Memorial Day....Ahhh, Sunshine at last

Today started out beautifully...after a few days of cold and overcast gloom, the sun broke out and brought warm temperatures with it.  It is absolutely beautiful here and makes you glad to be alive.

Had my favorite Alaska Stand Hot Dog and Thrashers French Fries for lunch so my day is going perfectly.  I've been stitching up a storm, finished Miss Liberty & Uncle Sam from Shepherd's Bush (not shown here yet because I haven't finished framing them...well, I haven't even started if I'm going to be truthful)...also Lavender Hills by Little House Needleworks to go on the back of the Lavender Hill Huswife by Impie, Hattie and Bea (I didn't get it put together this morning as I had to get here to work...but hopefully tonight I'll put it together and get it up on the blog tomorrow).  But what I can show you is the  beach scene at right which is done on needlepoint canvas, but done in a cross stitch.  We use to do quickpoint on this canvas and you could still do that, but since I hadn't ever cross stitched on the canvas I thought I'd try it out.  I like doing the cross stitch because the canvas doesn't go out of shape...win win!  And because the canvas is so large it goes quickly and can be done in about a week or less.  And the real jewel here is the back which I'm also showing because you because you  buy it already made (with a zipper no less) and then just sew the two pieces togather by machine...done in a matter of minutes.  A Bigger Win Win!  And you know if I can sew it on by machine a monkey could do it....easy peasy.  Because I never work on just one thing at a time I was also able to finish Chessie & Me's "Grande Olde Flag Sampler" which I loved, loved, loved.  I absolutely love stitching patriotic, Americana, whatever and this was a joy from beginning to end (and is shown below).  And since you do the Nun's stitch around the edge, I just cut it around the Nun Stitch (which is how Linda finished the model), and attached it to the red Weeks Wool which we cut to the size of the Hornbook from Priscilla's pocket and used spray adhesive to attach the whole thing to the hornbook. So that was a fast finish...thanks to Sara who was in charge of  the finishing on that project.  Then last night because I finished the Lavender Hill piece but still had a couple of hours left to stitch I took out the "Home of the Brace" kit from Pine Mountain and stitched it.  So today I just popped in the pillow form and it's done. Shown next to Grande Olde Flag Sampler below.  I love a project that can be finished  in a matter of minutes.   So now I'm at the crossroads of picking a new project.  I put a couple of stitches in the new Shepherd's Bush "Gratitude Sampler" so that's going to be the primary, but I still get to pick a couple of fast things so I'm on the hunt.  And even better than my finishes....Sara has completed all the finish work on her Sherri Jones Blue Ribbon Box and it is gorgeous.  She is waiting for Debbie and Paola to help with gluing the pieces into the box, but this is a first for Sara to actually finish a class piece so I am so happy for her.  A great sense of accomplishment.  She is back to stitching (she was knitting a lot this winter)...and is working on a Chessie & Me piece.  But it's slow going since shes got Michael and Vernon to say nothing of the shops and hotel to distract her.  I on the other hand have me...I am my only distraction...well almost. Anyway, I couldn't let the holiday go by without touching base, wishing everyone a good Memorial Day and hoping the Tornado victims have found some peace in their lives.  Our prayers  are with you and will remain with you.  Talk to you soon.

I'm almost back to normal, well at least my normal.....

After three weekends of back to back events, we were exhausted...I was too pooped to function, but I'm coming back now and sitting upright and working.  But I couldn't let time pass by without saying what a wonderful weekend we had with the stitchers from the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild.  They are always a lot of fun to be around and talk to and we always pick up wonderful tips as we usually do from all the stitchers who frequent our shop.  But having stitchers living here for 3 days is always enjoyable so ladies, Thanks again for a wonderful weekend.  A special thanks goes to

Jean Toy who made me the adorable pin cushions you see pictured here.  The smallest one is over one and then inserted in an old Ball Jar lid.  She did a wonderful job with her finishing and it's a treasure I'll enjoy forever.  The second pin cushion is over two and again she did the most fabulous job of finishing.  She always says, "I don't do a good job with my finishing..." but honestly I can't remember ever seeing rushed ribbon around the edge done so well.  Excellent.  Treasures to go into my stitching room for me to fondle and look at often.  Thanks again Jean...love them.  Then we had 69 stitchers signed on for the Spring Retreat.  We had six of the ladies arrive on Wednesday to get a jump start on buying....and the rest trickled in over the next 2 days.  We had many old friends arrive but also several new stitchers and we had fun with all of them.  I knew I couldn't handle the cutting of fabric anymore as it gets really intense, so Stasi Buhrman offered to come on up from her house in West Virginia just to cut...God love her.  She was my angel.  She stood on her feet and cut for 6 hours each day....I couldn't have made it if she didn't so thank you Stasi...you were and are a blessing to me.

