A Break in the HEAT

WOW!!!!!  What a difference a day makes!!  Yesterday we were entertaining friends at our River House, literally baking out on the sandbar in the heat........and this morning I awoke to this welcome breath of cool fresh air.

Even though, it may only be for a day or two, I intend to take full advantage of it.

Barring any unforseen circumstances, I will be planted out in my favorite chair on the front porch....stitching!!!!!  I'm working on some new projects for furture teaching assignments......Shepherds Bush Retreat in September and a stitch retreat for Old Mill Stitchery in late October.........and since I design the "old fashioned "way (hand drawings and charts), I'm free to plunk my butt down and enjoy the outdoors while I work!!!!!

May you all find a chance to do the same!!

Tomorrow's Heirlooms Retreat

Wow...what a wonderful weekend I had the privilege to be part of !!!



Pam and Kim (the dynamite mother daughter team from Tomorrow's Heirlooms) wined and dined and pretty much pampered us the entire weekend.


Lori from La D Da and I were the guest teachers for the weekend and we really had a blast!!!!

 Lori's project, on the right, was a sampler dedicated to her first best friend, Krissy....and mine, on the left, was a summery friendship sampler mounted on a horn book.

As you can see from these photos, the classroom was wonderful...light and bright...with the BEST chairs ever!!!!!
  
 The ladies were all dedicated stitchers and really got quite a bit done on each of the pieces.

 Although, the few photos I managed to take seem to show a group of serious , well behaved women, intent on their needle's task...such was not the case!!  Yes, they did a lot of stitching......but they also did a lot of laughing, story telling, teasing , etc.  We all just enjoyed each other's company and I truly felt blessed to be welcomed into the group...I can think of nothing better than to spend a weekend with women who enjoy just being together...and to also have them all love to stitch as well was HEAVEN!!!!! 

I returned home to find the "babies" curled up together enjoying the AC....I'm thinking , they didn't even realize I was gone!!  Ahhhhhh....next time around I think I'll come back as a cat.

Quick Check in

Just a quick check in as I'm packing for another teaching weekend....this time in Ill at Tomorrow's Heirlooms.


Last week was WAY too hot so I spent it working on new projects indoors with the AC running.  And over the 4th , I gave myself a couple of days to work on other designer's projects and actually got two things finished.  It's always such a feeling of accomplishment to actually finish a project !!!!

 As you can see I love to stitch other designer's work "in season"....I may end up stitching on the same piece for several "seasons", but I figure that eventually everything gets done  and I'm never bored with working on the same piece!!!!  The one above was a favorite because of all the wonderful patriotic sayings...and now it's done...YEAH!!!!

 And this piece is the one Maggie Bonanomi taught at the Grande Olde Flag Gathering last month.  I was able to purchase an extra kit and I became obsessed with getting it finished.  The size was perfect for my kitchen counter.

And last, but not least......Chessa's new napping spot.  For the last two weeks, if I can't find her, I just head up to the office, and there she is , curled up in the bag !


Well, back to work for me.....I'll  report in on the Tomorrow's Heirloom weekend when I get back.  I can't wait...it should be a lot of fun.  It's always so good to spend time with stitchers!!


Until then....hope you too can get a project finished...it's such a GREAT feeling!!

Grande Olde Flag Gathering

I've finally finished another design and have sent it on it's way to my charter , so I can take a few minutes to fill you in on last week's adventure.


You can also see more pictures and details on Jeanne's Blog, www.sgcountrysampler.com,






 It started with a special treat.......3 of the gals who were attending the Gathering had arranged to see the collection of samplers that are owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society on Tuesday morning and they invited me to join them......so I met them near the capital and we had a wonderful time, oohing and aahing over every last detail .  It really is such a privilege to be able to view them up close.  Thanks again, Marie, Torri, and Barb for letting me tag along !!!!

 Tuesday evening the event started with a desert " meet and greet" which included a fabulous homemade strawberry shortcake and many other goodies

 Maggie previewed her main project which got everyone crazy!!!!!


The next day we were all off and running and really never stopped until 4 days later..........wool was cut, boxes were painted, needles were punched, horn books were painted and distressed, crosses were stitched,and linen was dyed , all amid much laughter and a true sense of kinship.

 The above projects were my contribution ......not only did they start the stitching and punching, but they actually did the finishes on the box and horn book....and they all turned out GREAT !!!!!

 Some of the other projects that were done.......Stacy 's Sewing Purse is very hard to see ...but it was wonderful.....it's Jeanne & Reed's barn outside of Spring Green, WI.


And in between all these projects we were fed like queens!!!! 
Jeanne  arranged for a wonderful variety of meals and treats and I couldn't begin to name a favorite......they were ALL wonderful!!!

