Ohio, Part 3 - Retreat and Home Again, Home Again Jiggedy Jig

The Western Reserve Sampler Guild Retreat was wonderful.   So nice to meet in person the people I have been seeing on Zoom the last few years.    The stitchers were all as excited as I was to see each other.   We received several little gifts for attending as well as some great table gifts from fellow stitchers.   Like me, many made goodies for all attending not just their table.   Easy enough since there were only 39 attending.  

 Table and Retreat Gifts.   Oh boy!  I think I need to step mine up a bit.  At least for a retreat like this one.  I missed the ‘memo’ that it was a patriotic themed event.  I don’t know how since it was called “Stars and Stripes Forever”!

I won this door prize which  was kizmit!  I have been following Avelea Designs and the folk embroidery designs for about a year and I have wanted to place an order but I kept telling myself - you have too many projects ahead of yet another new one.  

She uses a 30 count European linen that I an anxious to try.   

Fortunately/Unfortunately, I am not putting this on my radar…yet.  

Sylvia Steckler, Running with Needles and Scissors, is a WRSG member.  She taught a class and had a pop-up shop.   I couldn’t resist these charts.   I really fell in love with the big old house.   Yikes!

There were some serious issues with the hotel but once in the stitching room no one could tell.  Renovations were in progress and elevators were out of order requiring many to make last minute hotel changes.  But as I said, once we were set up in our stitching room there was nary a problem or worry, just fun to be had.  

I did get a bit of stitching completed.   I worked on one of my WIPGO calls, 2025 Commemorative Heart/Heart in Hand.   My task was 5 hours of stitching and I am guessing I doubled that.     Before, left and after on the right - obviously!

I also did a wool appliqué piece.   Not a total rookie with this but definitely a novice.   I have done bits and pieces along the way but with little knowledge of what I was doing.   I sat with Barb and Monica when I was in Gettysburg earlier in May and was fascinated with their work and how this type of stitching is the easiest retreat work you can do.    I reached out to Barb and got hints from her before the weekend.   I was able to cut and iron all my pieces in place ahead of time.  It was EZ PZ to stitch the pieces in place that we already held in place using Heat and Bond.   No need to follow a pattern place.    I need to neaten up my stitches and try my hand at some variation of stitches.  I am on my way to attacking the dozen or so wool appliqué kits and patterns I have in stash.

So, not to have you bored, I had a crazy pit stop on the way home.   Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium in Orrtanna, PA.   I kid you not.  

There was a QR code on this mural that gave you the history of Mr. Ed and his elephant journey.   Someone gave he and his wife an elephant figurine as a wedding gift as it was to bring good luck.  The journey started there.  

The grounds and gardens were a lovely place to walk around.   Each corner turning up a different elephant or perhaps one of the 7 Dwarfs hiding in the undergrowth!

I think we all need a little bit of whimsy in our lives.  How about a flower bed full of bowling ball lady and other bugs?   Hmmmm….I have a couple of old bowling balls in the closet….

Just think, a long car ride with the kiddoes…..what a great place to stop and stretch your legs with them. 

There was a Tea Pot House filled with hundreds of teapots of every kind, even elephant teapots!

I truly was captivating by the over the top concept and execution of this entire place.  

And then we went inside!   There was part of candy store that was sectioned off as the museum.

Thousand and thousands of elephants on display!

By this point, I was elephanted-out and didn’t even take pictures of ALL the candy.   Tubs and tubs of penny (probably not a penny anymore) candy from root beer barrels to Mary Janes to Sugar Daddy’s.   Homemade fudge and of course, fresh roasted peanuts which I bought for Mr. W.    Dag nabbit!  This being on a diet is hard some days but I made it out with only the peanuts.

All in all in it was a great trip.   Except for the long drive.   No issues at all along the way, it just makes for a loooonnnnggg day.   

Thanks for traveling along.   Remember take the road less traveled and you may come across an Elephant Museum.   Back to real life for me.

Keep on stitching……

Ohio, Part 2

 Day 2 started with a trip to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.   I was kind of ambivalent about going.  I don’t remember song lyrics, singer names, blah, blah blah.   I know I like what I hear as I am listening and my brain moves on.    I am so glad we went.  It was awesome.   At one point I was bopping with headphones on listening to Freddy Mercury.  

Anyway, enough of that visual…..We were in line in time for our 10 am timed admission.  The website says 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours for the tour.  The first floor we toured has a changing exhibit and also the history of R & R starting with its roots in church and gospel music.   It. took us almost two hours just for that floor alone!   It was overwhelming to say the least.  

The entrance was lined floor to ceiling with autographs.  

Saturday Night Live was the first exhibit.   I used to think I was really doing something if I stayed up to watch Saturday night live.   These days…..I am watching the inside of my eyelids when it is on the air.  It was really neat to see some of the skits and clothes from the shows.   Justin Timberlake’s leotard from his “All the Single Ladies” skit with Bobby Monihan and Andy Samberg.  Hilarious!  

Kenan Thompson’s jacket from his “What’s Up With That” skits as Diondre Cole

And so much more.  Many pix I took had too much glare and reflection.

After the SNL section, we wandered our way through the music that proceeded “Rock ‘n Roll”.  The gospel singers, the folk singers, Blues, Motown, Country, Memphis and so on.  

So in no particular order and with photos of musicians and bands forgotten.   The sounds, the pictures brought back many memories.  Music, like your sense of smell, can take you back to time long forgotten.    I made sure my kids were introduced to music through school instrument programs because, I cannot carry a tune in a bucket and birds fall from the sky if I do more than mouth the words in church!

Sister Rosetta, hailed one of the founders, from 1948. 

Mahalia Jackson

 

Hank Williams

Piano played by Jerry Lee Lewis showing how he wore the ivory right off the keys.

No introduction needed, just look at the white glove and know.

One of Michael Jackson’s Grammys

One of Lady Gaga’s outfits

Always a Beatles Fan….

From the original Ryman Auditorium Theater, a pew, c. 1895, Nashville.

Fats Domino

And his domino shirt!

No explanation needed.  Thank you, thank you very much.

Patchwork coat worn by Jimi Hendrix

I thought this was touching.   This poster of Rev. Franklin and his daughter, Aretha……

The Supremes, The Temptations, Berry Gordy, The Miracles……

Turquoise guitar, why?   I don’t even know who’s it was but it is my favorite color.  LOL

Harry Styles suit

“THE Blue Suede Shoes!

The final exhibit on the top floor was dedicated to Paul McCartney and Wings.   I can’t help but have the music “Live and Let Die” playing in my head.  

Original writing of  “Uncle Arthur”

And for my s-in-l, John Prine, one of his favorites.

You know me.  I’ve always have to get the scenery in.  A view from the 5th floor of the Hall of Fame out over Lake Erie.  

After the tour, we walked to the waterfront and had a relaxing lunch outdoors.   As you can see by the sky, the weather was beyond gorgeous.   My view was of the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Looking out over the lake, a wee lighthouse in the distance.

You can’t be on a stitching retreat trip with going to a cross stitch store.   This trip had us visit the Crafty Ewe in Broadview Heights, Ohio.  It was a great store, super well stocked and a variety of charts from the common and popular ones to the not familiar ones.   Lots of models on display which is always a great thing.    I made a few purchases.    Like I need another strawberry…..but you can see I brought two!

Rose, one of the early, if not an original member, opened her house for a Meet and Greet the night before the event started.   So kind and generous of her.   There were about 15 of us that showed up.   To say her needlework in beautiful is an understatement.  Her needlework is museum worthy.   She is not only prolific she is also impeccable with her stitching.  Her gardens were beautiful and welcoming.  I found what would be my stitching spot very quickly.  

Look at this unique way she displayed her  REVERSIBLE piece.  Not the best pic.  It is hanging from the molding in an over-sized doorway so the back and be displayed.  

And to think, I am not even scratching the surface of all the framed pieces and the beautiful cabinet/s of smalls.   Just stunning and absolutely motivating!!!  How wonderful it must be to sit and stitch here and be surrounded by all your beautiful work.

Thanks for traveling along with me……

Next up, the event and drive home