A Proud Grandmother and House Builder.....

 Thursday afternoon we got word that Esther had won the Student of the Year award for her middle school. She was only one of two students, out of 1500, to be selected!!! We are so proud of her....to think just over 5 years ago she came into our family from Sierra Leone hardly speaking any English. She's come a long way, baby!!!

 

 I worked a bit on One Nation and got the house completed. Starting to work on the huge urn of flowers, alternating with the border.
 

 

We'll be heading back to my parents soon to help with some packing, then I'm off to OCMD for a class with Catherine Theron next Thursday. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

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

Stasi

Wearing My Green.....

 I am still in my jammies, but will be wearing my green today! But, I say I am always wearing my green because I have green eyes! LOL 

All went well with my gum surgery on Wednesday and I have been enjoying my diet of ice cream, jello and pudding. I can move on to soft warm foods now and I can truly say "I am hungry"!!! I have to wear a retainer for four days to protect the graft site, but that is a minor inconvenience. Thanks to all who sent well wishes.

I got a little stitching done yesterday on One Nation and went to a baseball game last evening for my grandson. The 'boys of summer' felt like the 'boys of winter'. Brrrr, it was cold and windy!

 Wishing you a lovely day celebrating your Irish heritage...everyone  is Irish on St. PAtrick's Day. Have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Ta-Da!!!!

 

 

I needed something yesterday to distract from my upcoming procedure this morning. So, I dove into my Target jewelry box. I didn't really do too much except pull out the "ring" section and add a fabric covered insert to that section as well as the inside of  the lid. You have to look close to see the tiny bee fabric in the center with pins in it. The HOD piece laid right in the center bottom with just a little smidge of trimming on the sides. 

 

A lot of the bee items have been gifted to me, so this worked as a great place to keep them. 

Off to my gum surgery....will probably sleep the day away when I return.

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

Stasi

 

March Monthly Displays anda New Start......

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 I was itching for a new start yesterday, so I grabbed One Nation. It was a full kit so easy to get going. I'm using the PVC pipe frame that Rich made for me and it's working great! I can just sit it on my lap while in my recliner.

 I thought I'd share my monthly pieces for March:

Hands on Design A Year of Celebrations

Shepherd's Fold by Shepherd's Bush

Word Play by With Thy Needle and Thread

"Hearts" from an old Leisure Arts book

Holiday House by Leisure Arts

 

Tomorrow I will finally have my gum surgery...not looking forward to it, but want to get it over. It's been postponed twice...once due to my parents situation and once because I had Covid. 

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

Stasi

Rainy Days and Mondays......

 I woke up yesterday morning and the weather app on my phone said it was flurrying. Alas, that was not the case...not one flurry!!! I still have my snowman wreath on the front door hoping he will bring some white stuff, but his days are numbered.

I remembered one thing I did bring home from Market, one of Needlework Press's paper kits. It came with the felt, seam binding and instructions, as well as some nice alphabet and ephemera papers. I may change out the seam binding and have been printing out Vickie's 'Word of the Week" on FB. She had them stitched and resting inside the folio...so sweet!

 

A friend of a friend was selling her One Nation by Sampler Not Forgotten  club kit, not sure what club it was, and I was able to but it from her.

I did succumb to the jewelry box frenzy from Target while away...we managed to find three, so Sally, Sara and I all got one. I am going to do a bee theme and can't wait to get started on it.

 My friend, Lisa, made me this project bag for St. Patrick's Day. I love the fabric and the zipper pull she added!

 

I wanted to let you know about a tip I learned, from Sara, when stitching on one of those mesh bags. It is easier to stitch with the bag and chart upside down. Your hand will reach in much better. It took a bit of a learning curve but eventually my brain handled it.  I also use the sewing method as much as possible, so my hand can remain on the outside of the bag.

Hope you are off to a good week! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of  friendship!

Stasi

Queen.....700

 A dreary day here...you can tell from the above photo. Last night was another enjoyable evening with 8 new films from the 2022 Banff Film Festival. More skiing, kayaking and rock climbing but also films about saving Old Forests and inner city kids experiencing nature for the first time. The two best were about a 74 year old mountain  biker called North Shore Betty....gave me hope for myself! Then the one about a pair of Brits who horizontally climbed a very long bridge in the UK. They were following the "crack" in the roadway underneath and it took about 5 days. They slept under there hanging from the top and had a friend hoist up their food and take away their poop. Now that's a true friend!!! The funniest part was when a woman in a  group of onlookers said "Do their Mums know"? 

