HAPPY 4TH !!!!!!!

The deck is done and we're ready to celebrate the 4th !!!!

John built me planter boxes on the outside of the deck and they are filled with herbs that I use for cooking.......it's such fun to run out and snip a little something to add to a salad or sauce.

As you can see, Chessa and Brewster have their own idea of celebrating !!!!

Hope you all have a sparkling Holiday ..........we are all so fortunate to be part of this great country.......WAVE YOUR BANNERS HIGH!!!!!

Grande Old Flag Gathering 2013

WOW !!!!!!!  What a time we all had this year !!

The Grande Old Flag Gathering sponsered by Country Sampler in Spring Green , WI has just ended and I'm still on a soulful high.........it literally was six days of fun, lots of laughter, some tears, great food,lots of work, and most of all a celebration of what women can achieve when they put their minds together !!!

Jeanne and her shop girls worked tirelessly to give all who attended a truly wonderful experience.  Their attention to detail was unbelievable !!
 

The theme this year was the Civil War.........the two quilt teachers design civil war fabric and patterns, and I was thrilled to have a reason to research that period of history.

Above are the teachers.....Carol Hopkins, Me, Paula Barnes, and our host Jeanne Horton.

One of the evenings we spent painting our book boxes for one of my projects and enjoying old fashioned rootbeer floats and smore's.  For a while we all felt like little kids again !!

Here's Carol teaching one of her quilt projects......I never did get a picture of the quilt projects, but I'm sure if you check Jeanne's Blog on the Country Sampler website, she'll have them for you to see.

Here's the whole group....and what a fun group they were!!

Here are the two projects I taught......the sampler was dedicated to the travellers on the undergroung railroad ....and the othe was a little stitching book.

Just a few pictures of some of the food we shared.....this night was a Taste of Wisconsin........

.......and as you can see, even the deserts were artistically displayed.......almost too good to eat....but of course we did!!!

On Saturday our lunch was a lovely lunch of hot prime rib sandwiches with all the fixing and a final send off desert of red velvet cupcakes!!  Just too cute!!

 

 

We all shed a few tears  and a lot of hugs and vowed to see each other again next year.....I know we all left feeling we had made new friends and strengthened old bonds!!

 

WHAT A WEEK !!!

 

Where has the month gone????

Where has the month (and I mean May ) gone ???  Hate to admit it, but I know it's a sign of getting old.  It just seems that time is zooming by and as much as I try dragging my heels, it doesn't seem to help one bit !

We've been expanding our back deck and discovering that knees don't work as well as they used to .  John was just going to put new wood over the top of the old deck....... and I had to open my big mouth and say.......wouldn't it be nice to have it a little bigger ??  Before we knew it, the small project had turned into a hugh project and we were knee deep and sore kneed in the middle of it !!  We ended up having to rip off the entire old deck, add extra footing and foundation beams......which is no easy feat, since our back yard is a steep slope .......

Then the problem is how to remove the existing railing while he works on the addition........

John, of course, was up to that challenge.......he just built a make shift contraption out of his gorilla ladder, chain winch, a length of metal scaffold and a garbage can filled with water as a counter weight.  I think building that was his favorite part of the whole project!!!!

Hopefully next post will be of the finished project !!

In between getting kits made for the Grande Olde Flag Gathering for Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI........I've been working on another reproduction sampler....Janet Reid.....and wanted to share a little sneak peek.

It's all stitched in wool and has really been fun to work on .  I can't wait to introduce her to you......hopefully that will happen at the St Charles Market ....just in time for you to start some fall/winter stitching !!

Until next time........hope you all find time to take a stitch each day !!!

It's FINALLY Spring !!!!!

I think it's FINALLY Spring ........ HURRAH !!!  The Grosbeaks, Orioles, and Finches are all bombarding the feeders and as fast as I put out seed, oranges and grape jelly, it's gone.

Things got a little intense at one point yesterday, when a nosey grosbeak decided to introduce himself to the cats !!!!

Chessa, in particular, carried on quite an extended conversation, and was very put out that I wouldn't let her out on the deck to deal with the bird in person!!!

I've been busy working in the yard, getting all the flower beds cleaned out and adding new mulch before it gets too over grown and or hot!!!!  I love working in the garden this time of year, but as soon as it gets too hot I'm DONE!!!  This year, I actually got everything done before that happened, so now I can sit out on the front porch in the morning with my cappuccino and enjoy the view!!

I've also finished my two projects for the "Grand Olde Flag Gathering" at the Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI.  I know Jeanne has already put up pictures of the little stitch book, so I'm safe to post them here as well.   The last time we talked, she said she could still take a couple more students for the cross stitch portions of the gathering...so if any of you are interested, please contact her for the details.......www.sgcountrysampler.com.........

This project will be completed in class......and if you have time to do the prestitching, you will be able to go home with a totally finished piece!!!!

