So Excited!

I'm SOOO Excited!!

Nicola Parkman, Hands Across the Sea designs has announced she is releasing independently the Uffendel Sisters Samplers.  

This is not the Limited edition initially released.  

The sister were together in the limited edition pattern.  

There are some differences in the set up of the background information, the designs are the same.  

I just want to be able to stitch them because I fell in love with them but, was too late to the dance.  

I had tried calling several shops that I knew carried her designs at that time but, to no avail!

It was very sad.  

Now happy dance because they will be in my hot little hands possibly by Christmas.  

They may come with me on the Stitcher's Escape Cruise this summer.  

So when Theresa Verette, Kitten Stitcher was on floss tube talking about the Uffendel's and that her design Jane Philpott has a sister sampler that Theresa owns, I figured I better get that pattern...,just in case she decides to reproduce the sister.  

I also love it because it is an Adam and Eve sampler and let me tell you the Adam and Eve are unique.  

My friend Arttie has a cottage business.  

She quilts.

She makes quilt samples that you see in catalogues for specific manufactures.

She also will quilt for hire...tee shirt quilts and other memory quilts among other quilts.  

She has decided to expand to finishing cross stitch.  

She asked me if I had anything she could practice.  

I also taught her how to make cording.  

I had a couple of smalls.  

I decided to do last years Little House Needleworks in a bell pull so I'm starting those over

Some day

The smalls turned out cute. 

Lizzie Kate December is a flat fold.  

They all turned out very cute. 

Buster's Who Foot

And totally sacked out on the back of the couch. 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I've been diligently working on Christmas presents. 
We will see how much snow we get this week.  Bob said a foot. 
I think Thanksgviving night we may just put up the tree, get the lights and the beads on. 

Have a wonderfule Thanksgiving.  Safe travels and hopefully the weather won't be bad where you are. 

Keep on Stitching 

Monica

THRILLED!!!!

I took my Blackbird Designs:  The Bells on Christmas Day and Merrily, Merrily We Welcome Spring to the Stitching Bee for framing.  

Kendra's husband, Don does the framing.  

Our local framer went out of business a couple of years ago not too long after I got back

His Eye is on the Sparrow.  

If you ask me, framing is kind of a leap of faith.  

I wasn't sure about the color of the frame.  

I usually prefer wood stain but, we picked out a painted wood frame for the pieces, the same color since it looked good with both.  

I got an email from Kendra on Friday about what a wonderful stitcher I am.  

I got them back yesterday and I have to say....

I AM SO THRILLED WITH HOW THEY TURNED OUT!!!!

I had to post to show you all because I'm so excited!

 Above is The Bells on Christmas Day.  

It really doesn't look all that Christmas-y so I think it can stay up all year.  

I need to decide where I'm going to hang it.  

I am so glad I took them to the Bee for framing!

It is a wonderful job!

Just had to share!

Have a great day

Keep on Stitching.  

Monica

Busy, Busy

It has been busy.

Last weekend, Bob's brother Steve was here to visit with their mom.

I really didn't have time to blog.  

He left on Tuesday.  

On Thursday, Bob got a call from Assisted Living that she was not feeling well and her pulse oxygen level was 68...normal is 90 or more.  

He took her to the ED.  

She probably had a small heart attack but, was also in Atrial fibrillation. 

The doctors were able to correct it with medication and kept her over night.  

She went home the following day and doing much better.  

I stopped and saw her yesterday since, Bob went t camp.  

She was the most lucid she had been in years.  

Bob saw her today and I guess she wasn't as good today.  

She is 90, going to be 91 in February.  

She does have a lot of partially blocked arteries.  

She doesn't want to have surgery, and her age doesn't warrant it  

Her younger sister had the surgery, and didn't survive.  

I finished a cowl this week with some yarn I got last spring called Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.  

I have made two other ones:  one for my sister and the other for Katy.  

This one is for me.

I love it!

 I have shown you some of these.  

Plum Street Sampler Saltboxes

I'm doing them on 28 count luagana over one.  

 I have changed some of the colors for various reasons.  

These are going to be for Christmas.  

 I made a mistake on the one I'm working on right now.  

I used the wrong color, they were right next to each other  

It is really difficult to rip the thread out.   

I'll post the finished product after they are given away.  

I am ready to be done with these and move on to seasonal things.  

I can't believe how fast the fall is going.  

It won't be long after Thanksgiving to Christmas.

I bought the turkey and some of the other supplies for Thanksgiving this weekend.

Next weekend, I will be really organized and get the remaining supplies.  

It will be a quiet holiday.  

We'll eat early because it is a lot easier for my mother in law. 