 Finally, on Saturday, after a private preview of a delightful primitive antique show in town....we ventured out to the farm.......where Maggie had a last little project waiting

 After a lovely lunch......several of the ladies moved their stitching out to the deck to enjoy the view from the back of the barn......it was one of those days that you never wanted to end.  I think, by the end of this Gathering, we all felt like kindred spirits. For me, it was an honor and a privilege to spend time with each and every one of them!!!!!

I know we all returned home with wonderful shared memories and renewed spirits !!!!!

 I also returned home to a hubby laying under the sink ,  installing my new faucet, with the help of Miss Chessa!!!
She never misses a thing.  According to John, she was sound asleep when he started the project....then, at some point, he looked up thru the hole in the sink and saw a little face peering down at him!

Not really a big surprise......she loves to help!!!

Class Projects

Just sent pictures of the class projects I'll be teaching for the Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin next week.......and decided to give them a preview here as well.

The first one is a little punch needle piece...."Stars and Bars"
It gets mounted on a 4" box lid and makes a darling pin keep.

This piece is called "Grande Olde Flag Sampler"  and is mounted on a large horn book which you will distress and finish painting in class.

Jeanne has decided to allow extra kits to be sold.....so if you're interested, contact her at,www.sgcountrysampler.com

I talked to her this AM and she said there were still a few available.......finishing instructions will be included with the horn book.  (I conned John into making them for me again, but there was a limit!!!!!)

That's all for now...I've got to get these kits made up and I'm still working on new designs for upcoming teaching assignments .  It doesn't look like I'll get to stitch much for myself this summer.....but with all the new designs in the works, at least I'll get to STITCH!!!!!

A "Share" and a "Peek"

 Just got these framed pieces back and I had to share them with you....yes, I actually do get to stitch other people's designs!!!!!  These are both old but I still love them.

The piece above is "Women of the Mayflower" from an old Fine Lines magazine and I just had to stitch it since I had relatives on the Mayflower.

 And this one is an old Examples from the Heart titled The Green House Sampler (I think)

 I've been doing a lot of designing lately.....which as you can see really excites Brewster and Chessa...but at least they do stick close by while I'm working......and I much prefer this location to when they drape themselves across my work space ...just to make sure I notice that they're around.

I'll be teaching at the Country Sampler in Spring Green WI in a couple of weeks.....I think June 7-9.......and I told Jeanne I'd give you peek at what I'm working on.

 The piece is patriotic and will be mounted on a primitive horn book which we will finish in class.

Stacy Nash and Maggie Bonanomi will be teaching projects as well...can't wait to see what they come up with.

"It's a Grande Olde Flag Gathering", I'm told, still has a few opening and if you're interested, you can find all the details at, www.sgcountrysampler.com

I know it's going to be a fun weekend.....I hope to see some of you there!!


As soon as I get this piece done.....I've got to start working on more new stuff for other teaching "gigs" later this summer.....no rest for the wicked, I guess...... but I'm not complaining.....teaching in different areas of this great country of ours really give me wonderful inspiration !

Until next time , may you all find a little time to take a stitch or two preferably curled up with your favorite pet....it's just the BEST!!

Heartland Stitch Camp

 Spent the past weekend in "Stitcher's Heaven".......I taught for the Heartland Stitch Camp again which was held in the quaint old town of Excelsior Springs MO, at the beautiful renovated Elms Inn & Spa.  What a TREAT !!!

 The classes were all held in the ball room with a bank of windows on the one side that looked out over the pool and spa area.....not that these dedicated stitchers looked up from their work that often.....but it was a beautiful setting none the less!

 Kathleen Murphy has been organizing this event for 19 years and I was thrilled to be asked back for a second time.  There were 64 in attendance this year and the whole weekend is a combination of stitching, shopping (Old Mill Stitchery sends up a fabulous boutique on site every year) laughing, stitching, eating, relaxing, stitching, renewing friendships, and did I mention stitching?  These women stitched night and day......unbelievable!!

These are a few  of the pieces they brought to be judged and believe me, my pictures don't do them justice.

These two pieces(above) were stitched entirely over one!

The only bad part of this weekend for me ......is having to judge these pieces.  On top of it being an impossible task, comes the knowledge that Kathleen has designed and hand stitched (over one) beautiful ribbons for each of the winners!!
YIKES!!.......but with the help of Mary and Barb from Old Mill Stitchery, decisions were made. 

 After all the awards were handed out , each person that had entered, came up and talked about the piece she'd entered and why.......the stories were fascinating!

These are all the ladies that kept the weekend running flawlessly with all their hard work and still managed to participate in every activity.  Kathleen is on the right in lavender ....and if you look closely you can see the two projects I designed for this event.  They will be published next spring.......probably by the Nashville Market.

The weekend was over much too soon but I want to thank everyone for allowing me to spend time with all of you.....it's such a treat to be with so many wonderful and dedicated stitchers.
I can't help but return home with a renewed spirit and eager to start work on new projects!!

Thank you all.......may you find time to take a stitch or two everyday!!