January IHSW - Timberhouse Retreat 2014

I am behind on all of my scheduled blogging lately, so here is my belated IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend) report!  I hope this isn't going to be the trend for 2014, I'd hate to start the year off behind and continue the year that way!

I honestly didn't hermit at ALL the weekend of January 17-19... it was even BETTER than hermitting I was stitching with 17 other ladies at the Timberhouse Country Inn Resort!  As a group except for a quick little trip to do a little stash shopping most of us pretty much stayed inside warm and safe stitching!

Up until this past November the retreats I go to at the Timberhouse were run by Ann of Knowledge and Needles but now that she has become a Snowbird, she's not around anymore.  We all wanted to continue the tradition of our January, March, and November stitching retreats so Bonnie and I have taken over running them.  In all honesty Bonnie does much of the work as she's much closer to the facility than I am.  But I'm there as a sounding board, support and help whenever she needs it.  January was quite a challenge to get off of the ground this year.  Up until late November we had a full retreat and slowly people started dropping out.  That is quite a challenge and frustrating when you have people dropping out and needing to fill spots three weeks before a retreat!  We've learn a few lessons and will put a few things into place to hopefully reduce that stress.

On the upside, we had a few new faces there!  It was nice to spend the weekend with my friends Julie and Mylene.  Julie and I took a little selfie Saturday morning!  It was wonderful to get to spend a weekend with Teresa who I had previously met twice at the annual Knowledge and Needles open house that Ann holds near the end of August.  So I guess that's the upside of some of the usual retreaters dropping out, we get some new wonderful additions to the group!

I didn't really take any pictures this year...  My urge to take pictures seems to have left me this last year.  Saturday afternoon we did get out to Knowledge and Needles since Ann had left the keys for Bonnie and I to open the shop to anyone who wanted to do a little shopping.  I of course couldn't help myself and I did buy a few things.

I was also able to finally pick up the signed chart I had won off of Facebook from Norden Crafts.  They regularly give away charts and if your name is drawn its sent to the LNS of your choice to pick up.  I'm looking forward to stitching this one on 40ct in a gorgeous red!

... I like long romantic walks on the beach.... (please note down winter coat, snow on the ground and that Lake Ontario is FROZEN!)

On the way back to the Timberhouse, I wasn't in a very social mood so I took a little time by myself with my camera.  I stopped a few times on my way home AND I went down to the "beach".

Here are some of my shots...

Meanwhile back at the Timberhouse...

 Stitching-wise it was a productive weekend!  I worked on getting all of the white put in on the adorable owls in Three Little Maids.

Tall Snowman

cHeart In Hand

Stitched on: 32ct Belfast Linen - Autumn Field from Zwiegart

Stitched with: DMC & WDW

When I had enough of stitching with white floss I pulled out some of my other January starts which were ornaments and worked on those.  I managed to have three finishes!  So that's I think 5 of my 15 starts finished in the fist month of 2014.

Christmas Favorites Santa & Reindeer

cPrarie Schooler

Stitched on: Mystery fabric

As usual Sunday came around all too soon and it was time to head home.  Normally we pack up around lunch time but it was snowy, and windy.  I decided shortly after breakfast it would be best to start making my way home.  Instead of 3-3.5 hours to get home it took 5.5 hours!  Wow!

Check out both Bonnie and Christin's blogs they took a few more pictures than I did, many of the stitching on display.

I Heart Shop Cats

On the weekend my friend Tracey and I puttered around the Valley.  We did some shopping as we went about our adventures, something we haven't done in quite some time... due to time and weather!

We went into one of our favourite Antique/Flea Market shops in Perth and came across Eddie this lovely shop cat!  He was a new addition since we had last been in there back in the fall.  He had to check out this box we wanted a closer look at.  After a chat with the shop owner we found out they had rescued him.  Makes me love that shop even more!

