Boot and Renee Update....

The person who hosted our website informed us she was no longer going to be able to do it after May 1st, and so we moved it to another site, unfortunately there was more involved than we had anticipated so our site was down for several days.  But thankfully Sara has it back up and so we can now update.  I'm thrilled to report personally, the boot is now history, but I have to say the pain is still happening most days.  I'm trying hard to ignore it, but at times it just gets the better of me.  I worked Spring Retreat on Friday and Saturday and spent all day Sunday sitting on the sofa, icing and whining.  I hate that I do that and try to remember all those who have more serious issues like Renee, but that doesn't always work.  But anyway, I think I'm on the road to recovery and at least I'm mobile.  Renee, however, has spent the last month in the hospital or in rehab.  She will be home any day now though so that's great news.  When we returned from Nashville Market in March, we were told Renee had a fall,  after which they found she fractured (broke) her hip and since she had an illness which make it difficult for her to have surgery she was just going to suck it up and let the hip repair on it's own. (ouch)  Since she had bone spurs which made it more difficult to move, she decided to have foot surgery,  during which they do not have to put her under.  She was in rehab for that when after a week  she was taken to the hospital for pain where they found she had a ruptured bowel and again, she had surgery.  Gretchen, her daughter, text Sara to say she wasn't doing well and it seemed to be touch and go and they were afraid the end wouldn't be far away.  But, our Renee is such a fighter, and she rallied again and was moved out of ICU and into a regular room.  At the beginning of Easter Week, we have been informed that she had a problem after being moved to rehab, her stitches let go and she was bleeding so she's back in PRMC after going through surgery once again.   She is a warrior and has been fighting her own on-going health problems for over 40 years.  I'm embarrassed for my own failure to put my problems in perspective when I have Renee here as a role  model for how you deal with what life hands you.  She never complains or whines.  But it will be wonderful to see her home, visiting the shop and up and about again.   So much has taken place in the shop since I last blogged.  We had the fabulous weekend with Sherri, and her projects are always so fabulous so that it's a fun weekend.  Lots of stitchers and lots of fabulous show and tell.  OMG, show and tell leads to wonderful new ideas and inspiration.   Thank you to all Sherri's regulars as well as new Sherri devotees for making it such a fabulous weekend for Salty Yarns and a huge Thank you to Sherri for making it a fabulous weekend for the stitchers.  Anyway, let me take the time to say Thank You to Sherri Jones who always provides our stitchers with such beautiful projects.  She also gifted me the cutest gift bag on which she had transfered my initial and a standing rabbit (so cute) for Easter.  It's already in my display cabinet waiting for me to get a Sherri Jone's Hare project done (Sara gave it to me for Christmas).  I will display them together and it will be the start of my Sherri Jones tribute display. Two weeks after Sherri, The Delaware Valley Sampler Guild had a retreat in the Lankford and of course we saw them many times in Salty Yarns (located in the Lankford)  We actually consider these stitchers locals we see them so often, so when they are here it is like "old home week."  Their group has grown so in the last year,  there were around 40 of the stitchers here for the retreat.  And again, show and tell was fantastic.  While they love samplers, they stitch a variety of fabulous projects which are not sampler related.  Anyway, it was a fun weekend with so many of our friends and stitchers here.   And then this past weekend was the Spring Retreat with 70 in attendance.  Whew!  busy weekend but such fun and show and tell pieces that were fabulous, yet again.  I so enjoy seeing the finished pieces stitchers do.  It is  inspirational.  I always go home with new ideas for projects or with finishing.  I'm always looking for new ways to finish.  I had specific projects I wanted finished for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day as well as Easter.  While I had the stitching done in time I didn't get the finishing done so I made sure I had it done for Spring retreat, since I was feeling better.   First up, "Spring Fling"  from With Thy Needle and Thread.   I wasn't even going to stitch this one, even though I liked it, because back in January I stitched her Snowman piece which became oversized when I stitched it on 20 ct. Weeks Dye Works Blue Jeans over 2.  I got sick of stitching so much white, so while I finished the snowman and loved him, I didn't think I wanted to do a huge piece again with so much white.  But Kathy was pulling her fabric and threads and said I should also do it, and then Sara jumped on the wagon and pulled the 20 ct. Red Pear linen so of course I started thinking fibers and the next thing I knew I was taking it home.  It was, of course, a fun stitch done on 20 ct. over 2 using #5 Pearl Cotton from DMC and Weeks Dye Works, no trouble seeing that!  I did have to make color changes, used DMC purple, outline 208, inside 210 and then the center is done in Turkey Work using DMC 310, for the flowers in place of the pinks as that did not show up on the Red Pear linen.  I also redesigned the bird because I couldn't get the wings on the original bird to stand out.  So I looked at the cardinal on the Snowman which I loved, and just made this one a little smaller but in somewhat the same shape.  The wings were still small, but I used bargello to stitch the wings to make them stand out a little more.  I do have a chart for these two birds in the shop so while you are in Salty Yarns you can ask  for a copy.  I used WDW moss for the leaves and DMC 3051 for the vines.  I stitched the inside of the ears, the checks and the nose with WDW Sweetheart Rose and then I satin stitched over the nose to give it more dimension.  Of course I used 2 small black beads (jewelry beads) for the eyes.  For the robins however, I stitched the eyes using white DMC and then placing a Mill Hill black bead in the corner so they look like they are looking at the rabbit.   For the birds I used WDW Chestnut for the head and the wing, WDW Terra Cotta for the body and WDW Whiskey for the beak and the legs.  For the miscellaneous motifs throughout the design I used DMC 818.  Kathy is stitching on Blush linen, using the suggested count, and it too is just beautiful.  So stitching this the way Brenda shows it or stepping out of the box and using the 20 ct. Red Pear, it's fun, goes quickly and in the end is fabulous.  My version on 20 ct. measures 16 1/2" x 9 1/2" when stitched while Brenda's original on 32 ct. finishes approx 10 1/4" x 6".

