All My Bags Are Packed.......

 .......and I'm ready to go to Nashville!!! Sally and Sara from Salty Yarns have kindly asked me to go and help them out again. They should be here in about 1 1/2 hours and then we're off. We split the drive into 2 days with today being a short one for me. They'll already have 4 hours under their belt by the time they get here. I am excited and hope to see lots of wonderful new designs. I have tried not to look to much at posts from shops/designers so I can be awed when I get there. 

Since I'm unsettled while I wait, I thought I'd do a quick post about some recent, and upcoming,  stitching. I am continuing on my Live on Little by Plum Street, but it's packed so I can't show it. 

I am in a Secret Stitcher exchange with the DVHSG and my SS sent me this for Valentine's Day...and I had to jump right on it.  I have pretty much given up on getting any real "winter" weather here,  so a spring piece seemed appropriate. It was a complete kit from Scattered Seed Samplers called Springs Messenger Pinkeep.  It came with 36 ct. Vintage Country Mochas linen and DMC fibers. The original was stitched over two and with a size of about 5X7. I cut the fabric in half and did it over one, so half the size. I like it  much better petite!

Sticking with a "spring" theme and with Easter being early this year, I stitched Samplings 2 by With Thy Needle and Thread. This was done on a 40 ct. mystery linen with a combo of GAST, WDW and DMC. I'm on to Samplings 1 now. 

Have you heard about the Leap Year SAL? A friend told me about it and I was sucked right in!!! Can you hear the big WHOOSH?????  The idea is that you pick a BIG project to start on February 29 and then you have 4 years to finish it...by leap year 2028. I narrowed it down to three projects and finally decided on Cardinal Points by Long Dog Sampler. I had been drawn to this sampler...totally not my style or color palette... for years, but it was hard to find. Then one day on FB, someone was selling the chart with all the GAST fibers...a total of 24 and I was able to buy it. So now I have 4 years to complete.....doable don't ya think?

There is a FB page to join, if interested, called Leap Year SAL 2024 to 2028. 

I hope you all are checking out the new designs and such from Market and pre-ordering from your favorite LNS. Have a great week and see you on the flip side!

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

Stasi

The Halfway Point in February........

 I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day....ours have become very low key....after over 50 celebrated together. Here is an example of how low key.....my valentines from my hubby.

Talk about recycling...these are the old notepads we used to give out when we had our home inspection business!!! He knows my morning routine well, and these were found in all my usual "stops' in the morning....in my oatmeal box, the utensil drawer, near my mugs, under the top of my lap top...you get the picture!!! It was a fun "treasure" hunt for me. For my part, I bought him a mocha shake from Arby's...his favorite and made spaghetti for dinner!!!

On the stitchy front, I had a great time in OCMD for the Salty Yarns Super Bowl sale weekend. I think I've been going to this for at least 17 years! There were about 18-20 ladies who came and rented airbnb's. We would meet in the shop class room and stitch and chat; people came and went at their leisure. We had a pot luck dinner Saturday night and shopped...shopped....shopped. 

I got some goodies including a pair of red Cohana scissors...I couldn't resist the 30% off. Here is the rest of my stash enhancement.

I immediately fell in love with Lila's Studio's Autumn Sampler and bought some fabric. I'll pull fibers from my stash at home. Someone pointed out the verse..... " Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end"....I'll be changing that. :) The colors are luscious and I really want to get it started...but I'm going to hold off a bit....too many irons in the fire!

I drove up with my friend, Lisa, and we did a little antiquing up and back. Here is what I found:

Sled for finishing, two bobbins, a pack of bone buttons ,a small milk bottle I'm going to use as a pincushion, a towel which will probably become a project bag and a pack of Star Wars milk caps which may, or may not, turn into floss tags

And yes, there was some stitching...I went between two projects...Live on Little and Amy Mittens Advent calendar mittens. 

It took me all day Sunday to get that much of the roof done!!! It's 46 ct over two.

This goes much quicker...25 ct over two with a wool fiber. 

Since I've been home, I've been working on these:

Noah's Ark by Plum Street

 Bristol Soiree by Sassafras Samplers

My friend, Lisa, gifted me this huge project bag and some bottle brush trees. I am a lucky gal...thanks Lisa!

Well, I think that's all for me today. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week and can squeeze some relaxing stitching in. Nashville Market is looming and we have to make room for all the new goodies!!!