 

Friday night we started with our usual Italian dinner which is always interesting with so many people trying to get their food and find a place to eat it, but fortunately everyone is so kind and they make do with seating,etc.  Then at 7:00 p.m. we had our wine and hors d'oeuvres reception at which I was presented (actually it was for Sara, Mary and myself...but of course I've made it all about me) the Blue Ribbon piece you see here.  I couldn't believe this was stitched for us, and all the stitchers who actually took part...it's amazing and it meant so much to me (the girls to, but as I said it's now all about me).  Judy Brunclik started the ball rolling and coordinated with Stasi Buhrman, Stacy Stinson, Debbie Brotzman, Beverlie Ludy and Mary (my daughter).  Then those coordinaters saw that the communal piece got around to all the stitchers so that each of them could stitch on it.    Some of them stitched it while at retreats here but I was unaware (isn't that shocking)  but for the majority the piece was driven to a mutual location where it would be picked up and then send around to the stitchers in that area.  It's mind boggling to me that 47 woman stitched on this one sampler without incident and there was a time line which was met.  I cannot tell you how special this is to me.  I have actually decided to keep it right in the main Lobby where we hung it initially just for the weekend...but I love to look at it and I also love telling tenants about it.   I want everyone who wasn't here during the Spring Retreat to be able to see the finished piece as well, so stop by when you are in town and see the finished sampler.   I can't get the housekeeping staff at the hotel coordinated so I found this truly amazing.  Stitchers are a different breed of people...nothing beats a stitcher.  No task is too large.  Sue, one of the participants, is a teacher, had class the next day, tests to prepare for, but was given the piece to work with only the one night to do it so she sat up and stitched until she got her part done.  Now that's what a stitcher will do to get the job done...and we appreciate that dedication.  Anyway, if you happen to come to Ocean City, be sure to stop by the Lankford Hotel and take a look at this piece....and notice all the initials on it.  Each stitcher signed their part and some of the stitchers put initials for friends who wouldn't get the chance to stitch.  So I'm going to stop writing now with the list of the stitchers who did the actual stitching who I want to thank again here and I swear I will get thank you notes off to each and every one of you (now that will take me a while)...anyway, Thank you Mary Ammann, Diane Austin Attebury, Sue Baldwin, Debbie Brotzman, Stacy Brown, Judy Brunclik, Betsy Cole, Alberta Contee, Jean Crockette, Pat Croop, Helen Cropper, Tracy Doverspike, Trudy Edwards, Shiela Fitzhugh, Kay Fletcher, Lynette Florance, Jennifer Humphries, Belinda Karls-Nace (yes the designer actually stitched part of while she was here teaching last year), Jodi King, Becky Kohlermann, Sherri Kohlermann, Debbie Liming, Beverlie Ludy, Katie Ludy, Bernadette Mathews, Janice Meixell, Lois Modrell, Carolyn Newman, Teri O'Brien, Kay Owens, Pat Podziomek, Sherr Prutzman, Cynthia Radley, Julie Raynor, Kathie Renard, Sarah Sarvecky, Syd Serson, Kay Sheck, Pat Standish, Stacy Stinson, Theresa Venette (yes another teacher stitched...how lucky was I), Claire-Ann Vinci, Becky Wahl, Judy Welch, Teresa Wood, Phyllis Yurack, and Dina Zellers....thank you for all the time you spent on this project...you have touched my heart.  And thank you also for adding the initials of long time retreaters and friends, Jan Biel, Sue Blanchette, Ruth Bowman String, Ellen Cohen, Candy Connor, Dee Dames, Joan DeLong, Virginia Essick, Sandy Flynn, Dot Freitag, Ruth Goglia, Becky Gutin, Jackie Janovsky, Beth Jernigan, Nelsa Knight, Molly Linkz, Ellen Marx, Barb Meier, Evelyn Olgan, Mary Porter, Nancy Riley, Crystal Szmansky, Sue Twilley and Linda Wimbrow....while you may not have had the opportunity to put your initials on your friends thought of you so that I would be able to remember you as well....I love you all for your kindness of thought and generosity of spirit. 

Sherri Jones....we love you!!!