 

I initially stitched Heart in Hand's Redbird Sampler for Valentine's Day.  I'm not a gushing sweet person, so I wanted red projects that didn't talk about love, etc.  This was perfect and can stay out all year.    Done in one color and I used DMC pearl cotton # 304 on  18 ct. Lambswool linen.  A really.   easy stitch and small enough it only takes a couple of days.  Finished size on 18 ct. over 2 is 10" x 4".  I did use a pillow form that was too bulky which is why it looks like the sides are somewhat drawn in.  I was too lazy to make my own and haven't been to the store to get the correct size.  But I'll get there in the end.  Cecelia's model was worked on 26 ct. Natural Brown over 2 threads using WDW Lancaster Red.  It's finished size is approx. 8" x 3"

 
 I was disappointed I didn't get my Mill Hill Rabbit egg finished, or the adorable Brenda Gervais bunny in the round.  But I need to move on to summer stitching, so these will start up my Easter finishes in 2020.  Right now I'm working on Brenda Gervais Quaker Sewing Tray and believe it or not I'm stitching on the size she recommends since I want to finish it in scalloped wooden tray like she shows it.  I'll have the stitching done today, but the finishing is still up in the air.  I have the tray, but I need to paint it and wax it and well that is the part I don't like working on.  But I'll get to it this week hopefully.  And of course that means I get to move on to a new project....several are lined up ready to go so I have no idea which it will be.  Glad to be back stitching and walking again....hope you too are stitching and showing us what you are doing.  You inspire others so be sure to post your projects.  Talk to you soon, as I have to update the website which is finally back up and running.  Thank you all for your patience with us on this....we are a work in progress when it comes to technology.   

A Nashville Finish at last....

