Packing

I put in a couple of rows on Mistress L.

 There are 53 rows and that doesn't count the dividing bands of Montenegrin stitch.  I am on about row 27.  Am I half done? Not really.  One of the bands (the one with the three queens) is quite large.  The sampler will measure about 32 inches when it is all done.  I'm at  slightly over 12 right now.

This project is going to be framed and hung in my house when it is done.

I put ribbon into the Bristol Bag needlebook.  It didn't look quite right.

So I went and looked up the Edinburgh Etui since it is finished in the same way.

ARGH.  I think I need to take the ribbon out and try again.
I am mostly packed.  The boarding passes are printed.  I'll have to take some stuff to stitch as I'm waiting between planes and when I wake up way too early in California.  I am going to try to sleep in a bit.  I will be back to posting next week.
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Couching

Recently I bought some threads from Thistle Threads so I could make a free project from that website.  The project is the pink pin cushion.
These are the threads that I bought:

I wasn't sure how to start.  I found some silk in my Cabinet of Curiosities kit that was left over from lining the trinket box.  It looks like it is the right color.  Then I wasn't sure whether I should back the silk with some muslin.  In hindsight, I probably should have.  But I didn't.  I put the silk on stretcher bars.

Then I couched and couched.

I got one corner all done.

I need to fill in the other petals and leaves in the other corners and add some spangles.  Maybe I can finish it today!  I'll have to check and see if I have some nice backing fabric for it.
I'm going to start packing today for our trip.  I'm excited.
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On Loan

A friend loaned me the out of print Prairie Schooler chart that I wanted, Spring Samplers #60.  How nice of her!  So I couldn't resist starting it.  There is a certain charm about Prairie Schooler charts.  I liked the 17th century touches on this one.  The sun peeking out of the clouds.

 The snail in the border.

I finished it up yesterday.

I stitched it mostly as charted.  I changed two colors but that's it.  I made the fruit on the vine red like strawberries instead of gold.

 It is stitched over two threads on 40 count Sand  colored linen.  I think I will frame it.
It was pretty warm when I went walking this morning.  It looks like it could rain right now.

Have a nice Sunday!
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Saturday

It is a great day here.  The trail was busy this morning at the park.  Lots of weekend runners.  Then I was off to the farmer's market.  I couldn't resist a cinnamon roll.  The bills are paid.  I'm hoping to finish up something stitchy this morning.

Here is what I did yesterday:

My spoon!  I love how this turned out.  It was a quick project.  I didn't know how I would do on the roses but they turned out okay.

 I didn't even change anything on this.  Wouldn't it be great to have a quick project finished every day?  The only problem was I burned myself on the hot glue putting it together.

Amy Mitten is sending my Diligence kit already!  Yeah!  There is a threatened strike for Canadian mail so she is sending the kits early.  Cool.  I probably won't get it until I get home from California.

I'm going to show Claire some stitching while I am visiting. When I was a teacher, I taught 5-year-olds how to make a coaster using plastic canvas and yarn.  Since Claire is 4 1/2, I thought I would show her and see if she is interested.  We'll see how it goes,
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Mistress L

When we last left Mistress L, I was going to take out the first line of the words.  I had substituted a different font and didn't like it.

I took out the words and restitched that row just like the chart.

This fits the sampler much better.
Since I have been back from the last retreat, I have stitched some more rows.

Now Mistress L is nearly eleven inches long.  That is progress since I started at 1 3/4 inches.  Of course, I still have quite a way to go.
I have something new to show you tomorrow.
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Field Trip

What fun it is to have a friend in town that loves the same stuff I do!  BFF#2 is recovering well from her severely fractured elbow.  We decided to go on a field trip to Stitching Bits and Bobs. I picked up BFF#2 at her mom's house.  Look at that fish!  Her mom caught it.

 I love this old clock.

 Wonderful flowers and hanging baskets.

 DH would love to be able to just go pick greens from the garden.

 The hydrangeas are unbelievable this year.

