I'm Baaaack...(509-510)

Greetings...I'll keep this short and sweet. I have two more finishes and additions to my Stitch Stroll.

1. Red, White and Blue by Lizzie Kate This was a mini kit that came with the 32 count lambswool fabric, blue wool, red/ cream ribbon and button. It also came with a thin piece of twine for trim around the edges, but I elected to leave that off...kind of cheapened the look. Instead I added the blue star ribbon, a recent acquisition from JoAnn's to give a bit more pizazz. I have to say that this piece of lambswool was the nicest linen to work with..very dense and substantial. I remember lambswool always being on the 'flimsy' side, so was very pleased with this and hope to find more.

 Lately,  I've been finishing my pillows/pincushions by sewing around the four edges on my machine, cutting a slit in the backing fabric, stuffing, sewing the slit closed by hand and then covering with a piece of cute linen. I think it makes the outer edges look so much nicer and even...no section of hand sewing in your seam.

2. I stitched this next piece last year hoping ti get it don by Christmas...didn't happen. But here it is now all ready for 2019.....Christmas Eve Ride  by Needle Bling. It's approx. 12 X 12 and I just bought a pillow form. I may have said this before but I HATE stuffing; I know it's a necessary evil but I really, really don't enjoy it!!! Just a simple finish here with a strip of trim that reminded me of snowballs.

 So, that's it...I kept to my short and sweet. Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

And the Winner is......

Congratulations Terri, you are the winner of the Quilting Bee chart!

 
Terri, please e-mail your mailing address and I'll get this off to you. So glad you have a connection to bees and hope you will enjoy stitching it as much as I did.

Stasi
 

Meet Needle Nick and Two New Stroll Additions (506-508)

Greetings from hot as heck Midlothian, VA where I am trying to stay ensconced in my air conditioned home as much as I can. We did venture out to the local farmer's market this morning but.... home again, home again jiggedy jig! This has allowed me to get some stitching and finishing done this week, so I won't complain too much! In fact, we had a bit of a short week as we drove to Wilmington, NC last weekend for a mini reunion of my hubby's family. That side of the family is spread out across the country from Austin/Houston TX to Rockford, IL to Savannah, Ga and a couple of North Carolinians. My brother and sister-in-law- have just bought a retirement home there and it was the perfect area to meet up. We went to Wrightsville Beach and the kids had a ball. I'm not a big picture taker but here are a couple:

Getting ready to rain...can you see it out over the ocean?

The whole gang...good thing my nephew has long arms!

 I got a little stitching done in the car, down and back, but none while there. So A Year of Celebrations June is done, except for the background which I'm saving for our trip To Yellowstone, and I started August. One of the colors in July wasn't working for me, so I skipped over that for the time being. 

After we got home and the laundry was done, I started on some finishing. First up is Thyme to Gather by Hands on Design. I used fabric and threads I had in my stash and added the JABCO button in the top wreath. The wool for the leaf, silver acorn charm and twine came in the mini kit.

Next up is a piece that had been languishing since 2003. Needle Nick was a LE mini kit from Lizzie Kate. I pulled it out in 2018 and took it to a stitch in since it was on a large count fabric (10 count Tula). I used the called for threads but changed out the supplied white basket for a stocking I found at Hobby Lobby the other day. The green Noel banner, bells, red buttons, gold star charms and scissor charm were part of the kit but I added the gold needle in his right hand and the bow at top.

  Cording was suggested for the trim but I had the perfect length...and I mean perfect, I had about 1" left after attaching... of green rat tail cording( not sure why it's called that) which I couched on. I then wrapped that with a burgandy #5 perle cotton.

Then, just in time for the fourth, I finished Holiday Hoopla 4th of July by With Thy Needle and Thread. I stitched it over one on 40 count Iced Cappuccino linen with threads I had on hand. This was not my original finish idea but when I figured it would fit in a Tim Holtz pocket watch, I couldn't resist. I added some red, white and blue beads for fun---easy-peasy finish!!!

I may have another 4th of July finish, but it's going to be close! I will be back tomorrow with the winner of the Quilting Bee chart by The Blue Flower so if you haven't entered, go to my June 12 post and leave a comment with the word "bee" in it. You must also be a follower of my blog. 

