Waxing Philosophy

I've been on staycation this week and gotten a lot accomplished.  

The big jobs I wanted to get done are done....well two down one to go.

There will be an exquisite post on the final big job...

I didn't think you wanted to see the washed walls in the bathroom or the clean refrigerator.  

I have gotten a few small things done too.  I mounted and laced up Homespun Elegance's Scenes of Summer

            I pop things out of this frame several times a year.  The frame fits with the "Carrying In" series.

 I have also finished the stitching part of LHN Simplicity.

Wrinkly picture as usual.  Someday I have to finish all these little pieces. 

 I still can't decide if I should frame or pinkeep.  

I do like the woolen's the patterns show them on but, not too keen on the hemp.  

  

Only a short time before summer is over.  

In August, I think the thing I miss the most is the song birds.  

You just don't hear them singing as much, especially the robins.  

I suppose by August they don't have to impress anyone, anymore.  

And while I'm waxing philosophy....why does a vacation week go by faster than a work week?  

I am hoping today to do some stash enhancement.  If I do, you know I'll be posting it.  

Thanks for stopping by

Keep on Stitching

Monica

College Girls Weekend 2013

This might be a lengthy post.  

College Girls Weekend August 1-4, 2013.  

We started calling ourselves the PICS in college.  This is the abbreviation of Partners in Crime (S-plural)

We have been using this sign since 2008.  It is a little beat up.  

 We have been going to the Townsend/Lakewood area in Wisconsin.  

I don't live too far, closer than the others, only about 80 minutes away.  

This is the road going into the Cabin.  

It is so cool in person.  The trees form green tunnel. 

It is much more impressive in person.  I just love driving in this.  

We always take a picture of the collection of wine bottles.  

We are getting older.  We bring less and drink less.  

I brought three bottles and returned with 2.  

 Katy found a very cute bracelet on line.  We used the picture as an inspiration.  

We made kits using beads that were similar in same.  

We started these on Thursday.

 Micky had her beads all strung and then dropped them.  

She had to start over.  

Yikes!

 Mary Beth had some difficulty making her bracelet smaller.  

I swear she took off beads and I think she put them back on. 

Eventually she got the size perfect.  

Here they are, all lined up.  

It is amazing how we all had the same beads and how they turned out different.  

From top to bottom:  

Mary Beth's

Mickey's

Mine 

Jan's

On friday, we went to Crandon and did some shopping. 

 I picked up a necklace that I can repurpose into something better.  

When we got back to the cabin, we started scrapbooking. 

We take the pictures from the year before and go to it.  

We drink some wine and really get silly.  

You will see what trouble we got into a little further down.  

Friday evening, we usually go to Maiden Lake Inn Supper Club.

The place is always busy and you have to wait for a table.  

Fortunately, the weather was perfect to have cocktails on the deck.

I refer to this as the cocktail cabana.  

 The view of the lake from the deck.  There are always a few boats parked at the pier.  

The fish fry is awesome!

 We came back from dinner and finished our scrapbook pages.  

We noticed the sign:  Eat Sleep Fish.  

We added a few more things.  

 Saturday, there was a large arts and crafts show.  

I think there must have been close to 100 vendors.  

We supported the economy.  

After getting back, and a little lunch, we started some Kumihimo bracelets.

We made some last year, and it was such a success they wanted to make more.  

 Standing was a popular way to weave those kumi's

 The results were quite lovely.  

I think everyone was pretty happy with the end results.  

 Mick made some pork taco's for dinner.  There were really yummy.  

I think my favorite part was the mashed avocado mixed with sour cream.  

 She also brought a dessert.  It was a walnut torte with cream cheese frosting.  She has been in search of a recipe for this that would taste like the one Mount Mary would serve at special functions.
I can't remember which one ran into a former MMC pastry chef but, wouldn't you know, it was a Sara Lee.

 While I was gone, Bob and Katy got me a birthday present.  The rusted moon.  

It is by the same artist I had just recently got the sun on the shed.  

I got the star at the Arts and Craft show.  

 Finally, when I left on Thursday, I gave Buster a peanut butter treat.

He carried it around all weekend. I would get updates. 

 As far as I know, he still hasn't eaten it.  

Katy figures it was the last thing I gave him before I dropped off the face of the earth.  

It was really a fun weekend.  It was great getting together with these wonderful women.  

I'm on vacation this week too and hopefully will be posting pictures of "Finished" projects.  

Hope you have a great week.

If you get a chance take a peek at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe HERE.  The drawing is August 14th.  Tell Nancy I sent you!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Quick Post Before College Girls Weekend

This will be a quick post because I am pooped.  I had a long work day.  It was extra long because I won't be back until August 12th. Boy that sounds like a long time!  I have plans for my staycation.

This weekend is my Annual College Girls Weekend.  We are starting a day early this year.  I don't know how much Mary Beth and Jan work during the summer.  Micky works like I do.

We always scrapbook pictures from the previous year and do some other craft projects.  This year we will  be there for the arts and crafts fair.  I have a pile of stuff to bring.  It seems like it gets nearly out of control.

Of course, I must bring stitching!

I finished Homespun Elegance Summer.  I will frame it next week.  I have a pile of pieces I plan on finishing next week, along with some chores

 Above is with the flash and below isn't.  The angled view with the flash was over exposed.

  I'm sure I will have a much longer post on Sunday or Monday.  I just got to remember to take pictures.

Hope you have a great weekend!  Thanks for the wonderful comments.
Keep on stitching!
Monica

I Think I Found the Picnic Basket Pattern

I get email from the French Needle.  They recently had a sale.  I had to check it out.  I found this that I thought would make a brilliant cover for the picnic basket I got Memorial Day weekend.  I will need to do it on 40 count to get it to fit.  I really like it.  It is only six colors.  

