Pumpkins, Sand-pails and Blog Meetings

What is in the pumpkin? Inside was hidden the exchange from me to an unknown stitcher. This was a dirty santa style exchange at the pals retreat last week  but so much more than a basic dirty santa. It went on for hours -really- I could hardly hold my head up at the end of the night to open the piece I finally ended up with after 7 or 8 trips around the exchange table. Everyone turned a bag in with a hidden package inside. This was placed on a table by a couple of judges and non participants. You were given a raffle ticket and the drawing for picking order was started. No opening of exchanges until everyone had a package. Mystery packages could be taken as many times by anyone with as their turn came up.

This is what was hidden inside. I found a pumpkin with a hole in the bottom and stuffed it with the goodies above. Fat quarters, fall pearl cottons, scissors, fall colored linen and some candy. 

And this is the fun sand bucket I got in the exchange. Ocean colors of threads, candles with a beach theme, scissors, sandcastle fabric and a cute crochet octopus. a sparkle cup and some candle from Iowa where the sand bucket originated. The strangest thing was that of the 100'ish exchange packages. Lorna and I got each others exchange. How funny is that? 

 It was such fun to meet fellow bloggers. Above is Teresa and Faye. And we also meet Karen

It was such a blast to stitch with these southern belles. We laughed so hard I was worried the tears would run down my legs.... They are a fun as they seem in their blogs and it was just a blast. There was also a fun group of stitchers who were said to be in the stitcher protection program. They were from the same group but had to travel under guise of different events so know one knew they were there. I can't tell you what a fun group they were. Hopefully they will not get in too much trouble if I share their pic. 

Sadly I did not get a pic of all the other fun ladies meet at the retreat. Anne was kind enough to sit beside me and enjoy all of my off the wall thoughts through the weekend. She was new to the group as well and misbehaved in the newbie corner. Evidence of Anne is the jacket on stitching supplies on the chair next to mine. I think Teresa actually got a pic of her for her blog so hop over and meet Anne who is working on a blog. Fun title is already created I believe....

I did manage to finish one small piece and start some silk gauze which I will show picture of in my next post. Along with the many ways I was spoiled by my sweet roommate for the week. 

Thanks for stopping by

I'm still here

Isn't this a lovely sunset? This is the view we had from our condo this past week. We rode our bikes down to Panama City Beach for Thunder on the Beach last week. It was a great week. Tropical Storm Karen threatened us the whole time but we managed to side step her and have a great few days riding the coast with 3 other couples. 

This is the view where we rode Thursday to The Blue Parrot. I just love to ride over and eat crab claws for lunch there. It is only about 60 miles from PCB but it manages to take us almost and entire day with the stops along the way at Mexico Beach, Apalachicola  and Indian Pass Raw Bar slap in the middle of no where. It is marketed as the Forgotten Coast of Florida and remains peaceful and slow paced like a vacation should be.I wish I could say their was stitching in my free time but no such luck. I think my stitching bug is taking a vacation. Life is just taking up all the focus I have for stitching these days. I have started 3 pieces trying to get it back and still it is evading me. Never fear, I have a stitching retreat in view and I am sure it will return when the distractions of life are moved out of my field of vision. This is a really bright move on my part. I don't follow the pals boards or communicate with them but plan to attend the retreat next week at Myrtle Beach.It was priced right and there are always good times when groups of stitchers gather. Hopefully there will be some fellow bloggers there and Teresa and I will not be total strangers. Of course holding up in a condo stitching for a days will make me just as pleased as punch.I am certain I'll bring no less than 20 kits to work on while I am there. Very realistic for someone who hasn't had time to stitch in months don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by and spending time in my land without stitches,
Pam 

It is hard to stitch when...

you can't see. I have been struggling with an eye infection for over a month. My right eye has got a virus and the cornea was very slow healing. It is finally better and I have been able to work on the With Thy Needle and Thread Birds of a Feather piece some. I changed the linen to a 32CT Vintage smokey pearl. It really brightens up the piece a bit. I recall when the chart came out originally several people struggling with the chart. I am now aware that it because you simply can see the symbols. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING when she picked those dark colors on those symbols??? Okay I've said it and now I will move on. It is going to be a lovely piece now that I can see to work on it again.

I also began Dorthy Walpole in the middle of the eye infection. Progress is not so forth coming on the 35ct fabric. At lease she is started... all 20 stitches I have in her. Maybe I will trade out the BOF piece when I get the first chart finished on it and pick up Dorthy again.