I like being able to have the rest of the day to chill.  

Weather is a little more seasonal.  

We had a couple of weeks of weather that was more like January rather than November.  

Hope you had a good weekend.  

Have a wonderful week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

And I Won!!!!

While I'm on my exercise bike I watch Floss Tube.

A few weeks ago, I was watching Theresa The Kitten Stitcher.  

Her question to win some prim patterns was "What was your favorite Halloween costume."

I answered the Tooth Fairy.  

I dressed as that when I was the Activity/Rehab Director at a nursing home.  

I passed out Hersey Kisses and called them fillings (because they kind of look like that).  

I was at the retreat and checked my email and found out I had won!

SO EXCITING!!

This is what I won.  

I have never seen anything from this designer so I am super stoked!

I am very grateful for winning.  

 Close up of the patterns  

It will be a fun quick stitch.  

 I may convert to overdyes and do it on some 54 count linen since the patterns look simple.  

 Stopped to pick up knitting needles for the shawl project I posted last week.  

I probably won't start until after the holidays

She has some classes this week and these little knitted snowmen are Wednesday.

The stitching group signed up for it so we will do that instead of meeting.  

 I saw people talking about this kit offered by the Country Sampler in Spring Green by 

NeedleWorkPress:  Sarah Stewart Hardman that was converted to more antique colors and linen.  

 The threads are overdyes:  Crescent Colors and Gentle Arts

The Fabric is Mocha.

I am absolutely in love with this conversion.  

 I picked up this kit when we were at the Country Sampler in April  

Even though it isn't a Christmas pattern, it still looks Christmas-y

I may go back to the Little House Christmas monthly from last year.  

I started it but, then after I saw it done as a bell pull, I stopped and got the fabric to do it that way.  

Either way, none of it will be done by Christmas.  

I am still working on Christmas presents and 2/6 are done.  

It is definitely getting colder here and there may be some snow in the forecast.  

Started watching the Hallmark Christmas movies this weekend and have enjoyed every minute.  

Makes me want to start decorating but, not until after Thanksgiving.  

Got to get some of my Turkeys out.  

Hope you had a wonderful week and weekend.  

Thanks for stopping!

Keep on Stitching!!

Monica

2019 Stitching Bee Retreat

Arttie and I went to the 2019 Stitching Bee Retreat this past weekend

It was at Rowleys Bay Resort, can click on the link with the name.  

It is really something else.  

Arttie feels like she is stepping into the Inn in White Christmas.  

It is a quirky place....I love it!

Our room had two queens and a table and chairs.

The beds were very comfortable.  

Needs some decorating help but, that honestly is part of the charm.  

We actually stayed in Green Bay on Thursday night to get the Mall shopping done:  

Joann Fabric and Yankee Candle.  

We stopped and did some shopping on the way to the Resort.  

The first place we stopped was the Silver Thimble:  Quilt and Yarn.

There was also a shop hop going on this weekend so we got some deals.  

They had some wool pieces for penny quilts but, it would work great for finishing some pin pillows and they were only 60 cents a square.  

I picked up some yarn too.  

I found a really cool shawl pattern to use the Berroco Sesame.

The base of the yarn is blue but, then a variety of other colors:  green, turqoise, orange, peach, red and purple.  

Picture of the shawl.  

I think it will be fun and it might be a great thing to bring on the cruise.

I have no idea if it will be hot or cool or what but, will go with anything.  

I started working on The Scarlett House Pumpkins and Bittersweet.  

I started it at Stitching Group on Wednesday.  

This is how far I got.  

I plan to make a pin keep out of it.  

There was a smalls exchange and I thought I had taken pictures of it and I forgot.  

I must have just been too excited about retreat.  

 Finished it as a top to a wooden playing card box.  

I put a small pincushion on the inside and a bee's waxer in the shape of a bee.  

This is what I drew.  

It was very nicely stitched and finished.  

Also in the picture is a small pincushion and a scissor fob that is measured out in inches   

These patterns came in the door prize bags.  

More goodies in the door prize bag, including some handmade cards.  

There are always a get to know  you game.  

These patterns were in a folder.  

There was a sticker on the back of the folder and then you had to find your partner and talk to that person for a few minutes.  

Its always interesting. 

These items were in the greeting bag.  

A Prairie Schooler card, a thread holder from Fern Ridge. 

Arttie made everyone a laynard and the Blue Pompom with eyes is called a Little Fit.  

There was a little poem explaining it but in the nutshell, if you aggravated, you can throw a Little Fit.  It maybe something good to make my co-workers.  

