Logan's First Stitchy Gift

Logan was one week old yesterday, so of course Oma had to go and see him and cuddle him for a bit!

After seeing Logan, I went to my EGA meeting, and Debi gave me this cute stitched bib for Logan! Thanks so much, Debi, he will grow into it!

No time for stitching....

Who can stitch when this little guy needs cuddling? Here he is, sleeping soundly. What an angle!

Logan's Home!

Logan and his Mommy came home from the hospital Thursday afternoon. Daddy is still a mess, but getting better.

Oma went to help out.

Not much stitching getting done these days!

Here's Logan!!!!

Here he is, just about 2 hours old! He is just the most beautiful baby I have every seen!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

Logan Peter Rill was born this evening.

Mother and son are doing wonderful, Father is a mess!

Oma is going to see him now!!!!!

On the 5th Day of Christmas.....

In Texas it's Lone Star Flags!

I finished this one over the weekend, actually put the past stitches in as my flight from Tulsa landed at O'Hare.

For those of you that have asked, these will be ornaments for one of my favorite son-in-laws. The other favorite son-in-law gets the Northwoods afghan.

One More Tulsa OK Report

When I was stash shopping in Tulsa, first at the Silver Needle and then at Stitchworks, I was really hoping to purchase the Needlepoint Silks for Shores of Hawks Run Hollow. Both shops suggested I try a needlepoint shop in the area; Stitches.



Thanks goodness for my trusty GPS, Gabbie! She got me there without much trouble at all. When I walked into the shop I was in fibre heaven! Every kind of fibre you can imagine, except......you guessed it! No Needlepoint Silks!

The shop was actually half knitting and half needlepoint. I found the ladies working there very helpful and knowledgeable. They looked up a chart for me on the Internet so that I could make a list of the fibres needed, and I was then able to purchase the canvas and most of the fibres without a problem.

There were out of a few of the needed fibres but I managed to make another stop at both the Silver Needle and Stitchworks and both From Nancy's Needle charts are now all kitted up.

While in Tulsa, I was also on a secret mission that involved a quick trip to Russell Stovers......but I can't tell you why!

Stitchworks

After my visit to the Silver Needle, I drove across the street to Stitchworks. It amazed me that there were two large cross stitch shops so very close together!




At first glance, Stitchworks appeared to be spacious with lots of stock. Upon taking a closer look, it had yarn and knitting and crochet patterns in about 1/4 of the store. That's great for knitters and crocheters, but not for me. Upon even closer look, the shop models were mostly older designs. The shop in general looked a bit worn and shabby. The fabric area was not as neat as I am used to seeing, and the displays were just so so, definitely not as innovative as what I saw across the street.






To the right of the front door was a large display of moose designs, with the same name on them as the shop. They are the owners own designs and were quite cute, but I just don't associate Oklahoma with moose.











A room to the left of the main shop area housed all the holiday designs. Again, quite a bit of stock, but mostly older charts.















I got out my list and started looking around. They did have the fabric that Sue had asked me to purchase for her. They did not have the 40 count fabric I was looking for. I was also looking for a 10 count cream Tula. The young lady helping found some fabric but it wasn't marked in any way as to stitch count or price. She was rather new and didn't really know where things were or what I was asking for.



There were some older charts I was looking for, and I found all but one of them. I also found a needlepoint chart by From Nancy's Needle that I liked, Crystal Violets. I already had the companion chart at home, so I though I could kit them up. There was no computer access in the shop at all so I couldn't look up the list of fibres needed. They didn't carry Needlepoint Silks, and although they had Kreiniks, they didn't have half of the ones I was looking for.


Although the clerk was very helpful, she was new and didn't really know where things were or how things were done. I would have spent more money in the shop if they had the things on my list, which was the case at the Silver Needle also.

I was directed to a nearby Needlepoint shop though, and I will report on that shop tomorrow.

The Silver Needle

While I was in Tulsa this past weekend, I planned to take some time for stash shopping. In my research I found that the Silver Needle was located in Tulsa, and was reported to be a very large and well stocked LNS. I had shopped at the Silver Needle's booth at CATS in Nashville a few years back and looked forward to visiting the shop itself.

Friday morning, I set out bright and early at the crack of ten. Armed with my list I entered the shop. Wow! It was spacious, well lit, had attractive displays and lots and lots of things that interested me!

There were stitched models everywhere!

Beautiful Chatelaine charts all stitched, and matted.

Bent Creek "Rows" displayed in colorful mats.

Lots of Jeanette Douglas designs finished in beautiful boxes and frames.

