EGA Retreat & More Finishes

I hope all of you had a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving.  I'm so thankful for my healthy, growing family. 

 

We had a lazy day here. We went a little rogue and had tri-tip steaks and baked potatoes for our dinner.  The best part to me is the smoked salmon we eat as our traditional appetizer.  Love it!

 

I went to our annual EGA retreat the weekend before Thanksgiving. There was a fierce windstorm in the area on Monday before our retreat started on Thursday.  The power went out at the camp and didn't come back on until Friday around noon. Thursday we were notified that the retreat was delayed until Friday and possibly cancelled. But thanks to the hard work of the power crews the retreat went on!

 

And it was great!  For the first time I actually won an opportunity basket!

 

I forgot to take any pictures, but here is the ornament I stitched up for the smalls exchange-

 

 

And here is the darling mini Temari ball that I received in the exchange. I have never done any Temari balls and probably never will.  But I love getting one!

Meanwhile more has come back from the finisher-

This is the ornament I bought off of ebay and it was 75% finished when I got it. Love the way it turned out! It's by Margaret Bendig, I think.

 

 This is Richard Seekins Patriotic Teardrop Ornament.

This is The Stitcherhood's Merry Christmas ornament.

 

This is Blackbird Designs Noel stocking.

 

And finally, here is Cricket Collection Mother and Child stitched on Congress cloth and made into an ornament. I really love the way this one turned out.  I think this chart is overlooked by many stitchers.

 

Here are my latest finishes-

 

Crabapple Hill

Stitching Makes Me Happy-

Not sure how I'll finish this. 

Needlemade Designs

Home of the Free Sewing Set

 This is the box that the flag will fit into.

Above is the pinkeep for the sewing set.

This is the scissor fob for the sewing set.

 

I have a small project and a larger project that I'd like to finish before the end of the year. But who knows if that will happen?

 

I'm listing and selling on ebay like a crazy person! Three people at the retreat brought items for me to sell for them.  And I received a box from a new client before I left and I'm expecting another box soon.

 

Tomorrow starts the beginning of five Christmas parties I'll be attending.  I'm actually hosting the Northwest Sampler Guild Christmas party.  And I have all my exchange stitching ready to go!  No last minute rushing to get something finished Yay! 

 

I'll be back before the New Year to give a 2015 rundown of my stitching.  But if I don't check in before Christmas, here's wishing all my readers and followers a very blessed Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah!

Maui Vacation and A Weekend of Finish-Finishing

 We went to Hawaii!  Maui, specifically.  It was my first trip ever to the islands.  We had a wonderful time.

This is the view from the balcony of our rented condo. At the bottom of the photo is the private beach that we shared with the condo complex next door.  There was also a pool that 10 yr old GS#1 spent a lot of time in.

We went to a luau=great fun!

 

We went snorkeling.  Yes, I actually snorkeled for the first time ever!  This is DD#1 and GS#1.

 

Here is GS#1 on a zip line--there were 5 zip lines at this location.  One of them was so long they couldn't see the end of it when they started out! Uh, I did skip this :)

 

I started a new stitching project while in Maui-

 

 

 Hands On Design Love My Stitching

I chose it because it was on 28 ct evenweave and I could see to stitch on it without my magnifier.

Now, equal time for GS#2.  He is 18 months old already. Time really flies.

 

I store some of my finished stitching projects on my ironing board. I spent last weekend trying to clear some space on it.   

 

Good news-I finish-finished 15 items!!  Bad news-There is more than 15 still waiting to be finished. 

I made a separate pile of projects that need the sewing machine and never touched that pile.  Honestly I picked up the smallest, easiest finishes first and worked my way up to harder projects.

Here is what I accomplished-

 

La D Da Garden Angel scissor fob--There is just one initial on one side and I put a star on the other side.  I handstitched the heart and put little crosses along the seam on the outside. Simple, huh?  Wonder why it sat so long on the ironing board??

Bumblebee scissor fob-can't remember the designer (sorry).  I actually used my Kreinik corder for the first time and made my own cording.  It is not the best (too short and not tight enough), but I'm pushing myself to learn something new and hope I'll get better as time passes.

 

Mill Hill beaded wreath and angel ornaments

 

Olde Colonial Designs Pins and Needles pincushion in a basket

Bent Creek Bluebird of Happiness pillow kit-yes, I was too lazy to trim the fabric, put it in the pillow and sew on the buttons!

 

Samplers and Such Tin Toppers Quaker Flowers-the inside has a magnet in the lid and a padded bottom with a scissor strap on it.

 

Old Shepherd's Bush Monthly Pillow kit-oldie but a goodie.  The pillow is a little sad-not very plump. I changed things around a little.

 

Drawn Thread freebie tin topper-inside also has a magnet and padded bottom with scissor strap in it

 

 

Plum Street Samplers Jack's Birthday Tart

 

 

Just Nan Monogram Tin-another experiment with making my own cord-two-toned this time. It is hard to hide the ends! And it could be a trifle tighter.  I have lots of new respect for professional finishers :)

Just Nan Hop Tin

 

Yay! Jeannette Douglas' Bird Box is finished!  Love it!

 

If you are counting, I finished 3 of the items in this box to make a total of 15 items.

 

Now I'm busy getting ready for an EGA retreat later this year. I will be taking lots and lots of consignment cross stitch and needlepoint items to sell.   But first I have to put a price tag on every single one of them. 

 

 I'm starting to feel ready for the Christmas exchanges coming up. 

This year is speeding by.

Ellen Chester and More of the Circle of Life

 

Ellen Chester was here! 

Oh, is there anything better than to look at a brand new project all kitted up and ready to stitch on??  Here is my Kindred Spirits kit when I sat down at class.  (I pulled out the threads so you could see them) The box looked like a work of art just by itself.

