The party is over, but we're still here...

Yes, the Stitchers Jamboree is over and the hotel is officially closed.  It's been an exciting summer but we're pooped and glad to have a few months to regroup.  But, of course, the shop doesn't close so we're still here everyday, but that's our fun spot.  And boy howdy did  we have fun this weekend.  Stitchers Jamboree is a wonderful way to end the summer for us.  Imagine a weekend filled with classes and non-stop stitching with old friends and new.  Our stitchers actually  starting arriving on Wednesday.  These are the ladies who want to get a jump on the "pick of new merchandise" before the rest of the ladies arrive, plus they want to rest up before the run for classes begins.  The teachers, Lauren Sauer and Linda (Chessie and Me) arrived on Thursday with yet more stitchers, including Ginny who flew in on the same plane with Linda.  So we actually had time to visit with these ladies and since Lauren and Linda are returning teachers it's always good to catch on what is happening with them as well.  Then Friday our weekend begins.  Sara was busy cooking for 2 days and I was manning the shop...Sara may rethink this in the future as I was calling her every 5 minutes to figure out where new stuff was located in the shop (you'd think I never worked here before).  Adding to the excitement was a North Easter' which hit Ocean City on Wednesday and stayed here for the entire event....high winds, rain off and on all weekend and just miserable weather.  The good news...stitchers really don't give a damn because all they want to do is shop and stitch.  (We are so grateful they don't care...otherwise it would have been a really long weekend of complaints.)  Anyway, Patti (SamSarah Designs) arrived on Friday along with the rest of the stitchers, and the party commenced.  New attendees weren't strangers long as returning attendees are so welcoming to the newbies.  And it's always fun to see so many return....they became old friends to us long ago and we always look forward to seeing them again and catching up on their families as well as their stitching.  Plus...they always bring us show and tell.  I love to see what people have worked on and get ideas myself for projects.  It's inspiring to me.  And I saw a lot of great finishes.  Janice  Meixell was working on the cutest wedding sampler and not your typical sampler.  Her friends are getting married this winter and she picked a snowflake design, stitched white on navy linen and stitched the information in a wavy line through the piece.  Really different and a great idea.  I just would never have thought of that.  (a group of stitchers will always give you great ideas).  Barbara Nunez arrived with a box of her finishes...amazing!  The most unusual in my opinion was her "cigar box" etui.  It was a Jackie DuPlessis kit which she got long ago and what I loved the most was the cute little cigar box.  It was not a real one, but cute none the less and of course the smalls that went inside...well, you know I love a small.  I rushed over to the lobby of the hotel to show the ladies and one of our Jersey Girls said, "I have that in my stash and I haven't done it."  Meanwhile there was a group of us trying to figure out if we could duplicate the kit as it is no longer being produced.  Then she said the magic words..."I'll sell you mine."  Bingo baby...I was on it.  So when she gets home, she's going to send me the kit....I can't wait.  This was better than Ebay....no one was bidding against me and there was no time limitations.  Now it can sit in my stash for years, but at least I'll have it and can look at the little cigar box every day.  Saturday night Theresa Wood and I had our annual ornament exchange.  She stitched one of the darling little Christmas purses designed by Victoria Sampler and shown in the 2012 Ornament Magazine.  I had noticed them last year and had planned to stitch some of those myself...so I was thrilled...one more project off my list.  Thanks Theresa...I just love it.  As I had reported earlier I was struggling to get the little santa I stitched put together and couldn't figure out why this year I was having so many difficulties.  I figured it was my age.  After showing it to Linda and Patti who were sitting there, they along with Theresa informed me I had stitched it on 40 ct.  I don't know what I was thinking, I had just grabbed a small piece of linen and started stitching.  I knew the piece was small but had no idea it was 40 ct. over one.  I loved it, but next year I'm moving up to 32 or 28 for stitching .... the finishing is too difficult with all the angles I'm working around.  But at least I know my magnifiers are working like a charm since I didn't even realize it was 40 ct.  (I think it also might speak volumns about what an idiot I've become that as a shop owner I didn't even realize it... good thing Sara's taking over).  Anyway, the last of our stitchers left Wednesday so now we are getting things back to normal.  Or at least what we call normal.  I'm now busy getting ready for the C.A. Wells memorial weekend.  This is just a fun weekend so there is nothing really to do.  Everyone brings food and we just sit and stitch all weekend.  I am working on an annual piece for the weekend.  It's so much fun coming up with a Halloween memorial piece.  This year I didn't have to come up with the idea, I'm doing a chart by Dames of the Needle, and I'm only changing it slightly, so there is no brain power required.  Whoppee!!!!  As you may have guessed, my brain power is starting to go down hill. 