 I may do it in Needlepoint Silk.  The only problem is that the orangey color does not convert to NPS.
It is all in Latin.  

Pardon the wrinkles....I have been working on Summer by Homespun Elegance.  I did Spring this year. 

I have done Autumn.  I don't have Winter but, will eventually get it.  I like to do things that will fit in the same  frame.  This is very cute.  My favorite sheep are in it.  

 I have been working on this since I took the picture yesterday and have the flag nearly done.

I have my girls weekend next weekend.  I have been picking up beads for a bracelet project.  Then they also  wanted me to bring the Kumihimo looms.  I had to get the ends for those too but, they were given a list for seed beads.  I will have plenty of pictures next week.

Hope you had a splendid weekend.  We were grilling bratwurst last night, sitting on the back porch.  You could see your breath it was that cold.  I had to turn the heat on this morning to take the damp chill out.

Have a great week!
Thank you for the wonderful comments.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Bob and Monica's Most Excellent Adventure

We sort of live in the wilds of the Upper Peninsula of  Michigan... The U.P.  We have a Walmart, a JC Penney's a public library etc.  It is about 15,000.  You get a little way out and you are in the "Country" or "Woods."  You never know what you are going to find once you start driving out.

Yesterday, Bob said, "Let's go to Goodman (WI)."  There really isn't a whole heck of a lot in Goodman.  The biggest employer is Goodman Veneer and Lumber.  They make hardwood veneer.  There is a really good "junk" store in an old ranger station.  I went there last fall and found some treasures.  We stopped yesterday and I spent $15 and got some dandies!

I found a Longaberger basket that is very sweet.  I wouldn't have paid for what it was new but, I got it for $4.50.  I couldn't pass it up.  It was in pristine shape.  I think I could but some pin keeps in it no problem.

 I'm always now on the look out for things that I could put stitching on.  I down loaded a freebie not too long ago from Lori at Notforgotten Farm that may just fit around this.  This is something new, but "Made in China."  I wouldn't feel too bad covering this with a bit of stitching.

I am always now looking for CHEAP, tin stars.  I wasn't disappointment.  I spotted a rather large one yesterday and it was $5.  I don't ever want to spend more than $5 on a star.  I am just having Bob put them up on the shed.  

I had bought some more stars last fall but, hadn't hung them yet.  We got them all up yesterday....pictures to follow.  We drove around Goodman's downtown, which takes a minute. We were getting a little peckish so, decided we needed to find some lunch.  On to Richard's Supper Club in Dunbar, WI.   I'm not exactly sure what a Supper Club is but, it is something quite popular in Northern Wisconsin and the U.P.  I had a BLT and the most amazing homemade potato chips made fresh.  

After lunch we continued on our way and saw the sign for 12 foot falls.  We drove a few miles down a really bad gravel road.  The signs changed to 18 foot falls.  How did that happen?  We were going to go and look but were deterred.  

Need I say more. 

As we were leaving to head back to the highway, we saw signs for an art show.  We decided to stop.  I wish I had taken more pictures.  The art was mostly photography, metal art and concrete leaves.  The metal sculptures were things like giant dragon flies and other whimsical things.  A sun caught my eye and figured it might go well with the stars.  I got one and we hung it on the shed.   The artist's name is David Heritsch.  He had been a Sports Illustrated Photographer.  Now rusty metal.  In my next life.... 

He makes me smile!

The start of the collection.

 I hope to find more of the celestial things to plunk on the shed.  I think it will look cool.  We did head home after we went to the art show.  That was really fun.  It was a majorily fun day.  Got home and needed a nap.

I finished my Primitive Threads.  Now I have to "finish" it.  I have been working on things this weekend as part of the finishing process. 

I will post when I get them done.  

Hope you had an adventurous weekend!

Thanks for the wonderful comments.  Katy was reading them all today and said, "You have the nicest people following your blog."  

Have a great week.  

Keep on stitching

Monica

How Do YOU Tell Right From Wrong

So how do you tell the right from the wrong side of fabric?  I know there is a way.

But with the fabric for my Ladies Prim Society, I picked the dirtier side

Unfortunately, you can't tell from these pictures.  

You can see the progress I'm making.  

My sister got her birthday box.  I can show the pictures. 

I saw this pattern stitched up at the yarn store.  It is made of two yarns:  Pebbles and Mohair.  

The picture really doesn't do it justice.  You can't see the glitz in it.  

I had enough mohair left, I bought another skein of the Pebbles to make myself one.   

Katy and I then went through our beads and picked out some beads that matched the colors in the scarf.  

She made the bracelet.  

 Then she had this super cute tissue paper that matched everything.  

It was amazing!

Different background to see if it would stand out better.  

The bracelet was really cute.  

 Took the time today to start painting the box to finish Strawberry Hill.  

Expect to see some pictures in the not too distant future.  

I'm really enjoying the Primitive Threads Wynter Peacocks Sewing Pouch.  

I love the colors especially Mountain Mist.  

One more day of work and it will be busy.  

Hooray for friday!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

CRISIS!!!....CRISIS AVERTED...whew.

I was getting somethings ready to stitch.  I saw on another blog PS August and September.  

I have those.  I go digging through my patterns.

Got 'em

Go digging through the fabric....32 count Lambswool

OH CRAP!!!

All I have is an 8x11 piece not enough.  

Head directly to 123-stitch

Fabric

NPI silks for My Name is Lydia

and the 2013 JCS Halloween Collector's Issue

I heard Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farms has a design in there.  

Crisis Averted

Keep on Stitching

Monica