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

Stasi

And We're Into February.....745-746

 

And 2024 is under way...so hard to believe we are already down a month. It's been a busy month on the one hand....and a quiet one on the other. While on the quiet side, I've gotten quite a bit of stitching done...nothing major....just small fun projects with fun finishes. I'm attempting the Book of Days again this year ( I only made it to May last year) and here is my January.

I'm logging what projects I work on what days and adding stickers!!! We'll see how it goes this year.

I finished the stitching on the Summer House project from the recent Sassy Jack's Winter Soiree. I stitched it on 40 ct Vintage Country Mocha with two Vikki Clayton silks. I pulled the design for the bottom from a chart by The Workbasket called Cartouches.

I FFO'd two winter projects that worked in two cute finishing "objects"..... for lack of a better word..... that I had bought a couple years ago. First is Cardinal's Winter by Robin Pickens. I stitched this on 32 ct. natural linen with Vikki Clayton silks. Robin is a new designer to me on Etsy. I saw this design somewhere on FB and had to have it. I love the colors of tranquility of the piece. I had this sled on hand and the design fit perfectly. The size is 4 X 6".

The next finish is my January ornament for the #12in24ornamentstitchalong hosted by Carol of Stitching Dreams on IG. It is Heaven and Nature Sing by Petal Pusher...another new to me designer. I stitched this on 32 ct black Belfast linen with GAST fibers, over one. I orignally started it on a 30 ct. navy blue linen, over two,  but the colors just weren't popping. I am so glad I switched to the smaller size as it fit perfectly in an adorable stand I found at Michaels after Christmas 2022. 

Today being February 1st, I am starting my Winter Cross Stitch Camp project sponsored by Sherri the Colorado Stitcher. Our theme this year was to stitch something with a bird or animal. I chose  the deer ornament from Plum Street Samplers Noah's Christmas Ark VI to do. I have done five of these already for the grands. I will admit to a little "double dipping" as I plan on this being my SAL ornament for February too. 

Here is my camp badge on my camp project bag, made for me by my friend Lisa.

We will be celebrating my parents birthdays this weekend; they will be 96 and 92. They were born on the same day, four years apart. Then I'll be heading to OCMD for Super Bowl weekend. I've been going there this weekend for the last 17 years. There is a small contingent of ladies who have also been coming that long, though people come and go depending on life circumstances. Salty Yarns has a great sale, so stash enhancement will definitely be on the agenda. I will try my best to keep it in line as I know Market is coming in a month. 

Who is your pick for Super Bowl...if you are a football fan. I was hoping, being a Baltimore girl, that the Ravens would be in it. I don't really care...it would have been a Baltimore pride thing!!! I said I would switch to the Chiefs if the Ravens lost, but am miffed at Mahomes and Kelce for the way they treated  Justin Tucker, the Ravens kicker.

I hope your February is enjoyable and we should all dedicate the extra day to stitching...what do you think?

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

Stasi

PS I'm surprised no one noticed I had the month of December on my calendar for my January posts...I sure didn't!!! LOL

A Few Smallish Starts............

 Between the cold weather and my mouth, I've been getting a lot of stitching done. The mouth is doing well; it's just a challenge to eat with all the sutures and surgical areas. But, no pain, so that is good!

We've had quite the weather scenario this past week. Up until Tuesday we woke up to lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's. Now, it's in the 60's!!! Crazy.!!!

On to stitching.....I signed up for the virtual Winter Soiree at Sassy Jacks this past Saturday. I have done her September Soiree weekend in the past, but this was basically Friday night and Saturday. We received a kit of a red Bristol sampler and a chart from Beth at Summer House Stitche Workes, along with some goodies. There were tutorials on pulled hem stitch and mattress finishing as well as a talk on Bristol samplers and a visit from Beth herself. Sadly, I could not manage to get on Zoom....I have done dozens of these zoom meetings but could not figure out my issue and was not able to get any help since the programs had started. So, I just started my projects and stitched away by myself. Kim made it good for me and I'm hoping to talk to her and figure out the problem so I can attend her others that are coming up. 

First up is Soiree Bristol by Sassafras-Samplers...this is the first in a series of eight smalls. It's stitched on 40 ct. Vintage Country Mocha with NPI Chinese Red silk. I did change out the fabric.

Next is Carolina Coverlet.....I'm doing this on 40 ct. Vintage Country Mocha, also, with Vikki Clayton silks. 

