We made it......

Neither sleet, snow, rain or hurricane can keep us from our appointed rounds so we arrived in Nashville for the market on Wednesday.  While the drive was drama free and we saw just snow flurries we were both relieved to arrive.  And we were greeted by several designers so that just makes it more exciting.  I'm still feeling a little off and was no help to Sara which I'm sure is making her a little nervous about the show days and my help but it's Thursday morning and I'm feeling a little better this morning....I think...fingers crossed.   I'm being extremely careful about my arm so I haven't stitched as much as I usually do and it's driving me crazy.  What I should have had stitched in 2 days is taking me so much longer....oh, my getting older is really a pain in the ass.  I did finally finish the front side of a Barbara Ana biscornu and now the back I'm hoping to have done today.  Sara is still working on a piece that I swear she only brings out when we go to Nashville and works about 10 minutes on it.  Last night was no different.  I even offered to finish it for her because at some point this project just needs to be done.  And of course we are both looking forward to see what's coming out.  I'm in love with several of the new designs and can't wait for the market to start, although not sure everyone will get here with the snow storm....but I'm ever hopeful.  But today it's our shopping day.  We stopped at the yarn shop on the way down and Sara picked up some new yarns for her projects.  Since I wasn't really feeling up to par,  for the first time ever....I just sat in a chair and looked around from that point.  They did have some looms there that caught my eye, but as Sara kept mentioning when I mentioned them to her....I've already been down that road many years ago and the loom is still sitting in the attic....but these looms were smaller than the one I remember having, and more importantly they are newer.  But we still left without my purchasing one.  And someone brought in their triangular loom which has fascinated me since Pat rented one and managed to weave about 5 shawls in as many days.....fast and Pat says it was easy so you know that's right up my alley, but the downfall is you have to stand up to use it it's so large (duh, if my butt can't sit my mind won't compute).  But today I have another chance to find something fabulous around the Nashville area...here's hoping, but if I don't....I know several things I'm picking up at the show so my time here will not be wasted.  Anyway, we're having fun so far and I'll keep you posted on what we're finding.

Oops...didn't even notice...

I had this on the cutting table during the event last weekend, as I finally finished it into a pillow, (when I was on the finishing binge), and Stasi Buhrman said, "Oh, I did that one a long time ago...oh I put the button on it though."  Oops, since I stitched this years ago when it first came out I didn't even notice that there was something missing...and since Stasi said that... I really don't know what I thought that big empty spot was for...duh!!!!!  But fortunately I can still add the button, but damn it I thought I was finished with it.  Tuesday night at some point I realized my left arm was really painful to move so finally I put down the stitching and decided to give my arm a rest, after all I had been stitching for about 15 hours with only 2 small breaks to eat.  But I got up Thursday and it hurt to even move it so I couldn't stitch at all.  It was  killing me not to stitch and while I tried to concentrate on picking up things and cleaning....(since it didn't hurt if I let me arm just dangle and I could clean with just my right side moving)....but I keep looking at the 2 new projects, well one I started last year in Nashville but had left 2 colors home so stopped working on it altogether and the other is an Easter biscornu from Barbara Ana, which was new to me and just couldn't kick my butt in gear.  I knew with a full day off I could get the darn biscornu finished so this is really driving me crazy.  Damn getting old.  I'm sure if I was just 10 years younger I would be fine. So I managed to accomplish nothing except feeling very sorry for myself.  Since we leave for Nashville next week I thought I could start making lists of what we'd need for that....but no, I just sat on the sofa feeling sorry for myself and trying to stitch every 1/2 hour only to find that the arm still hurt like hell.  I finally called Sara thinking she was home and had time to listen to me whine only to find that she was out and Pickles Pub with the girls.  She was getting ready to leave and insisted on stopping by to look at me and bring me some heavy duty motrin.  I was so uncomfortable and upset over not being able to stitch that she started googling symptoms (always a problem) and started panicing over what she felt might be the problem.  She focused on it being my left arm and shoulder and heart attack.  By the time she got done panicing, I started and we decided I should get dressed (well change out of the slop I was wearing) and go to the emergency room.  They were having a slow night so I got in right away and saw a doctor who, after an ekg and x'rays decided it was arthritis and sent me home with pain pills and motrins.  Sara then wanted to spend the night but I insisted she go home so I could get some rest and we'd reevaluate the next day.  Friday I didn't come to work, but at 4:00 I had taken a shower and was waiting for Sara to come pick me up for the fiber fest.  We headed for Ruth Chris for dinner since I hadn't had a meal since Sunday and said the hell with the fiber fest as Sara wanted to go to that  on Saturday after work anyway.  I was feeling much better with just a slight twinge in my arm and shoulder.  And here I am today, Saturday, sitting at work and feeling much better except for lingering feelings of  being nauseous.  This getting older is such a pain in my ass....pardon my French.  Anyway, it's cold but we're dry here and no snow for a week so that's a good sign.  While they keep it in the forecast all around us,  we aren't suppose to be getting any...just that blasted rain...but at least that's better than snow.  I'm done, done, done with winter.  I am a bit concerned about heading to Nashville since snow is in the forecast for around there.  Crap...I'm going anyway.  The fiber fest is taking place this weekend in town and we've had some of the knitters in the store and the last two said it was crowded and they had some nice yarn.  It's a small showing as this is the first year but it shows promise.  Sara and I are going up after work and then going to dinner (whoppee)...I'm all about the dinner at this point.  I'm exhausted though and cold so I just want to really go home and go to sleep...but dinner first for sure.  Anyway, I just wanted to check in with everyone.  Have a great weekend and I'll keep you posted.