Just Nan models displayed in one section.

An entire display dedicated to Lizzie Kate designs, with some great finishes.

Lots of beautiful fabrics

Even a Vera Bradley section......I thought I was in heaven!

Even though the shop was lovely, and the staff was friendly and helpful, I found that I was dissappointed. I had a number of things on my shopping and list, but had trouble finding things to purchase. Sue Hillis had asked me to pick up some fabric for her, but they didn't have what she wanted. I wanted to get 40 count fabric for Shores of Hawk's Run Hollow, but they didn't have the color I wanted. I wanted to purchase the Needlepoint silks for that chart also, but they didn't have them. I was looking for a number of other charts on my list, which they didn't carry. I needed some Caron Watercolors, which they didn't carry. I wanted some Kreinik metalics, but they didn't have the ones I wanted.

The first lady helping me seemed rather new and didn't really know the stock very well and didn't really seem to know what I was asking for. The second lady that helped me knew the stock better and was able to help me find some things, but kept saying she usually only works on Saturdays and lots of things had been moved so she didn't know where they were.

The shop was definately worth visiting, but it was rather disheartening to ask for something only to be told, we don't carry that because we don't have many requests for it. I didn't think my tastes were that much out of the ordinary.

Check back tomorrow for my report on the LNS across the street from the Silver Needle.

I'm home from Tulsa!

Last weekend I took a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The primary purpose of this trip was to attend a workshop conducted by the North American Federation of German Folk Dance Groups.

The host group was the German American Society of Tulsa, or GAST. Their facility is lovely, and housed in an old church that they have remodeled for social events.

The host group arranged for a bobbin lace demonstration while the set up for the workshop was taking place. Originally, it was going to be a drawn thread workshop, which really appealed to me, but sadly it had to be changed at the last minute. The women doing the bobbin lace were very interesting, and I learned about it, but I don't think it is something I want to learn to do at this time in my life.

Dancing began Friday in the late afternoon, and then continued on all day Saturday and again on Sunday morning. Workshop attendees came from at least 11 different states, with the instructor coming from Berlin, Germany.


Volkhart Jaenert was the instructor, and he taught a great variety of folk dances throughout the weekend. He has been teaching folk dance since the 1950s......he is in his 80s but still a remarkable dancer. I learned lots of new material that I will be able to bring to the groups I teach.








There was a lovely display of Trachts that was available for viewing all weekend.

The host group, the GAST dancers, performed for us on Saturday evening.

While in Tulsa, I did other things besides dance. Check back for more of my adventures in Tulsa.

Framing Frenzy

Last Saturday, I finally had a chance to stop at JoAnn's to get the rest of the framing supplies I needed. After I got home, I framed these seven pieces. They had been mounted and stretched for quite some time, but still needed to be put in the frames.

Now it's done! Three of the pieces were stitched by Kristin, and four are mine.

I have a few more that need to be mounted, stretched and framed. I have the frames and everything needed, but I will leave that for another day. I would rather stitch.

Texas Stitching

May's Texas stitching was the 4th Day of Texas Christmas - 4 Chili Peppers!

My Number 1 son-in-law will receive this set of ornaments when they are complete. Justin, eat your heart out!

Oklahoma, Here I Come!

I am going to be in Tulsa, OK from Thursday through Sunday to attend a folk dance workshop, and plan to visit the Silver Needle and Stitchworks on Friday morning.

LoriRay and Sharon (Daffy Cat) are both going to be out of town, how's that for timing! I would love some recommendations on what to do and see while I am there.

If any blog readers have any suggestions, please e-mail me. My e-mail address is in my profile.

I made better progress during the month of May, especially as compared to April (April's progress was so dismal, that I didn't even post about it!)

May Progress
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas finished
May Teacup - Just Another Button Company finished
March Teacup - JABC finished
1 block on Northwoods afghan (7) finished
Mystery sampler part 6 nope
10 hours on M&K's Wedding sampler nope
10 hours on Guardian Angel nope
10 hours on a baby sampler 10 hours on Adrian's sampler!
4th Texas ornament finished
Love quilt squares Finally found a chart to stitch!
Work on Cloister Garden yes!
Special Quilt Square finally picked out what I want to stitch!

June Goals
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas
June Teacup - Just Another Button Company
1 block on Northwoods afghan (8)
Mystery sampler part 6
10 hours on M&K's Wedding sampler
10 hours on Guardian Angel
10 hours on a baby sampler
5th Texas ornaments
Love Quilts Square
Special Quilt Square
Summer mail art
Biscornu for Diva's exchange
biscornu model
EGA name tag