The Final Mystic Post

Every Stitcher's Hideaway features an exchange and a Show and Tell Night.  These are both very popular features as one gets to know quite a bit about the fellow participants by looking at their work and listening to their stories .  I will start with the Exchange since that took place on the first night.

Only five people participated in the exchange this time around: Sarah who made a knitted little mouse with red braids, dressed like a late 19th century school girl, just like Anne; Sue who made a miniature needle roll; Chris who made a somewhat larger needle roll; the lovely lady who made the tin I came home with and myself.  I made a pin pillow with a friendship theme: two houses connected by a path.  You can see it in the lower right. Chris got the pillow and seemed pleased with it.

I was delighted with what I drew: this gorgeous little Altoid tin completely covered and converted to a marking pin keep made by a lady who sat at one of the middle tables.  While I don't know her name [it might be Linda], I know her stitching from previous retreats and it is very fine as is her finishing.

I also want to show a photo of the interior of this exquisitely finished little stitching accessory.

Normally, I take a lot of photos of Show and Tell but this year I was too wrapped up in the doing to remember to do any recording.  I suppose that is a good thing and a true measure of just how much I enjoyed myself.  I am not one of those people who takes a picture of every Kodak moment that comes along, anyway.  I have to make a conscious effort to take photographs. As a responsible blogger, I usually do manage to make the effort to document a special event such as a retreat.  Just not this time.    I am sure Sue, who is much better with a camera than I, will have loads of pictures up on the Stitcher's Hideaway website soon.  I refer you here ... just give it a little time.  Sue also collects photos and comments from the participants, so it takes a little while for her to write what she calls Fun Reports.

Finally, here is a photograph of Sue Donnelly's own design, a Kindred Spirits pin pillow.  One of the nicer bonuses of attending one of Sue's retreats is the little kit she always gives us commemorating the theme of that retreat.  She clearly spends a lot of time searching out just the right materials to express her ideas.  The charts are usually straightforward and simple, stitching up quickly, resulting in the immediate gratification of a lovely souvenir.  This is especially pleasing since the class projects tend to be complex and take time to complete [in my case, sometimes years to complete].  It feels good to have something tangible to remind one of the retreat.

And an update on my small Kindred Spirits project,  I didn't have very much time to stitch yesterday but I did manage to get a little further than I had planned.  I hope to finish the stitching today and assemble it as well.

Kindred Spirits Project

Here is the only photo I took of the class, and clearly not of the whole class, just of the few stalwart folk who were determined to squeeze in a bit more stitching while the rest of the group lingered over lunch or shopped in Chris' hastily set up bedroom/shop.

Ann & Liz designed this little stitching journal around the Anne of Green Gables series.  The themes are friendship, kindred spirits and simplicity.  All of these concepts are to be found in the the beloved books by L. M. Montgomery.

Ann generously allowed us to photograph the stitched models of individual pages so that we would have a reference for our stitching at home.  The charts are a bit of a challenge for the habitual cross stitcher since they are charted as if for needlepoint.  It's a small adjustment remembering each box represents a single thread rather than a cross over two threads.  This makes the scale over one rather than the more usual over two.  Otherwise the directions are reasonably clear, even the directions for assembling and finishing the little journal.  That's an area where many charts fall short.  But, happily, this one does not.  As for the design itself: with a full page chart devoted to each page of the journal, placement of motifs is fairly clear.  The kit includes fabric, floss, needles and swatches of faux-faded cotton print quilting fabrics for all the extras: pin cushion, scissor pocket, etc.  One of the best pages of the entire packet is the page with all the specialty stitches clearly graphed out.  There are a number of stitches I have never done before: the tied wheat stitch, the Wessex flower, the Welsh Star & the Pistil stitch.  I foresee problems with the Pistil stitch since it involves a Colonial knot.  I can do French knots but I have never mastered the Colonial knot.  The stitch graph page is one that I can foresee consulting long after this project is complete and when I am designing my own samplers or smalls.   As a bonus, Ann provided another small chart using similar motifs and the same palette.  The accessory chart can be stitched over one or two and may be finished as a small pin pillow or as a scissor fob.  Like the main project, the colors are soft and old fashioned yellows, yellow greens, corals and pinks.  They remind me of the print house dresses  that might have been worn by homemakers just before WWII.  The overall feeling of the entire project is one of nostalgia.

Here are my photographs of the stitched models of the individual pages.

The Cover Page: this is the page where we all made our mistakes.  I stitched my 8 back-stitched page outlines first while cunningly listening to all the moans and groans of those who dove right in to stitching this first page.  Thus I learned from their mistakes.   I was able to consult the pioneers about proper placement of the first tied wheat stitch in the inner border and the length of the  tied herringbone stitch at the beginning and end of each leg of that border.  That is not to say I made no mistakes of my own.  I had to pull out the left side leg of the herringbone border because of a counting error.  Happily, I hadn't yet gone back and tied the herringbones, saving me some rather fussy frogging.  Another strategy gleaned from eavesdropping on those who dove right in: verify the correct placement before going back and tieing down the stitches.

This meant to be the back cover and space has been left for stitching initials and a date and or place.

A small fabric pocket will be placed within the stitched border.  It will hold the small paper needle book included with the kit.

A small gusseted pocket will be placed within the stitched border.  It is meant to hold a little glass vial of tiny buttons or button cards or a small spool of thread or all of the above.

A small pin cushion will be centered within the stitched border.  It will be made up as a log cabin quilt block from the fabrics included in the kit.  It will be further secured with a button right through the center.  Ann even provided the wool roving to stuff the pin cushion

This is the sampler page  Of the whole booklet, it is the only page meant to be stitched over two.

I regret that I can not show the remaining two pages.  Someone else in the class must have been using them for reference when I took the photos and I forgot to go after them later.

And now for a few photos of my own progress on these pieces:  It took me the first day and the better part of the morning of the second day to stitch the back stitched border of all eight pages.  It was not a particularly stimulating way to start off the class.  But I know myself well enough to know that if I had just stitched one outline and then started on the main design of that one page ... well that might become the only page ever stitched.

Having stitched all the outlines, I am going to feel compelled to complete each and every one.  And I am less likely to get bogged down by the fiddly counting required throughout most of the project or abandon the piece at the first mistake.As you can see, I am working the border first and am almost done with the final leg of herringbone stitches.  I do have to go back and tie the last leg and then do six tiny eyelets in the same red in the lower corners.  Then it is on to the large flower bands at the top and bottom of the page.  I'll be devoting much of my weekend to this project.

I also started the accessory piece and got the border stitched Sunday night while keeping my husband company as he watched TV.  I really wanted to have all the bits and pieces of this project "on the go" so I would be motivated to finish them all.  I stitched the OC of OCT last night after work and hope to stitch the T and get started on the Roman numerals for 2014 before work today.

And, finally, here is a photo of my Maine heart, stitched in the car on the way home.  These Victoria Sampler charts are the work of just a few hours and always teach a new specialty stitch, in this case: the diagonal Queen stitch.  I recommend them highly.  It is my hope to eventually have an ornament for every state that my husband and I have visited or in which we have lived or in which our children have lived.  I still need to stitch Washington, California, Vermont, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and Minnesota.

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.