"Summer School"

I've enrolled in "Summer School."  Well...sort of summer school.  Actually, I'm doing my first online class with the Shining Needle Society.  Our teacher is Jackie du Plessis of It's Fine-ally Finished!  Our project is called Buttons A Bounty.

I've always wanted to take class with Jackie! I had the opportunity to take class through our guild but the class didn't make enrollment. Bummer! About the time that class canceled this opportunity came up. I took it as a sign that it was meant to be. Although I won't get to meet Jackie in person, I'm enjoying the online format so far. I really think we'd get into some fun trouble if we ever got to meet.

 

Photo credit.

(click on online classes to the left)

 

This is what it will look like when it's done.  Can you see why I just had to take this class?!  Yep, 42 awesome acorns are worked into this piece.  Plus, it's an etui and it has a place to keep your special buttons.  Both things that make my heart sing.  There will even be acorn scrims that will come later.  Swoon!

 

Here's where I stand as of lunch today.  I've actually started on the queen stitched acorn caps.  I managed to get one done before I had to go back to work.  I think I'm going to love this!  I don't mind queens but I know some folks will avoid them at all costs.  LOL!  They are going to be so cool!

So that's what's been occupying my time this past week and kept me from posting.  Sometimes I need to spend my time stitching and not posting on the blog.  This is one of those times.  I want to keep up with the class.  I enjoy knowing there are 100+ others out there stitching this same piece with me.

Speaking of stitching along, I'm doing a mini stitch-a-long with a blogging sister in between stitching on this.  We started last Friday.  I'll post more about that another time.  It was a fun weekend spent stitching.  Hope yours was good too.  Better get back to those acorn caps!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

 

Just Nan finish!

I mentioned last time that I had a quickie finish to share.  It was fun to work on something small after working on my perpetual projects for so long.  This one turned out to be even prettier than I'd expected since there was no color picture with the chart!

Design: Painted Lady

Designer: Just Nan

Fabric: 28 ct. tartan green as kitted

Floss: DMC as kitted

Started: 7/13/13

Finished: 7/14/13

Completed: 7/14/13

I picked this kit up from the "free to a good home" table at the guild's stitch-in on Saturday.  My friend, Paula donated it.  There was just something about this one that called to me to stitch it right away.  I know now it was meant to be.  Here's why!

This design fits perfectly in the box were were given at the Stitchaway Retreat two years ago (before I started blogging)!  When I put the last stitch in it I sat there looking at it and it clicked.  So I went and grabbed the box from the stash.  Sure enough, it fits perfectly in the lid!

I'm going to have to get someone with a little more framing experience to place it in there properly but there it is for now.  It's funny I can finish the tiniest smalls but can't frame something to save me. Oh well, we all have our strengths, don't we?!   LOL! 

Anyway, I wanted to save this one for it's own post because it's such a fun story.  I love when things come together like that.  Hope everyone is having a good week so far.  Stay cool!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Saturday Stitch-in

Saturday our guild had an all day stitch-in.  It was a really nice day to get together and stitch.  We had a "themed" show and tell.  This month it was patriotic.  Here are some of the wonderful things that were shared.

I love the banner in the upper right corner.  So true!

I love the ornament with the verse on it.  One of our members took a passage from the Declaration of Independence and charted it for the back of her Prairie Schooler "July" ornament.  Love that!

The two on the right are Blackbird Designs pieces and were stitched by my buddy Patti.  The two unfinished pieces were made by my friend Nancy (waves to her, I know she reads the blog).

 This one was made by my buddy, Linda.  This sampler has logged some road miles.  She brought it with her when we went to West Virginia!

The these were made by my friend, Christie.  She's a really big fan of patriotic designs.  Aren't they all so cool?!

I just had to show you a close up of this one.  Christie worked this one silk gauze!  It's stunning in person.  I really need to find this chart and stitch it for myself.  Sadly, I doubt it will be on gauze.  LOL!

 

I didn't catch who made these two but I really like them.  I need to check the stash, I think I might have the top one.  Hmm....

 

The three on the left are mine and if you've poked around in the archives you've seen them already.  The three on the left are my friend, Paula's.  Very pretty!

 

These two were made by my friend, Pam.  I'm sure they will be framed/finished the next time we see them.  She's really good about getting things completed.

This one was made by one of our newer members, Tiffany.  She's not been stitching on linen very long and she said she completed this on the holiday!  I like the floss she chose to use.  Very appropriate for the holiday.

 

I just had to share this picture.  The top one is mine and the bottom one is Diane's.  We used different fabric counts.  I love how the size difference is really noticeable when they are side by side.

 

~*~*~*~

Here are six of the nine "Foster brothers" that were present at the meeting.  It was so fun to see them all together.  Especially since we are so far along on the project now. 