The end of a perfect weekend....

 Another beautiful Sampler and finish provided to us by Carolyn Newman...don't you just love it.  I always did like this piece.  It's a Shakespeare Peddler, "Weeds Make Haste".  It is just full of design elements and is perfect for a gardener,  or for your summer stitching.  Love it.  I also appreciate the fact that this is a nice size pillow,  so it will show up nicely if used on a sofa, etc.  Anyway, you can't see it but Carolyn won a blue ribbon with this piece as well.  She usually enters many, many pieces and darn near wins ribbons on everything.  Good Job Carolyn.  Thanks for loaning it to us.  When you come in the shop look for it.   (This was actually written after the Delaware Sampler Guild was here).  Yesterday the stitchers left after a weekend of  sunshine, a lot of  heat (wow...it was summer here and in the 80's), a lot of talking and a lot of laughing.  A good time was had by all, I think.  So thank you to all the stitchers from the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild.  We loved seeing you all again.  I'm sorry I didn't get much time with you, although I spoke with most of you during the weekend, but I've been taken out of the stitching shop whenever possible and put in other shops (I'm not sure but I think I've been demoted).  And then I took the grandchildren home with me Friday and Saturday so that their mother's could get the food out, etc.  Needless to say it was a busy weekend for us all.  We also want to thank Vera and her stitching group who were having a retreat in Ocean City and spent a lot of time in the shop as well.  That's right...two stitching retreats here and many, many stitchers.  While that makes for a very busy weekend, it's the most fun of all because no one is asking for string, fabrics for sewing, cigarettes, etc., no,  everyone that was here this weekend knew exactly what kind of shop Salty Yarns is and there were no dumb questions.  Alleluia!  Also thanks to Sheila Fitzhugh and Trudy Edwards who were vacationing here (they are also stitchers who come to Spring Retreat) and always bring me wonderful stitching treats.  This year was no different.  What they brought was so fabulous we're going to use them in goodie bags next year.  But first we have to make them....that could be the hitch, although I've already ordered the supplies and I really think I'm capable.  Shiela also brought her beautiful Quaker Christmas II, which is fabulous and allowed us to hang it so everyone could see it....and then left it for the winter so we could display it until she returns next May.  Wow...I have such wonderful stitchers who come here....so generous with their time and talents.  Thanks ladies for the treat and for the models you allow us to use.  We appreciate it.  Theresa Baird brought in her new samplers...oh my, absolutely gorgeous.  She is so talented, and these samplers are unbelievable, as they are full of details and done on 40 ct....fabulous.  Thanks Theresa...your talent for designing is amazing.  This is actually the final day for the hotel for the season, as far as outside renters.  Next weekend is the Stitchers Jamboree and then the hotel is shut down for the winter.  So poor Mary just can't wait.  She and her family has been living at the hotel in a very small space for the last 6 months, so moving back to her home is long overdue.  It gives us all time to rest and start preparing for next summer.  But the shop, Salty Yarns and Sea Trader will still be open  7 days through Thanksgiving and then 4 day weekends after that.  Exiting things happening here as we start working on the changes at the hotel.  Mary is on top of that while Sara is on top of things that deal with the shop.  Both girls did a fabulous job this summer and because of that I've been able to take days off, like today.  Normally, before a big event I'm in the shop or office everyday fighting to get orders placed and bills paid.  But this summer I only went  into the office for a couple of hours one day a week and I've had days off.  I'm really enjoying my semi-retirement...in fact a bit too much.  My mother wouldn't retire....her answer to me when I told her she was no longer working in the shop so she could relax was..."You are to put me back on the schedule...I don't know what you think I'm suppose to do all day but I refuse to sit upstairs and watch your father sleep in the chair."  She worked until the day she died.  However, I am not my mother, I said to Sara, "If you expect me to tell you to put me on a schedule like my mother told me, you are going to be seriously disappointed.  I'm taking the days and you won't even hear from me."  Which she hasn't, although she usually calls me to make sure I'm not dead on the floor.  So far so good!  Anyway, for those traveling to Ocean City for the event this weekend....please drive carefully.  Don't forget your scissors, needles, and any magnification and lighting you need and we'll see you ...starting Wednesday...as some arrive on that date and the rest follow on Thursday and Friday.  Safe travels.

