A Few Finishes and Lake Photos

The patriotic décor will soon come down and be replaced with sunflowers and bees.

I fully finished the three small pieces I shared in my last post here.

 

The first one is just the bee skep and a couple of bees from Pinker N’ Punkin Quilting’s Mini Bee Sampler.

 

I got a few of these small 3 x 3 picture frames from Michael’s last month and knew I wanted to stitch something tiny for the Hoosier cabinet.

The next finish is another Pinker N’ Punkin design, Mini Sunflower Sampler. I made this one into a small pillow using some Lori Holt fabric and twine.

I used a small piece of wool felt to cover the opening on the back.

Both of the PNP pieces were stitched on 40 count Mallow Raw by Zweigart. I selected floss from my stash.

 

Thank you, Melisa, for your kindness and generosity in sharing your sweet designs.

 

The last finish is Harvest, a collaboration between Hands on Design  and Priscilla Blain of Stitching withthe Housewives. The stitching is on 14 count aida in chalkboard black by Wichelt, and I used the called for floss. The fabric is a  piece of Fig Tree leftover from the Sewcialites 2 quilt along.

Covering the opening in the back is a piece of felt adorned with a small pin and Lori Holt buttons.

I still need (or rather, want) more sunflowers and bees but it is doubtful I’ll get around to stitching more.

 

A friend, you know who you are 😊, pointed out that while I shared photos of the geese last time, I never showed the lake. So, I’m including a few photos now.

There is a sidewalk around the lake and a foot bridge that crosses in the center.

There are ducks, geese and swans. I'll have to photograph the swans next time. There are also bald eagles and owls but I haven't had any luck getting their picture.

One of the neighbors of the lake has trimmed his shrubs into a dog.

Lake Junaluska is a beautiful place to walk which makes it easy to get out and do it!

I hope you all are having a lovely week!

 

 

Prepping for the Weekend

Good Day and Happy Friday!

 

Hubby and I are headed down and over to Salisbury, NC today. Our friends from Florida will be there because their daughter’s Little League All-Star softball team won State and they are playing in the regional tournament this weekend. It has been a long time since our daughter played travel ball so we are missing the clay just a wee bit.

 

I pulled a chart that I’ve had for a while and did a little outlining. I figure I can work on filling it in when our favorite player isn’t on the field or batting.

HOME is an older Stitch Quarterly club kit from the Fat Quarter Shop. Each quarter members get a pattern, fabric, floss, needle and some sort of notion in a project bag. I’m still trying to complete more sunflower and bee charts to decorate with during  August and September.

 

In that effort, I finished two sweet charts from Melisa at Pinker N’ Punkin Quilting. Clink on bold text for a link to her current blog post.

 

Melisa generously offers her charts for free. But the most enjoyable part of her blog is all that she shares about her life on a farm, her decor, quilting and recipes.

 

The stitch on the left is her Mini Sunflower Sampler, you can find the link to this free pattern here.

The stitch on the right are motifs from her Mini Bee Sampler. You can find the link to that free pattern here. I wanted something really small to fit a certain finishing piece so I only stitched the bee skep and a couple of her adorable little bees.

 

The last piece I have ready for finishing is Harvest by Stitching with the Housewives.

I’ll share additional details about each piece when I fully finish them which is on the agenda for this weekend.

 

We are only going to attend the tournament on Friday, so I’ll have all day Saturday to do some finishing and maybe some other sewing. I have a couple more quilt blocks ready to show next time as well.

 

I can’t leave without sharing a couple of photos from this week’s walk around Lake Junaluska.

These geese have it good.

 

What are your plans for the next couple of days? Sewing, stitching…do share!

 

 

 

 

Friday Finish and Hydrangeas

Happy Friday My Friends!

I was able to squeeze in one more patriotic finish before the ‘season’ ends.

This is Freedom by Cricklewood Crossing. It is part of their Hometown USA series.

I stitched it on Zweigart’s 40 count Mallow in Raw. I changed most of the DMC colors.

The stitch count is 111 x 71 and because it is full coverage, that means I made 7,881 Xs. Being on 40 count means it made a super tiny, but oh so adorable little pillow.

 

There are actually two charts in this pattern but the next will have to wait until next year. I want to move onto sunflowers and bees. I need things to fill the new Hoosier cabinet.

