Second Class

I had ideas of getting up early and getting to the park in time to get my walking in before class started.  Didn't happen.  Today's class was much more laid back as we had 12 students.
The class today is based on a Scottish sampler that Linda designed.

We are making My Bonnie Dearie Sewing Purse:

The body of the purse is a beautiful purple linen.  The dupioni silk lining is fantastic as it looks purple from one direction and green from the other.

We are working on 36 count linen over one (mostly).  Linda went through all the steps to finishing the bag.  It will be easy to do.  Then we learned a new stitch, Victorian Step Stitch.  It is a very good stitch for a grassy effect.  The verse on the purse is from Robert Burns.
We had fun putting together the scissors fob.

People started going home after lunch.  I wanted to get an early start.  So I left too.  Unfortunately, I missed a turn (I couldn't get over to take the exit).  ARGH.  Then I got on US 23.  Big mistake.  That road is torn up and more of a mess than you can imagine.  Cars were bumper to bumper and the road is closed for several miles.  ARGH.  I finally made it to the road I was looking for and then I was okay.  I even made it home in time to talk to Claire and Evan for few minutes.  So everything worked out.
I am leaving tomorrow morning for some classes and visiting in Indiana.  So I'll be back next week with more tales of my travels.
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Guild Classes

I'm back from taking two guild classes over the weekend.  I was very brave because I went by myself and I drove - to the Detroit area.    I happy to say I made it back home in one piece.  I left early Saturday morning and Matilda (my GPS) got me to Heritage Park in plenty of time.  It was a busy day at the park as they were celebrating Earth Day.  There are great trails there for walking.  I got just a short walk in before class.  Linda Vinson of Needlemade Designs was the teacher

 and our class was French School Girl Sewing Case and Smalls

.

 She packaged the kits up in a darling box like what you might get at a French Bakery.

I don't know how she got all the parts of the kit neatly inside the box

We are working on 27 count banding, over 1.  Linda suggested we start a corner so she could make sure we were starting in the right place.  The banding is a bit ravelly so I'll be sure to run it through my serger when I get home.  

We have a great guild and they run classes very well.  A guild person picks up our lunch order from Panera and brings it to class.  (Thanks Nancy!) 

Linda had a trunk show of her designs and it was fun to see them in person.

We could order any of those charts.

I stayed at a Fairfield Inn that was really great.  It had two rooms, a bedroom area and a living room area (and two TVs).  I would stay there again if I needed to.

Whoever wanted to could go to dinner at a Rusty Bucket restaurant.  It was fun.  I don't like eating out of the vending machines at the hotel.  Across the street from the restaurant was a Trader Joe's.  I've never been to a Trader Joe's so I had to just stop in and see what it was like.  It was fascinating.  I had heard that they have a nice selection of fresh flowers at nice prices.  I happen to see a hyacinth bulb in a vase for only 1.99.  Why not? 

 It was fun just to see what they had.  They had a good selection of wine too.  I just bought the flower and some candy.  

I only got in half of my steps for the day.  Just call me lazy.

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Wren

When I first saw the wren on a lady's blog, I was enthralled.  I wanted so much to make it.  I love the wren.  I wrote to Jenny Adin-Christie and asked if it was available because it was not on her website.  I was thrilled when she wrote back and said I could order the kit.

  I knew that my goal for 2017 was to make this wren.  No matter how hard it was, I was going to make it.  I tried to finish up Home Sweet Home while I waited for the Wren kit to arrive.  It pretty much worked out perfectly. I was over the moon when the kit came in the mail.

 I stitched all the pieces of the wren.

 I tried to take my time and do them the best I could.  I was worried about my needlelace as I knew it wasn't perfect.  A couple of stitches I opted not to do because I was afraid of messing them up.
I put it together with my fingers crossed that everything fit together and worked out.

I am very happy to show you that the wren is finished.

 I love this little bird.  I like it to sit beside my happy chair and keep me company while I stitch. It really is even cuter in person.
Thank you Jenny Adin-Christie for such a fabulous design and such good directions and a great complete kit.  I just love it!

I will be gone for a few days taking classes with my guild.  See you next week.
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Startitis

I've got a bad case of startitis.  I started a kit that I had on the plane to Spring Fling.

When I was at Stitchville I got threads for "May" which I have changed to "Amy".