What a wonderful time we all had last weekend with Sherri Jones.  Students started arriving on Tuesday and we ended up with over 20 people in the classes...Hare Pyns and Blue Ribbon Box.  A few stitchers even ended up taking home their completed Blue Ribbon Box...kudos to them.  Poor Sara had to keep hopping up and down so she didn't get hers done, but we're hopeful that she will before Sherri returns.  Anyway, Sherri taught the Blue Ribbon box on Saturday and the ladies were so excited and did so well and loved Sherri.  She is a wonderful teacher, so organized and helpful...we loved her.  If you have never taken one of her classes...put it on your to-do list stitchers...it's a must.  Anyway, Hare Pyns was done on Sunday and we hated to end things we were having so much fun.  Sherri brought her trunk show...but frankly I wasn't willing to risk my life as the stitchers were all over it and fighting to get things...mercy ladies...so I stepped out and let them fight over the kits.  She also brought her class pieces for us to see and everyone was picking their favorites so we made a list of the classes we wanted her teach in 2014 and also in 2015 (why waste time I say).  Anyway, we pleaded with her to return and we are thrilled to say after going home she was able to figure things out and has let Sara know she will be able to come back in 2014....Wonderful news for us.   I got so excited after seeing her Button Book that I went on Ebay and bid on 10 blue calico buttons and won them....yes, I'm preparing in hopes she'll come back in 2015 for the button book.  Thank you Sherri for a great weekend...we can't wait to see you again.  I hope your trip here isn't as difficult as it was in 2013.  The flooding in the midwest created delays and Sherri was delayed.  She wasn't alone, one of our students trying to reach us from Texas was 1 second late getting to her gate (she went to the wrong one first) and heard them give her seat away as she arrived at the correct gate.  That just began her horrible ordeal but she finally got here around midnight on Friday.  But regardless, she had a wonderful time and enjoyed the class.  I was exhausted and needed a couple of days to recoup.  Yesterday I was just getting back to normal and was in Salty Yarns by myself working when a man walked in with a southern accent with a "twang",  looking like he'd been working for days, and he starts rambling on...and frankly I wasn't thrilled as I was trying to get tickets done.  But I finally realized he was telling me something about furniture and a truck and he was selling it out of the back so naturally...that got my attention.  First, this isn't the first time this has happened to me.  Last time it was about carpeting in the back of a truck and I got my apartment (this was almost 30 years ago) completely carpeted for about $500 (a real bargain at the time and I was thrilled...although I was certain the police would arrive at any moment and rip it out).  Anyway, I finally said, "O.K., you have furniture that you are trying to get rid of...where are you parked."  He said he was making the delivery from N.C. to Cape May to a new store, but the store wasn't ready and they couldn't take delivery.  He had a shipment he was suppose to pick up in Salisbury and needed to get this stuff off his truck.  We all knew that didn't make a lot of sense, but when you are being handed a gift.....well you say Thank You.  I called Sara, told her what was happening and said to rally the troops.  She Mary, and Vernon walked down to 6th st. to see the furniture...next thing I knew they were here and unloading it.  Sara ended up with a new chair(rocker recliner) for Vernon, Mary got a new sectional sofa and a matching chair (recliner), and I got two sofas and a matching loveseat, as well as 3 new chairs (victorian looking) for the lobby.  While it wasn't what I had envisioned for the hotel lobby, it really looks great and everyone that has seen it so far (it's been less than 24 hours so it's only the stitchers and housekeepers) has said it looks better, like a living room really, so it was a win win.  The strangest things go on here...like the furniture truck...it sure does make the day more interesting.  I found it hard to get back to work after that.  Trying to figure out where to put all of it was exhausting...and of course getting the old stuff out...well I was exhausted just telling the men what to do.  Today Renee and I are trying to get new inventory out for the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild who is retreating with us this weekend.  Renee is a real task master and I have no time to play hearts.  The only way I'm getting to blog is I'm doing it while I'm eating.  Good Golly, a girl can't catch a break.  Anyway, we're having fun here....the sun is shining, it's a little cooler than we'd like, but still able to walk around without a jacket...a sweatshirt perhaps, but not a winter coat so we're good.  We've got the wood carvers in town along with the bikers....busy weekend, and then next weekend is Sunfest in town and our Stitcher's Retreat.  I've actually been too tired to stitch (I hate to admit it), so I haven't finished my Noah's Ark, but I'm hoping that I'll have it done tonight.  I hate it when I don't stitch.  And I've decided to work on Quaker Diamonds, Quakers and Quilts, Spring Quaker and the new Winter Quaker and I'm not certain in what order.  Oh, yeah, and I have the Betsy Morgan pre-stitch to do.  Oh, my I better stop typing and start stitching.  Have a wonderful day....talk to you soon

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood....