Another Fabulous gift......

I just have to show you one of my Christmas gifts (it seems to be never ending....aren't I the lucky one)...from my daughter Sara. (I'm having an issue apparently so the pictures are at the end of this blog).  Sara is in love with the industry just as I am so I always get such wonderful gifts from her (she knows eventually they will all be hers which doesn't lesson the gift of course, but because of that money becomes no so much of an object).  I have two daughters, no sons, but Mary, my youngest, doesn't stitch (how is that possible?).  She knows how, but doesn't really have the bug and thinks it is beautiful but has no real desire to have it hanging in her house...so Sara will obviously be the recipient of all my stash (which is massive..both stitched and not stitched) and anything needlework related.  Anyway, we saw these shaker boxes a few years ago at Jamboree when Debbie Brotzman brought hers in to show and tell.  I about had a fit and immediately hit the computer to order one as Debbie gave me the gentlement's e-mail address.  I never heard back from the man and it was felt that he only sold these at one of the art fairs in the Baltimore area.  I just knew I'd never get one as I don't get to those anymore.  I mourned the loss of it, but of course you move on as you find more items you would love to own as well....so imagine my complete surprise when I opened this Christmas.  Sara had contacted Debbie, who again gave her  the gentlemen's phone number, Sara called him and he said he was displaying at an event  in the Baltimore area and he would have only 4 of these boxes with him so Sara promised him she would have someone there to pick it up so please save one for her.  She then called Debbie who offered to go get it for her....thank you so much Debbie...you are a peach!  And it came to me Christmas morning.  I think the gentlemen referred to it as a jewelry case, but of course any stitcher looks at it as the ultimate container for supplies.  It is so gorgeous and having three trays inside to hold all my goodies in plain sight...well I just love it.  Stitchers...that is what is so marvelous and necessary about going to stitching events where you network with other stitchers.  The information you receive from others is so valuable and then of course, you get to see what lovely items others have found.   And no one is more generous of spirit than a stitcher.  We don't withhold information from each other so we are the only ones with the finds....  Did you ever have someone tell you they wouldn't share a recipe with you because it was a closely guarded family recipe.  With the exception of someone in the restaurant business I simply don't get that.  Stitchers will share ideas, why Shiela Fitzgibbons and Trudy Edwards not only share their fabulous ideas they always make goodies for me as samples of what I can do for events.  And then Debbie's kindness of spirit and energy by picking this up for Sara.    Honestly, if stitchers ruled the world we'd never have wars....no we'd have round robins, sleep overs, contests, there would never be a shot fired.  Well it's a nice thought isn't it?  A perfect example was our Superbowl weekend which ended yesterday....except for Debbie Liming who is still enjoying herself even though her partners in crime have gone home.  We had 3 groups who stayed on the property...our Baltimore group in one unit, our Pennsylvania girls in another and this year Stasy Stinson had her group in one of the units as her apartment where they normally stay ran into some frozen pipe problem and the building water supply had been shut off.  So Stasy gave Sara a call to see if her group could stay on the property.  What is fabulous about these 3 groups is this...they all bring food and cook in their units...soups, Cincinnati Chili is always on board for Stasi Buhrman and Debbie Liming, and then they apartment hop all weekend eating each others food, and stitching together, truly becoming friends thru stitching.  It doesn't make any difference if you knew each other before or not.  Why we even had a designer here, Pat Yergey, from Samplers Revisited came in to join Jennifer Humphries with the Baltimore Group.    Of course they also come down to the shop to visit with Sara and I so we are not left out of the fun.   So after 2 weeks of single digit temps, snow and rain, we were in the 50's with plenty of sunshine and had many friends to share it with... it was a wonderful weekend....food, friends, lots of stitching and plenty of show and tell.  We missed those who weren't here this year and hope that next year you will be able to join us as well.  We had plenty of shoppers in to take advantage of our Superbowl Sale and we are grateful for all of you.  So thank you for stopping by.  The weekend was cut short Sunday as Stasi Buhrman heard the forecast and decided to get back to West Virginia before the first flake fell.  So while she was suppose to stay until Monday she decided to leave a day early...as did Sherry who dashed back to Pennsylvania for the same reason a day early.  Debbie decided since she didn't have to be back at work until Wednesday she'd sit out the storm down here since we are out of the latest snow loop.  I've said no more snow....I'm so over it...so I'm pretty sure the snow God isn't going to drop anymore on us.  We're ready to head for spring.  We're also ready to head to Nashville ....we leave next week and I'm getting excited already.  New Stitching stuff....so much fun.

