The Tree is DONE

I finished the Christmas tree on my lighthouse stocking this morning. Woo hoo! Happy dance with me. All I have left now is to finish the snow and the little dove and the anchor. And most of the backstitch.

I really need to start finishing some UFOs. I may dub this as the Summer of UFOs--I mean, seriously, people do see more of them in the summer anyway, so it's not that far off--and just get some things finished, or if not finished, at least progressing decently. I am far behind in my Bride's Tree SAL, which is fine because I am not getting married soon. Not that I blame SO--he was trying to help out my mom, per my batted eyelash request, by mowing the lawn at her rental house. The house sits on a hill with a steep slant, and he fell and jammed his wrist. Now I don't know whether I should offer him the brace from when I broke, oops, just sprained (the most painful sprain EVER) my hand, or ask him if he fell down the hill and rolled into traffic. Before you start laughing, growing up, this was always the reason we were told my parents moved from that house, they were afraid of my brother rolling into traffic. My brother is not the kind of person who would have done something like that, but I was, so I guess it's good they moved, because I grew up in a perfectly flat yard and made it to almost 32. Though, when you think about it, they were a lot closer to the ER there . . . Anyway, he has to have his hand recover, so no marriage soon, no need to finish them all, though I do feel like a tremendous deadbeat.

I did, however, organize all my lovely finishing fabric last night. I must say, I have IMPECCABLE taste in finishing fabric. I found a lovely yellow plaid that was just sweet that I had forgotten I bought. But then, it was in Virginia Beach, so no wonder. Now to find something to finish with it . . . So I am pretty proud of myself, but I better get a finishing because I can see this fabric stash growing out of hand, and it's not like I can do anything else with it until I get a sewing machine. Even then, there isn't enough to really MAKE anything with. So must get a stitchin. And stop stitching large pieces that take too much time and bore me.

Sue Hillis Stitch-in, Day 2

We woke up on Saturday morning, thanks mostly to Nancy's cellphone alarm going off. It's funny, no matter what you're dreaming of, those ringtones will just cut in and jar you awake. They don't appear to sync with any dream you can possibly have, not to mention they are annoying as anything. I was determined to get my sheep finished Saturday, so I started early. I am sure Nancy and Chrissy thought I was a freak because I was stitching in the half-light, LOL.

We got breakfast, and headed to the stitching room. Everyone was there, including Lesley, who came from Australia for the Stitch-in (she also visited a new grandbaby, but this is not the point). They were offering classes, but it was far more fun to sit and stitch. Someone started a swapping table and that was great. I found several nice things, including the Cherished Teddy Nativity leaflet, which I have never seen. My mother did ask what was the point of taking things down, if I just brought stuff back; I explained I gave away what I didn't want and got what I did want! I am just glad those charts got homes where they would be appreciated, and I am sure someone else feels the same about the charts they gave away. We were on our own for lunch, so bopped over to the gas station for snacks; since I didn't have a lot of time to be there, I didn't want to waste it at a restaurant, we would be eating at Sue's, and I never eat much when I am around other stitchers. Too excited to be with my people, LOL.

We headed over to Sue's a little after 2. I wore my hat--next time, I must get me a better one, I think. Nancy made a redneck teaparty hat, and a lady from near the Pennsylvania line had a lovely teaparty hat with bunnies on it. They won the hat contest, and we had a nice time sitting out on Sue's lawn, drinking iced tea and chatting. I did discover that strawberries in iced tea are DELICIOUS, one for the whoda thunk file. Sue has two pretty kitties, Lucy and Ethel, one of whom was standing in the door as if she were the mistress of the manor, greeting us. We got nice goodie bags with Hershey Kisses, a Cherry Ripe from Australia (do people in other countries get as excited about our candy as we get about theirs?), and a bunch of lovely charts. And I can always use a tote!

