there was lots of behind the scenes craziness!!!


And before we knew it......it was Saturday night and time for the big finale......The Christmas Feast !!!!

The tables were beautifully set , the meal wonderful....very English in flavor, down to the crackers and crazy party hats!!!

We played a rousing game of Christmas Trivia, were entertained by attending husbands who were forced to sing carols for us and just generally laughed, cried and promised we'd all do this again  as soon as possible!!!!
It was a wonderful end to a fabulous retreat and as usual...over much too soon !!!

All the teachers got together for a farewell breakfast  and final hugs before several had to leave on Sunday.

Tina, Teri, Charland, Sydney, Jeannette, and I were able to stay over another day, which we spent just lazing around and unwinding over shopping and wandering about the historic section of Park City.

We shared a final dinner together at "Zooms" which is Robert Redford's restaurant built in the old train depot.......wonderful food and again great company!!!

It was Sydney's birthday, so of course they brought out a special desert for her, complete with the greeting spelled out in chocolate !!!!

And now, I'm back home with a renewed sense of wonder at all the amazing friendships and experiences this love of cross stitch has brought my way......Thank you, thank you, thank you, one and all !!!!!!



P.S.  To see some really grand photos, go the Paula's (Plum Street Samplers)blog......turns out she's a PROFESSIONAL.......and carries around a camera bigger than she is.....who knew?????