I hope you're keeping cool where you are....thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi





 

I'm on a Bit of a Roll...(505)

I'm in a finishing state of Mind....I had to stop by and share my latest finish. I fell in love with this piece when it came out as an exclusive kit from one of the Dyeing to Stitch clubs. I figured I'd patiently wait until it came out as a chart, but a kind friend (thanks Syd) offered to sell me hers. I used the contents of the kit, 36 ct. R&R Patriotic Brew and a combo of GAST, WDW and CC fibers--love the muted shades. Now in all honesty, I loved stitching this...the finishing not so much! It's really hard to get a perfect circle!!! Now I saw recommendations that it worked best to hand stitch inside out, turn and stuff. The actual directions said to whip the folded edges together. I chose to sew mine on the machine inside out, turn and stuff through the bottom, then sewed a piece of holiday trim over the opening after I sewed it shut. I also left a bit more fabric showing past the design and had to add to stars and my initials  so there wasn't a large bare expanse on the back side. All in all,  I am very pleased with how it turned out, but it took a day and a half to complete. So here is  Merry Christmas (505) by Blackbird Designs.

Don't forget to check out my June 12th post for a chance to win the Quilting Bee  chart by The Blue Flower. You just have to leave a comment with the word "bee" in it and be a follower of my blog. The drawing will take place on June 30th...good luck!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

Stroll Addition (501)

I'm swinging by with a quick post to share the results of a couple finishing days. Rich left Tuesday to help my younger daughter out with some issues on their house that they're listing soon.... and I had two free days to myself. I adore my hubby, but sometimes I miss when he traveled for work and I'd have days/evenings (depending on my work schedule) to myself. I'd eat when/what I wanted, watch what I wanted and stitch when I wanted!!! I had never really been alone until my girls were both off to college and was a little anxious at first. But, I grew to like my "alone" time and look forward to it. So okay, I ate more Cincinnati chili than I should have and received some chiding from friends when I admitted to eating creme brulee for dinner one night, but all in all it was enjoyable.

I digress, I'm here to share my latest finish....RJ, Mary and Meg...you may want to pay attention! :) I started this project in 2017 and have been working on it off and on since then. I finally finished Lesson #4 this year and spent the last two days FFOing all the various parts. I changed up the fabric and used 28 count Lambswool linen over one. I also substituted Victorian Motto fibers for the called for threads and mine are a little brighter. I used the called for rick-rack trim and sewed it on after sewing the 'cushions' together. I sewed the trim "flat" over the seams, tacking on both sides at the 'points'. I had bought a neat wooden box with a slide lid at some point for this project but it was too deep and they got lost in it. I was pondering what I could use when my eye caught sight of the goodie box I had received at a Dyeing to Stitch retreat a couple years ago..... and it was perfect!!! So, may I present Summer Schoolhouse Lessons 1,2,3&4 by With Thy Needle and Thread. 

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Retreat Re-Cap, Stitch Stroll Additions (500-, 502-504) and Win Opportunity (if you stick to the end)

Life is Good!!! I don't know where to begin but am going to dive in with my latest news....hard to believe my last post was right after Mother's Day and Father's Day is this weekend!!! If you stick with me to the end, there will be an announcement for an opportunity to win a free chart. Be prepared, this may be a jam packed post! :) 

To begin, I got my Quilting Bee (#500) by The Blue Flower back from the framer. Patti Nicolosi did a fabulous job and I am so excited with the outcome. I had seen the frame, but in the wrong size, at Salty Yarns and Patti was able to source it and custom make to fit my piece. 

 Next is what I've been working on the last few weeks. I am caught up, except for the current section, on the Amethyst Band Sampler SAL. And yes, mine is not purple...I'm a green girl!

Then I've gotten the top and two sides of Carre' a' Abeilles by Jardin Prive' stitched. 

I finished April and started May in the Year of Celebrations series. I stopped filling in the background on May, and will hold off on that and any others I start, until our trip to Yellowstone. I figure it will be a no brainer and space saver to wait and do that while traveling. These were worked on during our drive to visit our younger daughter in NC over Memorial Day. I even had a little creek side stitching time!!!

I was also quietly working on some gifts for friends..two birthday presents and one for a visiting friend. They have been gifted now and I can reveal! :) First up is My Pinkee(502) by Marie Suarez. I had already stitched one of these for me a few years ago, but was lucky to find another on the second hand market. I used banding for the bag instead of linen.