One of our last stops was at the Wool/Feed shop in Carleton Place.  Of course the feed shop (they also carry great cowboy boots which is what we stopped in to look at) had a shop cat... they of course would need one!  I'm sure this little kitty earns his/her keep.  I got a bit of a squeak when I didn't stop and give him/her a little love.

I just love going into a shop to find they've personalized it with a resident cat!

Wipocalypse 2014

Besides getting caught up on my PhotoHunts you really haven't heard from me at all this month!  January is almost over and its been an exhausting month physically and psychologically!  I've alternated between not being able to sleep/sleep through the night the first few weeks of the month to now barely being able to stay awake!  Friday night I laid down for a bit at about 5PM I didn't get up until 7:30AM!

I have been stitching when I've had the energy to, but lets get caught up on all of the blogging activities I decided to take part in this year!  The first thing I've missed is the first Wipocalypse of the year!  This month it took place on January 16th!

With this first Wipocalypse we are to introduce ourselves, our projects and our goals for the year.

The Stitcher:

Most recent picture of myself

I'm know by my friends and the stitching community as Dani, I'm in my late 30's.  I am a Library Technician in a High School which I've been working at for 12 years now.  I live with my partner Todd and our two cats Hunter and Zeus, no kids.

My first finish - started in grade 8 (1988ish) finished 1997

My Mum first taught me how to cross stitch when I was around 12-13 years old when "Santa" left a little cross stitch kit in my stocking.  That first project, was a disaster!  I started another project as a teen in middle school but I never finished it until I was an adult, when I was unemployed for a few months in 1997.  Since that time, I've never stopped.  I've been stitching for 17 years now... wow!

I started blogging in September of 2003, that's 11 years now.  I like to think that I'm one of the early Stitching Bloggers.  I'm hoping to keep blogging for many years as long as the ability exists and the audience is still there.

Through stitching and blogging many wonderful people have come into my life.  I am very grateful for what stitching and the online communities have brought into my life.

The Projects:

 The Accolade (NOT a HEAD)

Started in 2006 most of the work has been done in 2012/13

Almost done pages 1-7 of 12

Stitched one over one on 25ct lugana

 Arabian Woman - Lanarte Kit

Started November 2013

 Prarie Schooler - Christmas Favorites

Started January 2014

 Camelot Mini Samper - Teresa Wentzler

Started January 2014

 Mini River Cottage - Michael Powell Kit

Started January 2014

 The Big Red - The Sivler Lining

Started January 2012 - barely touched since

One over one on 25ct Lugana

 The Fortunate Traveller - Teresa Wentzler

Started May 1 2014

Combination of over two and over one on 28ct

 Stitching Row - Bent Creek

Started January 2014

Three Little Miads - Heritage Stitchcraft

Started January 2014

Goals for 2014:

• Finish all of my January Crazy Challenge Starts
• Finish The Accolade
• Finish borders and story on Fortunate Traveller
• Make progress on Big Red
• Stitch and finish a minimum of 12 ornaments

And there you have it... the first WIPocalypse of 2014

PhotoHunt Catch-Up, October 26, 2013

The PhotoHunt theme on October 26, 2013 was "stir"

This is another one of my Cape Breton, N.S. photos.  The Atlantic Ocean was being stirred by the wake of the lobster boat I was on.

PhotoHunt - Vast

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Vast"

This photo was taken during August of 2013 during my trip out to Cape Breton, N.S.  We were able to get up close to this grounded ship, it made me realize just how vast it was!

PhotoHunt Catch-Up, August 24, 2013

The PhotoHunt theme on August 24, 2013 was "Humble"

Again, another Cape Breton, N.S. picture but I took so many good ones there!  The beauty of my country, Canada just humbles me!

PhotoHunt Catch-Up August 17, 2013

The PhotoHunt theme on August 17, 2013 was "swanky"

At the end of July 2013 I took an impromptu trip to the Charleston, S.C. area to visit my best friend Claire.  I have to say there are a lot of swanky homes in the historical district of Charleston!