Back From Mystic

Every year since 2006, I have attended one of Sue Donnelly's fantastic Stitcher's Hideaways and this last was the best yet.  I will be writing about it for the next few days but today's post will be devoted totally to stash: what I was given as door prizes, what I bought from Chris from Chris' Collection and what I will be passing on to you all as giveaways.  I do like to share the wealth and some of these shiny new charts are simply things I will never stitch or have stitched already.  My one regret is that I was having so much fun I forgot to take pictures as I usually do.

First, the Giveaways:  All you need to do is leave a comment naming the chart or charts for which you would like to compete. I'll do random drawings next Monday.

Victoria's Sampler Hearts of America series: Maine.  I stitched this on the way home in the car.  Maine means a lot to our family.  My husband's family used to run hotels and motels in Boothbay Harbor and he spent most of his childhood summers there.  He introduced me to Maine on our delayed honeymoon and we have been going back every few years since we were married.

This is GPA's Wood Stocking Collection's #1 Cottage

This Samples and Such's Tin Toppers, Tin of the Month: November - Antique Acorns.  This is really lovely and I do like acorns but I already have so many charts for both acorns and small stitching accessories that I know I will never stitch this.  Better to pass it on to someone who will actually enjoy it.

Also from Samplers and Such Round Topper Snowflake.

Rosewood Manor's Deep Roots.  There is no cover photo for this particular chart and photographing the interior of the leaflet to give you a sense of the design would violate copyright laws.  Suffice it to say the design is of a stylized basket of flowers surrounded by a simple border with the saying "Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light."

Beary Merry Christmas 2013

Elizabeth's Needle Designs' Stitchin' Friends

Brightneedle's Esmeralda's House:  I have already stitched this witty and clever chart.  In fact, my copy is autographed by Ann.  So I am happy to give this duplicate a new home with someone who will enjoy it as much as I did.

This isn't actually from the Hideaway but when I tried to give this Homespun Elegance chart away last June there were mo takers.  I figured this close to Halloween, someone might be in the mood to stitch it.

Well that's it for the giveaways.  Feel free to ask for as many charts as you like.  I'll do a random drawing for each of the above.

Now I'll move on to the door prizes, stash bag and other gifts and goodies that I will be keeping.

This is Rosewood Manor's Past and Present Sampler,  This chart is very much my style and I can't wait to get started on this using some of the Glorianna silks that I scored at 50% discount from Chris at the 2014 Hideaway. I'll use some of the linen I picked up this year [see below].

This Victoria Sampler's Christmas Cardinal Stocking with thread and accessory pack.  Suffice it to say that I love all Thea's designs. So this is clearly a keeper.

I mentioned in the giveaway section of this post that acorns are a favorite motif of mine so how could I resust this Hillside Samplings' A is For Acorn that I found in the Free Charts box.

Also from the Free Charts Box: Barrick Samplers' Lady's Garden.  I love this designer's style and have stitched a number of her charts.

The very generous Ann from Brightneedle also put out a number of charts for us to browse through and take home as gifts.  I chose The Covered Bridge Sampler.

Here are a few more small gifts that I came home with.  Starting in the lower right: the thread winders from Rosewood Manor were a door prize, the charming little ornament was a stitched model from Brightneedle [Ann is downsizing and she gave everyone at the retreat a small stitched model]; the green wool felt pin cushion was also a gift from Ann as were the memo pads and post-it pad.  Like I said, she is a very generous lady

And, as if it that wasn't enough, I actually bought some more stash.  Chris of Chris' Collection closed her shop last year and retired.  But she still has enough merchandise to set up shop for us and all at 50% off.  I swore and vowed that I would not buy a single chart or anymore floss or fiber.  I promised myself that I would concentrate on linen this year and for the most part I did just that.

First, I indulged myself with some badly needed neutrals.  The first three pieces are Lakeside linens in various creams and greys.  But the bottom piece really intrigued me.  It is a 21" x 27" piece of WDW Tin Roof Gingham linen.  I just fell in love with it.  I see it as a bib apron stitched in Halloween motifs or a large Halloween sampler finished as a wall hanging or made up into three matching Halloween Trick or Treat bags for my grandchildren, using smaller Halloween designs.  I can't make up my mind.  I will have to mull for a while.

It's hard to tell in this photo but one shade of blue is very muted and another is quite bright.  The grey blue will be used for a Dragon Dreams piece, The rtagon of the Summer Sky and the brighter blue will be used for a Sunflower sampler I have in stash.

This two ornament sized pieces of Antique Rose Lakeside Linen will be used to make ornaments for my Granddaughter who is the diva of all things pink.

Chris was also selling charms: I picked up some brass pumpkins and two pewter fairies for just $1 each.  I have plans for one of the fairies already.  She'll sit atop Whimzy Rose stitched in a variegated Glorianna pink of one the pieces of pink linen above and will be stitched as a gift tote for the granddaughter.

As my nieces and nephews are marrying at the rate of two or three a year [I have 16 all told] and are starting families, I seem to be crocheting crib blankets and stitching bibs frequently.  I figured these four bibs would be a welcome addition to my stash, being suitable for either sex.

I know I said I wouldn't buy anymore floss but seeing these Thread Gatherer Silk'n'Colors had me weakening.  At least I limited myself to just six skeins instead of buying one of every color available like I did last year with the Glorianna!

Well, this has been a long and photo heavy post so I will quit while I am ahead.  Tomorrow, I will post about the class and the project, show you my progress on the two stitched pieces from Brightneedle as well as my little Maine heart finish.  And Wednesday, I will talk about the exchanges and Show and Tell as well as the very special project of her own design that Sue always.creates around the theme of the retreat.