July - in like a lion!

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Hello Friends!  Here is it July 1st and we have found ourselves in a verifiable heat wave here in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.  The heat reached an all time high of 108 last week!  And, we suffered through the worst storm I've ever seen in my life Friday night.  It was my husband's birthday and we were having dinner out, about 40 minutes from home.  The power went out several times during dinner and the rain and wind were indescribable.  The drive home was like driving through a war zone.  I know many of you, all over the East coast have experienced the same.  Luckily for us, we didn't have any serious property damage and we have electricity but many of our neighbors were not so lucky.  Our new (like they are in the process of moving in) neighbors had a tree fall across their car.  We have tons of limbs and sticks to deal with, but escaped virtually unscathed.  However, we are praying for all of our friends and neighbors who are dealing with much worse..

Now for the Share-A-Stitch report... What a wonderful five day get-away!!  The facility (Meadowbrook Conference Center) in Kingsport TN is just fabulous.   The staff was excellent, the service was spotless and the food was tremendous.  In short, I can't say enough good things about the place.  My roomie and I traveled down mid-week and since only one of us can drive at a time, I stitched until it was my turn to take the wheel.  It was a pleasure to get a few hours of power stitching in on a few small projects.  A couple of hours go so far when you're talking about small projects!

The first is an amulet bag/name tag by GPA (Giulia Punti Antichi).  I've had this kitted up for at least a year and a half.  The beads Giulia has had made to accompany her designs are addictive.  You can click on the photo below to get a better look at the one I've used for the scissors fob.   

The only thing I have left to do on this project is to add the focal bead and tassel to the bottom of the bag.  I can't wait to wear this to our next meeting.

My other car project is a small canvas piece that looks like a piece of stained glass.  I'm in love with everything about it..

It's been a blast just filling in the blocks with whatever new stitch I decide I want to try.  I'm envisioning this on the front of an Ott light carry bag when finished.

As for class, I took studio time in order to get my Monet piece started.  Well, I got it started and that's about all I can say for it.  When I have enough to warrant a photo, I'll share..  It could be awhile..

Per usual, I enjoyed the boutique and bookstore a great deal.  I picked up 5-10 new threads, a couple of pattern books, a couple of needlepoint stitch guides, some slender stretcher bars (which I love!), and a bunch of blank needlepoint canvas.  I have big plans for the canvas (stay tuned...)

All in all, it was a huge success.  The only thing that could have made it better was to have had dinner with my husband on Thursday night, which was our anniversary.  Being the kind soul that he is, he encouraged me to take the trip anyway and sent this gorgeous arrangement in place of actually being together on our special day...

They just got more beautiful by the day...

What a guy... I'm a lucky girl!

Patriot Day 2011

It's been two months since I've posted and considering today's date, I considered not posting, remaining silent in observation.  Then, on the way back from church, I heard someone on the radio comment that the best thing we all can do for our country in these times is to do exactly what you would have done naturally, in rememberance of 9-11.  So, it's Sunday afternoon.  I've worshipped, eaten and now I'll blog while listening to the sounds of football in the background. 

:-)

And, I have two really good reasons to write today.  I actually have not one but two finishes to share!!  Incredible, I know. 

#1)  I have shared before, but now I have all (read that again, slowly.... A.L.L.) the finishing completed.  Since the stitching was finished a while back, it only qualifies as a finish-finish but I couldn't be happier.  Of course, it is the GPA stitching slipper that I began way back when.. and have blogged about a time or two (or four)

scissors case, fob, thread board, tassel and slipper

tufted slipper base

slipper 'rear-end' with carved burgundy button (THANK YOU GIULIA!!!)

felt needle page between slipper layers

You may be able to see the small cording finishing the edges of the slipper top and bottom.  I would be pulling your leg if I told you this was a quick finish.  It was not.  But, it might just be my new favorite stitching set.  Which brings me to my next finish to share..

I started and finished the Quaker pin cube that I've been threatening to start for like EVER.  I filled it with crushed walnut shells so it acts like a paperweight too.  I love Love LOVE it for several reasons but the primary reason is that it is red (and it's three dimensional, and it's Quaker and..)  Don't you simply adore stitching with red thread?  Last week, as I was trying to finish stitching this little pretty and thinking to myself (over and over again) how much I enjoy stitching with red, the Sunday message was about the city of Jericho and Rahab and the red cord that spared her house.  Funny how things just seem to "sync up", sometimes. Maybe I love stitching with red so much because it reminds me of how love is the red thread that flows through everything that is good.   

