A Weekend in the Country 2

We stayed at the Inn at Amish Door.

 We all were just a bit worried since we didn't know how much it would cost to stay here.  But everything worked out fine.  Our rooms were really large.

From the bay window you could see rolling hills and farms and horses.

This is a very rural area.  I knew I could walk in the mornings with no trouble.  The Inn actually had a map of nearby walking trails.

This was the first day of class.  We met in a large room with good light.  I didn't even need the small Ott light I brought.  Then there is that lovely moment when we get our kit:

This is the class room and our teacher, Lauren:

The project is a wallet with pockets with a cherry theme and bargello:

Love it!
We had two hours for lunch and decided to drive to Charm, Ohio to a quilt shop.  We didn't realize it would take so long and that there were two quilt shops right next door to each other.  There was some construction on the way and were worried we wouldn't even have time to eat.  Lucklily, BFF spotted a Burger King along the way back.  We made it back just in time for the afternoon session.
The hotel area consisted of the hotel, a restaurant, a deli/bulk foods/gift shop and a bakery.  We ate dinner at the deli.  I had checked out the bakery on my walk in the morning.  There was a long line of people waiting to get in the restaurant.  I think there was a special program that night and buses of people were having dinner there.
I was exhausted after a long fun day.
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A Weekend in the Country

A weekend in the country was the name of the retreat I went to last week.  Three friends and I set out to Wilmot Ohio on Wednesday.  BFF#1 flew in from Minnesota.  BFF#2 drove from Illinios and new friend Anna came from Wisconsin.  First we drove to Shipshewanna, Indiana.  BFF#1 had never been there and always wanted to go.  It is an Amish community so you have to be careful of horses and buggies in that area.

It worked out that we could eat lunch at a bakery there.  I wanted to go where I know they have huge cinnamon rolls.  I have a thing for large luscious warm iced cinnamon rolls.

 We had a good lunch then headed across the parking lot to this place:

It is kind of a mall with several stores inside.  Our favorite store is Lolly's which is a quilt store.  BFF#2 had just made the most darling footstool with strips of fabric.  She took a class and got everything she needed and they even put it together for her.  Well, we found a pincushion at Lolly's that was very similar.  Of course I had to get one.  I almost didn't dare look at the all the fabric.  It is all too tempting.  They have so much fabric it is mind boggling.  I haven't made the quilt I bought the stuff for the last time I was here.  Here is the stuff I bought:

So then we resumed our trek across the top of Indiana.  It is about a five hour trip to Wilmot and we had a deadline, we were supposed to attend dinner at 6:30.  Waze got us there just in time.
We joined the rest of the people at the retreat.  At our place at the table was a little booklet and a sweet bag of gifts with the cherry theme.  We got a chart and a list of everybody at the retreat.

Then we met in the breakfast area for the night time project.

 I love it!  It is just darling.  Whew, what a long day.  We are in beautiful country.  It was a fun first day.
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Good Mail

I got two packages in the mail yesterday.  Lucky me!
The first one was the Silver Needle Circle of Friends club that I knew was arriving.  It had some special things in it.  We got a cup with snippets of the projects on it.

Then we got a tape measure that is very cute.  Here is mine:

This is the kit from Lizzie Kate:

There were some Jelly Belly jelly beans but they were long gone when I got around to taking the photo.

The next box was from England.  Mary Corbet got me in trouble - again.  She reviewed a cute little beaded bird kit the other day.  So I went to the site and looked at the kits and ordered two.  One was the little bird kit.  It was so quick and fun that I started it as soon as it arrived and now it is done.

Then the other kit was for a small purse.

 It reminded me of a Yumiko Higuchi style clutch.

 It will be interesting to work on.  This is what was in the kit.

I have to finish packing and decide what projects to take with me.  We leave tomorrow morning so I will talk to you again next week.  I'm going to make some Sweet and Salty snack to take with us.  Of course, I will tell you all about it when I get back.
Have a great weekend!
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A finish!

Buzz is finished!  Isn't it cute?

I am happy with how it turned out.


I put in one more violet on the parasol.

