Happy Valentine's Day

While I no longer have a significant other in my life, I still got a Valentine gift.  Sara gave me the Tristan Brooks "Sweet Heart of Mine."  I couldn't be more thrilled.  While I said we weren't going to purchase any more of these gorgeous specialty kits until we finished some of the multiple kits we've already purchased...several Merry Cox, Several Jackie DuPlessis, approx. 20 Moss Creek making fun of us daily, at least 5 of the Just Nan Limited Edition Kits...well you can see the list just goes on and on so I made the declaration in the fall when Stasi Buhrman asked if we'd seen "this" and sent us a link.  Stasi gets us into all kinds of trouble showing us the fabulous specialty kits being offered.  I am proud to say in the fall I stayed firm....but Sara got me into the 2 clubs offered through R & R and when I saw Tristan Brooks design I said, the hell with my declaration, I want that.  Then I justify this with..."I don't smoke, I don't really drink (I may have a drink when I go out which isn't that often and then I don't always have a drink so I probably only have about 12 drinks a year), I don't go on vacations anymore and I work a lot so I deserve it.  Yes that gives me the go ahead....and then I read about the group that has made the declaration that they can't buy anything new during the year except I think they can spend $15.00 / month on supplies to finish what they already have.  I read about this and then told Sara about it and we both said, "Well that is just impossible...."  And I have to say I couldn't do that.  I see designs and can't imagine not having that in my collection (since my stash is so enormous it is no longer possible for me to ever finish it all so it's now a collection.)  I'm extremely lucky as I have Sara who loves needlework as much as I do so I have someone younger to pass it on to...in fact her eyes light up a little to much when she is in my stitching room and sees all that will be coming her way...uh, oh...should I be watching my back?  Just kidding...fortunately for me Sara is a mini me and takes wonderful care of me, especially when I'm not feeling so hot.  She returned from her "The How-To's of Counted Canvas" taught by Debbie Rowley and while she's glad she took it, she ranted for about 20 minutes about the others in the class.  You would think as shop owners they would have seen and used many of the fibers, etc., however that wasn't the case.  While Debbie was very patient and understanding and Sara feels she certainly deserves a happy hour after that class, the retailers taking it needed a class on threading needles and help figuring out how to use perle cottons.  She was ready to walk out after 15 minutes because the other students questions were grating on her nerves.  Meanwhile, I lsleep all afternoon.  Again  didn't touch a needle, but now that I'm back up...I'm feeling good again so we are about to go shopping the floors early.  Having fun in our last Nashville...will keep you posted.   We're done for the night.  Sara's back is killing her (fortunately I brought my meds which I haven't needed but at least I can let her take them for pain, etc.)  Anyway, once we had eaten we started hitting the vendors who were open tonight.  I had made a list of the vendors who were offering limited edition stuff so we could hit them first, but things got a little testy with Sara (she isn't feeling well I understand) and I could see it wasn't going to end well so I said the hell with it and we headed back to our rooms hopefully so her back can get some relief.   The rooms are so damn hot I was about to have a heat stroke and we had to stand in line  in a couple of rooms...and Sara was so testy everytime I went to order something she didn't want there were words...but really I've tried to get her to order the Lone Elm shaker boxes since this summer and she just wouldn't do it so when I saw their room....well let's just say, we will have the Elm Street boxes in the shop as soon as they ship them.  I got several colors and several sizes and their charts for them which I think were very well done.  But as downhill as things were going I'm so excited with what I've got at this point I'll be going through it all night.  Picking out what I want to work on....like I don't have enough to work on.

It's finally time and the last Nashville market has begun.  While I'm sad it's the last one...crushed really, I am excited about this one.  In preview I've seen a few just "have to have" pieces...so tonight Sara and I will start our shopping.  Sara actually has a class today.  She signed up for a canvas class since she's never had one so I'll be on my own for a few hours this afternoon.  I plan to sleep and stitch.  Speaking of stitching....you will see that after a week of trying, I finally finished stitching Barbara Ana's Spring Biscornu last night...and I added a scissor fob besides.  This should have been a 2 day stitch and it's taken me over a week....darn!  But the good news is I get to start a new project...and that is a big whoopee!!!  I wish I had brought my finishing supplies so I could put this together, but at least the stitching is done.  Obviously I am on the road to recovery.  Thank God!  Sara  has discovered that her Halloween piece was making her allergy's flare so she's had to stop working on it.  I begged her to let me finish this piece as I don't want to have to look at it for another 10 years....please already but she said NO!  And we will be leaving here without it finished again.  This is really the project that will not die.  But she's now working on Sherri Jones so we'll see how that goes.  I'll keep you posted...Have a great day.

Spring Biscornu

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.