The fat lady sings in 2 weeks...

Yes, it's all over but the shouting down here.  But what  gorgeous weekends we've had.  The sun was shining all weekend during Sunfest, biker's weekend which was beautiful during the day, rained one night and so the weekend was a success, and then last weekend for Winefest it couldn't have been more beautiful....so I'd say the fall has started off beautifully.    The temperatures were comfortable in the 70's...not too hot, so you could go on the beach if you wanted and at night you might want a sweatshirt, although many of us don't need one.   Starting tomorrow however, it's suppose to go back up into the 80's...whew I don't do well in heat...I'd like to refer to myself as a delicate flower....however, if you have seen me you would know I was anything but delicate.  Anyway, I'm thrilled that the Delaware Sampler Guild coming down next weekend and having their retreat at the hotel will be able to sit in the rockers on the porch and view the ocean as they stitch.  Our retreaters have been coming down and we have Judy's crew here for Pat Podziomek's birthday...Happy Birthday girl, a  week or so ago and Syd Serson was here from  Pa. for a few days.  It's always so strange to see these ladies here when we're not having an event, as they are always here for events...it's like an early event but Sara doesn't have to do the cooking and I don't have to have a goodie bag ready.  But it's fun to hear about their stitching, and connect with people that know what DMC floss is.    The picture above is the Winter Box from Victoria's Sampler, and beautifully stitched and finished by Carolyn Newman who entered it in the Delaware Fair and of course won with it.  We also have a few other pieces that Carolyn is letting us display so I'll get the others up soon, hopefully.  I'm having my usual issues with getting pictures up.  But I won't give up.  I love this box and also have it in my stash to stitch along with the 2 other boxes from Victoria Sampler.  At the rate I'm going, Sara will inherit all 3 charts (not the finished boxes), but I always have hope I'll get to everything stitched before I go (well if I live to be 300 that might happen, but since I'm 65 and circling the drain...not holding out much hope.    Anyway, Carolyn was gracious enough to let us have this to display in the shop so you can see it up close when you are here.  With the events right around the corner,   Sara has been like a demon ordering supplies and of course I've found some neat things for the goodie bags.  These goodie bags drive me nuts because I'm trying to find new things we haven't  used before and since we've been doing this for a while it's become a lot harder, but I'm ever vigilant and always on the lookout.  Thankfully Ruth at Nordic Needle knows I'll be calling her at the last minute and she can usually help us with the quantities we need or she has excellent suggestions for us...and this year was no different...although it wasn't quite the last minute since we ordered over a week ago.  Now let's keep our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates.    The Sherri Jones kits are in so you know what that means...more pre-stitch for me.  Barbara Nunez and I were trying to get the mermaid purse done by Jamboree as we had taken this class in Hilton Head, several years ago,  so we will be way ahead of others who don't have their kits, but I'm struggling with this.  I can't believe it, but I am.  I'm not sure I'll have it done for Jamboree, but I'm plugging along and hopefully I'll get there.  I'm one of those stitchers who will tear out if I've miscounted, but....I don't have time and for some reason no matter how  careful I've been this piece it has several miss counted placement issues, but I've plugged along anyway.  It still is a beautiful piece and I love it.  I've actually managed to stitch the back in a couple of days so I'm almost home....one more piece to do before Jamboree.  However, I had a tragedy with my ornament exchange.  I stitched an over one santa...it was so cute....and I did back and front and I was thrilled to have it done so early.  Only one problem...it was too small to put together properly, it was star shaped,  so I've had to chunk it and now I've got to start over...damn, I thought I did so well and was ahead of the game.  I can't seem to catch a break sometimes.  Debbie Liming was down for a week and got here last Monday in time to watch Hotel Impossible where The Lankford was featured.  While Sara, Mary and I were a red hot mess (thank you Anthony for showing that!) everyone felt we did just fine.  Sara, Debbie, Mary, Brian, and Vernon held the viewing in the lobby with some of the hotel staff.  I chose to sit at home by myself but called Sara every commercial to bitch and whine about parts of it (O.K. all of it)...because while they mis-represented things a little (like going into Sara's shops and saying while the town was filled (with high school seniors) her shops were empty.  The truth was, she took him into the shops before the shops opened in the morning so no one was in there because it wasn't open yet.  When they filmed in my shop their production person asked people to stay outside until they were done filming.  I'm telling you I was having screaming fits at the T.V. and on the phone with Sara.  But since she and everyone else in the lobby  were partying at the hotel while watching, and booze was flowing freely she just kept saying, "Mom, they have to show somethings wrong so they have a story to tell for t.v.  Calm down and don't worry about it."  I never did calm down and was glad I wasn't in the lobby with them since I seldom drink.  But in the end we all lived through it and we've had a steady stream of people coming in because they saw the show and wanted to see what was  happening here.  I didn't realize how many people saw this until people started coming in and introducing themselves to me and asking all kinds of questions.   It makes it hard to have a discussion with anyone (in this case Debbie) when people are pointing, waving and then just coming up to you and introducing themselves and then chatting us up.  Vernon says he's had  many, many people come in on his shift (he thinks around 300).  I had no idea since I'm never in the lobby unless a stitcher is here.  Who knew.  I was still fielding questions while working in the Shell Shoppe last weekend and also having to go down memory lane with old tenants.  Mercy...it wears me out.  But it's been a lot of positive feed back from the folks who caught the show so it's all good (as Sara would say), but I need to get out of here.....I'm not taking it as well as the girls.  Plus Sara is giving me some serious time off....last week I only worked 2 days....whoppee!!!! It's like snow days in the summer...I don't bath, get out of my P.J's,  although I did brush my teeth....that makes me a better person even if no one else is around.  I also started the annual clean up of my stitching room which after a summer of dumping bags in here resembled a room on hoarders.  I'm even throwing stuff away...oh it's hard sometimes, but I envision the kids having to clean this up when I'm dead and can see the eyeballs rolling and the "what the hell was she going to do with all this stuff".....I just can't let that happen, so I'm going to really start going through this stuff and unload some of it.  I tend to pick up the same charts that have been here forever, think "I'm never going to stitch this now" but then I think, well I'm never going to read all the books on the shelves either but I'm not throwing them out, so I put the chart back in the pile and leave it for another day.  I'm a work in progress.  Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone  for their comments sent to our e-mail, regarding the show...we appreciate your kind comments and I look forward to seeing  several of you over the next couple of weekends.   I will be somewhere on the property, although this weekend I'll be relegated to the Shell Shoppe...I can't figure out if I've been demoted or not, but the events tend to wear me out so being downstairs for me isn't as tiring.  Wait until you see the finish that Debbie and Sara did Sunday.  They had made plans earlier to put their  Sherri Jones Blue Ribbon boxes together during the week  Debbie was here (she's actually here for the nursing convention....but it's only 1 day so she has plenty of stitching time).  Anyway, Debbie got here and discovered she had forgotten to finish it so Sara and I both thought that was the end of the "put together of the box piece".  But Debbie worked all week to get the pieces done that were involved and Sunday during work she and Sara put the boxes together.  They are gorgeous and I've asked Sara to leave it in the shop so stitchers can see it.  Gorgeous!    I did the pre-stitch and decided to put my initials on it in hopes I'd get to keep it at my house for a while.  Since Mary doesn't stitch, all of my stitching will end up with Sara anyway, unless Mary shows an interest later on, so she will get it back and the initials are her's as well....before she got married so we can both take ownership.  When I stitched Hare Pyns for her (the 2nd Sherri Jones class) I put here initals on it so we would each have one.  But Hare Pyns hasn't been finished yet....but at least my piece is done...another whoppee!!!!  Well I've got to go.  I stitched Shepherd's Bush "Fright Night" for Sara to wear and of course, I decided that just putting it in the tin frame and using a black cord wasn't good enough....so after a visit to Michaels for beads, etc., I'm trying to jazz it up, but it's cute as it is so the black cord may end up as the necklace but I'll drive myself crazy tonight trying to make a silk purse out of this .  Wish me luck!

The end is officially in sight....

Yes the end of summer is almost officially over.  At least 6 more days, Sunfest will become a memory and Ocean City declares summer is over and our second season begins.  Here we declared summer is over but we have two very busy weekends ahead, Delaware Guild's retreat on the first weekend of October and Jamboree on the 2nd weekend. Here's Sara with her second completed knitting project....done in about 4 hours on 35 knitting needles. The yarn is called Faux Fur and comes in a variety of colors.   I'll tell you at first when she first walked in I said, "Good God, it looks like you're wearing a shag carpet, but after looking at it for a few minutes, it works.  By the next hour I was telling her how cute I thought she looked it in.  Anyway, that girl is really on a knitting jag.  She has also finished one of Noni's "Lipstick Purses" which is now being dried in the shop after felting.  These little purses are sooo darn cute.  Anyway, she's a knitting a rug now again on the 35 needles.  Me, well I'm still doing the old counted cross stitch and loving it.  I've got several projects in the works but getting things done for Jamboree is taking all my time.  But that's O.K....I'm only working days now...whoppee...we've started our off-season hours so we're open 10 - 4 now and I've got my nights to stitch so when I'm not dozing I'm stitching.  And this week I've got 2 days off again...another big whoppee...of course I said I needed 2 days in a row to get my house cleaned up...we'll see what excuse I come up with this time....too busy stitching to pick up the mop!  UPDATE:  O.K., no one called us but Brian looked up the schedule for Hotel Impossible and evidently our show will be aired next Monday (September 23) at 10:00 p.m.  He said Anthony's promo is that we are dilapidated and feuding..and of course I take offense at that since we are outdated but not dilapidated and we are a normal family that doesn't always see things the same way.  But the kids reminded me that he had to say something and he'd already said how well we maintained the building and we were cleaner than any other hotels he'd been to...but don't we think he could have said outdated instead of dilapidated and still make a point?  Anyway, I think all who have visited us for retreats will agree that we need updating to bring us to 2013, but hardly dilapidated.  But I still love Anthony and his crew and they were wonderful to us while they were here, regardless of the amount of crying that went on.  Well, it should make for interesting conversation if nothing else.  We just had Bike Week down here....oh, the noise of it all, however, I hope all the bikers had a good time.  They do bring a lot of money into the resort, not necessarily into Salty Yarns, but they help fill the hotels and I am grateful for that....but I am also grateful that the noise is gone.  Mercy, can you just get on a bike and start the darn thing without revving it up for 15 minutes?   NEW EMPLOYEE....we feel very fortunate to have a new employee with us, and we love that she was one of our retreaters so she knows the store.  Judy Brunclik,  is our new asset,  and she and her husband decided to retire down here...so they are picking out a home in Delaware near Fenwick and Rehoboth so she's a short drive away.  Judy was the main instigator of the stitching project so many of you were involved in earlier this year as a surprise to me.  Which by the way, is still hanging in the lobby of the hotel and has provided us with wonderful compliments all summer.  (how could Anthony call us dilapidated with all the beautiful needlework hanging in the lobby?...apparently I'm not over it).  Anyway, we're still here, busy working away on events and we hope to see you all soon.

Oh, My God...are you kidding me?