It's a gorgeous day today, sun is shining...light breeze blowing off the ocean...people are walking, dogs are strolling, and the bikes are cruising.  Salty Yarns opened full time with spring hours...10am. - 4 p.m. (except when it's slow (and we close at 3:45 p.m....since those last 15 minutes might kill us.)  Anyway, we came in energized and ready to go.....for about 15 minutes, then I had to start taking 1 hour breaks between 15 minute work periods to play hearts.  I tried to suck up the cobwebs with the hand held vacuum and it wasn't picking up a thing so I took it apart and honestly, that filter had never...and I mean never...been dealt with.  I had to scrape the crap out of it with my nails...ugh!  Needless to say, after using it in the windows I then had to take a 1/2 hour break.  My work is exhausting.  I did get Amy Brueckens "Whatever" finished.  I finished the stitching a few weeks ago but never found a pillow I wanted to use.  Because it's such a contempory piece, I wanted something funky that a teenager would want in their room.  Sara drove me crazy when she was a teenager saying "Whatever" with attitude and eyeballs rolling.  She still says it when I try to emphasize my point when our opinions differ, with the same darn eye rolls and attitude.   Nothing pushes my button more than her "Whatever."  So this pillow is a tribute to Sara.  Anyway, it's fast needless to say as I stitched it on 20ct. fabric over 2.  Then I went to Walmart where they had the perfect funky pillow which matched the colors (miracles do happen) and they also had those funky buttons for me to use.  It was meant to be.  Quick finish with little or no sewing.  Just attaching the linen to the pillow at the buttons.  Last night I worked on the "Needleworker"...I love this piece, and again, it's going to be finished this weekend...should be tomorrow so it's just a few days of work..and then it's on to another project.  Since I still have to block my Sherry Jones pieces I might tackle that next and the Jeannette Douglas suitcase since I've finished her pieces.  Finishing...ugh!!! Not my forte or my love...but a necessary evil.  Sara, Mary and I are also gearing up for next weekend and our Sherry Jones classes...it's so exciting.  Can't wait to see everyone and to get to the finishing.  Well, I won't actually be finishing those pieces...I just do the pre-stitch and then Sara takes the classes.  It works out better since I panic in class worrying that I won't get it done.  Sara does not care if she gets it done or not .... so we're the perfect pair.  Well, it's 3:54 p.m. and Sara's staring at me since she wanted to close at 3:00 p.m. so I guess we're closing....I just hope she waits until the customers leave otherwise I'll be sleeping in the shop tonight....well, that wouldn't be so bad...oops no T.V., no I better start flickering the lights and asking folks to make their final purchase....we're out!  Have a great night and I'm sure boredom will set in tomorrow and I'll be talking to you again. 

Last Week was another busy stitching week....