It's been a long journey for me getting back my independence, with the boot on my foot, but I'm a work in progress and I'm getting back into the spirit of stitching again. One would think that this current issue I have would give me plenty of time to stitch, however, for some reason when I'm sick or have a problem like this I sit and do nothing.  That's really how I know I'm getting out of the funk and on the road to recovery....I'm stitching everyday again.  Before I had the accident I did finish a couple of pieces but didn't post because I was in a deep funk and feeling very sorry for myself.  Nashville market didn't help because I was not feeling well so while I was able to work and get tickets done for the items we were bringing home, it was all I did.  As much as Stasi Buhrman,  who so nicely came with us to help Sara, and Sara tried to get me out of the funk, it just didn't work.  I never picked up a needle in Nashville.  I did pick out some stuff I wanted to stitch...a bright light at a dark time.  Anyway,  finally a  Nashville finish.  "You Had Me At Flamingo"...so much fun to stitch and I love the tray which we've had in the shop since last year with me trying to find just the right project for it.  Couldn't be more thrilled.  I still have to do what Cathy refers to as the "charms" for it, and I'll be doing them a little larger so that I can use them as smalls, scissor sheath, needle book and pin wheel, so they are a work in progress but I just couldn't wait to show you the tray finish.  I could have used 40 ct. linen over 2 for the tray insert, I chose to use 22 ct. hardanger so that I would have space around the design for the turquoise wool which I attached the design to in order to get a color in there to compliment the flamingo design, otherwise it was a little too much white on white.  If you wanted to stitch it on a color linen then I don't think  you'd need the turquoise wool...but the design just pops on white or antique white.  I also used mini black beads for the flamingo's eyes.  Other than that I used the fibers Cathy recommended.  This is going to make a wonderful stitching set once I get the smalls done.  I'll keep you posted.

A must have for this is the flamingo pin shown next to the "E" above.  Made by JABCO it is so cute and just adds such a cute note to this pin cushion tray.

