SAS XXX

Another Share-A-Stitch is over. Time flies by. It seems as if we wait eons for SAS to get here. We plan, budget finances, make schedules, arrange dates and plans just waiting and waiting for it to get here. Then, we get in the car, head off down the road and before we have time to blink, it's over. We then wait and plan for the next one.

This SAS seemed almost as much work as play. I helped Debbie with the bookstore and while I enjoyed seeing everyone, I just didn't get enough stitching time in. Here is Becky helping us set everything up.

Every year we get to visit with friends we haven't seen probably since last year, but once we get that first stitcher's hug (ask Debbie about that), it's as if no time has passed and we again pick up just where we left off.

Jill Hatfield with her very dear friend Ms. Fredreca.

This is the EGA tapestry. I had seen it in pictures before but this was my first time to see it (in person?) It is beyond words to describe how wonderously beautiful it is. Photos can never match the glory of seeing the real thing. One could stop in to see it a dozen times a day and each time find something that was missed the first time. I was honored to have seen it myself.

Becky and I at the banquet Saturday night. The centerpieces were wonderful handmade fabric cakes. Tickets were drawn for each cake to be given away. They were all beautiful. We also received biscornous and small, hardanger gifts from Marion Scoular (a stitching legend).

So now I sit back and wait patiently (or not) for Birmingham. I didn't pre-register this time but saw three classes I would like to take so when I do register I would happy taking any of the three.

Nick and I leave early in the morning after a dentist appointment to visit my dad in WV. We are really looking forward to it. I don't see him nearly as often as I should or as often as I would like. He said he already has dinner plans. That does not surprise me. His is the best cook in the world. We didn't make major plans. It's always better to "wing it" as dad says and see what happens. The visiting, talking and just sitting together are the best kind of plans to have, don't you think?

Father's Day

We had a very nice Father's Day yesterday. I called my dad and we talked for a little while. I'm going to Share A Stitch next week so I made plans to take Nick and visit Dad the week after. I'm really looking forward to it. My dad lives in Buckhannon, WV. It's a nice little town in northern WV and it's a beautiful drive.

Phoebe, the girls, Randy, Nick and I went to Ritter Park in Huntington to celebrate Father's Day. It was really hot and humid so there weren't very many people at the park. We had a picnic of PB&J sandwiches. We had plans for a large dinner so we ate light for lunch. They have something at the park and I have absolutely no idea what it's called but there is a small, round seat that you sit on. It is attached to a wire and wheel. When you ride it, it slides along the cable from one end to the other and then back again. Very interesting. Everyone rode except for Emma. It was a lot of fun. The girls didn't play on the sand because it was too hot to even walk on.

After the picnic, Phoebe and the girls headed home. Randy, Nick and I went to the Art in the Park displays and enjoyed looking at local artists and their work. I recognized a couple from the Pendleton Art Center in Ashland. There was a lot of really nice work along with some mediocre stuff as well. Something for everyone.

Today and tomorrow will be busy because I leave Wednesday for the SAS in Charleston. I'm am SO looking forward to that. We have SAS every year and as soon as one is over, I start looking forward and planning for the next one. I'm on a tight budget this year as opposed to previous ones so I'll have to micro-manage my budget and still have fun. It's been a tough year since we now have six people living in our home. I'm riding with Debbie so there will be interesting conversation. I'm volunteering to work in the bookstore and elsewhere, as needed, so I will get to visit and talk to almost everyone attending SAS.

I like it when SAS is close by. I've been to Atlanta and Birmingham. Charleston is a much shorter drive.

Friday, Randy and I drove to Columbus to see Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly at the Nationwide Arena. We drove up early and parked in a lot close to the Arena. It cost $15 to park. It was close to several restaurants. We ate at a local brewery. I don't remember the name, but the food was delicious. They also make their own root beer. It was good, but not IBC. I had Mahi Mahi which I had never had before. I knew that it was from close to Hawaii and that reminded me of Lost, so I had to have it. Glenn and Bill were both great to listen to. It was funny and very entertaining. Even more so, because Obama had been in Columbus earlier that day at the Children's Hospital. It was a long drive going up and back in one day, but I'm glad we did it.

I took something simple with me to stitch. I'm making some penny rug coasters for the living room. I've finished three so far. They are simple, but I think they are pretty.

Hmong Project

I love our stitching around the world classes this year in TANA. This was a great project to do. I like the fact that I stitched it and then, it's finished. I didn't have to worry about framing or where to hang it. It's a book. Liz gave us instructions for folding the paper, origami style, to insert into it. So, when the pages are full, I can cut, fold and insert new pages.

The only part I didn't like was stitching on black fabric. This was Aida so the holes were easier to see but I still had to use my Ott light, magnifier glasses and white paper on my lap. It was better than a bookmark that I'm making for the SAS basket. It's done on black linen with white variegated thread. I think it will be great when it's finished but with the smaller holes, I can only work on it sitting outside. Even the Ott light doesn't help with that one. I also made the mistake of finishing the edges with black pearl cotton. I know I'm a sadistic stitcher!! Hopefully I can finish it in the next day or two and post it.

Christmas Stitching

We had a wonderful Christmas stitch-in on Tuesday. As usual, we had a blast!! I made a large pot of vegie beef soup and the ladies all brought lots of yummy goodies. We stitched, ate lots, and then went down to the family room to watch Dancing With the Stars on the 50" plasma. Two ladies had to leave early. They had families that appreciated them coming home at a reasonable hour. The rest stayed willingly. (Or because they rode with someone who wasn't leaving early.) I forced them (no physical harm was done, I promise) to watch the end of Lost that I had recorded from Sunday. I didn't make them watch the complete 2 1/2 hours, just the amazing ending. Some of us were in tears. Then, we watched the dancing and cheered for Evan. (Some of us weren't but we won't talk about them.) He and his partner, alas, came in second. Oh well, he did recieve an Olympic Gold Medal already so don't feel too sorry for him.

My stitching TO DO list just got a little longer. They are small projects so that isn't too bad but a couple of them require some computer-aided design. I'm working on a project for the "Summer's Coming" bag. I used part of a pattern for the main design, but must graph the words I want to use that weren't on the pattern.

For the SAS Teacup Auction baskets, I volunteered (was encouraged) to stitch bookmarks for both baskets. I have a week to complete all three items. Don't know what to do for the bookmarks. I had an idea to stitch all the SAS info on them, but when I drew it all out, is just looked boring. Maybe I can find, or design patterns with pearls. Wish me luck or pray for me, maybe both.

Ipod Books

Maybe everyone else on the planet has known about this forever but I just discovered that our library has books on ipod. Amazing! I'm listening to Stephen King's Black House. It is so cool. I can listen to it when I'm sitting at track practice waiting for Nick's event. I can listen to it when I get to school to pick him up, and in the morning while I'm waiting for him to get ready for school. I didn't realize I spend so much time waiting for Nick. Oh well. I'm getting a lot of "reading" and stitching done.
My current projects are on a rush that I hope to have finished by Monday evening. I have the key bookmarks that several ladies stitched. I'm doing the finishing by sewing them to the felt with the ribbon in the center. I did several by hand and also did some on the machine. I left one with Jill so we will have 15 all together. We are donating them as part of a bookmark stitching contest. I am almost finished with the April Hardanger Card of the Month. I need to finish the center of it. I will be getting the May card soon. I'm also working on a blackwork butterfly. I have most of it finished. There are four circles that use a lighter shade than the rest of the pattern. I don't really like the color but I've only completed one of the circles. Maybe it will look better when it's finished.

Emma is Two

Two is such a great age. At two there are still fairy tale dreams to come true, magic to believe in, and toys, toys, toys! It's also the best time to eat cake or cupcakes. You can see from the picture that she enjoyed her cupcake more than anyone else. Her favorite gift was that little telephone with a cord that rolls across the floor and the eyes move up and down. She loved it! Mom knows best. Phoebe bought her the shirt she's wearing months ago and kept it hanging in the closet waiting for this day. She made it through most of the party with it clean but by the time the party was over, it was in the laundry room. Oh well, it was worth it. Just look at that face!

Brazilian Embrodiery

I found an outline pic on the net after taking Liz's class in Brazilian Embroidery. My printer didn't work so I just held the paper up to the screen and traced it. I used the colors from the kit that we had in the class and then added one or two of my own. I think the white button in the center was a clever touch. I can be creative, yes, I can. I enjoy this type of stitching so I'm sure you'll see more in the future.