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?????

March In like a Lion

Well the old expression of March comes in like a Lion and out like a lamb so far has been pretty accurate. I am not complaining because we need this rain so badly and it is nice to have it. So of the rest of you may not agree with this but here in Cali we can use all we can get.

My trip was quite nice. Time with the kids is always fun and we went to alot of places, of course the camera on my phone chose to take a powder and I got zero pictures. I will have the kids send me the ones they took but since I have been home I have not had much time. Work is busy!!!!! Yay and I am getting ready for my stitching retreat. Plus I have family members coming for a visit this week. So lots going on. I did get stitching done on the plane and some time in the evenings while waiting for my son.

I have been doing some sewing during my time back. We are putting together a thank you gift for the lady that organizes our retreat. I was handed the job of gathering the gifts because the lady that started this has had to have foot surgery and is unable to complete the task. I made an envelope project bag instead of putting all the gifts into a basket. I also made a needleminder for her. Both have owls because she is a big fan of owls.

I will hopefully have some pictures of our retreat to share with you in a couple weeks. Both stitching pieces and al the fun we have during out stay.

Happy stitching all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leaving for a week

I am going out to visit my son for a week so thought I would do a quick post or else I will not make 2 posts this month.

As I told you I was working very hard to finish the Army emblem. I succeeded!!! YAYAYAYAYAAAA The blue lines you see are the waste canvas that I used to stitch this. They will be gone as soon as I finish the square.

I then picked up Spring Village. I would like to get it finished so I can use the table runner this year but I have been pulled in so many directions I do not think it will happen.

I am going to be taking a simple project with me on the trip so I have Mary Poppins kitted up. When I get back I will give an update as to how much I was able to accomplish.

I also have made an envelope bag as a gift for our retreat coordinator. I do not want o post at the moment because she may see it on my blog so I will not ruin the surprise until after our retreat in March.
 I received my bag of the month for February. At first I was a bit disappointed because it did not have the traditional hearts but once I got it out and admired it I am quite pleased with the design. It is beautiful and different. The added gift were heart buttons and a heart charm.

We had our monthly stitching meet and as we do every February we had an exchange. It has to be a stitching related gift either supplies or a stitched gift. I gave the bag, magnet, scissors, flosses, pattern, and 1 of my hand dyed fabrics. I received 3 patterns, a needleminder, Thread Heaven, Red Hand dyed floss and note pads with little mice stitching a heart.

Enjoy ladies and I will be back with pictures and stories after my trip.

April Showers

Yes California that wet stuff falling from the sky is rain. We are still getting rain in the state and it is wonderful. After so many years of drought we need all of it. I know there are those out there complaining but not me. I understand you take it when you can get it. Things are still green!!!!!!

After being back from my retreat having to be home and go to work and clean and cook it is just so unfair. Just kidding. It is nice to be home with hubby and the dogs but it was so much fun being waited on with nothing to do but stitch and enjoy the company of other stitchers.

I made a goo bit of progress on my Death by Cross Stitch  Sampler. I did find that some where back on page 3 I am off by 1 square. I am not sure how it happened but it did and the effects were not felt until the middle of page 4. Well there was no way in hell I was going to pull out 1.5 pages so I have made a bit of a creative fudge to the motif there. It is coming along so well and I still am in love with this pattern.

Then on April 5th I received an invitation to a good friends husbands 60th Birthday party. I was not expecting this so I was caught out. I know he fancies himself a bit of a card shark so I went into my stash and found a Zweigert Booklet with a cards motif and I am working them on red 25 count evenweave. Can't recall which evenweave it is but I think it is a Cashel. I am working over 1 the bottom leg is 2 over 1 and the top leg is 1 over 1. I have done it this way as the 2 over 1 on both legs was just so hard to stitch and 1 over 1 was not enough. And FYI for anyone who cwres I hate this over one business. Even with my mag-light I can barely see the holes and it is killing my eyes. I need this to be ready Saturday for the party. I had to do this smaller size as the finish I want o make for him needs it to be smaller. The only other red I had on hand was 14 count. I would have loved that but just to large. My LNS only had this 25 count. As I said I was not expecting to make this. There have been a few nights with blue words flowing from my area of the room. Hubby says very litle the one time he did I about bit his head off so .......I am very close to done on the cards then a small crown and the wording and we are done.

I have also been doing a bit of pattern making on my PC Stitch Program. Our stitching group wants to make a stitched piece for the lady at our LNS. We are going to do a Round Robin with any member that would like to work on it putting in some stitches. It will be her Logo with a small saying over the top.
The other pattern is also going to be a Round Robin and it is for the lady that organizes our yearly retreat. We want her to know how much we appreciate all the time she puts into organizing. This one we are making into a Sampler with as many motifs as we can find of things she likes. It is fun to do this but also very time consuming and frustrating when it does not work out.

That is what I have been up to this month so far. I enjoy your feedback and will see you again soon. Maybe another before the month ends.

Home from my retreat

Well it was 5 glorious days of stitching, laughing, learning and sharing. Once a year I put all my cares in a basket and indulge in the joy of being with like mined stitchers and crafters. These ladies are the best they bring projects to share and all of them love stitching as much as I do. Our organizer is a fantastic gal that works very hard to make our time at the Retreat Center the best time. This year we had 35 ladies that came together to share and enjoy.

The room is so open and bright just off to the right of this room is the dining room. The staff go out of their way to make the best dinners everyday. They make meals for all members even if that means a one off plate for those with allergies or other specialty request....ie vegetarian. Again large open space with a beautiful view and the patio is lovely.

Our rooms are just the basics, it is meant as retreat so no TV or other amenities. But this is not a problem as we all spend our days in the big room stitching or out walking the grounds or out shopping at the local fabric and stitching shops. There is also a Jo-ann's, Michael's and Hobby Lobby. These are all within 30 minutes of our location.  

 

This year one of the attendees gave a class on making what we all dubbed pinch pockets. They are small 3-sided pockets that when you pinch the corners open up so you can place a small item inside. 

 And of course we all brought finished items to share. Some bring a few of our yearly finishes and set them out for all to admire. 

And I was able to find time to put some work in on a few of my WIP's

I was not able to get any work done on my HAED but after I got home I did finish another page, that is 24 done and 25th started.