WhoHoo....we're at the Nashville Market...Let the games begin

It's been a hard month leading into the Nashville trip, and for a while it was questionable that I would even be able to go, but Sara kept saying I was going so I got in the van Tuesday morning and I'm glad I decided to suck it up and come.  But let me fill you in a little on what happened prior to the trip.  We had such a wonderful Super bowl weekend, and had stitchers from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland staying on the property for the weekend so it was like partying with old friends all weekend.  Sara and I were so thrilled to see so many stitchers who stopped by to talk and to shop, and we had plenty of mail orders, etc., so the weekend was a success for Salty Yarns.   But for Sara and me it was about connecting with our friends, stitching, show and tell, etc., as well as working.  Debbie Shiowaza  brought in a large box filled with finished class projects from Jackie Du Plessis, Betsy Morgan, Sherri Jones, Catherine Theron as well as projects from other designers.  Fabulous, and amazing, inspiring the rest of us to pull out unfinished class projects and get them done.    We also have to thank everyone who came to the shop, text orders or e-mail orders we are so grateful and appreciative.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I spent Tuesday, after the sale, recuperating (I really think I'm too old to continue participating as it takes me all week to rest up), but Tuesday afternoon Mary called and asked if Izi, my youngest grandson, could spent time with me as she and Brian has school duties with Solomon.  I love spending time with Izi, especially since he's over his "Mine craft" phase, which I never understood.  I thought it would be fun to let him pick a restaurant and we'd go out to dinner.  He picked Panera's so off we went and on leaving the restaurant, I fell on the grass.  Since people were sitting outside, my slip and fall did not go unnoticed and poor Izi was absolutely dumb founded.  After assuring him I was alright,  as I fell on the soft grassy section, and letting him know that his pulling on my arm was appreciated but wasn't going to get me off the ground, I rolled over, got on my knees, and managed to get up.  Once home we ate and I was fine, since the ground was damp and soft the only thing damaged was my pride, my mud soaked sweater, and my pants. So I changed my clothes and we continued our little dinner party.  Brian called to let me know he was on his way to pick up Izi, so I got him ready to go and proceeded out the door to the front porch to wait.  As I stepped on the threshold, wearing my new slippers with rubber soles, my feet apparently slid causing my knees to buckle and I went down on my knees (2nd fall in 2 hours), and I knew I was hurt as I moaned and groaned.  Brian was waiting at the door and heard me  and finally got Izi who was frozen in place, to open the door.  Brian was wonderful in keeping me calm, and comforting me.  All I could think of was how the hell was I going to get off the ground with two injured knees.  But with Brian's help I was able to get up and get on the sofa where I lived for 2 days, barely moving.  After 2 days, with the help of 2 canes and a walker I was able to start moving around the apartment.  After a week I was able to stand in the shower and finally get out of the house, February 14th.  Mary and her family were leaving later on the 14th for Florida so they came down around 5:30 to say goodbye.  As I was walking them out to the porch, in the same slippers, my knees buckled again as I hit the threshold and down I went once again, but this time as I realized what was happening I twisted a little and went down on my side as opposed to my knees.  I was so distraught that I was just feeling better after the fall a week ago,  that I just lay there and cried.  But Mary rallied the troops and Brian, Vernon and Jake showed up to get me off the floor once again.  Once I settled down I assured Mary I was fine and she should continue with her vacation plans, let Sara know I'd be find and sent she and her troop home, however, in another hour I was trying to adjust my sweat pants which were slidding down my butt and managed to fall off the sofa (4th fall-or roll in this case- in 2 weeks) and I got wedged in between the sofa and a table and couldn't get unwedged so I had to call Sara for help getting off the floor.  She and Vernon arrived, got me unwedged and up again (I have to tell you my life was really becoming an embarrassment) and Sara informed me she was moving in.  I felt terrible for Sara feeling she couldn't stay home and would miss having a free weekend, as her boys and Vernon were going to the Daytona Races that weekend. She had talked endlessly how much she was going to enjoy the weekend, not cooking, and just lounging around stitching....and then she gets stuck with me.  I felt so guilty and the thought about Nashville had been on my mind since my first fall.  But in this last fall my foot got stuck under the front porch door and Mary tried closing the door without realizing it, and between that and the fall my ankle hurt.  I knew this wasn't going to be fixed by Nashville so I suggested Sara call Stasi Buhrman and see if she was available to take my place.  Sara kept saying I would be going as well, but felt we did need Stasi and we were thrilled when she said she could do it. So that was a major problem solved.   Each time I walked on the foot my ankle really hurt so I felt it was sprained and would get better, but after a week the ankle was hurting more not less so  I told Sara we needed to call my doctor who has trouble getting me into his office so when I called he told us to come right in.    He then sent us for x-rays which revealed a fracture.  Then we went to get a boot.  He also booked an appointment with an orthopedic doctor to look at the foot on Monday.  We were to leave on Tuesday for Nashville.  Both doctors felt going to Nashville wasn't a good move and both said it was urgent that I stay off that one foot.  But Tuesday morning Sara came and picked me up and we headed to Stasi's house in Virginia to get her on board.  We did stop, before picking up Stasi for lunch and found that a wheel had jammed on the walker I was using and while trying to fix it, the wheel fell off the walker.  This didn't bode well for the rest of the week, but we had no choice by continue.  We got to Stasi's where her husband checked out the walker and decided the best choice was to use Stasi's mother's walker which they keep for her when she comes to visit so we switched out the walkers and we were once again on our way.  We arrived in Nashville Wednesday and the hotel had a wheel chair I could use so things were looking up.  I was thrilled and I felt better after using it for a while.  Exhausted I chose to stay in the room while I sent Sara and Stasi out to eat, etc.  After an exhausting day we all turned in.  I had trouble getting comfortable around the pain of the ankle but finally found a way to prop it and get comfortable when what I thought was the smoke alarm started beeping. As I was trying to figure out whether to call and bother Sara or just the front desk,  I heard "We have an emergency, please evacuate to the first floor, go to the stairways, do not use the elevators".  Meanwhile I'm wondering why Sara hadn't come over as she has spent the last two weeks making sure I was alright at all times.  But I got out of bed, picked up the boot, which I take off to sleep, and headed for the door in the wheelchair.  As soon as I opened the door Sara was standing there in a panic because she couldn't get my room key to work and couldn't get to me.  Next thing Stasi was at the door. We were all looking around and I just said, Look there is no way I can get down 7 floors of stairs..  I'm just going down with the building but you two go down, but as we looked over the railing we see Peggy and Pat from Fern Ridge designs standing at the railing on their floor just looking down to the lobby as well along with many others.  No one seemed to be headed to the lobby so Sara said, no we will all just stay here.  Sara did call the front desk to see tell them I was in a wheel chair and couldn't go down the stairs.  They said to just stay where we were as the fire company was on the way, plus no one  knew why the alarm went off as they couldn't find a problem. After less than 5 minutes the alarm stopped and everything returned to normal.  When Sara and Stasi ran into the ladies from Fern Ridge and Sharon from Purple Thread,  who also knew I was wheel chair bound,  these sweet ladies said they were all ready to come up to us and get me down the stairs.  Even though I knew that would be impossible it was so sweet of these ladies thinking of us.  Thanks ladies.   Anyway we went back to bed.  Thursday Sara and Stasi did a 2 mile walk around the neighborhood while I stayed in the room.  Because I actually wasn't walking at all, my foot was feeling better but I still didn't want to leave the room.  So Sara and Stasi went out for lunch and some retail therapy and brought me a present and some desserts from Puffy Muffin...yummo.  The room door was propped open and as stitchers went by they were waving to us and greeting us and one group even stopped in and invited us to their room for adult refreshments.  Stitchers are such welcoming people and fun people.  The Nashville market begins today, Friday and we are ready.  Stasi and Sara will start the run tonight after dinner and I will be in the room to do tickets and price everything.  Having Stasi join us  makes Nashville easier for both of us and I think will become our new tradition.  Let the games begin!