This morning my son left for running camp in North Carolina with his team mates. Tomorrow he turns 17 and for some reason I cried all the way home. I have missed his last 3 birthday with school or church events. All good causes but somehow I feel robbed of his time. I am sure the next year will have many struggles as he is in the senior year and then come college.

We have enjoyed some wonderful times on the water this summer so far. Something about looking out one the lake that just relaxes and lifts your spirit. I'm not sure if you can see the skinny waterfall we went swimming under last weekend. It is a little cave section you can swim under and the views around you are amazing. The water was very cold as well where it was running into the lake.

This was a sunset off the dock a couple of weeks ago. It had been a rainy day and the sun came out at the end of the day and gave us an amazing sunset.

Thanks for stopping by,
Pam

Funky Finish

This is my funky finish! It has been finished a while (since the retreat) but I found a minute to iron it this morning so I thought I would post it. I believe it will fit in a 8X10 frame after measuring it this morning so it may get framed a bit faster than most. My plan is for my bedroom at the lake. The wall are painted a bright golden yellow and calling for more fun colors. I keep saying this is the last weekend to work but I really mean it this time. We need to pull the upstairs bathroom together and then I am plan to take a break up there, enjoy the water and relax, until fall when the grueling  labor begins again. 

Also completed is the small daffodil wall pocket. Hopefully I can finish it completely in the next couple of weeks and give that ever so tardy Mother's day gift. Dorthy Walpole has been started but I must get a few more stitches in before posting her. The 40 ct feels fantastic to stitch on but is a real challenge for these old eyes. 

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. I plan to spend mine in relaxing a bit on the water after putting the hardware up in the bathroom and settling a bit more of the valued treasures of life(junktiques) at the lake. This is the really bad picture I took last weekend from the new deck we had pt in. There was a nice grass patch by the water and then a mud pile between it and the house so we have a nice deck put in for visitors to hang out on. Better pictures to follow. My DH just got me a tablet to use at the lake house and I will see if I can do better about photos between his new phone and it. Yes the water is really that wonderfully blue and clear. The heat landed this week and cooling off in the water will be in order. We had such a nice cool May I am sad to see it go. June is promising to be muggy and hot if today is a for telling. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Pam 

Ta-no Da

This is my gift to my mom for Mother's Day. As you can see it isn't finished, hence Ta -no Da. I am down to the back stitching on this one and I think it will be lovely. I got some lovely beads at the needlework hideaway retreat to finish it as a wall pocket for her glasses. It was in the JCS a couple of months back and she saw it and fell in love with the daffodils.She has always planted them in her yard and loves all varieties of them. There were some unusual ones blooming at the post office where she takes her mail now and she kept saying she was going to thin them a bit for the post office. That translates dig them up and replant them at her place! She is becoming more of a mess as she ages. I guess we all do. 

 I don't believe I ever posted the stash from the last retreat. Fabrics that called my name. I actually managed to buy a piece of 40 count I needed to start Dorthy Walpole. I thought I had a large enough piece but they we always a bit small when I pulled them out. I have the thread already to go so now I can begin the lovely lady.

 One of the ladies at the retreat was working on the Blue Ribbon Design piece called Blue Jeans and Daisies. It didn't do much for me until I saw her progress! Then it was a must stitch! I fell in love with the fabric, fibers and design. Belinda is such a fun person and the happy memories of her class at New England Stitchers Retreat will make it a fun stitch.

 One of the 6 shops we ventured to had these great older charts. I have always loved BrightNeedle and they are getting harder to find so I grabbed them up. I also found some Ewe & Eye & Friends charts I have always loved. 

  I also found these 4 Prairie Schooler charts to add to my seasonal themes collection. This might be interpreted as hoarding charts by some but I prefer to think of it as collecting. I might even stitch them one day when I retire if I can still see by then! 