Done by LK.

Done by PW.

Done by CM.

 Mine

 

Done by MK.

Done by PF.

 

It's really been fun to work with a group of people on this sampler.  I loved seeing the different thread counts and color choices!  Our group even inspired the guild to possibly do a guild stitch-a-long next year.  I hope we do it will be so fun!

 

Next time I'll show you the kit I picked up from the guild's "free to a good home" table.  I started it when I got home from the stitch-in and finished it up the next day.  It was fun to do a quickie project after working on my perpetual projects for so long.  Stay tuned!

 

Hope your weekend was good too!

 

More next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Hornbook Bestiary Progress

Since last weekend was extra long, I took the opportunity to get some progress made on the Hornbook Bestiary.  I wanted to log some more time with my new Lokscroll Frame.

 

Progress as of 5/18/13

 

 

Progress as of 7/5/13

I still think it's going to take a couple more blocks for me to feel really comfortable with the frame.  I want to talk to a couple of the guild girls about theirs.  I'm not sure I'm getting the tension just right on it.  I did realize I prefer the heavier end on the left side rather than the right so I did learn something new.  It's all about the learning curve and getting comfortable with it.

 

Here's a close up of the block I stitched this round.  Isn't it appropriate I stitched the "E is for Eagle" block on the 4th of July holiday weekend? I thought so too!  Love when serendipitous things happen like that.

 

My honey says the eagle looks like a parrot.  I think it is a rather goofy eagle but it's kinda cute too in a quirky sort of way.  LOL!  I started "F is for Fox" last night and can't wait to finish it up tonight.  Stay tuned for that.

 

Well folks, it's a quickie update post today.  I hope things are moving forward in your stitchy world too.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a great rest of the week!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Secret Stitcher

I missed going to the First Friday Stitch-in at the LNS since the community fireworks were scheduled for the same night.  I got word on Saturday that my Secret Stitcher had left me a present Friday afternoon!  Since my honey and I were going out for an early dinner we swung by the LNS to pick it up.

 

Holy smokes, what a big bag!  Wonder what's inside ?!  Don't you love that ice cream cone cookie cutter?!

 

Check out all the goodness inside there!  Wow!  Love that wire basket.  I tried getting a close up picture of it but it wasn't going to happen.  The gold candle holder has little bees on it too.  Love the bees fabric and the bug bandages.  So cute!  I think someone knows I like to cook too.  Lots of interesting recipes to try in the mini cookbook.

 

Here's a close up of the floss toss!  Love the summer named flosses GAST Summer Shower, GAST Sun Flower, CC Summer Spray, WDW Independence!  Love those silks too.

 

Here are the two charts she included.  Love the flag and bee skep on the Shepherd's Bush one and the candle mat is really cute too.  I can totally see that sweet bee candle holder sitting on top of this!  Oh if only I could buy some time to stitch!

Thank you Secret Stitcher!  You made my day.  What a fun summer themed bag of fun!  I really do appreciate your thoughtfulness.  I can tell you had fun putting this together too.

Well folks, I'll be back soon with a progress update for you.  I just had to slip this thank you in today.  I hope you are having a good summer so far!


More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - July

Click on the picture to learn more!

Well folks here we are right smack dab in the middle of summer time.  You'd never know it by all the rain we've had this year.  I don't know what it is but I always feel like summer is over and we are on the down hill slide once we pass the 4th.  What a rainy one it was too!  I was beginning to think we were going to need to start building an ark!

 

I'm so not ready for fall yet! You wouldn't know it by all that orange in the ORT pile though.  As you can tell, I've been working on "Scatter Smiles" quite a bit.  Here are the other contributors to this month's pile:
 

"John Foster" project July installment (DONE!)

"Sweet Baby James Needle Purse" by Indigo Rose (in progress, almost done)

"Maria Antonia" by The Essamplaire (in progress)

"Coin Purse" from the Russellville Retreat (DONE!)

"Scatter Smiles" by Anne Powell Ltd. Russellville Retreat project (in progress, still)
"Hornbook Bestiary" E is for Eagle by Scarlet Letter (Done!)

 

It appears I've reached the point of just making progress on several projects.  I guess it just means I've got plenty to keep me occupied for the rest of this month!  I'm hopeful I'll get the Indigo Rose project done in the next few days.  I know the Hornbook, John Foster and Maria Antonia will all be long term projects.  I'm shooting for getting Mr. Foster finished by year's end.  The other two, well...time will tell for them.

 

I've got a couple progress posts on tap for this week so stay tuned.  I hope you are progressing nicely on your projects whatever they might be.  Thanks for stopping by and visiting today.  I always enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your visits.

 

 

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July!

 

I hope you are able to put in a few stitches today wherever you are! 

 

Be well and be safe,

 

The Inspired Stitcher