I'll also give you a sneak peek of the sampler that I just completed....not sure Jeanne wants the whole thing revealed yet, but maybe this will wet your appetite .........

And lastly, here are a few views of some much awaited flowers around the yard and in the woods.

Hope you all are enjoying the same beautiful weather and will find a few minutes to sit outside ....hopefully with stitching in hand......and enjoy the day !!!!!

Farewell Heartland Stitch Camp

Just returned from a wonderful weekend in Excelsior Springs, MO , where the Heartland Stitch Camp held their 20th and last gathering.  It was bittersweet, but they definitely went out with a bang!!!!!  This is the third year it was held at The Elms Resort and Spa which has been newly renovated and as you can see, Spring seemed to be FINALLY in the air!!

I had left Wisconsin, driving thru wind, rain and sleet to get there, and the "change in season " by the time I arrived was unbelievable !!!! 

 This time I got to come as a guest and just "play and stitch" all weekend. We all had such a good time catching up, sharing stories and showing off projects.......and of course, a few tears, as  soon as anyone would mention this being the last camp.....but for the most part it was a truly joyful weekend!!!

Mary and Barb from Old Mill Stitchery in Liberty, MO, set up a wonderful boutique and when we weren't stitching , visiting, or eating, we were shopping!!!!!  Who could ask for  more ??

These are some of the pieces that were brought for "show and tell".............................

......................each one better than the next............

       ..........and the next................................

        ..................and the next!!!!!!!


The rest of these pictures are peeks at the camp projects from the past 20 years................

As usual, the weekend went way too fast............and before I knew it, I was making my way back to Wisconsin, where it's still trying to hold on to winter.........RATS!!!!!!!

My sweet Johnny did have a few daffodils that had managed to poke their heads up in the woods around the house , picked and waiting for me , because he was afraid they might freeze overnight...........and just those few "bright yellow faces" brought the promise of spring into the house......finally!!

Thanks again to all of the wonderful women of Heartland Stitch Camp, for letting me share your final gathering......it truly was a soul soothing weekend!!!

FYI.......I just talked to Jeanne Horton from The Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI............I will be teaching a pair of projects for her "Grande Olde Flag Gathering" there this June........and she mentioned that although the event is filled, she would be willing to fit in a few more people who are interested in the cross stitch only portion of the weekend.
Contact her shop or website for details (sgcountrysampler.com)

Stitchville USA Spring Fling !!!!!!

I'm back from teaching for the fabulous Stitchville USA Spring Fling weekend, and I do believe I can say a fun time was had by ALL !!!!!!!

Anyone who knows Deb Clarke would not be surprised to hear that she put together an outstanding stitching retreat, "class act" that she is........and made sure everyone felt pampered and relaxed, beginning with the delivery of scented candles and treats to each room.........special stitching bags at registration, special presents at each stitcher's spot in the classroom.....a bouquet of fresh tulips on my table in the front of the class, .........and on, and on, and on!!!!

The retreat is held each year at a wonderful conference center in Chaska, MN and includes all meals, which are prepared by gourmet chefs and presented in a style worthy of a 5 star restaurant !!!

Friday started at around 4Pm and was supposed to be just a settling in period but every one was eager to start so we dove in!!!

The Friday evening project was a small stitch book which they had been assigned  prestitching  and much to my amazement , a good 90% of them had finished !!!!

They started in on painting their boxes and worked in shifts.

We took a break at 6PM for dinner (prime rib and seared scallops , perfectly prepared) and and then continued stitching and working on their books until close to 10PM.



Saturday, we finished up the stitch book and I do mean FINISHED.  Most of the ladies were able to mount all the stitched sections and even finished the fobs.  I was really impressed !!!!

The we got started on the main project ......"Springtime of Youth"

I was equally impressed with the amount of work that was accomplished in Saturday's session as well.......these are some serious stitchers !!!!!!!!  Which was not to say that they weren't all chatting and laughing the entire time.

There were tables in the back with models...some of mine, some from the shop, and some from the ladies in class.

 Pat, shared her finished "Abigail Colby's Work Basket"
and all it's accessories !!!! from Primitive Traditions.

It was truly awe inspiring !!!!!  I have my basket and charts sitting about 2ft away......maybe this will be the next project I tackle????

Saturday night was a trip to the "shop"........OMG.........this was my first time and I literally was speechless......it was hard to even know where to look !!  I would definitely recommend a visit if you find yourself in the area .....or even if you don't.....believe me, it's worth the trip!!

Sunday, we all poised for a group picture , which was a hilarious undertaking in itself !!!!!

All in all it was a fabulous weekend and I was sad to leave all these wonderful , crazy spirits I really felt a kindred connection to.  We shared a lot of laughter, a few tears, some tall tales, and most of all a true love of stitching !

Thank you Deb and Deb for creating such a delightful experience for us all !!!!!