Next up is the thread keep from Blue Elegance Sewing Bag (503) by Mani di Donna. The wooden pieces came with the mini kit.

Last, but not least, is Lankford Memories (504) by The Purple Thread. This was a special kit that Sharon did to honor the Lankford Hotel, which is where we stay when taking classes at Salty Yarns in OCMD.

Front

Back with photo of The Lankford printed on fabric

Inside

Beaded Edging

Finally, I made a new project bag for myself and one as a gift for a friend. I saw this fabric at the Prim Stitchers retreat last year and tracked some down. It is called Save Our Bees by Studio E fabrics. Here is mine:

So that's what I've been doing stitching-wise, but I've also had the pleasure of another stitching retreat. Salty Yarns hosted Betsy Morgan this past weekend and I was lucky enough to take two classes from her, Bee Contained and Tooth Fairy Boxes.  Here are the photos of the projects. Betsy is a fabulous teacher and designer and sadly will be retiring at the end of 2020, but I have been blessed to take a number of her classes, all of which I adore. I will tell you something that Betsy shared with us and that is that Inspirations magazine is coming out with a book of Betsy's designs in the fall. There will be 7 of her past projects and one new one---how exciting is that???

Betsy also announced that I..... yes, little ole me..... was the inspiration for her Bee Contained piece!!! Betsy knows of my love of bees and even has a blurb about it on her chart. I am thrilled and humbled by this honor--thanks Betsy from the bottom of my heart! I'll 'bee' getting to work on that piece soon! 

Here is our goodie box from the weekend, filled with lots of useful items. Sara and Sally always spoil us!!!

I have met many wonderful ladies at these events, who have become my friends (and I have the opportunity to meet new ones...Hi Kelly). We sometimes exchange little "memories" of each other. Here are some of the gifts I received...........Lots of fun "bee" items!

Close up of bee hive button

 And then we have my gift from Paola. Some of you may know Paola, as she travels to the US from Europe to take classes. She and I met in 2011 at Betsy Morgan's Toy Chest class at Salty Yarns. I offered to drive her to the airport, since it was on my way home, and we quickly bonded on that short trip. She is a delight to all that know her and I am proud to call her my dear friend. She made me this fabulous cartonnage box with a silk gauze insert. It opens like a buckle and is AMAZING!!! The precision and "fit" is unbelievable. Thank you so much Paola...I will treasure it always! Oh, and inside, it was filled with beautiful trims and a couple seahorse sewing aids. 

These were the things I gifted to others:

Is this not the cutest needle holder???

Bee needle minder from Rovaris

While there, I was invited to visit Patty Yergey's (Samplers Revisited) house to see her sampler collection. What a feast for the eyes, both reproduction and originals samplers abounded.  Patty had one with bees on it and had reproduced it from the back side where the original colors could be seen; they were pink of all things! Vickie, I know you'll love this!!!

I did some minor stash enhancement at Salty Yarns, a few charts and some fabric. 

The fabric on the left is 46 count...am I nuts??? And thanks to Carol at Stitching Dreams, I got some black fabric to try my hand at. She does the loveliest Prairie Schooler and Little House Needlework ornaments on black fabric over one..again, am I nuts???

 We also made a quick visit to Serendipity Quilt Shop in Dagsboro, DE. I swore to myself I would NOT buy anything, but these three pieces came home with me.

Finally, one day we went to Berlin, MD for lunch and a little antiquing and I found a fun, tiny pincushion shaped like an iron.... it even has a measuring tape that pulls out..and an old Whitman's sampler box from 1976. All the motifs are stitched and of a patriotic nature..Betsy Ross, Independence Hall, the USS Constitution, etc.. It's pretty beat up but I love it!

After this long recounting,  a conversation from a movie/TV show just popped into my mind. I don't recall the who or where but I remember the lines as one person said to another in a hypnotic trance, "you can say no more" and they in turn responded "I can say no more".

Except...in celebration of my #500 Stitch Stroll project, I am going to have a drawing for the Quilting Bee chart. You must be a follower (if you aren't already, please add your name to the list of followers at the bottom left side of my of my posts) and have the word "bee" in your comment. I will draw the name and announce the winner on Sunday, June 30th. Good luck!


Thanks for hanging with me and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi