Slow and Steady

I'm making some progress on the Scottish Band Sampler (Scarlett Letter).  The Hungarian flame stitch eats up a lot of thread and a lot of time.  I'm liking the secondary pattern that is emerging.  I'm hoping to finish this one entirely before I go to my sampler guild's retreat next weekend, but I would settle for a finish of the eyelets and flame stitch. 

Speaking of the sampler guilder, one of its members who shall remain nameless (she knows who she is) committed a tremendous act of enabling.  She brought in a needlepoint piece she had obtained through the Shining Needle Society, a Yahoo group.  Of course, I had to check it out and now I, too, am taking a class through the society.  Here's my progress on Inchies, a wonderful design by Kathy Rees of Needle Delights Originals.  I have self-imposed a limit of one "inchie" a day because these are like potato chips--you can't stitch just one!  And if you are interested in needlepoint, don't say I didn't warn you about the Shining Needle Society.  There are some seriously gorgeous projects there.

 
Terri has some terrific ideas.  She has created a Virtual Quilting Retreat and a group of us are "meeting" one weekend day per month.  Our first meetup was last weekend and I finished the top for the Designer Mystery Block of the Month.  I whisked it off to the longarmer before there was enough light to get a good picture of it.  Now I'm working on the LSU quilt and have been making good progress on it thanks to a sew day with friends this past week.  It's going with me today to my quilt guild's UFO workshop day.

In other news, my husband and I spent a lovely day at Longwood Gardens this week.  The weather was beautiful and the gardens were, of course, gorgeous.  We try (or rather he tries) to create beautiful beds around the house, but the plants often get gobbled up by the  deer that roam the wooded area behind our house.  The trip was capped off by a stop at The Strawberry Sampler to pick up some threads for a fall project and then lunch at Jimmy John's, a small restaurant on 202.  We had heard a lot about how great their hot dogs are and were not disappointed. 

I'm currently reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett who is one of my favorite authors.  This book is living up to my expectations, although I don't think many books can touch her Bel Canto.  I just bought a ticket to hear Ms. Patchett speak at the Free Library of Philadelphia in November.  On a week night--retirement is great!

Hope all is well in your world!


 
 


Comments

  1. MargaretSeptember 28, 2013 at 4:49 AM

    I loved Bel Canto! State of Wonder was good too, but like you said, not up to Bel Canto. Love your Flame Stitch Sampler -- gorgeous! Sounds like you are enjoying retirement to the fullest. Have fun at the guild retreat!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jackie's StitchesSeptember 28, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    I love tremendous acts of enablement! SNS also offers cross stitch classes as well. I signed up for a Sherri Jones class that is still in kit status. I know I'll get to it eventually! It definitely sounds like you're enjoying retirement to the fullest!

    ReplyDelete
  3. CatherineSeptember 28, 2013 at 11:39 AM

    Beautiful stitches! You were in my neck of the woods!

    ReplyDelete
  4. DianeSeptember 28, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    Your work is beautiful!
    I know what you mean about the deer. We have the same problem. None of my pretty flowers ever make it. Oh well!

    I also loved Bel Canto.

    ReplyDelete
  5. KarolineOctober 1, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    Scottish sampler is looking gorgeous, great progress.
    I really enjoyed Bel Canto, I will have to look out for States of Wonder.

    Enjoy your retreat

    ReplyDelete
  6. MysteryKnitterJune 28, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    You can stitch! I could never reach that level.

    ReplyDelete

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