Back from Annual Retreat

Yes I am back. I could have sent another week with these ladies but reality must rear it's ugly head and I have to come back to work. As always the time spent with this group is so inspiring. The talent and variety makes your head spin. I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked because I have been volunteered to be the activity coordinator. This means I am getting less time to stitch and just relax and look at all the projects but it also means I am having more and more fun with organizing fun games to get members to mingle and win prizes.

This year we had the annual crossword puzzle that had an awesome gift prize. And also a prize for the most creative guesses.

We also had a picture Scavenger hunt. There were 25 picture clues whoever got the most got a prize. And lastly we had 5 small plastic Easter eggs, we would hide them each of the 3 FULL days that we were at the retreat and when they were found each person was able to pick a JBW pattern with a floss inside and a hand-dyed fabric to stitch the pattern on. It was very fun but boy some of those ladies are very competitive....;-)

I was sewing project bags for a week before the retreat and I took those and a few other sewing projects with m to sell. I did quite well of the 20 I took I sold 12 along with 5 previous bags and 4 wallets.The 8 bags I have left I have added to my Etsy account. I will be making more and adding those and I will be accepting custom orders. I have 3 sizes 13X14, 15X16, and 19X16.

There were some amazing projects brought to display.

  I did not get as much stitched as I had planned. To much to see and appreciate, plus hand out prizes, and this year we organized a gift basket for our Retreat Coordinator. She organizes and schedules these retreat all on her own time without compensation so we collected gift certificates and other small gifts and organized them into 1 big presentation. Yes as the activity coordinator I was the 1 collecting it all to give as 1 large present. And I did not get a picture of the final gift but lets just say it was a fabulous collection. We were 33 participants this year with 3 that had to drop out last minute due to medical situations.

I did get sometime with several of my projects. Spring Village, a Nutcracker, and Death by Cross Stitch. I also worked on the 2004 Christmas Tree Counted Canvas pattern. I am going to continue with that until it is finished since I am so close to the end.

 

All in all it was an amazing time. Already planning for next year. How fast can 12 months go?????

Installment 2 of My Blog Contest

Well 2 weeks ago I started this mystery. It is a pattern I created to make into a gift for a friend. I told you all to think outside the box and you all did a great job of that but none of the answers were correct so here is the second hint and a new picture to help with the guessing.

The hint is .......this is not a seasonal design. There is not holiday or season for this pattern. It is generic as far as that goes.  And the picture updates.

 

I also thought you also might like a peek at the pattern and fabric that the winner will recieve. 

So good luck to all that want to participate.

WIPocalypse.....September

Oh the Blood Moon would have been beautiful to see but of all nights we had overcast skies........boo

September Question.....Where do you buy most of your stitching supplies?

Well that is not an easy question, for my specialty threads and some charts I have a LNS that is just 20 minutes away. Terri is fabulous with helping pick just the right color or texture to make my finish wonderful so I always buy what I can from her. For my DMC I do not want to pay more then I have to so Hobby Lobby or Michael's for those and fabric and most charts I will buy from the internet. If 123stitch.com or Patternsonline.com do not have it I am in shock. Both of these companies are fabulous when it comes to customer service. I use a few others but they are just when my regulars are can not help me.

What have I been stitching???

Frank's Family Portrait by Glendon Place is coming on well. As is my HAED Christmas Cottage by Dona Gelsinger

I have also started 3 new projects Friendship Compass by Glendon Place Facebook Group, Warm Winter Wishes by Waxing Moon and a self made pattern that will be a gift for a friend. The last one I can not show you a picture of as I am hosting a contest on my blog that involves that project.

 

I also have 5 finishes.... another of the squares for my sons quilt It is a map of England with an English Nutcracker. I finished the pumpkin canvas I bough from my LNS at one of her trunk shows. The Cottage of the Month "June" by Country Cottage Needleworks and Women who behave by Sue Hillis this is a gift for a friend. And finally Boo from Just Cross Stitch magazine Halloween issue

I plan to make this into a very unique finish....at least I hope it comes out. I have this image in my mind and this week-end I will work on it. Stay tuned for updates. That gets you caught up with my stitching for the last 2 months.

My Blog Contest

I have decided to do a contest to try and boost my Blog. I have a new start and I do not have a picture of the finished stitch. This is a pattern I made myself with suggestions from a couple of other stitchers. And help from a lady (designer) that was nice enough to help with finishing touches. I could not find a pattern that worked for my needs and so I had to do my own designing. I really hope it turns out to look like what I have in my mind.

So the contest......guess the finished design. whoever is able to guess what I am stitching will receive a brand new never been stitched pattern from my favorite designer. I will also supply the fabric, that you can use if you if you want to, to stitch the pattern on.

What do you need to do to enter the contest? All you have to to is become a follower of my blog and post a guess. Easy peezy. I will post a new picture once every 2 weeks with a hint. You can make as many guesses as you like. This is all for fun and to get a few new followers to my blog.

So the first picture and hint

HINT: Think outside of the box. I know what this looks like and it is not the obvious choice, it is not an owl......

Good luck to all of you that choose to join in the fun this is part of my rotation of stitching so I hope I can stay ahead of the guesses and have a new picture for you in 2 weeks.