When the afternoon wore down, we headed back to the hotel for more stitching. Libby and Simchah were unable to make the morning Hardanger class, so I offered to show them Hardanger. They are both very talented stitchers, and picked it up quick, though I did have to tell Simchah that it was OK that her piece wasn't perfect from the get go. It's not the easiest form of stitching to do, but just the fact she was willing to try and she didn't give up says quite a lot about her. Not to mention, Libby is a wonderfully supportive friend and kept encouraging her. It really is a pleasure to teach people like them.

I really wanted to stay, but I wanted to spend time with SO, and it was a long drive back to where he lives, so I left at 8:45. It was hard to go, because we were having fun, and there just isn't enough time in the day . . . Traffic wasn't too bad coming home, Rolled in the door at home at midnight, which was good, because I was going up past Baltimore, and that's an extra hour up 95, so not really bad time.

I really want to have my own stitch in. I think it would be fabulous to have a group of stitchers and just have us a party, totally relaxed, close to LNSs, close to attractions, but just a laid-back atmosphere. I am seriously working on getting one started.

Notes from the Sue Hillis Stitch-in

I promised I would write about my experience at the Sue Hillis GTG. That was held in Richmond, Virginia over the weekend. I couldn't stay the whole weekend, but did have a nice time when I was there.

I was ready to go all day Friday. It was a cruddy day at my office because someone decided that, out of a staff of 10, 6 people could have the day off. We have a serious issue with this because the same 3 people take the day before and after every holiday off, but you can't say anything to anyone about being fair about scheduling. So I left, disgruntled, at 5 PM. My BF tells me that I am sunk because of how many people are on the road. I thought he was wrong til I realized, yes, every single person in the DC Metro area was in their car on the Capital Beltway, and then traveling down 95 South. It took me 2 hours to go 50 miles. That STUNK.

Oh, I have to tell y'all. I am sitting in traffic. We aren't moving really fast, maybe 10 or 20 miles an hour, when I see the guy in the neighboring car light up a ginormous blunt. In case you aren't up on your pot vernacular, a blunt is basically a huge marijuana joint, but instead of wrapping it in rolling papers, which are illegal to purchase in my area, the smoker will buy a cheap cigar (Philly Blunts were the #1 seller at the convenience store I used to work in, I guess that is where the name came from), remove all or some of the tobacco, add their pot and light her up. I don't smoke, so I don't know why this is preferable to regular smoking. I sure didn't think anyone would do it in traffic. Anyway, we weren't going fast and he seemed pretty jovial after he took the hit. He was waving people over into his lane, waving that blunt (I wonder if he ever thought one of us might be in an unmarked car, though I am pretty sure they don't send cops out in Neons, and the Sunfire with the body kit and custom paint job in the lane next to me didn't scream undercover, LOL). So I was OK with it til the smoke rolled in the car. ACCCCK. Pot smoke in my FRESHLY AND EXPENSIVELY WASHED CAR, as well as IN MY HAIR. I had to roll up the windows and run the air conditioning, which is not particularly gas thrifty, but I didn't want to smell like weed. A lot of the women at the get-together know of me, but haven't met me, so I did not want their first impression of me to be that I was smoking weed on the way down.

I finally got down there at around 8 PM, walked into the wrong hotel, and finally got to the right one. I just hunkered down and started stitching. We worked for a while til I realized I really did need to get a memory stick for the camera. And I was a little hungry, so we were off to the Super Walmart for food, the stick, and sour mix for the alcohol we had upstairs. people thought we were wierd for going to Walmart during the stitch-in, but, um, I don't know how other people do vacations, but in my family, it's not a vacation if we don't end up at Walmart at some point during the trip.

We got back and stitched happily til it was time to go drink. I don't drink much, so getting the chance to let my hair down is a treat. Managed to not get really messed up, so I stitched til we went to bed.

More tomorrow.

Good things . . .

Pumpkin posted in her blog about some of the good things in her life. I have been so harried lately, I haven't had a lot of time to stop and think about my blessings.



Brea is the major blessing of my existence. She's been there for me during the highest highs and the lowest lows--who else would have sat next to me having a meltdown in the Nashville Airport or kept me company on the phone on the way to Richmond the other night? I never say enough to her how grateful I am that God put her in my life, because there just aren't enough good words to say that. B, you truly are my sister of the heart and I am so honored that you chose me for a friend.