I finished up the Queen project bag by sewing on some buttons. I used whatever #5 perle cottons I had on hand and added a cute charm as a zipper pull.

Hope you're having a good weekend...thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

 

 The Banff Film Festival was interesting last night. We saw documentaries about skiing, ultra kayaking, a polar bear and a woman, Stephanie Chase, who ran approximately 280 miles over the course of 155 hours (6.5 days) with only 4.5 hours of sleep!!! I don't know how the human body can do that. She was running to bring awareness/support for the women of Afghanistan where she had started a running group for women, Free to Run, before the fall to the Taliban. We go again tonight for different movies; it's a cheap date for $7.00 a ticket!

On the whole, I find Market not to be as frenzied as it was when I would go in the late 90's/early 2000's. Back then, we didn't know what was coming out until we got to Market, so there was always a buzz of great expectation. We also didn't have a good idea of what would be popular...or not....so numbers were always a guessing game. Now, with the internet and social media, everyone pretty much knows what will be released, or at least has a tiny 'tease'. It sure makes it much easier for shops to take pre-orders and know how much to buy. But, it has taken away some of the anticipation and excitement. There were a lot of missing designers too; it is a LOT of work to display at Market and many of the designers are sadly getting older, like myself, and it's tough physically. But again, their on line presence makes it easy to know what you want and send in an order to a shop. So, all in all, it is a wonderful experience...different but still inspiring and motivational. I am a lucky girl to be able to go!

I was wondering what you all were captivated by from the recent Market. Can you share some of your likes in the comments? It's fun to see what strikes other stitchers fancy.

Beth Twist had a cute idea concerning a QR Code. She had one imprinted on a small piece of wood; you then scan with your phone and get taken to a free chart. Shops got one when they placed an order...very cool and techie!!! It's a new world!!!

 Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Hope you have  a great weekend and maybe get to Market Day at your LNS.

Stasi

Home and Ready for a Post......Finally

 I figure by now you have all seen the shops and designers reviews on the Nashville Market. I had a wonderful time seeing all the new releases in person and reconnecting with old friends, who are getting fewer and fewer.

Some of the designers banners--each room on 4 floors of the hotel had a different designer/vendor in them

I gave Sara my  list of items I wanted, but sadly don't have photos of those at this time. I will be picking up my order at the end of the month when I go to Salty Yarns for my Catherine Theron class. However, here are the items I requested:

Be a Friend  Needlework Press

October House

Snip

Itch to Stitch

Hands on Design

Polar Plunge (all three) plus backing boards

JBW. Stitching in the Round

Erica Michaels

Quilting ABC’s

Mary Briggs 1806

Praiseworthy Stitches Bee Pinball

 I was most excited about the above, but there was so much more I would love to have...but...you gotta be realistic at some point...right?

We did visit two quilt shops and I got some fun fat quarters.... 

 

Sally gifted me these from one of the quilt shops...how cute!!!  Thanks Sal!
 

I did some stitching on the ride out and back--we take two days to do it...Santa on the drive out and Queen on the way back.

 

While there in Franklin I had my magnifying lamp so I worked on, and finished, this:

Here is my Book of Days for February:

If you saw my last post, you know I had to turn right around and go to my parents to help prepare for their upcoming move to an independent living facility. I hate to use the word "facility" as it sounds clinical and this place is more like a lovely hotel. Anyhow, we got the papers signed, figured out the financials and just kept trying to calm them down. It is happening fast, but we figured it would. But, at 91 and 95, they are flustered and worried. We will have a lot to do to pack them up, clean out the house and put it up for sale. I sent an e-mail out to family to come and get whatever they may like that isn't going with my parents. I will luckily be getting a china cabinet, that was my grandmothers, to expand my ever growing needlework collection. 

We are going to an evening of films from the Banff Film Festival tonight and tomorrow night. We always enjoy when this event comes to town. I am tired and think I may just lay down now for a nap so I can stay awake tonight. :)

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

Stasi

Here Today...Gone Tomorrow.....Again

I am back from Nashville, but unexpectedly on the move again.....We got the call that there is an apartment ready for my parents as of April 1st. Lots to do!!!

So, I got home today around noon and am heading to my parents tomorrow morning ..just enough time for some laundry and a quick post. 

Sadly, I will not be posting about Nashville; by the time I get back it will be old news. There are lots of shop owners and designers that have recaps you can check out.  I will try to resume posting when I get back, but it may be spotty.

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

Stasi