A Day With Barb and Alma...fun,fun,fun!

In my last post I asked if anyone knew the lovely lady in the picture. No, it wasn't me! That was Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. She took classes with us at Country Sampler . She is just as sweet as sweet can be. Love her patterns too!


On to our day with the Blackbird Design girls. This was my favorite day of the Gathering. Barb and Alma were so nice ......and funny! They kept us laughing most of the day. You can tell that they are great friends as well as great designers. They played off , teased and told stories on each other. They even laughed at each other.



This is Barb.




This is Alma.

This is the fabric, Worn and Loved II by Jeanne Horton from Country Sampler that was in our kit for a beautiful table runner.

The runner was very long and lovely. It was difficult to get a picture of the whole runner with everyone admiring it. I took some pictures in sections.

Alma also suggested using the runner across the foot of your bed or across the pillows. I loved that idea.

From the scraps left over from the runner Alma made this pincushion. I love that button! She also gave some hints on machine applique with hexagons and everyone got to use HER

machine to try them out.

Here is the pocket that they designed for our aprons.

If you read their blog, this is the box that Alma did a tutorial on. I love it and I am going to make some.

She photo copied fabric for the inside of the box and the lid. The outside is fabric.

Next are pictures of their trunk show. These are only a few pictures of the beautiful pieces that they brought along.

I love this quilt. I had to go and buy the book right after the show!

Another favorite.

Beautiful!!!

OMGosh!!!

If only I had more time!!!

Someday....love it!!

I have the pattern for this project and all the supplies in my closet. I had forgotten all about it.

This years ornament in the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Book.

I am going to stitch this one.

I bought the supplies to stitch this pattern too!

Here they all are in one picture. We were so lucky to be able to attend this Gathering with such fantastic people. I am sure that we will attend another Gathering one year.












Early Sunday morning we were back on the road with "Carmen" heading back to the Madison Airport.






What a great time we had. Next time we will stay a couple more days and see some of the beautiful state of Wisconsin and their quilt shops! I will be back soon with some of the goodies I bought. Until then keep stitching.

Pat

A Day With Stacy Nash

Our second day at Boxwood and Berries Gathering was spent with Stacy Nash. When we walked into the classroom at Country Sampler we each found a fabric covered box waiting for us. It was so pretty I didn't want to open mine. This is what I found inside.

Three projects. They were all neatly wrapped with lovely photos. We started on the sampler. When the sampler is completed it will be glued to the top of the box.Also included was a small pillow that could be used as a pincushion and two Christmas ornaments.

This is Stacy. She is a very quiet, soft spoken and a bit shy in front of a crowd. One on one she is as sweet as can be. Stacy and her mom had covered all the boxes for us to save some time. She explained how they did them and answered several questions. Next year Stacy is going to have you stitch your project before class so there will be time to do the finishing with her. Great idea!

This is the sampler completed. Isn't it lovely?

The Christmas ornaments.

This little pillow is so sweet.

Here you can see a few of the finished projects that Stacy had stitched and were for sale. She does beautiful work.

Stacy has a new book coming out soon. Projects for her new book were available to drool over. The first picture is of a sewing roll. Love this one. I got the wool and her fabric to make it.

The inside.

A Naughty or Nice Pinkeep Drum. I love the aged look of the berries on the top.

A sewing pouch. Front and back.

This is a little pinkeep or an ornament.

Stacy had a work in progress. I think that this might end up to be her project for our apron pocket.

Stacy again chatting away.

We met so very many lovely ladies at this gathering. Do you know who this one is????

We also made Boxwood Wreaths with Stacy. It was fun to try something new. I don't think that I will go into the business of making them though. The one I made still looks good after being squished and I mean squished in my suitcase. Next time I will tell you all about our day with Alma and Barb from Blackbird Designs. OMGosh!!! Until then keep stitching.

Pat

Finally, Boxwood and Berries Gathering!

Carmin Garmin got us to Spring Green WI with no further problems. When we walked into the new classroom at Country Sampler we found this great wooden tote sitting on our tables. Inside was an apron and a wool kit. Each of the three designers were asked to design a pocket for the apron. Don't you love the tote? Our first designer was Maggie Bonanomi. What a sweet lady, and funny too! Here she is telling us about our first project, A Book of Days.

Here is the pocket she designed for our apron. It is all wool applique.

This is the front of our Book of Days, but it is the back of Maggie's as she stitched hers together backwards.

As you can see the back is lovely too.

Here are some of the pages inside our journal. Maggie gave us pictures to use that are beautiful. Pictures of old buttons, old cookie and tart tins and old Christmas bulbs are my favorites. I may also use some of my own pictures when I finish my Book of Days.

Here Maggie is making beeswax candles. Because of lack of time and space we only observed this project. I am going to try this. Probably not this year. Those little candles were so cute for that tree.

Next we made a feather tree from tissue paper. This is the lovely urn with raw cotton and pine cones that we put our trees in.

Here is the tree. I made all of my branches. I didn't put mine together because of the flight home. I don't know that I would have been able to carry it through three airports without being pulled aside for an extensive security check!!! I listened carefully to the instructions on finishing my tree to finish here at home. This is a picture of the tree that Maggie made.

This is Maggie's newest book. It"s lovely. We were fortunate enough to see a trunk show of all the projects from this book. What a clever lady!

This off white on off white wool was lovely.

This cutout was great too.

This is my favorite project from the book. It is a wool Punkin's Mat. I call my grandchildren Punkins. She had it sitting in this cutest twig stool. I love it. I am on the hunt for one.

So Cute.

Loved this hooked rug. See that cute little pumpkin pincushion. If only I had more time!

This looked good enough to eat.

This was so clever. Maybe next year.

I loved this pear too and the stand that it was on ..... a glass candle holder painted... Why didn't I think of that?

A wool mat for Christmas.

Maggie made several batches of cookies and showed several ways to package them as gifts. Maggie did not drink all the wine in those bottles. (we had a wine tasting, trying wines from South America)

We all got to try some. They were yummy!!

Maggie was a very busy lady in Spring Green. When she wasn't with us or baking she was out antiquing in her tomato red Jeep. She looked so cute in it!!!

We had a wonderful time with Maggie. She shared some great projects and ideas with us. She will have a new book out in the Spring on Rug Hooking.

Next time I will tell you all about our day with Stacy Nash. Another fun day. Until then keep stitching. I hope that everyone here in the U.S. had a very Happy Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful day spent with family and a bit of stitching.

Pat

WE ARE BACK! WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD.

We are back and we had the time of our life. I want to do it again very soon. Our flight
from Burlington VT to Chicago and on to Madison WI was great. I am not a fan of flying, especially the landings but they went well. Everything was perfect..the flight...the friends and the weather. As soon as we arrived in WI we picked up our rental car and plugged Carmen Garmin in, waited for a satellite which took a bit of patience as Carmen was still in NY and repeatedly gave us directions from my home. That settled and satellite found, we were on our way to our first stop JJ Stitches and CO. in Sun Prairie WI.


Oh my,oh my!! What a beautiful shop. Fabrics and models every where. Julie, the owner was there. What a nice lady. We stayed there about three hours and I could have spent three days. No kidding. I had my camera but there was so much to see I forgot to take many pictures.

These are just a few of the models in the shop. I walked around with my camera in hand and my mouth wide open. I kid you not.

Love these wool pillows.

She had some beautiful ric rac. I love ric rac!!

If you are ever in this area of Wisconsin you have to go to this shop. If you live in this area... you don't know how lucky you are! I will be back soon with pictures of my purchases from JJ's. (because I can't find them right now) As we leave here we are on to Spring Green WI and The Boxwood And Berries Gathering at Country Sampler Quilt Shop.

Pat

Get Ready Wisconsin!