Kendra always has a store set up with patterns, kits, tools etc  

I pickedup Sally Stansfield from  Hands Across the Sea

L. Genders 1875 from Brenda Gervais....a red sampler.  

Following the rules from Brenda and the Serial Starter.  

 A pincussion kit from Samplers Remembered.  

'

It was a great weekend.  

We sat with a different group of ladies this year.  

We always try to do that.  

They were so much fun.  

May just have to sit with them next year.  

They are a stitching group called the Loose Ends.  

I took today off to catch up on laundry and sleep.  

Looking forward to next year.  

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  

Some more surprises coming.  

Have a great week!

Keep on Stitching!!

Monica

Short Post

Just a short post before retreat.  

I didn't work on Hannah Pepper this weekend.  

I spent much of Saturday doing yard work, getting ready for winter. 

Sunday was church, visit MIL, laundry and working on my exchange project.  

I really wanted to get through the Saltboxes.  

First, a Buster pic because he was so totally adorable!

His favorite spot is on the back of the courch.

iI had to put the other back cushion in the front closet.  

If I leave it on the couch, Henry sits on it, emmulating Buster.  

I'm doing these on 28 count Laguna over one.  

I'm also playing around with the colors as I feel like it.  

I've been working on my exchange stitch project for retreat.

I will post it before too long but, I want to do it after its completely done.  

It looks great!

I needed some craft paint and didn't want to go to Walmart.  

I went to the Ace Hardware to get paint, sandpaper, a plug for the laundry room tub and batteries.

I found these trays at the hardware store .

They will be great for finishing.  

I am getting so excited for retreat.  

Just Arttie and I are going this year. 
Patty decided not to go this year and instead visiting her son and family in Tennessee.  

It's just great to be able to get away for the weekend and not to have make decisions....like dinner.  

Tomorrow night, while the guys are watching the Mayans, I'm going to finish getting my projects kitted up.  

I like to bring projects I got from The Bee.  

I usually bring enough to last a year of retreats!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Have a fabulous week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

I'm A Cool Kid

Last weekend, Bob asked me about going to Green Bay this past weekend.  

The weather was suppose to be bad.

I think he felt guilty because he's been bird hunting, spending time at his camp and starting to plan deer season.  

I told him, I'm always up for a shopping trip.

On Monday, he looked at the forecast again and said maybe he would go bird hunting on Saturday.

Then Tuesday, he was back talking about Green Bay  

Ed was over for dinner.  I invited him to tell his father stop toying with my emotions.  

We went.

One of the places I wanted to go was Best Buy.

My Iphone 6 is five years old and I only paid $100,  

With the last IOS update, my battery was being abused and needed to be charged every 20-24 hours. 

My battery life hadn't changed, still operating at 87%.

I didn't want to get a phone from Verizon.  

Our Verizon store is horrible!

They work on commission so, they lie, cheat and steal .

When I asked them about the cost of a 6 was $200 and I told them I could order one from Best Buy, he proceeded to tell me, "Best Buy gets an inferior phone."

I told him I would take a chance on a $100 phone.  

Since I got such an inexpensive phone the last time, I would get the brand new, shiny Iphone 11....not the 11 Pro, figuring it would last me until I have to a Cricket.  

Best Buy got me all tricked out.  

I spent Saturday night updating everything and finding password or changing them.  

I like Iphones because there really isn't much of a learning curve.  

No trip to Green Bay goes without a stop at the Stitching Bee.

I have two pieces I brought for framing:  BBD The Bells on  Christmas Day and 

 Merrily, Merrily We Welcome Spring. 

Katy has already asked me if she could have  Merrily.  

I told her once she has a place for it, its hers.  

I needed some floss to work on the BBD Pumpkin Farm.  

Bob left me to my own devices while he went to Fleet Farm, always dangerous.  

I picked up Scarlet House Pumpkin and Bittersweet and the floss.  

I found this.  

I thought it might be fun to bring to retreat and I may use the same floss in Pumpkin and Bittersweet.  

The pattern calls for DMC but, the colors would be beautiful in the overdyes.  

I have started watching Brenda and the Serial Starter.  

They have rules such as always have a red sampler going or always buy a BBD when you see it.  

So, I did.  

This is a very cool pattern book, several projects.   

Because, I spent time working on my phone, I didn't get too much progress done on Hannah.  

After I took the picture I finished another bird on a branch to the right of the large flower completed.  

I have been working the Saltboxes by Plum Street Samplers.  

I am doing them on laguna over one. 

I can't tell you what I'm going to do with them but, it will be fabulous!

That about sums it up and now Buster is barking at me for something so gotta go!

Have a wonderful week!

Keep on Stitching!!

Monica