First let me just say while last week was iffy, weatherwise, today it is 72 degrees, slight breeze and the sun is shining.  Glorious!!!  People are on the beach and in the ocean (which is ridiculous since it is probably around 40 degrees)....but I'm sure someone got sunburned today....it's simply fabulous.  Now back to business...I finished "Blessed are the mothers"  after deciding to border it as they showed it on the chart (at first I was leaving the border off, but it was just too plain).  I stitched it on a lilac fabric and used just 2 shades of purple and 2 shades of green.  This is one of the pieces I started in 2012 for mother's day and didn't get it finished...imagine how excited I am that this will be framed and on the walls this year...such a sense of accomplishment.  To add to my delight,  I also finished the June Wordplay also started last year.  I'm telling you it feels better than starting and finishing a new piece.  But of course, to celebrate I also stitched Liberty (Lizzie Kate) which is from 2012 and I loved it, but just never started it.  I didn't even take it home so it wasn't even in my stash.  But it's been calling my name since last year so I awarded myself the prize, plus we already had the frame in stock so I was able to stitch it and finish it immediately...whoppee!!!  I also finished every piece of the Jeannette Douglas Isle of Hope accessories, but have I finished the suitcase...NO!!!  But darn it I swear I'm going to start the process next week.  Start and finish!  But since that is already stitched I went ahead and did my "Come Down to the Sea" pin cushion as a gift...stitched but not assembled...so I need to get it put together...not as tramatic for me.  And last night I started "Needleworker" which is the Nashville release from Little House Needleworks and comes with Crescent Colours floss.  Sara pulled a fabric which is perfect (but not the one they used) and I'm about half done and I love the look of it.  Fabulous.  I was tempted to stitch over one, but in the end did it over 2 threads (mainly because I love the frame they put it in and want to frame it the same way).  But it would be so cute done over one.  Tonight is Stitch 'n Bitch so I arrived early to help set up for it.  (O.K., I actually came early to play Hearts on the computer since all my computers are here...I took my home lap top to work so I wouldn't waste so much time playing Hearts...which might explain the increase in stitch time and finished projects I now have).  Anyway, my arm hurts from playing so I decided to get my update on the blog done.  I was working on it on Sunday but the pictures didn't come through so I never sent it.  I was blogging while a customer was here and she aggravated me to the extent I had to blog about it, but somehow by Tuesday it just doesn't matter anymore, so I'll just wait until the next person aggravates the hell out of me to rant.  Sara had to go to the christening of her first grandchild Sunday.  No Michael didn't get married at the age  of 12 and procreate, but Vernon's daughter got married last year and had her first child a month ago.  He's a bruiser and cute as he can be.  Now, please note, that while I don't mind when my grandchildren get married and have children,  being a great grandmother, but when someone said "oh, you are a great grandmother", I had to correct them.  I really don't even know Vernon's children...they have been down here, but they don't come to see me and rarely speak to me if they do pass by me, so I don't feel any ownership in their children.  When I first told Sara she was a grandmother (she hadn't realized the birth of Vernon's grandchild affected her) she said "no mom, that's Vernon's daughter not mine."  Apparently in Sara's world you can marry someone and still not claim his relatives.  But she's on board now...looking at baby clothes and showing pictures (of the child wearing the clothes).  I did have to say good-bye to C.J., Mary's step son today.  He's been home on leave for about 10 days and today he left for his next assignment...JAPAN.  We've all encouraged him to find a nice girl and get married so we have an excuse to go see them in Japan...he just doesn't seem to be on board with that though, so it looks like we'll have to come up with another excuse to go.  Frankly afte hearing how long it takes...I think everyone else can go and just leave me on my sofa...drinking soda and stitching.  My favorite place.  Well I better get some work done before Sara finds me sitting so I'll sign off.  Have a great week and I'll talk to you this weekend.


New day and it's Glorious here!!!!

Oh what a beautiful day we're having!  The sun is shining brightly, the boardwalk is busy and the mood is much better than yesterday.  People are out in t-shirts and sandals...while it may be between 55-60, on the boardwalk there is a right good breeze which brings the temperatures down a bit so I'm not sure sweatshirts aren't needed, but it is gorgeous.  I finished putting "Seaside Squared" in a frame so that's what you are looking at here.  LOVE it!!!  Last night I finished the needlebook that goes with the Isle of Hope Accessories by Jeannette Douglas, and then I worked on June Word Play which was sitting over half finished in a bag.  Tonight I plan on finishing the June Word Play and start and finish the Scissor Fob from Isle of Hope...oh, my...I'm like a buzz saw going through my unfinished bags.  I can't wait to start something else already.  Had a wonderful dinner at Sara's last night.  A lot of my favorite foods...yummo!  Small group as Mary and Brian managed to get sick and they kept Izzy and I brought Solomon and C. J. with me.  C.J. is home for a few days before being shipped off to Japan, he's so excited and I am for him.  After dinner we played Zingo which turns out to be a favorite game of Solomon's.  At 8:00 I was on my sofa and stitching like a fiend.   Sara is still working on her "Clean & Green" by Raising Roof...and she says she's on the downhill side...we can only hope for so much.  But it will be cute once she's finished....but oh, my the process is killing me.  She's been working on this for well over a month...it was suppose to be done by St. Patrick's Day....oh, my...we'll be lucky if she has it done for Memorial Day...but don't tell her I said that!  Anyway, just wanted to stay in touch....I swear I'll do better in 2013 than I did in 2012...well I couldn't do worse could I?  Have a great day and unless something absolutely astounding takes place I'll talk to you on Friday when I'm back in the shop again.  Have a great week.

Happy hoppy from Sara and Sally

I realize it's odd for me to  blog twice in one day, heck in my case twice in one month, however, Sara
feels it's important that we put a good face on the day so here we are, hard at work and loving every minute of it.  Or perhaps we are just bored and looking for things to do.  Have a happy happy day and may you receive many blessings.