I would love to share my plans for next week. I am very excited about them as I have never done anything like this before. I am off to Spring Green, Wisconsin. I will be attending Country Sampler's second annual Boxwood and Berries Gathering with Stacy Nash, the girls from Blackbird Designs Alma Allen and Barb Adams and Maggie Bonanomi . If you would like to read about Boxwood and Berries click on Country Sampler and go to coming events and scroll down just a bit. It sounds like so much fun! I am dragging two friends along. They are both excited too. If anyone is familiar with this area of Wisconsin and has a favorite Quilt Shop please let me know. We will have a whole day to shop, shop,shop.

Pat

I'M DEPRESSED!

Where have I been the last few weeks? Right here in this pile of Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin's.


Why? You might ask.

Because I am depressed!

I loved this magazine and it is no more! Maybe I should say I heart Mark Lipinski's Quilters Home. I have no idea if the magazine will continue without him or not. I do know that if it does continue it will never be the same, cupcakes! :(

On to other things. I did have two cross stitch projects framed. I had a very difficult time trying to get a photo of " Home" by Shepherd's Bush. I couldn't get a photo of it on the wall because of the glare from the background. You could see everything in the room in the glass and you couldn't see the cross stitch.

I even had "Boo" by Shepherd's Bush finished in time for Halloween. Both of these projects came as kits. They were quick and easy to stitch.

I received money for my birthday in May. I purchased a Kindle with the money. By the way, I love it ! I saw a Kindle Cover or" Bookkeeper" on Moda Bake Shop. I have one almost finished. I need to do the applique and then I will show a photo. It was fun to use my decorative stitches for the first time. The directions were great and easy to follow. Below is the pattern and the fabric I used. The pattern is by Kim Walus. Go over and visit Kim. She is a very clever lady.

I love the primitive look. I follow Lynda Hall's blog. Recently she had a post about Mockingbirds. I commented on that post and Lynda decided to give everyone that commented a copy of her new pattern Mocking Birds. Lucky me. This pattern is now in my to do pile. Go over and visit Lynda. You will enjoy her blog.

Below are a few more patterns that I was lucky enough to win from the Fat Quarter Shop. Several of them have been added to my pile also. My pile is almost as tall as I am now!

In the last few weeks I have also been to a quilt show, a Craft Fair and of course some quilt shops. I will be back soon with some photos. My next post will be about some very exciting plans that I have for next week. ; ) ; ) ; )

Hugs,

Pat

May It Never Happen Again.

September 11, 2001

Pat

A Huge Bug Bite! And More...

I have been bitten by the cross stitch bug again and I love it. I have been away from it for a few years and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Here are my next two projects. The first is a new pattern by Shepherd's Bush "My Pins". This pattern is stitched on 24 count fabric over two threads. I should have no problem stitching this one even in the evening. It includes the cross stitch fabric, floss, border and backing fabric and ric rac to complete a pincushion. The second one is also by Shepherd's Bush. This one has been in my closet for a few years. I remembered that I had this pattern and thought that I would like to stitch it for this Fall. So into the closet I went. Sure enough there it was. Now I don't want to make it sound like I walked right in and put my hands right on it....I was in there for quite a while. Before I go into my closet I always call my friend Debbie. I tell her what I am up to and ask her to check on me if she doesn't heard from me in a while.

While I was in there I found some goodies that I had forgotten all about. I found these two blocks all prepped and ready to applique. The pattern is "Ring Around The Posie" By Primitives Pieces By Lynda . I was going to make a four block wall hanging from this pattern. I am not sure if these would be my color choices today but I like this pattern. I will have to see. I haven't appliqued in a while. These larger pieces just may give me a jump start back to the thousands of applique projects that have and love.

Don't you just love this pattern? Why did I ever put it away? Do you ever do that? I think that I have too many projects that I want to do. I start them all and don't finish any of them. I need help....yup I do! Dr. Phil would be so proud..I have taken the first step. I have admitted that I have a problem.

I also found a long lost Santa that I had stitched. I had the backing fabric right along side it in a ziplock bag. Maybe I will finish this project too.