I also got the threads for "Love".

So I had to start those as well.

When I got the Drawn Thread kit, I really wanted to start that, so I did.

I'll show you the reason I have startitis tomorrow.
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Pre-Stitch

At the end of the month, I'm going to Indianapolis.  I'll meet friends there and take some classes with Betsy Morgan.

 I'll also see my friend Janet.  I can't wait to see her progress on her casket, up close and personal.  I may take some things to show her too.
All three of my classes have pre-stitching.  I am so looking forward to taking Virgin Queen's Stitching Wallet.  I love the design.  This is the pre-stitch for that class.

Yes, I changed a color.  I changed that middle part to Bordeau.  Love it.

Then we are doing a The Virgin Queen's Stitching Pocket.  Love it.  I think this is a scissors fob.

Lastly I'm taking the Mexican Reticule.  This will be a ruler. I changed the color on just one little thing.

It will be fun to see Betsy again.  She is such a good teacher.

I'm wearing shorts today!  Things are greening up around here.  Oh to have some lilacs with their lovely scent.
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Last One

I got good mail yesterday.  I got the last kit for this year's Silver Needle club, A Little Help from Our Friends Stitching Circle.  I really like Drawn Thread Designs and I have been waiting for this one.  I was very tempted by her latest releases but I wanted to see what her club design looked like.

I have made a few of Drawn Thread's sewing pockets before and I really like them.  I sorted out the colors of floss and would like to start this one soon.
Along with the design we got a couple of other presents, an ort jar (perfect size) and a Stitchy Dot needle minder.

I'm trying to resist signing up for yet another year of this club.  I'll have to think about it.

I also got my Paper Pumpkin kit.

 I have a birthday card to make.  Speaking of birthdays, today is a very special day.  Evan turns one year old.  Oh my, has it been a fun year to see him grow and develop and to see his personality emerge.  He is just so cute.  It is such a blessing to have a DIL who is such a great mom to our grandchildren.

Also in the mail yesterday was the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch.

There were a lot of designs in it.  Not really my style.

I tried out my Omanik frame.  I don't think I put the linen in right.  I'll have look at a tutorial on Youtube.  I think I had the linen in backwards.  So I need to try again.  I had a question about how long it took to get the frame.  I ordered it and was told it would be two weeks before it was sent. And it was.  After it was sent, I got a tracking number and was able to track it to New York but I couldn't get any information after that.  It took about 8 or 9 days for it to get from New York to me.  I presume some of that time was spent in customs.
Still working on my pre-stitching.  I'll show you tomorrow.
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It's FlossTube's Fault

This is entirely FlossTube's fault.  I saw where to order a very nice needlework frame for stitching.  Estonia.  I didn't think that was a real country but I looked it up.  You can order a Millennium frame but you have to wait months for it.  The same sort of frame can be ordered from the Omanik Factory in Estonia.  So in a weak moment.  I ordered one.  It came in the mail on Saturday.  They always send a candy bar too.

 I'm particularly fond of dark chocolate.  Yum.
This is my frame.

I haven't put anything in it yet.  I watched a couple of FlossTube videos on how to set it up.  I'm going to try to put in some linen today and see how tight it can get.  I think it will be easier to use than the slate frame.  You can order longer bars.

The bathrooms are clean and the sun is shining.  Gotta get my pre-stitching done.
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Happy Easter!

Walking was very pleasant today.  It was nice and warm.  I had to wear my raincoat as it was sprinkling a bit when I started.  How can it be the middle of April already?  My sister sent us a tin of See's Candies for Easter.  There are only two pieces left to fight over.  Can't wait to see Claire and Evan today.  I can hardly believe that Evan will turn one this week.  Kids grow up too fast.

When I was at Stitchville I picked out three little frames.

  I wanted a frame for this:

But I didn't have it with me so I had to guess what size.  As you can see, I didn't do very well.

 Oh well, I have a whole basket of finished unframed pieces.

  I tried a different one:

Still thinking about it.

I put the buttons I got into Mend. (I forget if I showed you this or not)

Also when I was at Spring Fling I got the pre-stitching for three classes with Betsy Morgan.  I didn't have a chance to start them until I got home.

At the end of this week, I'm taking two classes with Linda Vinson of Needlemade Designs.  So I will be gone next weekend.
I have something nifty to show you tomorrow.
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