Summer Camp at The Country Sampler, Part 3

Geez!    So you have seen the trip out, you have seen our house and the store, now it is time for the Summer Camp itself.    There were a lot of us.   100 plus teachers and staff.

 

Just everyday stitchers but with a celebrity in the midst as well - Saltbox Stitcher.   I didn’t approach her.   I think it must be hard to be just another stitcher and enjoy the event without everybody coming up to you.   That’s just me and I don’t have a problem with those who did and got photos and autographs.    I will tell you this, because it surprised me.   I bet she is only about 5 foot 2.   Really.   She just always gave me the impression she was a taller woman.  

I did buy Bumblebee Etchings from Heart in Hand.  It was kitted up to finish as these large pillows and I was sold.   They are about 10 x 10 and all the linen, pearl cotton, trims and fabrics came with it.  

They were sold out of Floral Etchings or I would have gotten that too!

Across the alley from the store was a lovely little park to sit in.  There was a stage where they had music at night and food could be ordered from the adjacent restaurant.   One evening we ate al fresco there.  

We had three wonderful teachers.  So generous with their projects and sharing their knowledge.   First up was Vickie Jennett of NeedleWorkPress.    This was the sampler she presented as our class piece.   

They set up such lovely vignettes with their goodies. 

Next we enjoyed Kathleen Littleton of Cross Stitch Antiques.  She gave us quite an interesting talk about herself, her family (14 children!!!) and her needlework.

Her’s was the tale of two sisters.   Here are the originals.  

 And as she reproduced them.   We got each in the class with all the floss and linen needed to complete both.  She offered alternatives to each pattern with what we wanted to include as the verse on each.  You can see the longer verse peaking through between the two pieces.

Lastly, Stacy Nash of Stacy Nash Designs.  This is her inspiration piece.  

The outside of the stitching roll.

The inside showing where she used a piece of antique quilt to line the stitching roll.  Also  a pin cushion designed and finished as a mattress finish.

Retreat over and home again.   If you wonder how we see and do so much in our travels.   Well, we are on the road before the sun is up, that’s how!

On to the ride home.  We took a small detour into Michigan City, Michigan.   Stacy has the goal to visit all 50 states and she had not been to Michigan.   She got 4 on this trip and I think that puts her at 39 states.

  We went to their beachfront park and strolled around.   We had a great taco from their concession stand.   We walked out to the lighthouse.

On the right of the photo, that almost scaffold like structure is the ‘cat walk’.   It is how the lighthouse tenders got to the lighthouse before the concrete pier was constructed.

We talked to the local couple in the foreground.   They told us on a clear day you can see the skyline of Chicago.   It may look like it is clear but there was a lot of lower level haze, possible smoke from the fires in Canada.  And what looks like buildings on a distant shore is actually petty of the jetty’s the surround the cove and marina.   It offers from the harsh winters.

Look at this white stuff.    It was everywhere.   Flying in the air.   Accummluating in the corners and gutters at the toll booths.  Seriously, in places it looked like you could shovel it.

It looked like someone had blown the heads off 10,000 dandelions.    They said it was from the  Cotton Trees.    Cottonwoods?  IDK

Back in the car and heading towards home.   We found a consignment store in Gary, Indiana and had a walk about.   All I purchased was a yardstick to add to my collection.   It has to either have something about stitching on it or something from something local to where I live.    We picked out our holiday dresses.  LOL

Both days, Stacy did 90% of the driving.   I was sick as a dog but not really.   My granddaughter contaminated me at the Memorial Day picnic.   I got an annoying head cold.   Two weeks later on the ride home I was still hacking and coughing; all that sinus stuff.   She drove and I slept.  We also were out of luck stopping at places on the drive because it was  Sunday and most were closed.   She pushed the driving until 8:30 that night.   It made our last day only 6 hours of driving.      

Next day we stopped in Bedford PA.   What a cute little town.   Again we tried several antique and consignment stores and found only one open on a Monday.   Again some pursuing around, it is always good to get out of the car for a bit.  Guess what I bought - another yard stick.   Such a big spender I was at the town consignment store.  

All in all a great trip.   Not sure where our next big adventure will be.  We have a lot of little ones on the calendar.   The first of which is a Guild Retreat she and I are running for our Guild to visit Hobby House in Pittsford, NY.    Again, with the mantra all the way up will be - stitch from stash.   Going to be hard because in addition to cross stitch, Hobby House has a great wool section and a quilting section.   

Thanks for traveling with me.   I do enjoy your comments so much, I don’t always respond but I love them just the same.   Keep on stitching.

Summer Camp at the Country Sampler, Part 2

Up and at ‘em Day 2 with Tomorrow’s Heirlooms as our first stop.  Another lovely store with the friendliest staff.   The whole  “Stitch from Stash” mantra did not work so well.   So many pretty things!      I went with a small list of the floss I needed to fully kit up one chart for an SAL and ended up with more.   At this point, I can’t even recall what was purchased except for a Jeannette Douglas Designs chart that I didn’t realize I had already.   I didn’t even check the X-Stitch Ap  inventory because it was on my XStitch Shopping List.    I guess the left hand isn’t sharing with the right hand what is going on.    No worries, I donated the chart to the Door Prize pile for my Guild’s Retreat. 

Tons of charts and more important, tons of fully finished pieces to inspire!

They have a fantastic variety of frames ready for purchase. If you every to there, either take your measurements or better yet, take your finished needlework with you so you can select a frame or two.

And do they have threads…….wow.

And another wall of threads

Next up we stopped at Culver’s.  Culver’s is a big thing in the mid-west and a must stop.

Before we made it to our lodging, we meet up with the rest of our party at The Country Sampler.   Two girls flew in and one drove in from Chicago.   Of course, Stacy and I are the road trippers.   I think however, if I were to go again, I would fly unless we had more travel days to and from.  

I have to admit that I walked into this shop and I exited in less than five minutes.   It was just plain overwhelming.   So - much - stuff in one small place.   It was beautifully staged and absolutely the best eye candy.  We seemed to get to the store about the same time the other 100 attendees did.  Not to worry.  We went back several times during the weekend when it was less crowded and did a fair amount of damage with the Capital One card.   

There is nothing like seeing the charts made up and in person.  This is from the Artful Offerings.  Like so many times, I would have passed by the pattern.   I saw the finished piece first and it was done with Jean’s touches.   One thing this store is known for is their color conversions.

Here it is as chart.  The finish in the muted tones was just so much more appealing to me.

So many beautiful, fully kitted quilts.   It was hard but I stood firm and resisted any quilt kits purchases.   

We had a lovely Air B & B.   Vicki did a great job.     I would highly recommend it.  It was a Frank Lloyd Wright-ish styled mid-century modern home in Dodgeville,   Very well appointed and could sleep up to 11!  Of course, I am drawn to the nature outside. 

It’s funny how their Iris and Peonies were just coming out and mine have bloomed and been spent.   I guess it meant I got double the season length to enjoy them.

Photos just don’t capture the mid-century modern vibe this place had.  It was quite literally in the middle of nowhere.  After leaving the main road, there was another 15 minutes drive and not another car to pass on the twisty turning backroads.  

I did not know this was the Land of Frank Lloyd Wright.   Born and raise in Wisconsin, the area is dotted with his architecture.   I never realized there were so many FLW houses.  There must have been 40 or 50 in the immediate area either his or inspired by his design and by designers of his school.   Some were open for display, but again the schedule did not permit.  Others were private residence.    There is a 200-mile Frank Lloyd Wright Trail that includes 9 public sites.   

Taliesin is the name of his 37,000 square foot home - no that is not a typo and an extra zero in that number.  It was not just his home; it housed his studio and a school on an 800 acre estate.  It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 and is a National Landmark.  It contains the only Wright-designed restaurant.  Tours are available.    

My house-mates and I shared some gifts.  I made these scissor fobs for my roommates and I can now share them here.   They are from the “I Collect” pattern from WTNT.    Vicki made us each a project bag.  Debra gave us each the Wisconsin State pattern.  Pat gave a little bag of treats - some of which are now gone.   Stacy gave us each a ceramic tomato filled with M & M’s. 

Next up, the Country Sampler Summer Camp Retreat.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.