I also started a Christmas ornament, Heaven and Nature Sing, by Petal Pusher. I'm doing it on a 30 ct. mystery linen with called for GAST.

Sorry so dark but a dreary day here.

I also made myself a pillow out of a tees shirt as a remembrance of my special times at the Lankford Hotel.

I also wanted to share, which I forgot to do last post, that Sally had stitched my name on the back of my Shepherds Bush project bag. She said that since so many ladies have these and take to retreats/classes, that I would know which was mine. Great idea don't ya think!!!

I think that's it for today....hope you have  a great upcoming weekend and can get a little...or more than a little....stitching in! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

And January is More Than Half Gone.........

 It's been a busy past week.....lots to share, so buckle up buttercup!

I left last Thursday and drove to OCMD to help out at Salty Yarns. MLK weekend is when the EGA's Camp Wannasticth ladies descend on Ocean City and I help by cutting fabric so the regular employees can help with everything else. I heard there were over 190 ladies this year....amazing! I love getting to see what everyone is working on and help them pick out the fabric for their special projects.

While in OCMD, I received some birthday/Christmas presents....we wait for this weekend so we can do it in person. I received the following from Sally; these were beautifully stitched and will be treasured.  

Shepherd's Bush project bag

Needle and corner gauge holder

Sara gifted me a box of goodies, all nestled in a lovely "bee" box.

There was tea, tea towel and small bag from the Fitzwilliam museum, needle nanny, hand soap, notebook and sweet treat

I am so spoiled!!! On the other hand, I did a little gifting too! I didn't want to share until all gifts were received. I gave each lady a tea towel or apron from Hands Across the Sea, a waxer fob from Teresa Janjanin on FB and a "tacky" Christmas sewing box. Here are photos of the boxes:

I had so much fun making these after seeing some shown on IG and FB by Robin Shappell and Sherri at Colorado Stitcher. I found items at Hobby Lobby and the Dollar store and the cute Christmas scissors at Liberty Hill Needlework in Williamsburg. Here's one up close:

Sadly, it was back to reality...and a little snow on my drive home Monday. Wednesday I was scheduled for some gum surgery, so Tuesday was spent doing laundry and grocery shopping for soft foods. Both sides of my mouth were involved this time so I have sutures upper and lower on both sides. I am doing great and can't complain about eating lots of pudding and ice cream!!! This has also allowed me lots of down time with my needle. I continued doing some work on Live on Little by Plum Street Samplings......

.......completed a project I had started in OCMD....Cardinal's Winter by Robin Pickens......

.....and started and finished by badge for Winter Cross Stitch Camp 2024 with The Colorado Stitcher.....

....I just need to add to my Camp project bag.

Well, I think that's it for today. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Thanks for sticking with me and your "twisted threads" of friendship.

Stasi

First Finish of 2024.....

 I am happy to say I have completed my Blessing Sampler, with barely enough thread. I had to do the last letter in a different color than called for because I had totally run out of that one. I also had enough o frog the "U" and move it down where it belonged. I have gotten much better in my old age in letting errors pass by, but this one was driving me nuts. I've been debating whether to overdye the finished piece to make it look "old",  but am going to "live" with it awhile. I'm kind of liking it as it is...bright and quirky!!!

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

Stasi

I Was So Hoping........744

 

.....for a little dusting, at least, of snow......but alas....only rain!!! However, that makes for a nice quiet stitchy day in my book! I want to finish up my Blessing sampler for two reasons. First, I'm afraid I'm going to run out of fiber! I think I will make it with a little change up in color, but it's going to be very close!!! Next, I miscounted and the "U' is too high and not lined up with other letters in the row. If I have enough thread left over, I may be able to redo it, but if I don't , it will have to stay that way. I don't think I'd be able to reuse the thread after frogging. Fingers crossed and wish me luck!!!

I forgot to share a finish from the end of 2023. This is a little turtle, for a friend,  from a Zip and Stitch needlepoint kit......easy to stitch and even easier to finish...you literally just zip it when complete!

I hope your 2024 is off to a good start...mine has been pretty chill but will pick up next week. I'm excited about the birthday gift from my daughter, Kristin. She gave me a year of scones!!! A lady will be delivering my first four next Tuesday for January. Then I get four a month for the rest of the year...some sweet, some savory. I can't wait as I love scones!!! I will pair with a cup of hot tea and feel so pampered!

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

Stasi