OMG..I'm heading to Nashville!!!!

Yes it's true, I got a call last week from Sara at Salty Yarns that her Mom, Sally, had fallen and broken her ankle...could I go at the last minute and help out??? You betcha!!!  Luckily, I had nothing on the schedule for the week and could pull it together to go. I'm so excited to see old friends and acquaintances, but sad for the reason it has come about. I'll be running the halls with Sara making the purchases and getting them back to Sally in her room for pricing. In the past when I went to Market,  we always had two of us from Twisted Threads go to help Ruth out....I would be "cash" since I was writing the checks and the other girl would be "carry" since she lugged the merchandise. This year I'll be "carry" and darn happy to do it!!! I will report on the excitement when I return, but if I have time will try to post something there...just can't guarantee that!
I am anxiously waiting to get picked up....all packed and ready to roll...need to sit and stitch until they get here rather than keep walking in circles around my house! :)

This is the hotel where all the action is..Embassy Suites in Franklin, TN

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

Stasi

Happy Valentines Day!

Wishing you all some 💖 today with, perhaps, a little chocolate on the side. 

I had seen that Krispy Kreme was making conversation heart doughnuts for Valentines Day.  I had also read there wouldn't be any conversation heart candies this year due to a company sale and manufacturing issues. So, I found me a KK store and bought a dozen doughnuts to share with my daughter's family. I was a little disappointed as they only had one color( four were shown in the ad) with the "messages" on them and the others just had squiggles. But hopefully, the grands will enjoy them and appreciate the thought.

I don't have a lot of Valentine stitching, but here are a few:

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! And remember....all you need is love.....and a needle and thread!

Hugs,
Stasi

A Start and a Finish......(495)

Happy Stitchy Sunday!!! I am home after a quick trip to Baltimore Thursday for a funeral for my SIL's Mom. I'm happy to be home for the next..almost...two weeks and hope to get caught up on things around the house....both home related and stitching!

Let's start with my latest finish...just sewed on the spool this morning. This is my third SAL with iStitch Designs, the Black Sampler Band. I chose to do mine in two colors, both variegated  Valdani threads, called  Chocolate Brownies and Terra Cotta Twist. I stitched it on a 28 count natural linen banding over one and attached it to an antique wooden spool. I did change the letters at the bottom to my initials rather than A-B-C. This will officially be added to my Stitch Stroll as #495.

  
I've been looking for a long term car project and came up with a fun idea. These have to be on a large count linen or perforated paper in order to work in the car. I love monthly series and when Cathy Haberman came out with the set she had designed for a cross stitch magazine, I had to have them. Then I came across an old cigar box while I was organizing my sewing room and the proverbial light bulb went off!!! What if I stitched A Year in Celebration over two on an 18 count fabric??? Yep, it would fit on the top and I could change them out every month....bonus in that the box was fairly deep and possibly I could "store" the individual pieces in the box (not sure that will actually work once they are mounted but we will see)!!! So I started the first one, March, on the trip to Baltimore and actually finished the stitching while at my parents. Now, I will admit, this is NOT my favorite type of stitching (big count) but it serves the purpose of keeping me from just sitting and staring out the window while traveling. The others will not follow as quickly...reserved for the car... and I'm taking my time to decide on the finish-finishing.

I think that's it for today, thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

 

Okay...is it winter..or spring...I'm confused!!!

And so are my daffodils that are popping up!!! This past weekend in OCMD we experienced snow...the last few days have hit 70 here in the Richmond area....please Mother Nature MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!! I guess we're never happy with the weather and since we have no control over it, I'm moving on!

There were approximately 16 ladies who traveled to Salty Yarns for their annual Super Bowl sale.   As I mentioned, we had about 2 inches of snow in Ocean City, which lead to an unusual site...a snowman on the beach!!! Happily, we were all tucked warm and toasty in the shop and/or our apartments stitching.

 

I had a lovely time, as usual, and enjoyed experiencing some beautiful show and tell and seeing  everyone's current projects....lots of eye candy and inspiration!!! Here's a quick run down of the weekend:
I drove up Thursday and arrived around 2:00pm.  Friday a group of us went out to lunch and I had the best grilled cheese sandwich....it was called an "adult" grilled cheese and was brie with bacon, topped with an onion/garlic jam--yummy!!! This is when the snow started!!! The owner, Sara, had a reception Friday evening for us die- hards with an array of delicious appetizers. Saturday was spent in the shop ( I did jump in and help to cut fabric), visiting the ladies in their apartments and stitching. Saturday evening, a group of us got together for a pot luck dinner and I made my Cincinnati style chili. All the food was delish and the camaraderie abundant. Sunday was spent in the shop again and stitching. Early Monday I left for home and back to reality!!! Always a wonderful time and can't wait to go back the end of March for two Catherine Theron classes.

I did stitch every night and managed to get the Black Sampler Band SAL piece completed. I did change the letters at the bottom to reflect my initials rather than the charted ABC. I love that last alphabet..so pretty! Now to attach to my spool!

After that, I got back to work on Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs and got  the top of the drum all stitched. I had to figure out the '9' on the fly..how did I do? Next up is the band that goes around the drum. I just joined a FB SAL page for this piece and hope to get hints for the finishing.

Of course I did some stash enhancement....hard not to with the great sale. So RJ, here is what I succumbed to.
I thought the mermaid bag would be a nice companion for the Siren's Tart. I had seen the Nebby Needle chart on FB and thought it would make an adorable Christmas ornament/gift. The Hands on Design, Oh Say Can You Sea was a last minute addition. One of the ladies had gifted her small group this chart and supplies to work on for the weekend. A number of the ladies finished the stitching on theirs but one lady had stitched the drum over one!!!!  I've had my eyes on this chart for awhile since I'm from Baltimore and love the beach...perfect combination for the saying! It was so tiny and precious; I couldn't resist and want to give it a try (sure wish I'd taken a photo!!!).

Another lady there had stitched a Merry Cox piece from an old JCS magazine and attached it to a pre-made pouch. As luck would have it, there was one in the shop and I snagged it since I have that magazine in my stash--surprise, surprise!!! I bought the rings for my ever growing fiber collection and what I would call the world's smallest hornbook.

My hubby and I just joined Planet Fitness and I thought this would be a great water bottle....and, since the Lankford is for sale, a nice remembrance.

And then I bought this chart and the supplies to make it... stitched on 35 count WDW Gunmetal with an assortment of GAST, WDW and CC fibers. I must have really liked it because I already had the chart!!! So be on the lookout in the future as I will have a giveaway of the duplicate chart. 

 
Whew, I hope I haven't bored you to tears!!! In closing I would like to say that I am so blessed to have the opportunity to attend wonderful classes and retreats and wish that for all of you. I always learn something new from fellow stitchers... be it a new designer, a good read or a yummy recipe. There are FB  pages with lists of stitch retreats, your local or national EGA/Sampler groups and LNS classes. Check them out and see if one is doable...you won't regret it!

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

My fellow Hogwarts devotee