Ellen and her husband were a delight to host.  DH took Ellen's DH to a hockey game with GS#1. And they spent an afternoon at the Museum of Flight.  The museum has a special WWII exhibit open. I hear a good time was had by all. 

 

Here is one of our classes.  Now I have 3 new projects (Kindred Spirits, The Lady's Workbox and The Needleworkers' Huswife) and all of them are such beauties.  Thanks, Ellen for such a great weekend!

 

I showed you my Laura Perin Red White & Blue finish in my last post.  Here it is all framed and ready for hanging. 

Here is my latest WIP--the birth announcement for GD#3 coming in December from DD#3.  I'm planning to use buttons for all the polka dots and wheels on the carriage.  And beads for the little polka dots. Hopefully it will be glitzy enough to please both mother and new little daughter! They have picked out her name and it will be Courtney Grace--isn't it beautiful?

Back from the finisher-Marnie Ritter's Our Heart (hanging on my little white feather tree on top of the piano)

 And Jeannette Douglass' Trio Pins and Needles (also on my white feather tree) The kit came with the pins and wooden tag.

And I also got back Shepherd's Bush Fold pincushion.  I left off the black/white checkered bottom border because it seemed to be getting so big.  Glad I did now-it still looks beautiful without the border.

New stash-

 

I took the design from the cover and "rearranged" a few motifs for my Northwest Sampler Guild tea challenge.  This year's challenge is stitching monochromatically.  This will go on a box I already have.  All the stitching is done.  I just need to add some buttons. "Boutons" is French for "buttons"

 

Now, about the Circle of Life for me this year. 

 

In August we got the news that DD#2 is expecting again and is due in April.  Yes, that will be grandchild #6 for us.  We are delighted as always and will welcome as many grandchildren as God sends.

 

Then on Sept 9th my father passed away.  It had been coming all summer so it was no surprise.  But on the very same day, my sister was checked into a hospital's cardiac care unit due to side effects from the cancer treatment she is undergoing.   Now imagine me trying to book a flight out of Seattle and trying to avoid flying on Sept 11!!

 

So September was a very stressful month and Dad's death was the third one this year for our family. 

 

This is the beautiful bouquet my daughters sent to their grandmother. 

 

I decide not to post any pictures of this funeral (unlike my MIL's funeral casket in June).  Remember I told you that funerals in the Midwest are NOT like the funeral's here on the West coast??  Well, Mom decided on an open casket for the funeral viewing and that took me awhile to adjust to.  The well-wishers all took it matter-of-factly.  In this part of the country we have memorial services with photos, flowers, singing and sharing of memories, but NO caskets are in view.  Graveside services are Family-Only!

 

One more thing to share today.  While I was taking photos, I realized that I forgot to share with you an exchange piece I received at the sampler guild retreat in June.  It was an exchange of smalls and this is what I got-

 

Envelope back above

 

Envelope front above-the inside is lined.

 

 

Matching scissor fob above

 

Aren't they lovely?  I was thrilled. 

 

I am keeping up with reading your blogs and you keep on inspiring me.  I'll try to post more often. 

September

This year is flying by like I can't believe! I'm always sad to see another summer end as the fall is when another birthday hits!

 

Here's the latest stitching finishes-

 

Laura Perin's Red, White and Blue Panel

The Trilogy Grateful Hearts

Drawn Thread Bee Keeper Scissor Fob-a freebie from 1997

Just Nan Harmony Monogram Tin

 

I'm also working on the Northwest Sampler Guild challenge project for this year. It is stitching monochromatically.  The stitching is almost finished and I even have a great idea for a special finishing.

 

And I'm  gearing up to host Ellen Chester for some classes here in the Seattle area from October 2-4, 2015.  This is my first experience as education chairman of the guild.  All is well so far.  I'll have 3 new projects when she leaves :)

 

 

August Already

July went by like a whirl!  But I did get caught up on the Round Robin samplers I had.  I finished the final two samplers in my round of the Northwest Sampler Guild.  Now I am expecting 3 more samplers from the EGA Round Robin, but one lady is moving and at least 1 sampler (not mine) got packed!  So not sure when I'll see that one.

 

Here is what else has been happening-

 

New Start-Laura Perin Red White & Blue Panel

I'm stitching it upside down right now :)

 

 

 Finish #1-With Thy Needle & Thread Stars & Stripes

 

 

Finish #2 Just Nan Hop 

 

 

Finish #3 Jeannette Douglas Bird Box.  The finished mini biscornu is in the box-top left.  The mini pincushions are at the bottom.

 

New Stash-Gorgeous sturdy Thread Catcher from Curry Bungalow on Etsy

 

Back from the Finisher-Gay Ann Rogers Samples

I included a photo of the back so you could see the little stand that my finisher uses. 

 

 

Framed by DH with a standard 5 x 7 frame in my stash-Birds of a Feather Land That I Love

 

Now it is time for At Willow Tree Pond's Believe It or Not--

 

Do you like my Nancy Cucci Amazing Greys?  I didn't list it as a finish, because it isn't. 

One recent night I was busy listing consignment items on ebay, got distracted and started surfing around.  I saw a listing with no picture and the description said "GREY GEOMETRIC BOXES"  And Nancy Cucci immediately came to mind and I clicked on the auction.  There was a photo on the auction page and yes, it was exactly what I thought--but not the kit.  It was the finished project! And it was ---Buy It Now for $42!!  My hand was shaking.  I am not kidding!

Not only was it a finished Amazing Greys, but when I got it , the stitching is beautifully done. Laid properly, just wonderful! The seller definitely didn't know what she/he had.  Do you think the stitcher passed away?  I mean, what else would allow such a thing to happen???

 

Now, who else has a bizarre story about ebay (or anywhere else for that matter)?