More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Travelling Pattern Is Ready To Move On!

Just a short while ago I was lucky to be selected by Julie of Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal to be the next recipient of one of the Travelling Patterns out there in the blogosphere.  I stitched it up in pretty quick order, and finished it up on Sunday

Here's what mine looks like all stitched up:
 Count Your Blessings
c2009 Shakespeare's Peddler
Stitched with: GAST where I had it DMC where I didn't
Stitched on 28ct Vintage Linen

If you would like to be the next Travelling Pattern stitcher there are a few rules that need to be adhered to :

1. Comment on this post saying you would like to be part of The Stitcherhood

2. By leaving the above comment you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely manner. If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project, so be it. If you cant bring yourself to do this don't sign up.

3. You must have an active blog to participate. if you have a blog but never post to it you wont be chosen to be the next stitcher.

4. This is a giveaway type traveling pattern. That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along. Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of The Stitcherhood.

This Travelling Pattern has been a quite a globe trotter and so far been stitched by:-

1. Sharon of its daffycat Oklahoma USA
2. Karen of Karens Handiwork, South Carolina USA
3. Patty of Hanging on by a thread, Florida USA
4. Terrri of chocolates for breakfast, stitching for lunch USA
5. Lynda of a cozy little place for stitching, Oregon USA
6. Nataly of Natalys needle creations, Massachusetts, USA
7. Erin of fairy tales and french knots, NY USA
8. Jo of Serendipititous stitching, Suffolk UK
9. Mouse of tales of a a stitching mouse, South Yorkshire UK
10. Sally of stitchyangels treasures, East Yorkshire UK
11. Lesleyanne of Lesleyannes life of stitches, Northamptonshire, UK
12. Michelle of stitchercraftplace, Staffordshire, UK
13. Kath of kaths stitching heaven, Barnsley, South Yorkshire UK
14. Christine of The Alchymyst's Study, Cornwall, UK
15. Kate of Kate's Flossbox, Tyne & Wear, UK
16. Julie of Julie's Stitcherknitter Journal, Leicester, UK
17 Dani Black Belt Stitching Wizard, Ontario, CAN

You have until Wednesday April 4th (one week) to leave a comment if you're interested

After I finished up the Travelling Pattern, I wanted a quick little Easter stitch.  I had received this little freebie from another blogger some time ago and thought it was the perfect little stitch.  Sorry its a crappy picture!

Prarie Schooler 2011 Freebie
Stitched with: DMC
Stitched on 28ct Black Jubilee



Saturday, March 24, 2012

PhotoHunt - Spicy

This week's theme is: Spicy


I took this photo last year in the Dominican Republic while we were walking through a local "farmers market" in San Pedro de Macoris.  Don't these peppers just scream hot???

Friday, March 23, 2012

Special Gifts for Special Friends


Last May my oldest friend Andrew and his fiancee Yan had a little girl.  In the fall I stitched up a little something for their daughter Chelsey's room.  The last time I saw them in September, when they got married nither it or their wedding sampler were complete (life you know).  Earlier this week I had a chance to meet up with Andrew for dinner when he was in town for the day.  I made sure both pieces were framed and ready to go to him.

French Country Bear - JBW Designs

Two Shall Be As One - My Big Toe Designs


Thursday, March 22, 2012

March TUSAL

Its the New Moon!  Which means its time for the Totally Useless Stitch Along!


Since Easter is just around the corner I thought Matilda would like to pose this month!  There's a lot of gold in there from Enchantment of Winter and a big wad of black from my Mandalas.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Spring Is Magical

We have had some wonderful weather for March!  Its been warm (up to 25c) and sunny!  I've actually had to turn on the A/C in my brand new car!  Wow! 

Last Friday when Christin and I drove down to Brighton we took the "scenic route" which I just love!  Its a scenic, hilly, curvy road!  A road any driver would love (if you're like me and love to drive!) to play on!  The night before it had rained quite heavily and with the warm, damp air, and the ice melting on the lakes its was incredibly picturesque, almost magical driving down.  I finally gave in to my inner artist that was screaming for me to stop and take pictures.  Which I did at several spots along the way... but I wish I had started stopping sooner, I missed some very pretty shots.

Here's some of my favourite shots from the drive. (click to biggify)










While we were at the Timberhouse on the weekend I spotted this lovely orchid and took a couple of shots of it as well.



Monday, March 19, 2012

Post IHSW Report

I definitely had lots of stitching time this weekend, and it was well used!  Here's the progress I made on all three projects this weekend.



Ink Circles - Seasonal Mandalas, I finished all the black outline on Winter

Shakespeare's Peddler - Count Your Blessings, finished all the red on the house

Gitta's - The Accolade, finished a row on my current page

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Knowledge & Needles Timberhouse Retreat March 2012

I am so lucky that my favourite LNS (not so LNS for me) owner hosts three... count 'em three!  Retreats each year!  This will be our last one for awhile now, until November.  This was the tale end of my March Break and I look forward to it!

Christin and I drove down Friday morning, started by having a nice breakfast out and making stops along the way.  We arrived in the early afternoon.  Once we got all of our stuff inside the girls settled while I took advantage of the nice day and went out for a run first before settling in on my behind for the weekend.

Friday we stitched and ate into the night!  (Stitch, eat, sleep isn't our motto for no reason!)

Saturday afternoon we headed over to Ann's house where her husband Dan and his Maitre'd Fran had a lovely lunch prepared for us!

 Maitre'd Fran

Chef Dan explaining the menu


Our table settings with "loot bag"!


Dan preparing our plates 

Rebecca reading the menu

 Kathy, Carmen and Colleen chatting while they wait for lunch

Everyone enjoying lunch

 Paddie is saying "hello" to Sharon

Some people stayed behind to shop after lunch I was very restrained and bought one piece of fabric... just because it was pretty!

I'll let the pictures do the talking!
 This weekend was Ann's birthday was this weekend of course we celebrated  it with cake!

Kathy working on her gorgeous over one wolves!

Beatrice stitching away

Judie

L to R : Bonnie, Rebecca, Clare, Me, Chrsitin & front Beatrice we all started Ink Circles Seasonal Mandalas in January!