Superbowl Sale now in progress

Friday-Sara and I are in retreat mode for the stitchers  arriving from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania as well as Superbowl Sale mode which starts today.  Yesterday, Sara was in her usual spot, the grocery store while I chose to elude the cold weather by stitching and finishing models for February.  First up was the "Year of Celebration"-February from Hands on Design.  Such a fun fast stitch and an easy finish, although I seem to struggle to cut the Weeks Wool straight, but I do the best I can and let it fly.  In this case I used Merlot Wool and love it.  I had the heart button covers from who knows where for so long and why I ever bought them is another mystery, but finally found a use for one, only 4 more to find a home for, so count me thrilled to use something out of my older stash.  Anyway, the metal on the back of the heart, which is a casing for the button on a shirt it is suppose to cover, actually wouldn't stick to the magnet, but since the heart has the little casing that opens for the button,  I stuck a small magnet in the cover and now it sticks beautifully.  I'm having as much fun finding these charms, buttons, etc to use to decorate the hanger as everything else.  I've talked about my issue with things being balanced or odd colors together and at first when I started January's piece I was having a problem with Cathy's use of the orange to outline but I used it and once done it didn't bother me at all.  On February she also used a turquoise color which seemed so out of place on this piece, but again, I decided to go with the flow (Sara hates it when I change things) and again, it doesn't bother me once it's stitched.  Sometimes you just have to step out of your box.  At 70 years of age it's getting easier for me apparently to try new things....10 years ago I doubt I'd go with the flow.  Or maybe I'm getting too old to make decisions, who knows....I like going with the flow because it's mindless...I have no decisions to make except what to use to hang it.

On to the next finish.  I finally got Brenda Gervais', "All Bundled Up" finished and it was no easy task.  Everything that could go wrong, well, not everything but I did have constant issues including breaking the sewing machine needle because I got excited that I was finally getting it done and I didn't pay attention when I changed to a zipper foot and didn't move the needle over.  Lesson learned again!  Anyway, the important thing here is that the piece is done.  It is the largest pillow I've stitched and finished and I wasn't really aiming for that so even though I measured it to begin with and knew it was going to be approx 18",  I guess I just didn't think about it then.  As I was working it at some point I told Sara I thought I made a mistake for stitching this on the 20 count over 2 because I could see that it was going to be bigger than I imagined, but once you are at the halfway point you don't want to give up and start again so I just plowed on.   The size however, created a problem for me with the pillow insert, however I ended up taking a pillow off the bed, took out some of the stuffing (I didn't realize it would be that difficult to do until I started the process and while I struggled with getting rid of approx. 5" of stuffing, I finally won the battle and that is what I stuffed it with.   You can get the idea of it's size as it's sitting on one of my dining room chairs.  (you can see the needlepoint seat it sits on which is one of the 6 chairs with needlepoint seats my grandmother stitched around 1940, and which I still use the set in my dining room.  

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Brenda Gervais is always a  really fun stitch and allowed me to use several creative stitches.  Stitched on 20 ct. Weeks Dye Works Blue Jeans linen using WDW and DMC pearl cotton fibers.  And my final finish this week was one of Heartstring Samplery Festive Fobs-Valentine Edition.  Stitched on 32 ct. Antique White linen over 1 thread using the called for threads, these are fun to stitch and it's an easy finish although because the scissor fob is so small I do have a problem finishing those, but muddle through anyway, but I definitely need to improve that finish. 