Quaker pin cube stitched with random overdyed red from stash

Around the house, the table is sporting her fall colours now.  I had the pleasure of having family visit recently so I added the second leaf to the table and two more place settings to make sure everyone had a seat at the table.  It's such a joy to have a table full of family and love...  Don't you agree?

Lately, I've found myself being grateful for everything (large and small) more than normal.  I was even grateful when I discovered that if you press a half melted Milk Dud (because I left them in a hot car by accident) together with a peanut M&M, it turns out to be nearly perfect.  Next time you need a little ooey-gooey perfect party in your mouth, try warming up a Milk Dud -or two- and stick them to a peanut M&M -or two. 

Trust me - it's allllllllll good!!!

And lastly, I leave you with a picture of hope.  It is of a bird house build with love by hubby and just mounted to the tree yesterday.  We hope a couple of happy little lovebirds find it and call it home soon.

So, until next time friends.. hope you enjoy every minute of these beautiful fall days.  Jingle bells will be ringing before we know it!

September Wrap-Up and some comment replies (edited)

(the following post was edited after I realized I had apparently been sleep-typing when I originally wrote it.  Sorry ladies.  I'll try harder next time!)

Good evening friends!  I'm in such a great mood since my horrible work situation has resolved itself.  Well..it didn't actually resolve itself, but now that it's O.V.E.R., my creative juices have been in overdrive.  I'm telling you this so I will be extra mindful to enjoy every minute of the office between now and the next major change.

Does that happen to you?  If your creative power is suppressed for any length of time, does it come back with a vengence?  Mine has.  Yay!

For starters, let's talk about a couple of comments from recent posts.  In all honesty, I almost wet myself when I read Giulia's comment about my her set.  Seriously?!  Giulia, as in the G in GPA, took the time to compliment my work of her design?  Shut. Up.  Okay, so maybe I'm a little star-stuck. Sue me.

I triple-love reading comments from everyone!  It probably is true of all bloggers, but knowing someone has taken time out of their day to share a little friendship/sunshine with me is just like unwrapping a wonderful, warm, fuzzy gift, that is the perfect fit.  :-)  Thank you all for dropping me a line!  Please come again soon.

Moving Along -

Anonymous W (maybe Wendy in VA?) wanted to know more about my tassels.  Here's the secret: 

A good ol' (unused) toothbrush makes all the difference in the world!  You can see from the fuzz that mine is about ready for retirement.  After you make your tassel, you brush, brush, brush the skirt until all the strands are separated.  It is time consuming, but close your eyes and try to pretent that you are 10 again and Barbie has been driving that convertible without a hat and desperately needs all the tangles brushed out of her golden tresses. Then you are going to trim, trim, trim, until the bottom is nice and even.  I like to use a pair of long skinny scissors for the majority of the trimming. (don't know what they are called but they remind me of hair dressers sheers).  Then, when you are getting really close to having it the way you want it, grab your best embroidery scissors and make sure every thread is trimmed.  No matter how well you trim the tassel skirt the first time around, you are going to want to brush and trim your tassel a few times before calling it 'done'.  They will look fuller if you start by brushing the inner most strands first.

I've learned that for my taste, some of my older tassels were simply too skimpy so now I make sure I use enough thread for my tassels to be nice and plump, like me!

I like to make my tassels with the cording coming from the center of the top knot instead of coming out of either side, but I have made them about every whichy way.  These "flop-over" black tassels were fun and easy.  Just lay a skien of floss across a closure, like a tassel, remove paper wrappers and wrap the neck.  Easy peasy.

And as Forrest would say, "that's all I know about that".

Jeanine in Canada writes the Italian Needlework blog.  She is probably, at least partially, to blame for the sad shape of my checkbook lately.  Ms. Jeanine also attended National seminar earlier this month and I was a delighted to meet her in person.  Jeanine asked me to share where my newly acquired Italian stuff will live.   I brought home several pieces of woven linens and a few painted beads.  Until I have a little more time to photograph the other things, I'll show you the largest piece now.

Multi-color table runner:

My newest arrival is the small multi-color table scarf situated between the two lady chairs in the "Drawing Room".

I'd love to tell you more, but I keep falling asleep.  Logging off friends.  More later!

Sunset, 9/29/2010