Isn't he sweet? Well I am off....not to the closet tonight, but to stitch. I will be back soon with some new progress on some old projects. I will chat then.

Pat

A Finish And Some Progress

I just love this little guy! Shepherds Bush is one of my favorite designers. He took hardly any time to stitch. Now to get him framed.





Here is some progress on my Willow House by BBD another of my favorite designers. I enjoy doing this picture during the day. I love the Tobacco color fabric but I do have difficulty seeing it in the evening. Even using my Ott light it is a struggle and not fun.

This is a Cinderberry Stitches pattern I am using for a table runner. I need a backing and some quilting to finish it up. This is going to be a Christmas gift for a friend.

It is sunny and 74 degrees here today. Fall is in the air! I will chat soon.

Pat

A Bit Of Stitching Going On!

We have had a lot of rain here in upstate NY as we wait for our summer to arrive. We have a nice day and then we have several not so nice days. Lots of thunder and lightning too. That is not my favorite weather either. Today is beautiful. It is 80 degrees, a slight breeze and no humidity. Yea! With the weather, I have had the choice to clean , do laundry or stitch soooo... I have done a little of each. First is some progress on Willow House by BBD. ( check on my July 21st post for a picture of this project) The fabric is Tobacco 28 count. I love it. I find that these old eyes have to work on it in a very good light.

I had a small interruption in my progress of WH when this little goody arrived in the mail.

This is a kit by Sheperd's Bush. I have been fond of their patterns forever. I mean in LOVE with them!! It has been a dream of mine to go to Ogden Utah to attend their Christmas Tea and open house.

This kit is called Home. I enjoy this pattern because I can see it. The pattern is large and the symbols are clear. ( I usually have to take my patterns to Staples to have them enlarged to ease the eye strain) It has stitched up quickly with the silk floss that was included in the kit. I still have a bit more stitching to finish this project.

This next project I saw Peg stitching and loved it. So of course I had to order it too.

Peg stitched her stitchery in a variegated red floss. When I received my lovely Christmas in July swap from Rachel I was so excited to find not one but two skeins of DMC variegated red floss included in it. It looks just like the floss that Peg used. I love it! Thanks again Rachel. You are the best!

With all the rain that we have had, I have had time to prep some projects for Christmas. Most of them I can't show you now as I have some very nosey friends. (Yes, you know who you are!)This project, even though it is Halloween, is for a Christmas gift. It is safe to show this project as the recipient does not have a blog. She loves anything Fall and Halloween.

I am going to stitch this project with 12 weight Sulky thread. I am still not sure of the border fabric. I checked my LQS for a fabric similar to the one used in the pattern with no luck. I choose the mottled with the stars. I am still not sure if I will use it. I think I see a road trip in the very near future. Hmm! I will chat soon.

Pat

My Swap Package Has Landed At Peg's Home!

My partner for the Christmas In July Swap was Peg. She has received her package so now I can show you what I made for her.
Some of these pictures are borrowed from Peg's blog. I was so worried about my sneak peeks giving away any secrets I forgot to take pictures of the whole project. Thank you Peg for allowing me to borrow them.

I love this stocking! I want one too! You almost didn't get this Peg.

I received an ornament just like this a couple of years ago from a friend. I thought that it was so cute. I made one too.

A pincushion, scissor holder and needle case. They fit right inside this stitching bag. She is all scrunched up so I could fit her in the picture. Her broach is from my grandmother's button box.

Someone asked what the buttons were. They are supposed to be her pigtails!!

I could not send a package without a snowman. I love them!!! I had so much fun making these gifts for Peg. Thank you again Linda and Stephanie for hosting this swap you both did a great job. Enjoy Peg!

Hugs,

Pat

My Next Project

I think that this is going to by my next project. I love cross stitch and I have been away from it for quite awhile. As you can see it is a Blackbird Design. The name of it is Willow House. I love the color of the fabric. It is 28 count tobacco. I am going to use weeks over dyed floss that the pattern calls for. Has anyone stitched this pattern? I hope to show some progress very soon.
Pat