TUSAL

Since I haven't been blogging or stitching much, I missed posting my Totally Useless Stitch-a-long reports in May, June and July.  Since there wasn't much stitching going on, there weren't many orts either.

Here is my August (and May, June and July) report!

Wedding Row

I stitched this one a few weeks ago, and just picked it up from being framed.  It is a gift  remembrance for a wedding reception we are attending today.  The invitation said "absolutely no gifts"  but I find it hard to go empty handed. 

This is a second marriage for both the bride and groom, and they moved into a lovely new home about a year ago, so what do you give someone who has everything?  A stitched wedding sampler of course!  Just a few days ago we learned that they were actually married last January, and they are just having the celebration now....so the date on the sampler is the date of the celebration.  If they want the date of the actually wedding on it, I will have to fix it.

Summer Mail Art Received

I received this lovely mail art envelope from Lynn in Canada this week.  It is just perfect! 

The theme of this mail art exchange was "summer".  I love the cute birdhouse complete with a bird!









The back is especially cute!  The watermelon look good enough to eat!  And I just love the ants marching across the envelope.












The inside is lined with a lovely floral fabric, and Lynn included a post card and wonderful chart!

Thank you, Lynn, I love it all!

My mail art envelope is being mailed this weekend, and as soon as it is received by my partner I will post pictures.

LHN Finish

I finished this Little House Needleworks design a few days ago, and today I washed and ironed so now I can show you.  This is going to be a quilt square.  Once the quilt is done, I will show you.

From the Framer

Welcome Stitchery has an annual framing sale every May.  You can bring in up to 3 pieces and get a discount, so every year, I save up my framing and take them in for the sale.  Here are the three pieces I had framed this year:


First up is Rose Quaker by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg.  I stitched this one on 25 count Ivory Lugana with one strand of DMC floss over one fabric thread.  I changed one of the DMC colors but I don't remember which one.










The next one is Song of the Seasons, last year's Little House Needleworks Mystery Sampler.  I stitched it with the recommend floss and fabric.

And lastly, Needleworker by Little House Needleworks, stitched on 25 count fabric, don't remember which color, with the recommended floss, one strand of floss over one fabric thread. 

Birthday Mail Art

I was assigned Antje to a Mail Art for her Birthday, July 31st.  Luckily, Antje is in Fort Hood, Texas, so I could make sure it got there in time.  The chart is by Sue Hillis, on her Dessert of the Month, part 1 leaflet.
 









I am happy to report that it arrived the day before her birthday, and she liked it!












I even found fabric the said 'Happy Birthday' for the lining, and stamps that sort of matched that fabric that said 'celebrate'.

IHSW Report

I was busy stitching this weekend while visiting my daughter and son-in-law.  I did manage to finish a quilt square, but it needs to be washed and ironed before I can show you, so sorry, no picture until I get home!

Disney Themed Mail Art

Why all the mail art?  I am part of a Facebook Mail Art group.  Members are all German, living in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the US.  It is a great way for me to practice my German with people other than 1st graders!  There are monthly themes, and members can choose to participate or sit out for each round.  A recent round was entitled "Disney" and here is what I stitched for my partner.






Unfortunately it still hasn't been received.  I don't understand the mail system, both here in the US and in Europe.  Some mail art pieces arrive in Europe in 5 days, others take up to 6 weeks!  And....my own mail carrier refuses to deliver registered mail to my mail box, I have to go the post office to pick it up, which isn't really convenient for a working girl.

I received this from the same person I was to send too, which doesn't usually happen, but it's okay.









  Petra did a great job and I loved the chocolates that she enclosed.

Christmas in July Exchange with my Stitching Divas

The International Stitching Divas decided to do an exchange, sort of like a Christmas in July exchange.  It was meant to be received by July 25th, but we were all a bit late.  The exchange consisted of the following:  a tea towel, a stitched small, a post card and a lolly (which I interpreted as some kind of candy).   Was to send to Coral in Australia, but she hasn't received it yet. 

Overachiever that I am, I stitched the tea towel instead of just purchasing one and I also stitched a scissor fob, both of which are in the picture.  I included a post card of Chicago and some Gummi Bears because I was afraid that chocolate would melt.

I received my package from Suzanne, who lives in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.  She sent a lovely tea towel with a machine embroidered Canadian post card on it, a wonderful stitched bread cloth perfect for Christmas, two postcards and some candy.  The candy didn't make it into the picture.....there was chocolate involved, boy was it yummy!  Thanks Suzanne!  I loved everything!

IHSW

I haven't participated in awhile, but this time I will try.  It is International Hermit and Stitch Weekend.  I won't be a hermit, but I do plan to spend some time stitching!

Historical Needlework Class

 

 

This past June I was asked to teach a class on Historical Needlework of Southeastern European Germans at our German club.  I took my inspiration for the traditional motifs used by German nationals living in Hungary, Romania and the former Yugoslavia.   I  had found many examples in our own museum, and showed practical uses of the stitched items as well as how patterns were transferred in the olden days. 








The students were 50 teens, put into two groups, so I taught the class twice.  Since many of them had never even held a needle, I had to start with the basics.   I took a historical motif and had them stitch it on a bookmark. 








Many of them were seen stitching on the bookmarks later in the evening, long after the class was over.  I guess that means they liked it!  It was a pleasure for me too!

More Round Robins

Here are some of the 12-person round robin finishes I have had in the last few months.







First is Fiona's











then Sue's




















and then Julie's. 

Some Round Robins

Here are some of the 6-person round robin finishes that I have done lately.  Just about one more to stitch on and mine will be coming home.

First up is Julie's
















Second is Leta's 

Galena Retreat

The first weekend of June was our annual Needlepoint Guild retreat in Galena Illinois.   I love going to Galena, and staying in the historic and charming De Soto House Hotel.

Marguerite and I drove out on Thursday morning and came home late on Saturday evening, although some people stayed until sometime on Monday. 




While there, I taught a Stitcher's Strawberry class. 

It was a class I had taught before, but this time I had an alternate hardanger cap for the strawberry.  The class was well received and fun to teach.










Everyone that attended the retreat received this wonderful goodie box. 


 

Working Ahead.....

I stitched this up earlier this spring.  They are Christmas ornaments for my grandchildren.  

Easter Mail Art

  

    Quite some time ago, I showed you the Easter Mail Art that I received.  At that time, the one I stitched had not yet been received.  It arrived a few days later, but I am finally getting around to posting pictures.   Of course, I did put stamps on it, but I took the picture before the stamps. 

The fabric that I used for the background is the same fabric that I used to line the mail art envelope.  My partner reported that it arrived in perfect condition.

Thank You For Your Concern

Hello to all of my blogging buddies!  Thanks you so much for your e-mails and concern.  I have not dropped off the face of the earth, just took some time off from blogging as my life was too crazy, busy, stressful.....

Things are starting to settle down a bit, and I promise to catch up and show you what I have been stitching.....

July Progress, August Goals

I did manage a little bit more time in the happy chair stitching in July, about 58 hours with is a little bit better than last month but not yet the normal 90-100 hours that is my monthly average.  Watching the World Cup games (Yay!  Germany won!) and stitching at the same time is not possible, the soccer games were nail biters, so the stitching suffered.

August promises to be a bit slower and relaxed, but wait, I need to get ready for the start of German School.....didn't we just let out for the summer?  Oh well, someday I will stitch more, and stitch for myself rather than obligation stuff.....

July Progress

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

6 person RR – Leta’s finished
 
Future New starts
afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Crystal Violets
French Alphabet block sampler
Silent Night (CCN)
Around the World in 80 Days
Owen’s birth sampler
Peter’s Birth Sampler
Natalie’s Stocking
Owen’s stocking
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Halloween House #15
4 person RR Marguerite’s
Patriotic Banner
Disney Mail Art - finished
Carneval
Dish towel – finished
Julie’s 12 person RR  finished
Birthday Mail Art finished
Summer Mail Art
At the Beach Mail Art
Wedding sampler worked on it
 
August Goals

WISPS:

10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Work on Logan’s stocking 
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

Wedding sampler

Future New starts

afghan pillow bear
afghan pillow moose
Crystal Violets
French Alphabet block sampler
Silent Night (CCN)
Around the World in 80 Days
Owen’s birth sampler
Peter’s Birth Sampler
Natalie’s Stocking
Owen’s stocking
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Halloween House #15
4 person RR Marguerite’s
Patriotic Banner
Carneval
Summer Mail Art
At the Beach Mail Art