Etc...etc....etc.

Sorry...couldn't resist that line from a favorite musical, The King and I.

So, to continue with my last post.As you can see, I had a fabulous time at Salty Yarns. Betsy is a wonderful teacher and the gang at The Lankford/Salty Yarns are most hospitable!

While there, Sally was celebrating her birthday and I try to gift her with a stitched piece. This year was no different and I actually managed to get two pieces completed. They are both from Tools of the Trade Part 1 by Blackberry Lane Designs. She has done a series of (I think it's up to 5) charts with coordinating smalls. I stitched the pin keeper on 28 count Light Mocha cashel (over one) with Gloranna silk (cranberry).

front

back

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I also stitched the pin cushion but instead of finishing it in a salt cellar, I had found an adorable chick egg cup. Since Sally is always calling us her "peeps", I thought it was quite fitting! I stitched that on 30 count R&R 18th Century Red with Kreinik Silk Mori 8000. I had to be a little creative with the finishing since the cup was deeper than a salt cellar. I came up with the idea to fill the cup with cranberry seed beads.

top of pincushion

Peep

Next up is my gift from my roomie, Debbie. She gave me a very fitting box filled with all manner of goodies: L'Occitane soap and hand cream, a beeswax beehive, antique spool, sea shell candy, fun sticky notes, decorative Kleenex and paper clips shaped like glasses!!!How fun!!! Thanks Deb!

Contents of gift box

Since my dear friend , Paola, was coming to this event, we usually exchange a gift..or two. I had gotten her a lovely wood turned, acorn shaped needle holder from a guy selling on Facebook and a sweet needle book from In the Company of Friends; sadly I forgot to photograph them.  This is what I made her. I had seen some wonderful "bee" fabric on line that was just calling to be made into a project bag. I used a pattern from a kit I had bought years ago from Merry Cox called A Token of Friendship. I substituted my fabric and stitched the little friendship saying to go on the flap.  

My gift from Paola was stunning!!! She stitched a Jeanette Douglas design on 40 count linen, then attached it to a completely hand sewn pouch. The colors, trim/ribbon, charm, and fabric choices are absolutely PERFECT and so ME!!! Her stitching is divine and precise--I wish you could all see it up close and personal! I know it was stitched with love and it is a true treasure!!! Inside was an adorable pincushion with a beautiful counting pin and wooden needle case (great minds think alike). Thank you Paola!

So now I must madly prepare for my trip to Cincinnati. I leave early Thursday morning with my travel buddy, Debbie. It's a bout a 7 1/2- 8 hour drive but we'll stop along the way--sadly no needlework stores I'm aware of along the route. Skyline Chili will definitely be our dinner choice when we get in! Friday is a play day and Friday night I'll meet up with my fellow "Twisted Sisters". Saturday is a full day class with Merry Cox, then heading home Sunday morning. Will update when I get home, though probably not right away---I feel I'll need a recuperative few days....maybe more at that point!!! Big news coming of a personal nature, so please check in next time.

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Hopefully, you haven't been too bored by my ramblings.

Stasi

A Quick Catch Up Before I'm Off Again.......

Okay...I really shouldn't be doing this, as I have tons to do to get ready for my trip to Cincinnati on Thursday, but have been feeling guilty about not posting after my class earlier this month. It's not as if I've been slacking, it's just that our business has been in full swing and I've been away every weekend. The ole "bod" just doesn't bounce back like it used to and I'm tired!!!! 

Here's a quick synopsis of my visit to Salty Yarns in Ocean City, MD ( June 2-7):
Arrived Thursday, checked into my room at The Lankford,got my goodie bag, caught up with my roomie, Debbie, in the lobby, ordered carry out Chinese for dinner, stitched the evening away in the lobby.

The Lankford Hotel

Room at The Lankford

antique dressers/tables in every room

Goodie bag consisted of this fabulous box of finishing fillings--emery, ground nut shells(with and w/o lavender scent) and poly pellets...and a 15% discount on purchases that weekend

Friday was a finishing class with Betsy that I didn't sign up for so I worked all morning on business related matters, ate my leftover lunch from Thursday, browsed Salty Yarns, met up with friends, dinner at Fagers Island and a reception at Salty Yarns for all attendees. 

Saturday had class with Betsy, Can't see the Forest, accomplished goal of getting "drawer" put together, lunch provided, carry out dinner from Chipotle, reception for attendees and more stitching/gabbing in the lobby.

Drawer for class piece

Sunday I was free again as I had already taken the class, This One's for Betty, so I hung out in Salty Yarns (hoping I was keeping Sally company and not being a pest) and managed to get some stitching in on a piece I had brought to work on. Most people started to head home but those of us that were staying over gathered in the lobby again to stitch..and oh..dinner at Sunset Grille!

Pin Money Pocket

My finished stitching--now to put it together!

Monday, spent the day with Paola, went to Serendipity quilt shop in Dagsboro, DE, lunch at local restaurant there, back to purchase my stash and then a lovely dinner to celebrate Sally's birthday!!!

Fabric purchases (I was soooo good)

Close up--love the x's

Stash purchase

stash purchase

Tuesday-- on the road home early with a quick stop at Anthony's for pit beef sandwiches to take home to hubby for dinner.

So there you have it; I'm sure I've overlooked some things but the days do go by in such a blur. So much to share, learn, catch up on  and chat about. 

Since this is taking longer than I anticipated, I'll follow up tomorrow with another post so you aren't totally bored to death! I have some gifts I made to share and some gifts I received.

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

Stasi

A Common Thread

"The Love of Stitching is our Common Thread"--true that!!! This is the quote on my latest stitch/finish and so true among stitchers. We love to share our needlework and "bind" ourselves to others with the same passion for needle and thread. I had seen this design somewhere on FB and immediately fell in love with it. Sadly, it was a club piece that I  was too late to get in on it, but I hoped to find it one day on the secondary market.  Happily, I had mentioned my "search" to a friend who WAS a member of that club and she graciously gifted me the kit for Christmas (thanks dear Sally)--just proving how kind and giving stitchers are.

 So here is my completed Common Thread Stitchers Mat by Threadwork Primitives. I love the muted tones in this and the hand dyed velvet pincushion..very sweet, yet elegant at the same time.

This will be a quick post as I leave Thursday for Ocean City for a class with Betsy Morgan. I have all my end of the month reports/taxes to do for our business, make some dinners for hubby, do laundry, pack, decide what projects to take to work on, etc., etc., etc.!!!! I'll try to do better documenting my trip but I always get so caught up in the weekend that I forget to take photos. I'll also have a few projects to share when I get back, but they are gifts and will have to wait until my return.

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

Stasi