Day 2 Buperbowl Weekend Event....

 Day 1 was filled with stitchers, catching up and to end it all

there was Sara's reception, which I missed because I made the mistake of sitting down on the sofa when I got home and fell asleep only to wake up at 7:59, one hour after the event started so I felt I shouldn't bother.  So I stayed home, popped in a movie and proceeded to stitch.  I also wanted you to see that the snow days were not in vane and I did actually get some work done.  The first finish was a Pine Mountain Valentine Topography.  So finishing that meant popping in a pillow form...love that type of finish.  But I also think this is a very cute pillow.  It was fast, fun and easy...yes the 3 requirements when I'm tired.  The next picture is "Love Bird" which came out a couple of years ago from Just Another Button Company.  I loved him then and I really love him finished in a Crescent Color frame.  The third finish was the Colonial Candle Pocket from Plum Street Sampling as part of their Colonial Gathering Club.  I stitched it in one night (fast and easy) and then put it together the next day.  The directions they included for finishing were easy and I really enjoyed the entire experience.  Glad Sara got me this for Christmas.  The next finish was Noel House by Chessie and Me.  This came as a complete kit so I loved that I didn't have to hunt down the fibers and floss (not that it's that difficult here in the shop but at home it's having to enter my stitching room and sort through containers...ugh).  I loved this stitch on 36 ct., surprisingly as the smaller the count the more difficult with my eyesight.  The colors were beautiful, the stitches were interesting and yet easy to do.  I hate stitching houses but because this was small it didn't bother me.  And to finish it off I made the two pins you see beside it.  Beautiful little pin cushion.  I thought it would make a wonderful Secret Santa gift and actually had it stitched for Christmas but didn't get it put together and thankfully never needed it.  Our day is about to start as stitchers are coming through the door as I type so I'll end here with a Have a great day...ours is sunny, bright and suppose to be in the 50's.  Hope your is too.

Wednesday's Post....ahhh, what the heck...

It is now 8:00 a.m. and it is still snowing.....it started  around 7 p.m. last night.  Fortunately, it was a light snow so while we got about 4 inches it is so fluffy it shouldn't be a problem.....except for school buses so the kids have another day off school.  However, starting tomorrow temperatures go up and the sun is forecast and by Friday it is scheduled to be 50 degrees so this snow, which I'm sure is our last of the winter is going to be gone, gone, gone....Thank heavens.   It is now  Friday morning and I'm at work....as it turned out the children were off from school Thursday as well and today had a 2 hour delay but at least went to school.  But I still sense that we are seeing the end of winter as the temps are going up, today it will be in the 40's and tomorrow in the 50's with no wind chill to deal with.  We are doing the happy dance in what remains of the snow.  Actually on the ramp in front of the store we have carved a path but it's surrounded by about 3 inches of snow...but I'm still elated because we are seeing plenty of sunshine now.  Although apparently that may change to clouds this weekend, but with 50 degrees I don't care. Stitchers started arriving for our Superbowl party last night.  So we will be partying for the next 3 days, with our big party on Sunday in the shop.  All are invited, well, except for the woman who always walks the boardwalk...is not a stitcher...but heard about the food and always comes in to the shop on Superbowl Sunday and just stands at the food table and eats until she's filled up and then leaves.  Of course, eagle eye Sara catches sight of her every year and then I start praying the woman gets out before Sara comes around the corner.  I can only contain Sara for so long before she goes ape@#$@ all over her.  So far it's working, but I'll have to be prepared Sunday just in case.  Meanwhile I'm usually so busy at the food table (stuffing my face) I'm paying no attention to anyone.  If you are in the area..please be sure to stop by and party with us.  Now, back to Wednesday and Thursday when  I was so busy finishing pieces.  I got my sewing machine back from repair and I decided to take it for a test run.  I pulled out a couple of pieces that have been sitting so long on the finishing table I forgot I even stitched them, but by this morning I am able to take 7 finished pieces into the shop....whoppee!!  Great week.  Have a great weekend. 