My last thought for today are with Moore, OK. My prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and all their worldly treasures.My area of the country has been hit many times in the last few hears with the destruction of tornadoes. I spend way too much time in the basement in spring riding out tornadoes so here in Alabama we have a strange kindred spirit with OK right now. We are sending relief and workers to help the recovery.  Romans 8:28 says "And we know that God causes all things to work together to those who love God, to call that according to His purpose." It is difficult to see how this disaster in man's eyes could be a part of "all things" but I believe it can, anything that causes us to return to God becomes good.That may be sickness for some or difficulty in marriage or with children or one the job or natural disaster, whatever it is,  if makes you call out the the living God then it is good. So as I hear teacher talk about praying for God's protection though this storm and teaching children about that in the mist of it. I believe it can be used for His good. So I pray His Divine good will come from yet another disaster in our land.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pam

Retreat Review

They days before Teresa arrive for our retreat I prayed for my Azaleas to be in bloom. I know it may seem silly but I wanted her to be able to enjoy the bright pink flowers while she was visiting from her bedroom window. We had the typical spring weather of 80 one day and 45 the next so I was a bit worried they had been damaged by the sudden weather changes. As you can see they bloomed in full glory. This is one section, there are just as many on either side of the center section. 

We began our journey in town with a visit to a tea shop and a bit of no stash shopping. The next morning we set out for day one of what could have been a 6 hour road trip.We went to 3 shops the first day. One was new to me, the other I had not seen in at least 10 years and the third I go to from time to time. We shared the wealth and bought a little at each place! I was able to pick up several charts I had wanted for a while and some yummy fabrics as well. We stopped at a tea shop for lunch before the third place and had a nice rest there. After the 3rd shop we drove a few hours to Memphis and spent the night. Just about an hour outside of Memphis we found a great quilt shop. I really could have spent some cash in that shop. The best quilt shop I have been to so far a wonderful selection and the nicest owner.  There was a shop  in Memphis we hit on the way out of town the next morning. It was a great place and nicest ladies running it. I could have shopped there for the day but we felt shops around Little Rock calling our name. After a bit more time one the road we navigated around Little Rock and found a great antique mall. Teresa was able to get some vintage clothes pieces for her daughter and I was on the look out for a creel basket and old fishing gear to decorate the lake house. Off we went to another stitch shop that had the nerve to be closed an hour before their scheduled time. What were they thinking? Oh well, I was able to spend more in a shop where they wanted it! We arrived at the Red Apple Inn. It was just perfect! nice but not stuffy and comfortable tables and chairs for a weekend of stitching. 

Gloria and Donna were our table mates! They made lovely progress on their pieces and were good company to stitch along beside.

This is Pat Dugan the host shop owner and Tracey Schultz who does some really amazing bead designs at the Make it/Take it table that they had set up. It is a great idea for beadwork and you can give yourself a break from stitching to work on some lovely pieces. 

 Additional shopping in the center of the room to paw over when your back or eyes needed a break.

Or you could enjoy the views from the lovely patio. 

These nice ladies were table mates on the other side. We had such a nice group of stitchers present. They were very welcoming and great stash enablers! I'll have to post the stash another time. This post is so very long winded and picture laden. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Pam 

heartbreak

My heart is breaking this week. The people of Boston,Ma and the people of Waco, Tx have seen too much pain this week. So may people who have been effected by hardship in our great country. And yet we can have hope in a merciful, gracious, faithful and loving God. He allows hardship to draw a nation that is turning its back on Him to give us a chance at repentance. That is the message that resounds in my heart as I see the really big picture of His plan for all mankind.It is not a popular thought pattern and not one that will leave you warm and fuzzy but I believe it is truth. 

Matthew 24:1-8

Jesus came out of the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age.?"And Jesus answered them and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name saying, I am the Christ and mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place but that is not the end yet. For nation will rise up against nation, an kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But in all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

This section of scripture has been in my mind all week. We cannot and will not coexist,not in our country, and not in our world. There will always be conflict until Christ return. The children of Sarah(Isaac) will always be in conflict with the children of Hagar(Ishmael).All the conflict in the Middle East can be traced to their lines. Every event points to the return of Jesus the Messiah.I pray for the people of Israel to see that Christ satisfied every sign of prophecy, every piece of the temple is seen in Him, every feast a reflection of Him, it all points to Him. Just as God made a way for the Jewish people through sacrifices in the temple He made a way for the Gentile people with the blood of  Christ, the perfect Lamb, is all the sacrifice required and enough for all mankind that we might have relationship with Him. Not religion as man so commonly confuses God to bring but fellowship and relationship with a loving God. 

I cannot make sense of the events we are facing without the reference point of the word of God and the balance of what it teaches about the character and nature of the Holy Lamb of God. How do so many people survive without Him? Once again I am back to heartbreak and I am certain His heart is breaking for a mankind that will not turn to Him.

If you made it this far, thanks for spending time with me,
Pam