I am blessed that whoever is in charge of the universe decided I was worthy of being pet parent to my wonderful dogs and cats and sent them to me. Each and every one is a gem: Chancey for her thoughtfulness, Lily for her beauty, Gus for being my main man for all these years, Nikki for being so protective, Flicky for showing me that we all have a capacity to forgive. And my Robbie, who loves me well beyond unconditionally and whose coming taught me that there really is a red thread that connects those destined to be together.

I am also blessed that I have the ability to paint pictures with thread and needle. Some people use acrylics, some use oil, I work in floss.

Tea Party photos

From the Stitcher's Tea Party. I am on the top step, right hand side by the pillar, in the blue hat.

I am so glad I got the car washed. It's in the pic of us at the tables, on the right side, it's the black one. I realize at this distance you can't tell if it's really clean or not, but if your car is going to end up on the Internet, it's good to be clean.

Can it really be a photo?

Thanks to the kindness of a certain SO of mine, I finally have a finish pic to post. Woo hoo. Happy dance with me!

This is Cedar Hill's Sheep on the Meadow, stitched on the simply amazing fabric that Julie sent me. Julie, this fabric was a HUGE hit at Sue's Stitch-in. I finished it on Saturday night, a little later than I had planned, but I was giving my friends Libby and Simchah a Hardanger lesson and got a little behind. So I finished it right around 8:30 on Saturday night.

I'm really quite happy with it. The little sheep really do stand out against the fabric beautifully and make it look like a meadow. I am planning on a barnwood- looking frame for it. Grey or brown would both look pretty good, but we'll have to see what they have available.

I have to run now. We have dinner reservations at 4 at the local crabhouse, and I have to go run to the store for some things before we go! I'll fill in the details about Sue's as soon as I get a chance, and hopefully will have photos to share. It was a blast. Sue is a gracious hostess and so neat to meet people. I run into the Maryland and Northern Virginia stitchers on 123 fairly frequently, and met the Canadian stitchers at CATS in 2006, but rarely the Tarheel stitchers and never anyone from the Midwest, so it was a treat!

The car is packed,

the needles are threaded, CD player has a good CD in it, I am on my way to get cake and liquor in 10 minutes, I have way more projects in the car than I can possibly do, SO told me I was cute and sent me a cute pic of himself, I even have a simply adorable hat for the tea party. I would say I am ready to go. Wouldn't you?

Of course I need to find a memory card for the digital camera. I'll stop at Walmart on the way down.

I was digging through my box of finished projects last night. I found some stuff to finish. Mostly old stuff, I have to say. But it needs to be done. I am only completely bummed about one project, Midsummer Night Designs Mistress Prim and Proper, because it has a couple little schmutzy (Pennsylvania Dutch word) places on it, that I am afraid to wash because I stitched it with Vikki Clayton silks back when they weren't colorfast and it already did run a little in one place. I don't want to mess it up any further. I think I may just frame that as a lesson learned. It's still amazing and HUGE. Besides, it's not necessary to be clean to last; someone once pointed out to me once that girls in the past times weren't working in a sterile environment and their stuff lasted. If it doesn't, well Darwin works for more than just people, LOL.

I am not going back to Kentucky, at least not right now. I found that out yesterday. To be honest, it's OK. When I found it out, the tension headache I've had since Monday went away. I am going to relax and enjoy getting ready for the fair. I just took June 13th off work--it's payday and therefore the best day to haul my cookies over to my LNS and get this started. I even have TWO $5 off coupons for there. Woo hoo! Don't know when I'll get to Hobby Lobby now, though, cause I am not doing another drive to a place that has a HL like I did when I went to Virginia Beach. It was 4 hours and lots of gas to get there, and I am not doing that this year. NO WAY. I think I can check Kohls and see what they have--they always have pretty interesting things there and great sales. I ought to be able to find a usable frame, right?