Day started out promising for most....

I woke and could hear the sound of woman all over town breathing a sigh of relief as they got their children ready for school.  You see in Ocean City the kids have been out of school for the past week, since the snow that fell last Tuesday night.  And then Monday, yesterday, the schools were closed so today was the first time in a week that Mary and Sara had time to themselves.  When I arrived in the office both were in good spirits until.....yes they are predicting 1-3 inches of snow tonight.  I could almost hear the guns being pulled out.  As much as Mary loves her 2 little rug rats she is ready to scream at another 5 days stuck in the house with Solomon and Izzy.  For Sara it's not so bad as Michael is older, but I'm sure every mother in town is holding their breath tonight.  I headed to the grocery store after work so I'd be ready for a day in tomorrow.  Sadly I have to have an ultra sound on Thursday so I'm just hoping the snow that comes disappears before then.  I don't like being in the snow at all.  So tomorrow is going to be my finishing day (well if I can stop myself from stitching that is.)  Yesterday I received my first Plum Street club kit.....I love Plum Street Samplers so Sara gave me the gift of club membership for Christmas or my birthday...don't know which one but anyway I was between pieces so I started it when I got home and was finished this morning....yippee!!!  If I'm able to finish it I'll get it up on the blog tomorrow.  Can't wait and since it's finished you know what that means....tonight I get to pick out another new project...and then I'm going to add the Sherri Jones mermaid back into the rotation.  Fortunately for me I've got the back and front of the purse finished...so I should be able to get the rest done without too much effort.  But then I have the 2nd kit, The Tulip Tray to do and I haven't even opened it.  Wish me luck.  Have a great night of stitching.

I'm officially frozen in place.....

O.K. I'm officially done with snow and cold weather.  I actually had to go outside and I'm not a happy camper.  I bundled up like Nanuk of the North and braved the weather yesterday...16 degrees and for those of you who are even colder...well we're a summer resort and shouldn't have to deal with this.   Anyway, today I've come to work and it's even worse, with wind chill putting us in the single digits, plus they are threatening us with snow flurries.  Save it I say, we don't need it or want it.  I've had my snow days and I'm over the snow...bring on spring for God's sake and my sanity.  I am so not prepared for snow.  I tried to put on my boots to go out yesterday and found they are so tight I could barely get them on and when I did they were killing my small toe which we think I broke a couple of weeks ago.  I walked in those boots but I didn't smile one bit.  Today I'm back to tennis shoes.  The hell with the snow I'm going to act like it's summer and the sun is beaming.  Meanwhile it's grey and overcast and freezing.  Even the ocean looks unhappy.    I wanted to show  you two more gifts I received last month....Judy Brunclik made me the beautiful spring (bring it on) scene in the adorable teapot frame.  It is sooo cute, don't you think?  And the bottom biscornu was stitched by our Pat Weker.  It's a Fab Reilly and fabulous.  Actually too pretty to actually use so it will sit with all my treasures in my stitching room for me to look at and play with.  No on second thought I'll bring it in to the shop since we have the chart and you will want to make this yourself.  Think Secret Santa people.  Thank you ladies....love my new treasures.  I'm still having trouble using this blog.  Yesterday

I tried to do something and deleted the blog talking about my Celebrate

Santa.  I'm depressed but  hope everyone got to see him.  I still have him out and on my table.   He's now celebrating the fact that I cleaned up.  Sara just handed me hand warmers so I can finish this blog and then I'm going back over to the office where it is warmer.  Last night I worked on the Welsh cottage since weekends are dedicated to my joint project with Linda Wimbrow.  Good heavens this thatched roof is taking forever.  I decided to work on the side wall at the same time to give me somewhat of a break on thatching.  I still love the project though and can't wait to see it finished.  I also finished The Flock by SamSarah....this is a favorite of Sara's so I just had to do it for the shop.  As with all SamSarah it's a fun and funky piece and reminds me of spring (or is that just wishful thinking).  Anyway I'll show it once I get it framed.  I will have it in the shop next weekend for the Superbowl sale if you happen in.  And don't forget about the sale....in case you need anything...it's a fabulous sale and the time to stock up on the more expensive charts or accessories.  It starts Friday and goes through Sunday.  Stop by on Sunday and we'll have snacks as well.  We do enjoy our Sunday Superbowl.  No one goes away hungry for either food or needlework.