This 'n That

We are back into the HHH - Heat-Humidity-Horribleness of summer.   I enjoyed an evening water ride on the Christiana River in Delaware with a friend last week and decided this needs to be my mantra for the weeks ahead.  

Since I last lamented about my garden beds getting away from me, I managed to get them tidy .....but they could be back on the verge of needing my attention.   I think the reality of it is not the heat but loss of desire to be in the garden.   Sad transition since I have taken many years of pleasure but I feel like I've already got that gardening badge for my sash of life experiences and now time to move on.   Instead of saying I'd rather be in the garden, I seem to be saying, I'd rather be stitching.  Then again, it could be the heat.  This kind of oppressive weather does take the starch out of your sails!

On the stitching front, I am happy with the progress I have made on my Santa Sampler.    He is not without mistakes but I am happy so far.   He is a really quick stitch.  Once I get the right side of his coat done, the bands should go super quick.

I can share this finish.   This is Brenda Gervais' Patriotic Poppies.    I stitched it on 18-count (yeah! no cheaters needed).    I made it into a pillow and although it is not County Fair worthy, it is good enough to sit out from Memorial Day to Labor Day.    I do need to still stitch it closed at the bottom but that part will be a no brainer.







While the sewing machine was going, I overcasting a bunch of linens I picked up.   Most came from our Stash Re-Allocation Sale at DVHSG.   Some were only a couple of dollars.....hard to say no to that price.  I need my own Stash Rearranging Event!

I took a quick weekend trip to Bucks County PA with a friend from Guild.   First stop was the Bucks County Welcome Center for a quilt show.   What beauties we saw.

Visitors were allow to vote on a show favorite and this was mine.    Sorry I don't have a better close up.   The free motion quilting on this was beyond stunning.

Next up was a visit to Ye Olde Cross Stitchery in Bristol PA.   Since they didn't open until 12:30 and it was only 11, we did a bit of consignment store shopping.   These are my finds.




























Love this God Bless America and only $6.  How couldn't I pass it up?   Also got these children's kitchen mini pans/molds.   I picked up two more flower frogs.   Didn't really need them but the larger one is footed on the bottom rather than being flat so it was different.

I have a pin cushion made out of similar pans and plan to do the same for my new finds.    Will have to whip up some quilted fabric, destress it and make some up.

Neat gazebo at the water's edge in Bristol.

Part of our trip included a day in Lamberville NJ and New Hope PA.     Lunch at Lambertville Station started with some Chardoney.

We meet with Stacy's cousins for a great dinner at a place called Karla's in New Hope before our late check into our room in Doylestown.   Below, not Karla's, but a typical house you see in the New Hope area.

What a cute destination town Doylestown is.   While there we visited the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle but I have to say the heat (neither are air conditioned) was getting the best of us.

 Above is a vampire killing kit.   Part of Henry Mercer's collection of 'tools' at the Mercer Museum.   Below, some of the needlework items in the general store display.

The driveway into Fonthill Castle the home of Henry Mercer.  

Fonthill Castle - Interested in preserving things, use of tiles from his tile factory on the property (The Morovian Tile Factory), fear of fire and the use of concrete - a new building media at the time - compelled Henry Mercer to build his castle out of concrete.

Above and below the Library.   Mr. Mercer had over 6,000 books in his collection most of which are housed in his concrete book shelves.

His house was a sort of showroom to potential buyers.   Buyers could see the variety of tiles and the varieties of uses while dining with Mr. Mercer.  Some of the tiles below on the column are babylonian from 2,300 BC that were gifted to Mr. Mercer.

The more ornate ceiling in the room Mr. Mercer created as a tribute to Christopher Columbus.

A few more consignment shops and then we spent the evening at a wine tasting.   The tasting was great and lead to bringing six bottles home with me.  We enjoyed a relaxing evening of live music, wine slushes and cheese and crackers at Bishops Winery.  I think I am stocked up for a bit.

Home again and back to reality.   Hope to dedicated time this week to my Santa.   I'd like to have him done by mid-September.   I've pre-stitching for a couple of fall classes that should be arriving soon.  And I want to get back to my 12-Days of Christmas ornaments so they are done by Christmas and then there are exchange pieces and......Ack!

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching......