No Time for Hermits

We didn't get together for some good old hermit stitching this past weekend.  Seems that most of my hermit buddies were busy with stitch classes out of town, or out of town company, or Fathers' Day events.  I'll try to check on your weekend activities over the next couple of days.

I have been busy purging stuff out of my messy, overcrowded office in order to finally have my desk and office things in one part of the room and my sewing machine cabinet, etc. in the other part.  I have accomplished about sixty percent of what needs to be done.  Unfortunately my dining room is currently full of files that need to be gone through and reduced before being put back into the relocated file cabinet.

Isn't it amazing how relocating some pieces can disrupt so many different rooms?  There is light at the end of the tunnel, though, which is very exciting.  Stitching and some quilt blocks are right around the corner.

As Promised, More From Last Weekend

As promised, here are more photos that I took at the big stitching bash at Rose's last weekend:

I think this sampler was one that Rhonda stitched and had framed.
If I'm incorrect on this, please, someone, let me know and I will edit my post.
Beautiful stitching finished in a great frame.

This is one of those absolutely wonderful over one designs
from Maureen Appleton.
It is totally awesome in person.
I think this was stitched by Joan.
Again, if this isn't correct, please let me know.
I can't check with Rose today.
Love this...and the frame.

Totally sweet little purse and shoe combo.
I'm in trouble again...
I think these belong to Joann
but were stitched by Joan.
Please tell me if I am wrong,
and I will correct.

The sweet little spring design from
Widgets & Wool
stitched by Pat.
This is on my to do list.

Another cute little stitch by Little House
stitched by Pat.
Makes me want to sing every time I see this!

Pat made this pin cube...and the pins.
Really pretty.

More from Rhonda.
This is the Eileen O'Brien Sampler
that was published in Antique Sampler and Needlework.
I focused in on the diamond row because
Linda talked Rhonda into adding some
texture and interest in the piece
by stitching the diamonds in Rhodes stitches.
Rhonda liked to remind us that this meant
521 Rhodes stitches!
I think it was worth it.
They really stand out and look great,
don't they?

An older piece stitched by Rose
that still needs to be put together.
This is a design from Lauren Sauer - Brooch Receiver.
Beautiful, and aren't those buttons perfect
lily of the valley?

Sandy's Twelve Days from Victoria Sampler.
She is leading this project in the WRSG
Christmas in July 2013 SAL.
Right on schedule, Sandy.

Here is Toni's start on BBD's Christmas Garden.
She is leading this project in the WRSG
Christmas in July 2013 SAL.
Maybe a little behind schedule?
Me too!

We had many laughs, too much food (we didn't even need to order in on Sunday, just feasted again on what was brought and grilled on Saturday), a lot of wonderful stitching projects to dream of doing ourselves, and great girl time together.  Thanks, Rose, for hosting, and for everyone who participated.  Great memories.

Have You Tangled Yet?

Have any of you tried Zentangle yet?

If you don't know about it, just google...it is everywhere.

My friend Jodi first mentioned it to me

and when I saw it I wanted to try it, but had no confidence.

Jodi is a natural.  She created amazing designs 

without even taking a class.  

I am not a natural.

I have no natural artistic talent.

But I had fun at the class I took last night, 

free at our local public library,

and I wasn't stressed while doing it, 

like I thought I would be.

I can see some tension in my strokes 

but am pleased with what came out 

when first putting pen to paper.

It is supposed to be meditative doodling,

beneficial in many ways.

I'm looking forward to working on another tile 

at my leisure and on my own.

A Fun Way to Start the Month of June

Rose had one of her spectacular weekend gatherings 

to start off June in memorable fashion.  

There were 24 of us on Saturday
(don't know how she keeps her sanity) 

and about 15 on Sunday.

This is photo heavy, but, alas, not with projects that I have stitched!  

I will post part today and part tomorrow.  

Enjoy...

This is Ginny's work.
I should have put the usual dime in the photo
for size reference.
This is one of the Erica Michael's
silk gauze designs.
It is teeny, tiny and SWEET!
Alas, also a little blurry in the photo...sorry.

Ginny's EM finish.
Her WIP was shown on this blog three weeks ago.
Ginny has been busy.
Isn't this just the sweetest?
Love it.

A little kitty from Carol.  Cute.
I wonder how many pins have been sold
since they came up with these little projects!

Amazing pieces from Diane.
This was from several years ago,
as you can see,
at a seminar in Cape Cod.
C.A. Wells designed this grouping.
Beautiful work, Diane.

A closer view of some of Diane's work.

Ellen Chester's Fruit of the Vine Sampler.
Stitched by Linda, aka
Stitcher Extraordinaire!

Partial close up.

Part of the Fruit of the Vine grouping
that Linda decided to make into an etui.
I think she said it was designed as a huswif.
I should have taken a photo of the inside, too.

As noted, I will post more photos tomorrow.
I simply must get some work done this morning.

Wishing everyone a beautiful beginning
of the first week in June 2012...ready or not!

Thanks for visiting, and, I hope, commenting!  Happy stitching.

IH&SW for the Beautiful Month of May

Our Special Weekend started with eight of the nine of us 

meeting for lunch at the Welshfield Inn,

a nice old place - sorry I don't know its history -

with great food.

Mixed feelings about having pictures taken!

Pondering what to order from the wonderful lunch menu.

More mixed emotions about having photos taken.

The lovely walk to the entrance of our weekend site.
It kind of reminded me of Maine.

A view of the dock from the deck of our hideaway
on Conneaut Lake, PA.
It's something like 90 steps down (and up!)
from the house to the lake.

Here is our wonderful work/eating space in the guest house.
Some are working on their mason jar projects provided by
Lauren & Robin; some are stitching.

The finished mason jar project,
a sweet little square pillow
designed for us by Lauren Sauer, Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches
as a memento of our weekend,
and a history with charted instruction for the
Hannah Cook, 1834 Sampler.

This Pennsylvania German sampler is 18.5 x 43 inches,
stitched on 50 count fine linen.
I discovered that between trying to take a photo of her
and trying to get scenic shots,
I must invest in a wide angle lens.
(This comment was greeted with laughs and jeers
when I announced this
at an inopportune time this weekend!)

From the large to the teeny, tiny -
this is Ginny's Erica Michaels WIP
beautifully stitched on 40 count silk gauze.
It is so wonderful...I can't wait to give this a try.
Ginny is stitching the extra background border
so that the piece can be put on a wooden box.
Can't wait to see the finish on that.

I worked on my BBD Spring's Song
while not out on the deck enjoying
the amazing location and weather.
I'll show photos of that another time.

Here is Sue's gigantic salad for Saturday night.
Looks wonderful, doesn't it?

And to leave you with a sweet thought,
here is a picture of the obscene strawberries,
yes, these are strawberries,
that Nancy brought for dessert for Friday night.

Sweet memories of a special weekend.
Thank you.

Only Time for a Tease...

So sorry, I have been busy with too many things to get my IHSW post up today.  I have many photos to share and a lot to tell you about my special IHSWeekend.

Teases:  I was out of state with stitching friends.  I got quite a bit stitched on my WIP for the weekend.  I have another photo to share of a WIP of a friend of mine...a piece I have in my stash that I haven't started, but am drooling over.  There will be scenic photos of the perfect location we had for a perfect weekend in what has been a perfect month of May in these parts.

I do have about twenty minutes now...I will go visit some fellow IHSW blogs to see what all of you were up to!

Hermits - Different View in May

This has been the most beautiful month of May that I can remember. Mostly 60's and 70's with low humidity...my kind of weather. I realize how blessed we have been here in Ohio...I saw some pretty nasty things on the news this morning. Those fires out west are very scary and sad. I am hoping for more moderate conditions everywhere. I plan to stitch on two BBD projects this weekend...the Spring's Song box lid and maybe get a few stitches in on Christmas Garden. I'm way behind on that project, especially after starting over. I'll have some different photos next week, as I experience hermitting with a different view in May. Happy stitching, everyone!