Retreating!

No, not running away!  I had an opportunity over the past two days to spend the day at my favorite LQS (Quilting Adventures) at a retreat.  Everybody works on their own things, and it's always so inspiring for me to see what the other ladies are busy creating.  I spent a good part of Friday working on sewing for my challenge quilt for the QA anniversary in June - sorry, but no peeks today.  I also helped my dear friend Julia finish up a quilt she's been working on for the past couple of retreats - only to find out that she'd made it for me!!!  It's a beautiful lap quilt, and I can't wait to have it in my home. 

I was really touched by her gesture, since I know she has precious little time now to sew, and I certainly didn't expect her to spend it on something for me.  I will really treasure this gift.  If you click on the picture, you should be able to see more of the specific, beautiful fabrics she chose for this project.

I spent part of my time yesterday, and most of my time today, working on a wall hanging for another friend of mine.  It's a birthday gift, already late, but I make good progress and hope to finish it within the next few weeks.  I'll give you a sneak peek - lots of cutting and sewing, and if you're really astute, you'll see where I need to go back into the block in the upper right corner of the photo and add a missing half-square triangle in blue.  But I'm pleased with how it's turning out - really got into a good groove today. I'll reveal the whole piece when I know the recipient has received it.

It was really wonderful to feed my creative spirit over these past couple of days - a real "retreat" from all of the other "stuff" swirling about and a much-needed break.  I'm jazzed to keep working on some other projects that went "retreating" with me, but for which there was no time.

'Til next time, be sure that you make a little time to retreat and take up your needle and sew!
Becky

50th Annual Needlework Exhibition

I played hooky today and went to Alexandria, Virginia, for my annual trek to Woodlawn Plantation and the needlework exhibit.  As I am every year, I was overwhelmed by the variety of needlework, including some about which I really know very little (thread painting...?).  While many of the pieces are from commercially-available patterns, or are adaptations of these patterns, some of the most amazing are those that are original pieces created by the stitcher him- or herself.  Again, amazing and humbling.

The month-long exhibition is sponsored by "Nellie's Needlers," a needlework guild affilitated with this historic home, and most of the money raised is donated by the guild for the care of plantation home, particularly the needlework done by Nellie Custis.  Every year, it seems like the next year's exhibit is uncertain, as the Foundation of the property debates about the value of the exhibition (and, I guess, it's fund-raising capabilities).  I'm so glad that they made it to 50, and I look forward to going next year as well.  Always the month of March - if you're in the area, you need to go!  Who knows?  Maybe I'll even enter something next year!

'Til then, I need to take up my needle and sew!
Becky

Spring Giveaway

After a very busy holiday season and even crazier January, I'm finally ready to start blogging again!  Lots to catch you up on with regard to projects finished and in process, but I wanted to start the year by celebrating, yet again, the generosity of Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  Nancy's been busy working on some new spring colors of threads and other embellishments and is hosting a giveaway!  Click here to go directly to her announcement!  Thanks, Nancy!!

Hope you're finding time to take up your needle and sew!
Becky

Lucky, lucky me!!

This past week was not the best that I've had, even with two days off of work because of Hurricane Sandy.  I'm glad that the forecasts for Virginia over-predicted the impacts, but the images from NY and NJ, in particular, have been quite overwhelming.  But that's not why this week wasn't the best... will save that for another post.

However, when I got home Friday at 13 hours of work, I found a box on the porch, which turned out to be from Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  While we are enjoying ourselves in Myrtle Beach, SC, at the Pals Stitching at the Beach Retreat (for which Nancy donated wonderful bags of assortments of her fibers and embellishments/trims - thank you!), Nancy drew my name for her tremendously generous fall/autumn give-away.  If you've followed my blog at all, you know that Nancy sponsors many give-aways, and I can't help but enter nearly every single one.  I was particularly excited about this one, because I love autumn, and I'm an "earth tones" gal - browns, rusty reds, greens, golds are all colors I love.  Can you believe the number of things that Nancy put into this hand-stamped bag????

I *love* all of the hand-dyed floss colors and am just tickled pink at the wonderful assortment of trims and embellishments - can't wait to put them all to use, and have been dying to get my hands on that hand-dyed jute. 

I am overwhelmed (in a good way).

And may I show you more specifically the lovely hand-stamped bag?  It's a thing of beauty itself...

Nancy has so many talents; I count myself as very blessed to be a recipient of such generosity and expression of creativity.

I would go take up my needle, but I think I'll spend some more time looking at all of these wonderful items!  Have a great week!

Becky

Christmas Give-Away

Christmas is coming! Nancy, over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, is hosting a "25 Days of Christmas" give-away of a wonderful assortment of her lovely hand-dyed flosses, trims, charts and much, much more.   I am a huge fan of her trims and flosses, and I know I've got my fingers crossed to be a winner!! Click here to get yourself directly to the give-away announcement.

Time to take up my needle and work on a new exchange piece!

Becky

Pals Stitching at the Beach - Last Day

I'll admit it - by the time we were all done with exchanges and good-byes on Saturday, I wasn't ready to sit down and post pictures.  Not that I wasn't just absolutely inspired by all of the wonderful stitching (I've already picked out six projects to complete for exchanges for next year!), but I had a lot of packing to do and ... well, you get the idea.

Saturday was an absolute lovely day at Myrtle Beach.  I enjoyed several walks in the beach during the course of the day...  Can you believe how blue the ocean is?

In the evening, we had several exchanges.  The first was the "stitched" exchange - no theme, other than the exchange piece had needlework in it.  Projects included wall hangings, pinkeeps, boxes, pillows and more.  Here's a small sampling of some of the items (taken as they went whipping by me around the table!):

The next-to-last item above is a scissor sleeve (with a fine pair of scissors included).  The needlebook (final image) was created by my friend Beth from Kentucky.

Then we were into the Christmas ornament exchange - absolutely amazing in the number and variety of ornaments and finishes!  Here are a few images of the tables before the "picking" began:

I put together four ornaments for the exchange:

(upper left) Winter Tiny Trio - The Trilogy

(upper right) Old World Santas II - The Prairie Schooler

(lower left) Merry Christmas - Country Cottage Needleworks

(lower right) Ding Dong - Little House Needleworks

I received four absolutely wonderful ornaments in exchange:

Upper left - Chris, NC

Upper right - Maggie, VA

Lower left - Donna, SC

Lower right - Amy, SC

As we often heard around the table, the ornaments were all so beautiful, and it was really hard to choose!

So I'll close this post with a final image of Myrtle Beach, taken Sunday morning as I was finalizing my pack-out and beginning my trip home:

Many, many thanks to Amy W of Down Sunshine Lane for all of her efforts to provide this wonderful opportunity for us all.  The stitching and fellowship - and new friends - can't be beat!

Getting busy for next year!
Becky

Pals Stitching at the Beach - Day 3

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day together to stitch at the beach.  I'm really having a great time and loving spending all of this time stitching.

Today was another great shopping day - Pam Lewis and Susan Rohm from Praiseworthy Stitches joined us and brought some wonderful designs.  I forgot to mention yesterday that we're privileged to have Sue Hillis (Sue Hillis Designs) and Stephanie Hillman (Nouveau Encore Designs) with us this year.  It has been such fun to visit with the designers, learn a little about what inspires them and how they go through the creative process of concept to final product.

I spent my stitching time today working on an exchange piece - sorry, no pictures until the exchange is closed!!  Stay tuned...

We had our "grab bag" exchange this evening - always a lot of fun, and it is so interesting to see the many different, imaginative ways that everyone comes up with to "contain" their "bag" contents.  I put "bag" in quotes, because only about one-quarter of the "bags" are actually bags - tonight, we had boxes, bags, a foot stool (with lift-up lid), baskets, and many more containers.  Here are just a few snaps of some of the crafty, creative ideas:

I found a wonderful pumpkin basket at A.C. Moore that I purchased for my "bag," and I loaded it up with autumn-themed specialty flosses, fat quarters, linen/evenweave, embellishments, and more.  I really enjoy putting together contents that I think will be well-received by the person who ends up with my contribution.

At the end of the exchange, I had a wonderful Christmas box put together by Sue from Iowa.  You know that DH and I are all about Christmas, so the box itself is a wonderful decor piece to begin with!

Inside the box, Sue had included a wonderful project bag that she'd made, plus a lovely woolen needlebook that she'd created and foam handle wraps.  The hand-crafted items are real treasures, and they will be reminders of the generosity and creativity of cross-stitchers!

Definitely time for bed - looking forward to another stitchy day tomorrow, a trip to the local quilt shop, and the Christmas ornament exchange!

Becky