O.K., it's nearing the end of the season, I'm in an extremely vulnerable place, I'm tired even though I've had more time off than ever before in the summer and today.  I've got the beginning of a summer cold...ugh!  I woke up this morning feeling crappy, but the weather had taken a decided turn toward fall so I was a happy camper.  Forget that this weather would affect visitors to town, at this point in the season I'll throw anyone under the bus to get things going my way.  Yesterday being the big party for Solomon, I worked the shop so Sara could help her sister.  The shift started with a customer who hadn't been in before, and apparently hadn't done needlework for quite some time.....a few years to say the least.  She was in the shop for about an hour going through racks to pick just the right charts and finally came forward with 3.  She asked to get the "stuff" necessary to stitch 2 of them.  Since she was my first customer I popped up (O.K. that should have read I slowly got out of the chair and centered myself) then went to find fabric.  It called for Pearled Barley by Lakeside.  So I put the fabric on the cutting table and she says, "Oh, you are out of the fabric."  I said, "No, this is the fabric."  She said, well the picture shows white fabric.  Which forced me to have to explain about the distortion in color that you see with photos.  Then she said, she felt Pearled Barley was the color of the thread as fabric wasn't mentioned anywhere on the chart.    This is about the time I had to start reminding myself "customer service, customer service, you can get through this, just smile and cut her some white linen and get over it."  But you know when you are confronted and you just have to prove the other person wrong....well, apparently that is where I was at that moment...so I took a deep breath, put my finger on the chart where it said, 32 count Pearled Barley Linen from Lakeside Linen and said, "If you look at this spot where you saw the Pearled Barley after which it states Linen by Lakeside Linen.  The fiber used is Threadgatherer."  So I cut her a piece of white and called it a day.  Then I pull the 2nd chart,  which used  Confederate Gray by Weeks and when I saw that the chart on this one also looked like it used white fabric I started the conversation differently.  This time I said, "As you can see by the label this is the Weeks Confederate Gray as shown on the pattern....to which she said, "So you don't have the fabric they used."  It's about that time that my mind started to walk away with my body slowly following.  But again, I said, "We do have the fabric, that is what this is if again you will look at the label and read it.  Again you cannot tell by the photographs the true color of the fabric.  But if you want white, I have that and would be only to happy to cut some white for you.  But she decided she'd take the Confederate Grey.  Honestly, she wore me out and I couldn't wait for my shift to end.  Finally 7:30 came and Sara was finished helping Mary and I was able to run home and forget the shop.  The kids had asked if I saw Hotel Impossible which began it's new season on Monday.  Since we are all waiting for the "episode" we are keeping an eye on this show.  This was the show I wanted to see as they were at a B&B in Baltimore and Anthony had told me it was so bad that the entire crew got sick after filming there.  So I decided to "On Demand" it and it didn't disappoint, or should I say Anthony didn't disappoint me.  He is passionate about what he does.  While he literately torn things off the wall on this episode, I can honestly say he did none of that here.  But it makes me nervous thinking about how they put together our episode using the most dramatic moments....fortunately my falling face first into the shop wasn't caught on film...at least I don't think it was.  Initially we were told our episode would probably be in October, however, since they have done the Baltimore segment, Greece is next and they were in Greece prior to coming here, I'm thinking we might be in the next few weeks.  I'm watching it closely though,  so I'll keep you posted.  I'm nervous, but I have to say we're feeling more upbeat this summer, and a lot of that has to do with Anthony and his crew being here for 5 days.  He changes your direction and here they changed what he called our outdated systems.  Unlike the people on Baltimore's episode we were aware our systems were outdated, we just couldn't afford or didn't know how to go about changing the systems.  Anyway, I await nervously for our episode.  I might get the kids to watch it and let me know if I should watch it....oh, hell you know that isn't going to happen...but I will watch it alone.  I'm sure there is going to be a little backtracking going on from all of us.

Cottage by the sea

I feel very remiss in not getting this on the blog sooner....especially since it took Theresa Baird, the designer for Heart's Ease Examplar Workes,  a year to get me the charts...God love her!  But it's finally here, I mean the charts, and the model is gorgeous.  This is an original design and so appropriate for us since we live right on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean.  The verse..."But Oh, to live in a rose covered cottage on a hill overlooking the sea.  Where I'd patiently watch the tall ships sailing by 'til my love returns safely to me"....is set off by a rose covered cottage and you can see the tall ship coming into the harbor. Theresa always stitches on 40 ct.  and used Magnolia by Lakeside on this piece,   but as you know it can be done on any count, however, she does not recommend you stitch it on Aida.  The finished design when stitched is approx. 11 5/8" x 11 5/8" .  She used Belle Soie but has also given you the numbers for NPI.  