Floss Friday -- Parrot Progress

There were very few stitches added to Parrot.

This is where I stopped last week…

This is where I stopped this week…

The difference is 160 stitches. Can you tell? 😊

Doesn’t look like I’m going to finish by the end of July but that is ok. I had just hoped to have it finished and framed before September’s GaRon cross-stitch retreat in Montgomery, AL. It may still happen but I’m not holding my feet to the fire to get it done.

I was almost led down the rabbit hole of starting another project with Diann and Vicki…ALMOST! Actually, I’m surprised I refrained. Those two are quite the enablers 😊

The next few days I'll be planning for a big trip we are taking at the end of August. And I’m hoping to rearrange my sewing space.

What are your plans for the weekend? Whatever it is, enjoy it 😊

See you soon,

 

 

 

Leader and Ender Project

Bonnie Hunter has launched her annual leader/ender challenge. Her post is here, to learn more about Four Patch Fun.

When I saw Melisa’s post over at Pinker n Punkin Quilting and Stitching, I was inspired to jump in as well.  Like most quilters, I have a nice sized stash of fabrics and scraps.

Looking through some of my favorite colors, I selected a white-on-white background and two batiks.

Out came the GO! Big Cutter…

I had the cutting done in short order. My pieces are 2 ½” so that my finished blocks should finish at 8”.

The pieces are all matched and clipped for sewing as leaders and enders, while I work on other projects.

I made two test blocks, one in each print. They fell just short of the

8-½” unfinished size needed, but I’m consistent and they match!

These are not sewn togther

The main project I am working on now is the Halloween Figs quilt. Most of the regular blocks are sewn. I think I am going to finish cutting the fabric for the remaining blocks so I can just pick one up and sew.

I’m taking my Mom to an appointment today and while I wait for her I will read my book for tomorrow night’s book club.

You could say that I wait until the last minute…maybe, but at least it will be fresh in my mind 😊

Enjoy the remainder of your week. And tell me, what do you think about a leader/ender project?

See you soon,

 

Anabella’s Summer Girlfriend Getaway Weekend Retreat

*warning…photo heavy*

Anabella’s is a cross-stitch, quilting and paper craft store located in my town. In addition to their brick and mortar (housed in a beautiful 3-story log cabin), they also have an Etsy shop and a website. Clicking the bold text will take you to those links.

The owners, Elayne and Terry, also host cross-stitch retreats all over the country. Next year, they will embark on their first retreat at sea, an Alaskan cruise. And the 2027 cruise will be Italy!

They have offered quite a few retreats near my home, but I’ve always been out of town and couldn’t attend. I happened to secure the last spot at a small gathering they held at the shop June 27^th through 29^th. It was their first Summer Girlfriend Getaway Weekend Retreat. I didn’t know any of the other attendees when I got there, but we became great friends by the end of the weekend.

The table was filled with lovely gifts from Team Anabella’s.

Each place setting had a bag filled with swag. We were so spoiled!

The Agenda

So many goodies for cross stitch

We received several charts!

This chart came with the finish fabrics
and floss drops with a strawberry bling

Two sheets of patriotic stickers for our
planners or drinking vessels

We were fed breakfast, lunch and snacks. We were on our own for dinner, but we all went out to eat both nights with the team from Anabella’s.

Enjoying cookies with Sarah from Millenial Fabrics LLC

Each attendee brought table gifts. I gave everyone a waxer I made from beeswax I got locally. I’ve given these out at other retreats before. Some people use them, some do not, but everyone agrees that they smell good 😊

My waxers

Louann and Wynn gave us some useful items

Alexis made crocheted coasters and gave us floss

Leigh had these cute tins made which held more stitchy goodness

Sarah made fobs and gave us Piecemaker needles

Ann made ort containers that held a fob, snagnabbit,
needle minder, floss drops and a 2025 charm

Shannon gave everyone a gift certificate to Anabella's. No photo because it flew out of my pocket too fast!

Elayne also designs cross stitch charts, and she created a project just for us.

Every Stitch Tells A Story

We all started the retreat piece on Saturday

She taught a finishing class for the piece. We painted our boards, made the bows, attached fabric and batting to sticky boards and left with everything prepped for fully finishing our piece.

My fully finished piece

We played several games like Left, Right, Center and Trivia (cross stitch related, of course). There was a scavenger hunt and a raffle. I won one of the trivia games and the prize was some beautiful Cosmo floss. 

I also won a raffle prize which was the registration fee to any future Anabella’s retreat that is not sold out. Guess what I selected? Ok, I’ll tell you….the Alaskan cruise retreat. The designers will be Priscilla and Chelsea from Stitching with the Housewives. Hubby is coming along since it is on Royal Caribbean, our favorite cruise line. The prize was for the registration fee and NOT the cruise...just to be clear.

An optional activity, which is common at most cross-stitch retreats, was a smalls exchange. We stitched and fully finished a piece no larger than 5” or so. The instructions were to wrap the item in a way that the recipient has an idea of the theme. This was my first time participating in such an exchange and I stitched Bees Knees by Not Forgotten Farm.

I chose my own colors and made it into a pillow.

My bag was simple. The little bee on the bag is a needle minder. I also included some honey lip balms and hand lotion.

Ann received my small.

I received a Halloween themed gift from Alexis.

And she didn't even know me before this retreat. It fits!

They closed the store the entire weekend for us. So, we all took advantage of the retreat discount they offered to do some…let’s say stash enhancement.

I had to get this chart because of the bees, duh!

This one will work from Christmas through Valentine's Day

And I heard it was a rule, per Brenda and the Serial Starter,
that we must buy all the Blackbird Designs

And last but not least...

A pretty box that holds....

A quilt kit for Lori Holt's Spacious Skies Quilt
using her Americana fabric

The eight of us had an incredible weekend and decided we want to get together again at Anabella’s Christmas Girlfriend Getaway Weekend Retreat in December.  

We selected a chart to stitch between now and then. 

We will add our initials to each other’s piece at the retreat.

If you stayed until the end, thank you! I hope you enjoyed the recap.

See you soon,