Dreaming of the Sea......(471)

....and just in time as we are heading to my "happy" place next week! Rich likes to enjoy a few days at the beach around his birthday so.... we are going for a long weekend to OCMD with my brother an sister-in-law. We will be staying at The Lankford and visits to Salty Yarns will definitely be on the agenda. I usually like to browse, after spending the day on the beach, while everyone showers and cleans up for dinner. Now to I Dream of the Sea by Hands on Design.....

This originally was an exclusive design for the shop, Down Sunshine Lane but Cathy( from HOD) has just released it as a chart this week. The shop kit came with fabrics, fibers, the turquoise tray, painted spool, scissors, decorative pins, corner gauge and most finishing supplies...... but alternative finishing ideas abound!!! I was attracted to the colors in this piece from the get go and the fact that all the finishing 'objects' were included was definitely a win-win!!! I didn't change anything up in the stitching process but tweaked a few things in the finishing department. I added a strip of rick-rack at the top of the corner gauge pocket, a button in the center (top and bottom) of the pincushion which I "pulled" to create a small indentation and the teal anchor charm as a tiny scissor fob. May I now present Stasi's Stitch Stroll piece #471......

Corner Gauge pocket,spool scissor holder and pincushion

 I had a request to show back of the spool, so here it is (looks like I need to tighten up the top):




We've had a busy week so far with my younger daughter visiting and two grand kids staying with us a couple days. James and Esther are at a sleepaway camp this week and my daughter and SIL were able to enjoy a couple days alone while we had Asher and Cora. We took them to the Richmond zoo one day and Sky Zone the other, but mainly gave them some quiet time of their own. I did manage to get week 4 of the Black Sampler Band SAL completed and am almost finished #3 of the Summer Schoolhouse piece.....hope to get that done today now that everyone has gone home.

I have always felt that stitchers are some of the kindest and most thoughtful people out there, and I have met many through this blog.  My granddaughters were the recent recipients of a very generous gift from our friend Mary of Stitching Friends Forever. Mary had seen on my blog that the girls loved crafting and sent Cora and Esther a HUGE box of paper craft supplies to spark their creativity. Cora happened to be here when it arrived and was so excited when she saw HER name on the box. I know Esther will be equally as excited when she finds out about it! I foresee many hours of fun ahead of us at Mimi's house!!! Thank you Mary for your warm heart and generous spirit--it is much appreciated by us all!!!

Though we may never meet in person, we can listen, share and lift each other up through the written word. Thanks to all for taking to time to visit and read my blog, leave supportive comments and share your love of our craft...needlework!!! And, as always, thanks for your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi