July - August 2024

Oof-dah!  In other words, I got nothing.  July was not that busy for me but I think it was reverse hibernation, due to the heat and humidity.   IDK. 🤷‍♀️.  

For July, we had the most miserable heat and humidity.   I think it is only made worse for me because I don’t have a pool to jump into.   But I digress.   The yard has gone to pot.   Fortunately after 40 plus years of pulling weeds, not too many dare to grow in my flower beds.  That darned crab-grass and spurge just must be the vegetation counterpart to cock roaches and will survive the apocalypse.    

I watched the Olympics but was not too impressed with the Opening Ceremonies.  Those swimmers, kayakers, gymnasts, track and field,  all the athletes were just amazing.   And such sportsmanship between the competitors.  I didn’t join any of the Olympic Stitching challenges.   I believe I have painted myself into my own corner just fine and needed no assistance at creating more WIP’s.   

For stitching, I have fallen behind on my Temperature Tree -  last leaf stitched was July 20th.   I just need to devote a Sunday afternoon or two to working on it and I will be back on track.  

I stitched and finished two more of Lila’s Studio Christmas Sweaters for gifts which of of course were wrapped and given without photographing.    I finally laced and mounted the two pieces I bought frames for.   The local county fair was the impetus to cross that task off my list and I was rewarded with some ribbons.

I can’t even remember what my WIPGO’s were for July but I know I finished them.   If I were to go find the list and look it up, it would just be another possible delay of 10 days to post.   Not that I don’t know exactly where the list is (an extra page I had inserted in my Book of Days) but we know how we walk into a room and get side tracked.  

I haven’t worked on my French Alphabet for several weeks but feel once I get some gifts stitched and out of the way, I will be able to dedicate some serious stitching time to it.  That diagonal line from the “U” at the bottom is part of the bottom corner motif.  She sure is a big girl.   I don’t know if I am on schedule or not but I like that fact that being a Leap Year Challenge there is no pressure……yet.   Maybe in February 2028 I will feel the pressure but I surely hope to be done before then!!!!!  I am generally pleased with my progress.  This one has been calling me since I bought it as a retirement gift to myself in 2020.

Other than gifts and one class piece, I haven’t started anything new this year.   I made a deal with myself that I would not start anything new until I finsihed 4,  or maybe it was 6,  WIPs.   Either way, at  last count, I have finished 14 WIPs  and four other ‘gift’ projects since January.   So reading that, you can guess what I did.   I have been wanting to start this Shannon Christine pattern since the beginning of the year and I gave myself permission to do so.   It is called Jeweled Baubles and it available as a pdf download.   I didn’t get far but it is a start.   I know it is going on the sideline until I get caught up on what I call my ‘obligation’ stitching or stitching with deadlines.    The ornament on the right is finished except for the beading that I will do last.    Lots of beads and lots of  Kreinik and lots of color changes.

Below is my Blackbird WIP finish.    I only stitched the cartouche area entering the initials of my fellow SAL stitchers in the medallions.    My guild had a drum making class at the August meeting and I need to watch the recording for some tips to turn this into a drum finish.   It will be my first drum but I heard the guild member that taught the finishing did an outstanding job. 

The class piece I started is Cherry Berry Sampler from the Jackie DuPlessis class my guild had in April.  This one has some not so typical sampler colors and it is not a large sampler.   Both of which drew me to sign on for the class.  It just so happens, I have a stitching group that meets once a month and the criteria is to work on a class piece.    At that rate, it could be awhile to get this done but I am OK with that.  

I did finish the stitching of a Christmas in July project and just need to assemble it.    I will be at the beach next week with my son’s family and I am taking it and all I need to fully finish it.    It is Christmas in Williamsburg 2014 Biscournu.  Top and bottom stitched and ready to assemble.   Like I think I will have time with the ocean at my door and two little ones wanting to be at the beach.  

At the beginning of August, I spend five days in Alexandria VA for North Meets South Retreat.   It was a great time with three friends.   Lots of laughs, some great meals, seeing some old friends and meeting a few that I had only known by name before.   One person I met was Robin in VA.   I always refer to her as my number one fan.   She is always the first to comment on my blog or my Instagram.   It was so nice to meet her in person and chat with her.   Silly me, never thought to take a selfie of us.  

We were right across the street from the Pentagon.

Beautiful sunset from the 15th floor

Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial as well as the DoubleTree’s ventilation system!

Better shot of the Jefferson Memorial and the ventilation system.

Hopefully I will have some progress I can share on some stitching.    In this case, “hope” is a four letter word.    

That kind of brings me up to date with the exception of the third installment of the Ohio trip in June.  It is on my list.   Lol.  As is replying to your comments.  And there’s the question again - how did I ever find the time to work?

As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching. 

Wrapping up June

I did little to no work on the back 40.   I have an unbelievable amount of Spiderwort - which I never planted.   Intentionally at least.  

When we moved in 40+ years ago, the former owner had it at the foundation across the back of the house.    I dug it up and threw it in the woods behind me.  Where all the plants I had too many of them went for years.   Although  the purple blue flowers next to the yellow coreopsis make a lovely showing, once the spiderwort declines the heavy stalks - like fat asparagus stakes - just flop over into big 3 foot round circles, looking messy and smothering anything nearby.   I try to eradicate it every year.   It has roots that look like spaghetti and even a one-inch piece left in the ground will sprout the next season.   I have sprayed every kind of weed killer again and once died down, I remove what I can, cut off at ground level and spray it again.   So I guess progress has been made but not so much headway made.   I still need more stone to complete the path.   Bringing it home from my son’s in a half dozen flower pots at time is  not making a big difference.    And since this is technically not my property - it is a landlocked piece of property owned by the township but it is mine by right of eminent domain - I think and I have been cutting and maintaining it for years…..since it is not my property, my rule is not to spend money on it.   I am close to breaking that rule so I can get the blasted walkway down.   I figure I need about a dozen 50 pound bags which really means 18.  I guess if I spend money on weed killer I can make the small jump to paying for stones.    I may just price them out, even price out having bulk delivered. I know Mr. Wonderful will think I am trying to give him a heart attack moving a 1/2 of stones.  

For WIPGO this month, one of the numbers called was 7 hours on Rosewood Manors Cornwall Cottage.  I love this piece.   Every time I pick it up to work on it I wonder why I put it down.   Anyway, I decided to double up this month and dedicate both monthly assignments to this piece which meant spending 14 hours on it which I did manage to do.    I figured it was the best way to make the most progress and I am happy with what I got done.   One of these years I get it done.  And the inner border met!  I count this as a win!   I think WIPGO for July might be put aside.  I promised myself that in July I would work on Christmas gifts and exchange pieces.   

Temperature Tree is half done!   So far so good.  Having fun with it.  Time to stitch that July branch.

French Alphabet Sampler is moving along, slowly.  I only put in one Sunday afternoon of work.   Between traveling and entertaining grand children, stitching got neglected.  Any forward progress is good.   I would really like to get page 2 finished and be well into page 3 by the end of the month.  Although not as far as I would like to be, I am still on tract for a Leap Year finish!  This is the only piece I plan to stitch on in July other than exchange stitching so I feel sure I can be well into Page 3.  

If not traveling, or dealing with minor body ailments,  I was spending my time with these two.    I had William for the week between school being out and camp starting.  We visited a natural history museum with dinosaurs because all little boys like dinosaurs and we saw In and Out 2 at the movies.  Then I had Little Miss Raegan for a long weekend and we had lunch at a tea room.   She was the perfect little lady.

 

And I still have one more Ohio trip to post.  I tried to incorporate here with my monthly update but there is too too much to share!   

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

Ohio, Part 2

Another calendar page about to turn and I still have more to tell about Ohio.   It is true what they say, whoever they are, that time flies.    First up, let’s talk Cincinnati and some Cincinnati Chili!   Yum.    Not my first taste of it.   Stayed at Stasi B.’s house overnight and she had it for dinner for us.   I have made it myself also.   I just couldn’t be in Cincinnati without going to Skyline and having some!  Well, guess what, we never made it to Skyline for my chili.   

This get together with my table mates from the Quilters Station Retreat turned into a great weekend.    On Friday we walked about the neighborhood, called The Rhine.  It is an area of revitalization.   We visited Finlay’s Market, much like Reading Terminal Market in Philly.   We ate lunch at a lovely French Cafe, complete with Bloody Mary’s.  

So much beautiful architecture and fabulous murals on the buildings in the area.

Jackson Brewery

Next to Jackson Brewery.   We noticed the ‘barrel’ like arches over the windows and wondered if it was intentional or our creative minds.

This would be so much better if not for the electric wires!

A beer garden!

The group decided to do a Round Robin which we all started when together.   It is    from Hello from Liz Mathew’s.    We all chose our own fabric and floss and got started.   Starting July 1st, we are going to mail  our pieces to the next person on the list.  We plan to meet up again in late February and hopefully we will all have our own piece back to us and well on the way to completion.

Mine is on the left.   I choose multiple colors.   Becky, turbo stitcher, was ready for the hand off before we left Cincinnati, choose Raspberry Parfait on Oaken fabric.   

Both Friday and Saturday after having big lunches out, we settled into our AB&B for stitching, adult beverages and chatting over charcuterie boards made up of cheeses, fruits, nuts and such.   We mainly just enjoyed each other’s company.  Laughed a lot.  Shared a lot.  And thoroughly had a great time.   I, for one, didn’t get much stitching done but I wouldn’t change a thing about how we spent our time.  

Stay tuned for Part 3 of Ohio complete with a tour of an haunted hotel, The Harmon Museum in Lebanon, OH and some consignment store shopping on the way home.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

Traveling to Ohio, Part 1

The first of the month I was in the car and headed west.   And as you know, I go kind of picture heavy with my escapades and travels so you get a two-parter this month.  Destination Cincinnati, but not to Stitch Con.   My table mates and I from the Quilter’s Station Retreat in Kansas City last September planned a long weekend together with Cincinnati being about halfway for all of us.  

Before my trip, I decided to make a little gift to exchange.  These were super easy.  I ordered the ‘pendants’ from Etsy, got out my  Ultimate Sampler Motif Book, picked an alphabet and stitched everyone’s initial.   Stitched up in no time and put together in no time.   It was fun to do and I would do it again.   They can be used as a scissors fob or to attach to a zip pull on a project bag.   

The trip started with lots of fun and shopping as Vicki and I took two days to get to Cindy.     Our first stop was Canton, Ohio and no, we went no where near the Football Hall of Fame.     When I travel, whether with Stacy or Vicki, it all about the stops.   Stacy’s are more educational and Vicki’s are more shopping.  But both work for me.  

While we were driving across Pennsylvania, Vicki referred to herself as being built like a ‘fireplug’, mainly based on her being height challenged.    So I sat there in the passenger seat and thought, how would I describe myself……almost instantly I came up with I was shaped like the Momma Nesting Doll.   We laughed and that was that.    Arriving in Canton, Ohio, we came upon this sign…

Of course we had to go in.  Oh my goodness!   Somehow, with no planning, we found the nesting doll capital of the world or maybe at least,  their  secret headquarters.   IDK.   But I never saw so many nesting dolls in one place.   Thousands, truly.

Trust me, this is only a fraction of what they had.   This place had many rooms and every time we turned a corner we busted out laughing at MORE nesting dolls.  And no duplicates.    I wish I had snapped a photo of one of the current presidential candidates set of dolls.  

Irish

Snowmen

Halloween

Some for pet lovers

Land of my people!

And books about nesting dolls as well.

No worries, none came home with me!  Actually we did very little purchasing at any of the consignment stores we visited…..on the way out that is.

We visited Little Creek Needlework in Canton, Ohio and what an adorable store with a lovely owner, Pat.   Anyone in the area has a great LNS in Little Creek.  Poor Pat had laryngitis when we visited but that did not diminish her customer service or smile.    We happened to be there on their Thursday stitching day.  As  I shopped and I heard the ladies talking about email they received and I have just received the same one.    I interrupted them and found out we were all members of Western Reserve Sampler Guild of Parma, Ohio.  I am not that quick to think and should have taken a selfie with these lovely ladies. 

I bought this 40 count linen at Little Creek.   I am going to ‘attempt’ 40 count.  Stitchy friends tell me I can do it; we shall see.  One of them will be used for Heaven and Nature Sing by Kathy Barrick.   I have started and stopped that piece at least twice, not liking the fabric I was working on either time.   It is on my radar now.  

Here’s the house.  Let me tell you, we got our exercise with all those steps.  

It was worth the climb up four flights to my room.    Look at that view.

We did visit Keepsakes while we were there!   

  By luck, I found my friend Stasi’s car in the parking long.  She and Lisa were attending Stitch Cons

The Stitchy Bus was there when we were.  

And here we all are on the front porch at Keepsakes.  

Ok, there is much more to share but if I keep waiting until I get it all added and edited it may never get posted.   So there you have, Part 1.    

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.