Because this is a Valentine pin cushion I decided to use my 3 grandson's initials as they are my Valentines (although Sara and Mary could also think it's for them since two of the initials match them.  In any event I decided to put the 3 names on the back so years from now people won't be wondering who the "I" stands for.  The most exciting thing this morning is I get to pick out new projects (although I might just work on the 4, which I started along with the 3 shown here.  But then again, Hands on Design latest short stack is calling to me and it is for Valentine's day so I think it should be the next to stitch.  Right now I'm off to get ready for a fun weekend with some great stitchers who will keep me entertained all weekend.  Well, regardless of my prediction that if everyone else sees snow we will see rain.....here is what we saw starting around 10:30 a.m.  This continued until 5.00 p.m.  So we weren't left out of the actual snow storm...while it wasn't exactly a snow store we did get some, perhaps around an inch, at most.   Don't you hate it when it snows and you don't get a snow day from it.  UGH...but with our stitchers in town and staying here on the property we just couldn't do it.  But it sure stopped me from going to the grocery store to get the food I'm making for our shop Superbowl party, so tomorrow better be clear and hopefully sunny so I can get there.  Now I'm one day away from prep work.  UGH!  We've had a great first day and oh the finishing I've seen today.  Unbelievable...damn I should have taken pictures.  Maybe someone will bring them back in so I can do just that.  Crap! I never remember to do that.  Have a great stitching weekend whatever the weekend.  Talk to you soon.

Snow & Sunshine here...but I'm thinking of snow

Yes, I finally finished "All Bundled Up" by Brenda Gervais and I'm thrilled with the outcome.  As I worked it I was questioning my choice of stitching this on 20 ct. over two.  But now that it's finished....I like it but  still feel that perhaps at 18" x 12"  it was a bit too large for a pillow and was thinking a banner of some sort, but Sara says pillow so that's what will happen, hopefully next week on my days off. 

 I picked WDW 20 ct. Blue Jeans as linen because I wanted the snowman to pop off the linen.  For him I used WDW Whitewash.  I used WDW Carrot for his nose which I stitched first with cross stitch and then satin stitched over that (by stitching it first and then putting satin stitch over that, it gives the nose more dimension, as it sits on top of the linen.  I also stitched the scarf first and then did a chain stitch over two stitched cross stitches to hopefully somewhat resemble knitting.  I used black beads for eyes, mouth and buttons.  I stitched the checks in DMC 950.  For the Bird I used WDW Garnet for the body and tail, CC Razzleberry for the bargello wing, DMC Black for the face and CC Ye Old Gold for the beak and the legs.  The shoes are WDW Chestnut.  The birds scarf is  CC Second Hand Rose with a turkey work fringe on the scarf and a brown bead for his eye.  Snowflakes are done using WDW Whitewash.  The vines and outline on the leaves is done in WDW Guacamole and the darker color on the leaves is WDW Moss.  The small flowers on the vines are done with WDW Red Pear and again stitched first and then satin stitched over that.  The larger flowers are done in WDW Garnet with a CC Ye Old Gold outline with the inside outline also done with Ye Old Gold and the center of the flower are French Knots done in Red Pear.   These larger pieces challenge me to use different stitches to get dimension and are fun because they normally stitch up quickly.  Now I am finished (I think even though we just got the Festive Fob-Winter Edition in which showcases snowmen) with January snow, and I am moving on to Valentines and February stitches.  I've managed to find several I want to do so I'm  off and stitching like crazy.  And getting ready for  Superbowl Sale and Nashville market.  While designers are in a frenzy to get designs done, Sara and I are in a frenzy trying to figure out what we are taking to stitch on.  So many things to choose from so we both end up with several projects with us.  Sara has been honing in on taking class projects and has managed to finish several.  I, on the other hand, have not finished one class project I've taken.  Perhaps I'll take one this year as I have one I've taken to 2 Nashville Markets and still have not worked on it.  Well I still have time to think about it.  Last weekend was Camp Wannastitch held in Ocean City by the EGA and we had volunteers on hand to help out.  Stasi Buhrman, who stood for 3 days and cut fabric, thank you Stasi...an angel from heaven as far as I concerned.  I sincerely hate standing on my feet all day doing that.  Stasi is also an expert at helping stitchers with choosing linen and fibers so she is definitely the volunteer you want to have.  Debbie Liming is helpful in finding things for people and suggestions, as well, on linen and fibers, Thanks Debbie, appreciated the assist.   Kathy took over on Salty Yarns register and assistance as well and then Sara was there to direct traffic.  Where was I?  As usual I sat in Sea Trader hoping I wouldn't have to get up, although I did get caught up in the frenzy when the lines got too long in Salty Yarns, stitchers came over to me to get them out of the shop in a timely fashion.  It's always a lot of fun for us when the shop is busy, makes time go by quickly and I love to see or hear about changes people have made in designs, or how they finished something.  Anyway, it was a great group of stitchers and we really appreciated seeing them.  January isn't exactly booming here in Ocean City so to have a busy weekend is a real blessing for us.  So a Big Thank You to Camp Wannastitch participants.  Hope to see you next year!  And a big Thank God you were here, to Stasi, Debbie and Kathy.  We are rushing towards the SuperBowl sales and have a few lists already from some stitchers, so if there is something you need, don't wait to come in and find it isn't here, just e-mail us, text us, phone us and let us get it in if we can, then you won't be disappointed.  But you need to do that ASAP as we are placing orders.  Remember, The sale pertains to instock items only.  The sale starts with 10% of anything under $24.99- 20% of $25.00 - 49.99 and 30% off anything over $50.00.  As usual the sale extends the entire weekend, so Friday, February 1, 2019 thru Monday, February 4, 2019,  the sale is on.   It pertains to anything in Salty Yarns, nothing is excluded.  As one stitcher announced, the best day is Sunday as we have a Superbowl food frenzy going on as well.

Productive few days off....

Well, I should say Thursday since I did nothing but stitch Tuesday and Wednesday and then Thursday decided to finish the stitching already finished.  First I was thrilled to remember where "Candy Cane Wishes" was....after Christmas it's always a crap shoot finding everything I put somewhere so this was an accomplishment.  Anyway,

Stitched on 40 ct. Lakeside Linen's Vintage River Willow using WDW, GA, and CC fibers.  These 5" x  3 1/2"X 2"paper mache oval box projects are so much fun and they are also fast so that's a double winner for me.  The finishing is also one of the easiest as well.  I used Lambswool rick rack for finishing.  Great project!  Then I moved on the Hands on Design's latest, "A Year of Celebration"., January.  This was such a hot design I really didn't think about stitching it initially for the shop because there seemed to be no need.  It sells itself.  But....I wanted to come up with a different way to display this design.  The chart shows a clip board which you make for it...which is fine, but I wanted something other than a clipboard, so I had to stitch it to see what I'd come up with.  Sara was fine with the clip board but when I discussed with her my thoughts, we walked around the shop and she picked up the white washed hornbook we had for another project and because it's a little wider than some of the other hornbooks and it is white, which is perfect for January I was on board.  Because I wanted to be able to use it for all the designs in the chart pack, I decided to atttach a button on the hornbook which I would be able to hang the monthly pieces on.  Then Sara mentioned using a small spool and attaching a specialty item on it which would match the stitched piece.  This is my finished project...

It's hard to see but I glued a small magnet to the hornbook, and then attached a white sparkly snowflake to a spool which I glued a magnet to, glued a small metal disc the size of the magnet I attached to the hornbook , so+  I can change the spool out each month with a different charm or button on it.  Then when I finished stitching I just attached a thin ribbon to it for a hanger.  These designs are quick projects, one or two days.  I did have to get in my embellishment fix, so I attached 4 white beads as showballs above the snowman.  While the models are done on one fabric, Dirty Belfast linen, I thought it needed to have color since I was using a white hornbook, so I used Picture This Plus Helix and then used the colors shown on the chart.  I will also use different colors of linen to match design for the entire series.  Fun, fast project.  To back the design I used a piece of Weeks Dye Works wool.   Since I was on a roll with finishing, I decided to try the needlepoint wine bag.  Normally I don't finish needlepoint myself, but with this small thin design I couldn't figure out why I couldn't do it and decided there was nothing wrong with trying.  So this is what I discovered, I could do it and so here it is.  Siunce it's needlepoint it was a fast stitch, two days, (tent stitch basically) and at the bottom I did the green sea grass in a satin stitch and then I went to my bead supplies and found the turquoise starfish which matched the rest of the colors beautifully.  I did a twisted cord using the blue and lime green silks and voila...done!

