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?????

Wow June....

Oh boy I did not know time was moving so fast, here it is already June and I only made 1 post last month. I had better intentions then that. Life has a way of screwing up good intentions doesn't it....  :-(

I have been busy stitching and having some fun with my stitching.

These 2 are the FFO's I talked about in my May post.
My friends husband was so happy when I gave him this, even if it was late.

Just like last month I have a few finishes, they are smalls. A pink elephant and a hot air balloon. First pictures of the stitching finish and then of the completed finish and backing fabric.

I have them in this cute little basket on my coffee table. I will be adding more smalls as I go long through out the year.

I also have a new start. Since I finished the snowmen I let myself add a new project. It is another square for my son's quilt. This one will have the Army Crest on it along with a nutcracker. I am working it on white cotton with waste canvas. The canvas is 14 count.

 

My rotation pieces are coming along Christmas Cottage by Dona Gelsinger charted by HAED, Autumn Ala Round by Glendon Place 

Here is my most recent progress on Death by Cross Stitch Sampler from Long Dog Designs. Just let me say I am not trying to disrespect the designer. I do not care to have the alphabets on my piece, it is the reason I do not normally stitch samplers. This one caught my attention and I wanted to work it, but right from the beginning I knew I would be subbing out the square with the letters. I think it has worked out really pretty. The border and R come from a book by Adele Welsby. The Peacock has been in my patterns for years it is only the pattern with no designer info. The rose was just a section of the wreath that surrounded the peacock. Not sure if I should add something more. At this point I like it as it is, maybe once the other portions are complete I will find something else to add. Or maybe not.