Then I went digging around for things that needed just a teeny bit of work and they would be done.  Sort of.
This had been sitting on my sewing table for a while.  It needed two buttons to hold the needle page in.  Now it is done.

Then This has been hanging around neglected waiting for some thread rings to be sewn in.  I thought I had three tulip shaped ones but I couldn't find them.  So an assortment of shapes was used.
Done!

I am trying to decide what color velvet to use as backing for the Pyns cushion.  What one do you like?

The latest Silver Needle Circle of Friends club piece should arrive today.  So I finished up one of the previous offerings.  This is designed by Shepherd's Bush.

It was finished as a pin cushion or framed on the chart.  I have a different finish I want to do.  But I needed to put on the beads and buttons.  So this one is sort of finished.
The bathrooms are clean and I'm getting ready to pack up for the retreat.  BFF's are coming in tomorrow.  Fun!!!
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HMD

Happy Mother's Day!
Here are more flowers.  This time from DS#1 and DIL.

I got something I have wanted for a while in the mail yesterday.  It came from France.  But first I want to show you something that has been on my sewing table for a couple of years.  I found a tutorial for this on the internet and started it.

What the heck is that?  It is the start of a yubinuki.  That is a Japanese thimble.  I didn't get very far.  I could keep going and try to finish it.  A lady in York on the tour last year showed us some yubinukis that she made.  They were kind of expensive so I had to pass.  Then I spotted some on Etsy that were less expensive.  I had an itchy finger that clicked the "Buy" button.  I bought a yubinuki on Etsy from a lady in France.  The package came yesterday.  Inside the package a folded paper crane was included .

And this little box:

This is my new Japanese thimble:

It fits on your finger like this.  I think you wear it on your middle finger.

Isn't it pretty?
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Finishing

I got the stitching done on Buzz!

 I cut all the pieces apart and now I can finish it.  I need to put some interfacing on the back.  The question is, do I need to use dark interfacing or can I get by with white?  I'm still thinking about that.  I cut the little wool square that goes on the top.  This will be easy to finish as you just lace the backstitches together.
I didn't even go to the farmer's market today.  I don't need anything.  Rats.  Going to the market is usually an excuse to buy candy.  But I'm resisting.  Maybe I'll go to the one at the Senior center tomorrow.

I got some lovely Mother's Day roses from DS#2.  Aren't they gorgeous?

DH was kind enough to plant some pansies for me in the urn outside the front door.

I have a thing for pansies.
It is warm enough that I don't need a jacket or sweater outside.  Love it!
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Stash Comes Through

I am impressed with my stash!  First of all, I saw on Facebook that Giulia (of GPA Designs) gave some DMC conversions for the half doll pattern, Maria Teresa.  Yeah!  I couldn't find the Valdani threads it calls for even at Stitchville.  So I wrote down the conversion to DMC.  But I was confused as one of the conversions was for DMC 4015.  There is no 4015 on my DMC chart, granted my chart is old.  So I checked on Stitching Bits and Bobs and didn't see any 4015.  So I commented on Giulia's post that there isn't a DMC 4015.  Guess what, there is.  Giulia got back to me with a source even.  It is an overdyed color.  I was wondering if I would have to order it.  I decided to check some of the overdyed DMC that I have.  I bought some in a box but had no idea what the numbers were.  First box, the numbers were all under 100.  Second box, bingo, the numbers were in the 4000 range.  I had to dig but I found that I actually have it.  How's that for stash?

Then here is how far I got on Buzz.  I'm on the last hive.

I ran out of Week's Bright Leaf floss.  I thought I would have to go to my LNS and see if they had it.  It is mostly a yarn store but they have a big ring of Weeks.  Before I go, I better check my stash to see if I already have another skein.  Guess what?  I do!  Cool.

I can hardly believe it is Friday and I am leaving on Wednesday.  I better start thinking about packing.  My dilemma is I don't know if it is going to be cool or warm.  Maybe I'll have to take some cool and some warm clothes.
I got Lesson 3 for Jackie's Berries Sew Sweet.  Now I am three lessons behind!  ARGH.
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