So now I'm back to stitching and boy do I have a lot to choose from.  I've started on 20 count over 2, stitching Brenda Gervais' latest snowman,  "All Bundled Up", and at the sametime I'm stitching "Festive Fobs-Valentine Edition", by Heartstring Samplery, Plum Street's , "Heritage Sampler and Noah's Christmas Ark", A Just Nan piece and Erica Michael's silk gauze strawberry and to just add to the mass stitch, "Halloween March"  which is an adorable needlepoint canvas by Ashley Dillon, and this is definitely not an easy, fast stitch, but I take turns stitching on everything at once so it will eventually get done.  But this is what I'm busy with, what are you working on.  Many of you post your stitching on facebook, which I love to see.  Always interesting to see the difference fabrics, different fibers make on a piece and then the finishing I'm amazed with.  So many creative stitchers out there...keep it up because you spur those of us watching to up our game.  Love it!  Have a great weekend and if snow is in your future hope you get to stay home and stitch.  

Sara is off to Jamaica and I'm left holding down the fort for a week....UGH!

Luckily Kathy is here working Salty Yarns so I can work and play in Sea Trader.  With Sara gone I was able to stock up on necessary items like fabric, for projects to be done first, as well as any patterns I want.  I have been working on projects started in 2018 and one that I started about 4 years ago and struggle with since it's 40 ct. gauze, but I'm determined so make myself stitch on it for about 1 hr each day.  Eventually it will be done...I pray!  I started a patriotic piece last year knowing I wouldn't get it done for a while, but I've also picked it up and I work on it each day as well.  Fortunately most of it is over 2, so this shouldn't be too bad, but I'm so used to working on smalls anything that takes over 2 days becomes tedious.  But I'm determined.   I also finished a needlepoint project, Point to Point's Seahorse Wine Bag.  Two days, stitching was finished, but it's going to take forever for me to finish it.  I loved stitching it though and have now picked out a much bigger project that I've been waiting for 3 years to start...let's hope it doesn't take me another 3 years to get it finished.  I had the good sense to purchase a stitch guide with it so it shouldn't be a problem.  With cross stitch I can often tell just by looking at a project what stitches I want to use other than regular cross stitch, but for some reason I don't have that ability with needlepoint.  So until I develop that ability, stitch guides are a must.  Although I used a stitch guide with my last needlepoint Easter Egg last year, but in the end didn't like some of the stitches so I changed them, but it was the stitch guide that kick started the project.  I did decide last week I would do the monthly series from Hands on Design, " A Year of Celebration" and did finish that in 2 days so I'm thrilled but now to finish.  I am not that fond of the clipboard finishing although I do want to use one display piece for all the designs since I will only display them one at a time, and Sara found the perfect hornbook for me to use.  And with some additions to it I should be able to hang a different design each month on it.  We'll see..I plan on finishing January this coming week.  I also finished another Festive Fob from Heartstring Samplery-Harvest Edition.  I love these pieces, however, I was tested with this one.  My fault, Beth did not design this series for me, but as small designs to be used for fobs, etc.  But she displays then on a chart all together and when I saw the chart I realized you could stitch them as they are shown as one piece and they make the cutest mini samplers.  As I said, I've done the Beekeeping Edition, the Seaside Edition and now the Harvest Edition.

I did encounter a problem with this one, as I said, because Beth turned the floral piece next to the turkey sideways on the chart (keep in mind she designed these pieces to be used on smalls so it doesn't matter for that how it's put in the chart, but if you are doing small samplers you don't want one motif to be turned sideways.  So I took one motif out and used it on the scissor fob, and then turned the floral piece so it's sitting properly on my sampler and I did add 2018 down the side next to the floral piece just to fill in space.  And to be  honest, I did stitch a different squirrel as I wasn't fond of the primitive squirrel Beth used.  This is the first time I've done that as I have loved most elements Beth has used on the rest of her Festive Fobs....And as with all of these mini samplers, I added a mini charm in the empty space beside the alphabet...in this case a mini acorn.  There are around 11 of these Festive Little Fob patterns and I'm on track to stitch every one of them.  Great designs and fun, fast projects.  .Since February is right around the corner, I've decided to do the Valentine Edition.  Let the fun begin.   I've also got a Brenda Gervais Snowman to start...picked the fabric today..using 20 ct. over 2 so it's going to be one of the big pillows....such fun to do.