As I've reported already, Belle Soie are so back ordered and we have been unable to get some of the more popular colors  for so long I'm not sure if they are still dying silk, so my suggestion is to use NPI.  This is a gorgeous  piece which will be a real show stopper in your house.  Thank you Theresa for entrusting us with your beautiful charts.   I did finish the 2nd part of the Little House Mystery Sampler last night,  so tonight I move on to the 3rd and final part.  Everytime I work I pull more charts and kits to stitch so I'm in a total melt down on getting things completed.  And I can't wait to see my Hometown Holiday pieces finished and sitting on the display in front for the holidays....it's going to be so cute done on 18 ct.  Big, that's for sure, but it will make a nice statement...I just wish I had a mantle to put it on during the holidays.  I've been reading blogs again, and as many of you know, I do not ever enter my stitched pieces in competitions.  First I think it would be unfair as I have access to just about any fiber, fabric, embellishment, etc., as a shop owner and competing with my customers just isn't what I want to do.  Several of my customers compete in fairs and juried shows and I love to see the blue ribbons as they proudly show off their work.  In fact we have a few of Carolyn Newman's pieces along with their ribbons on display...gorgeous.  I promise to get them up on the blog in the next few days.  Anyway, I was reading about one stitcher's entries and the ribbons she won, but I also read the comments she posted from the judges...and while I stitch for my own enjoyment I couldn't help but compare what the judges had to say about her work to my work and it doesn't take a genius to know they'd be making comments about my stitching as well.  I found that I was losing some of the joy of stitching worrying about all the little things I know judges look for.  After reading the blog, and realizing I had a few issues (according to what the judges wrote) with my stitching  I kept tearing out and restitching until I finally called it a night.  I'm hoping that tonight I can leave all that behind since I don't give a tinkers damn....I love stitching for my own enjoyment and hopefully for anyone I stitch for.  If it's not perfection...well I don't care.  Neither am I.  Well here's hoping I can get over the comments.  I thought the stitchers pieces looked wonderful and didn't notice the little things that the judges noticed.  So who are you stitching for?

I'm all about these boxes for the moment...another one finished...again Shepherd's Bush..."Say Thanks" with a Thanksgiving theme I believe.  Anyway, I love these designs and boxes but don't put any of the words on them because it isn't necessary for me.  I also finished the Lizzie Kate Halloween Mystery Sampler from 2012 which I will show tomorrow as soon as I put the new charms, etc. on it.  You see, I didn't have one of these cute little boxes sitting next to my chair,  to store my embellishments for my works in progress,  so of course I mislaid the embellishment pack for the first chart and I didn't want to use the charms given in the second chart because...well I wanted more of a Halloween theme going (there's a key charm and a star included) so I ordered a skeleton charm, a coffin charm and a witches head charm to choose from and so that decision still has to be made as the charms just got here last night and I'm stilling making a decision.  Meanwhile I've moved ahead and have almost finished the second part of the Little House Needleworks Mystery Sampler....and as usual I have had a few issues with it.  I love, love, love Little House Needleworks...but as with everything there are things I would change and so I do.  That doesn't mean there was anything wrong with the original design, I just have to make the design my own.  That's allowed!  Since part 3 is now out, although it hasn't shown up here yet, I want to have this finished by Sunday and I think I can do it.  I better since I've got so much in my todo bag as it is..I need to stay up nights to get it all done.  Wednesday I had the day off (whoppee!!!) and did nothing but stitch all day.  I only read when I was in the bathroom and wouldn't allow myself out on the porch to read as I need to get these pieces stitched.  I didn't do one load of wash, nor did I run the mop or sweeper or anything else...I sat and stitched from morning until I went to bed.  I had the best time ever.  Boy if this is what retirement is like...sign me up!  But I'm back to reality and working tonight.  Molly Linkz stopped by tonight...she and Sandy  were both here the other day and it's always nice to talk to a stitcher and find out what they are working on.  Judy Brunclik also stopped by the other day...she has finally made the move to our area, she's up in Delaware but close enough and thinks she will be joining our stitching group so that's exciting.  Welcome Judy, glad to have you near.   I get so inspired by others...by God I check out blogs constantly and I can't wait to get back to my needle.  If you are feeling like you are in a funk....and can't seem to get motivated....check out the needlework blogs....and I'm always checking out the "Largest collection of smalls."  I am so aggravated with myself as the other night at work (where I seem to do my most blog reading) I came across someone's blog who worked on the most fabulous projects, a lot of class pieces, mostly class pieces really, I saw Betsy Morgan's class piece, Amy Mitten's pieces (including the mermaid treasure piece) and now I can't find it again or remember who it was.  I was trying to show Sara...and I've spent half the week going to various blogs trying to locate this one.  It was truly inspirational.  But alas, I haven't discovered it again, but I've seen some wonderful blogs, so if you are blogging and showing your work, keep it up....it is motivational.