 

I want to show you the three baby hydrangeas in our yard. 

I couldn’t be happier with their growth. 

I need to learn how to care for them going forward so we are going to a local nursery this weekend.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

Back at the Sewing Machine and FNwF

When I realized that tonight was the first Friday evening of the month, I knew I had to join Cheryl at Gone Stitchin’ for her Friday Night with Friends event. 

Check out her linky party to see what everyone got up to tonight.

 

This party was just the inspiration I needed to set aside unpacking boxes and do some sewing. Between prepping for the move - then the move - followed by my travels, I had fallen behind on two quilt-alongs. I got out the boxes and realized I only have three more blocks to sew for the Sewcialites 2 quilt.

 

Changed the rotary blade and sewing machine needle then went to work on block #22.

 

This is Ohio Twist Block designed by Jessica Dayon.

As a reminder, I am sewing Sewcialites 2 using Fig Tree’s Cinnamon and Cream fabrics.

 

Earlier this week my sweet husband bought me a Hoosier cabinet. I’ve wanted one for quite a while.

I’m having a bit of a challenge in decorating it as all of my summer décor is ‘beachy’ or more fit for Florida. I do have some things I can use when we get closer to fall.

My best friend from Florida visited a couple of weeks ago and gifted us a little sign. My husband said that was his contribution to the new cabinet and placed it on the top shelf.

Hope everyone is off to a great weekend. I’m going to be plugging along on the last two blocks for the Sewcialites quilt.

 

Cross Stitch Retreat – Stitching in the Wild

Happy Independence Day to all my US friends! (A day early)

Hard to believe the first half of 2023 is behind us. Time sure flies these days for me. What about you?

 

Back in May, Gary and Ronny Hovatter hosted their first cross stitch retreat at the Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

They own and operate GaRon Stitchery, an online business that sells all things related to cross stitch. Once a month they have a project bag sale and they also offer several monthly clubs for project bags, fabrics and threads. Ronny makes the most beautiful and quality project bags. (I may have one or two or thirty-ish)

 

I first met them the weekend before the world shutdown in 2020 and instantly felt a friendly connection. I’m a big supporter and also fan of their flosstube which you can find here.

Most Sunday afternoons you will find me stitching with them and many others on Zoom, which they are so kind to host. I was able to meet quite a few zoom friends in person at the retreat.

 

WARNING: this post is photo heavy.

 

The format of GaRon's Stitching in the Wild retreat was very casual. It wasn’t designer focused but quite a few designers created exclusive charts for the event, many of which were free. And Fabrics by Stephanie was there to sell her hand dyed fabrics in GaRon’s shop annex.

We stitched all day and some stitched all night! The stitching was interrupted with frequest customer appreciation drawings and giveaways.

 

My table mates with Gary and Ronny

Zoom friend Joy

Friend Marja from the Netherlands on the right and her cousin Susan, who is now a friend on the left

Zoom friend Connie

Gary, Me, friend Andrea and Ronny

Another friend, Kanday holding a pillow I made for her.

Kanday also has a flosstuble The 614 Stitcher

I also made the pins

I gifted Gary, Ronny and Marja special ordered pin cushions in handmade shaker boxes, adorned with my pins of course

My tablemates received tomato pin cushions with pins

I gifted the other attendees candy and a needleminder

Here a few photos of the shop annex

Connie waiting in line to check out

Marja beat her to it

Kristi Bernstein of Salty Stitcher Designs charted a special piece for the retreat

The attendees were asked to stitch their initials on it, as a remembrance stitch for Gary and Ronny. It won't surprise some of you that I had to put my initials front and center.

Most cross stitch retreats offer a Brag Table where you can bring previously finished cross stitch projects to show off.  Here are a few beauties...

I didn't do a very good shop documenting the event and I surely didn't get a lot of stitches in. Socializing with an amazing group of friends was what it was all about.

I'm looking forward to the next Stitching in the Wild retreat which will be held September 12 - 15, 2024 in Montgomery, AL. Registration opens on August 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm CENTRAL time. If you are interested, create an account at GaRon Stitchery , log in on that date before 2 pm...and be quick on the trigger. There will only be 125 spots available.

I attended one other retreat after this one but that story is for another day.

Everyone who is celebrating, I hope you have a nice and safe July 4th.

Until next time, may this critter stay away from your stitching and sewing...no frogging!