 We drove up to the Stitching Bits and Bobs.  It has expanded since the last time I was there.

 They have a ton of different threads.

This is what I got:

 Mary Corbet got me into trouble again.  I read her review of the DMC Coloris threads and decided to get them.  I was hoping to find the pattern books using these threads but they were not in stock.
Then we went to a few quilt stores because it was the start of Row by Row.  I got a few pieces of fabric.  I love the hearts fabric.

 Then at another store I found this great map fabric.  I am thinking of doing a pillow for Evan.

Then we had to try out a new restaurant.  BFF#2 ordered the Pub Fires (and the spinach salad).  Oh are they sinful.  They are fries that are covered with cheese and bacon and served with ranch dressing.  They were so good.

We had a great fun day.  Not much stitching got done but that's okay.
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Lining and Woof

It is a pleasant day outside.  Walking was great.  I have to remind myself to appreciate this weather where I don't even have to wear a coat.  It is officially summer now.  I'm a little sad as the daylight now starts to to shorten.  I love it when it stays light until after 9:30 at night.  I am getting ready for our trip next week to see the grandchildren (and Son#2 and DIL!)  I made up the little fabric book that I got in Minnesota for Evan.

The printing could have been more exact on this.  The pages aren't the same size and it was impossible to make the book perfect.  But I guess it is close enough.

I also lined the wonderful burlwood box from the retreat.  The top edge of the box needs to be painted black.  I think I have some paint downstairs that will work.

 It isn't perfect either.  I learned the hard way that I needed to lace the short sides first and then the long sides so no little fold would show.  I need to redo the top inside lining so that it fits snugly.
BFF#2 and I are going to Stitching Bits and Bobs tomorrow so I may not get a chance to post.  I haven't been there in a long time.  It's always fun to go to a needlework store.
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Sweating

I'm sweating today.  It was 78 degrees when I went walking this morning.  Whew, that is as hot as it was in Arizona early in the morning.  I usually don't sweat much but today I'm "dewy".
The bathrooms are clean and I can work on other stuff.
I finished up my parasol.  It was a lot of work but I learned some things.  I did a new-to-me stitch to join the base pieces together.

Now I made a mistake with the right/wrong side of the fabric.

I used the wrong side on the lining to the top and the hinge.  But I decided I liked the right side better.  So I used the right side on all the other pieces.  I don't think it looks too bad.  In fact, you might think that it is the way it supposed to be.  Really!   I haven't done a lot of rushing of ribbon so I got some practice doing that.  I used a different design than the designer so my parasol is unique and different than the other ones in class.
Overall, I'm happy with it.

This is what it is supposed to look like:

Keep cool.
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The Accidental Trip Roundup

I flew back home from Arizona last Monday.  It was hard to leave BFF#2 at the airport.  She flew to a different state on a different airline in a different terminal.  So after we returned the rental car, we had to say goodbye.  I wish I could have helped her get situated on her plane, but I couldn't.  With one arm in a sling, it must have been hard.  She didn't even get home until 1 a.m.  She is a trooper, never complaining.  I would be devastated if I couldn't stitch.

There are a few things I forgot to tell you about the retreat.  One the second day of class we came in to find this bonus design at each of our places. 

 It is darling.  Each of us got an old silver spoon to make into a pin cushion.  Darling!  This is mine:

I really want to start this soon.  It won't take long to stitch.

When I was on the plane to Arizona, I worked on Just Nan's Groom Mouse.  I got it mostly done but I didn't have any stuffing for him until I got back home.  Now he is done.

Here are the Bride and Groom together:

The retreat was more fun this year since I knew a lot more of the attendees.  I have met many of the attendees at other retreats.  Some of them I remember from last year.  Note to self:  Take a group photo next year.

Delfi - you are a no-reply so I can not contact you. I bought summer and winter kits but not autumn.

Twinkling lights at night at the resort.

The view from our room's window.  Not that great a view but you can see a little of a mountain.

I'll show you my parasol tomorrow.

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