Busy week!

Last week was very exciting at House of Stitches!  On Thursday we had a visit from Pam and Bob Reed from Olde Colonial Designs.  They were on their way to a retreat and realized that we were right on the way.  (It was a popular weekend for stitching retreats!)  We had a nice visit; we usually only get together at needlework markets so this was a fun change. As we gave Pam a tour of the shop she said that we have some of her out of production kits!  Take a look at our website if you have been looking for something in particular.  Look at the size of their trailer!!  One can only imagine how many stitching treasures are waiting inside! 

Our Weekend of Stitches began Friday evening and continued through Sunday afternoon.  We hope it will be the first of many weekend retreats.   Ellen Chester from With My Needle was our fearless teacher.  Our project was "A Lady's Worke Box" and we had enthusiastic stitchers from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Alabama!  Ellen is a wonderful teacher.  I think everyone learned a new tip or two (at least)!  She is a very knowledgeable needlewoman and she doesn't hesitate to share what she knows.  Her step by step instructions and prepared models made it easy to see how the stitched pieces will be finished.  I spaced out and didn't take pictures of the beautiful Worke Box and all of the wonderful smalls that Ellen designed to go inside. The whole project is just exquisite!  Fortunately Ellen and Barb were more "with it" and you can see more pictures, including pictures of the finished project, at their blogs:
www.withmyneedle-ellen.blogspot.com. and  www.sunflowercross.blogspot.com .
 

You can see all the step by step examples in front of the projector.



Ellen spent much time interacting with us as we stitched.





An important part of any gathering of needlewomen is food!  You can see that my spot at the table in the foreground has no food left at all! 

Monday morning it was back to real world of jobs and obligations but guess what!?  We are already planning next year's Weekend of Stitches.  Ellen will be coming again and we plan on having TWO projects; "Long May She Wave" and "Fruit of the Vine Sampler Huswif".