Mecca For Cross-Stitchers!

Wow . . . took me forever to download my pictures of The Shepherd's Bush Retreat from last October off the ipad and on to the PC so I could post them here . . . well, it didn't actually take 5 months . . . just most of yesterday! You'd think married to an IT guy that I'd know more . . . but . . . alas . . . I don't 🙁  They're done now . . . so . . . here we go!

It's off to Shepherd's Bush in Ogden, UT . . . 

truly Mecca for us cross-stitchers ! ! !

So back in October I arrived in Utah a day early for the festivities since my BFF Jenny moved to Salt Lake City since the last retreat.  We thought we'd beat the crowd going to the shop a day early. . . I don't think that's possible.

You could spend a week in their shop and probably not see it all.  Let's just stroll around . . . try not to drool on your keyboard while you take it all in . . .

Oh go ahead . . . take another look . . . you know you probably missed something!  I'll post more on the actual Retreat later . . . I know your head is spinning ! ! !

~*

Don't Quit Your Day Dream Finishing Instructions

Work first.  I promised more detailed instructions on this pattern for piecing together fabric to finish this pillow as shown.

If you've been following the blog over the years, you know my story of how The Nebby Needle got started.  If not . . . here it is:  My daydream of becoming a cross-stitch designer became a reality at the 2010 Shepherd's Bush Retreat in Park City, UT after showing Barb and Alma (of Blackbird Designs) a piece of theirs that I "expanded". Alma asked if I designed and I said "no, I just change everybody else's".  She told me I was ready...and The Nebby Needle was born in October of 2010!

That was the inspiration for this pillow and in tribute to Blackbird Designs, I used one of their fabric lines to finish this pillow.  You may choose whatever fabrics you like and adjust your color choices for stitching to coordinate with your fabrics.

I had already purchased a jelly roll (2 1/2" strips) of their Hyde Park line of fabrics to make a quilt . . . when time permits . . . and when might that be?  If you use fat quarters you can cut 2 1/2" strips. I used 5 different fabric strips to make my triangles (now I'll probably have to buy more fabric for the quilt) and I had a fat quarter of the fabric that looks like a cross stitched alphabet for the back.  I cut the strips into 2 1/2" squares (I'm sure there is an easier way, but being a beginner quilter this is how I did it.)  Placing a light and a dark square right sides together, I marked the diagonal corner to corner and marked my 1/4" seams.   Stitched my seams and cut the squares along the diagonal line.  I pressed them open and placed them in a design that was pleasing to me.  If you want each side to repeat your pattern you will need 4 of each square combos giving you 8 triangle/squares of each when cut.  After stitching the triangle/squares together I added the square corner stones at each end of one of the sides and at one end of two of the other sides.  To square this off and make it come out right, sew the short side (without the corner stones) at the top and one of the strips with one corner stone down one side.  Set the bottom strip with one corner stone to line up that side and your final side with the two corner stones.  Pin and sew the bottom then the final side.

If you are going to put a binding around your pillow, sew the front and back together with right sides out leaving an opening in the bottom big enough to get your hand in to stuff.  Stitch you opening closed and bind off the outer edge as you would a quilt.

I hope this is clear . . . as this is only the second pillow I have finished this way.  Like I said . . . I am a beginner and infrequent quilter having only pieced the edge of one pillow this way 5 years ago.  If you have questions I will be happy to try to help . . . or if you have an experienced quilting friend . . . that might be better!

~*

Promise!

I will update over the weekend...promise!  I have pictures to share from retreats, Nashville Market, new designs coming, finishing details and freebies!!!  There just aren't enough hours in the day!!!!

~*

I'm Back!

Sorry about being gone so long.  My father passed away in August and we brought my mother (who has dementia) to stay with us for 7 1/2 weeks before getting her moved into an Assisted Living facility near us.  It's been a challenging several months but, I've managed to get a lot of stitching done. 

Two new designs are out there in "stitchin' land".  The first one released in September was 'Tis Autumn stitched on 36 count Picture This Plus - Wren.

And the more recent one:  Dance By The Light Of The Moon stitched on 30 count Picture This Plus - Dawn.  "Framed" this one with red plaid felted wool strips, added felted "pennies" with snowmen buttons (from Just Another Button Company) to the corners and backed the pillow with red felt.

The cute "sweater" pillow in the background was a gift from my dear friend Jenny.  She made it from a Goodwill purchased sweater she felted in her washing machine, stitched on a red felt heart and rusty jingle bell . . . too cute!

Got my mother moved in to the Assisted Living facility in the nick of time!  Three days later I was off to the Shepherd's Bush Retreat in Park City, Utah . . . a much needed retreat!!!  I will get my photos organized and post that blog shortly.

They recently met with me at the Assisted Living facility and said that mom needed to be in the Memory Care wing as they were afraid that she was becoming a "wanderer" . . . caught heading out to the parking lot to look for her car (which isn't there) to go pick up my father (who, of course, is no longer living).  They moved her things over there while I took her for a day outing.  A week later I was off to another much needed retreat . . . our local EGA Retreat at Lake Junaluska, NC . . . returning yesterday afternoon.  Got some quilting done on that one . . . pictures to follow!!!

Now . . . it's lunch and then off to the post office to send out some charts that were ordered while I was "retreating"!

~*

Camp Cross-Stitch

I always wanted to go to "sleep away" camp since first seeing the "Spin and Marty" serials on The Mickey Mouse Club in the 50's...yes, I'm that old.  Theirs was a western-style camp at The Triple R Ranch.  Then..."The Parent Trap"...the first one with Hayley Mills (1961).  Again..."sleep away" camp.  I did get to go for a weekend to a church camp at about the age of 11 or 12.  My mother and her sister were "counselors" for the teenage girls and brought myself and my cousin along...who were too young to participate...but found things to do.  Cathy (my cousin) and I short-sheeted beds and "dropped" the broom down the stairs early in the morning...successfully irritating the teenage girls.  We did get a stern talking to, but it was well worth it!

Greetings happy campers!  Here's my new design "Camp Cross-Stitch".

I needed a pillow for my favorite stitching spot.  It's a camp sign for fictitious "Camp Cross-Stitch" with the camp flag and slogan "where stitching away rules the day"...the arrow pointing the way.  Outside the lined border is the full capitalized alphabet, lower-case alphabet and numbers.  I stitched 1" black buttons in each corner or you could put your initials and date there if you'd like.  I finished the pillow with a binding like you'd put on a quilt.  I also wanted this to look like a pillow that had spent many years at camp.  I used Rit tan dye to over-dye the ticking fabric.  I used Instant Antique from Primitive Gatherings and dabbed it on the stitched fabric with a natural sponge here and there to age it.  (And...what's camp without s'mores!  I only ate two while taking the photos...really.)

Several years ago I went to the John C. Campbell Folk School for a week...sleep-away camp for grown-ups!  It was a wonderfully creative experience and I'm planning on going again...probably next summer.  Too much fun!

Enjoy Campers!

~*

p.s. Robin says that retreats are like "sleep-away" camp.  Now...if they just threw in a little horseback riding, s'mores and sing-a-longs around a campfire at night...my life would be complete!

Traveling Busy Bee

Sure wish I had started this insane career when I was younger!  As much fun as markets/retreats/shows are, they are also exhausting!  Events once a month for three months are enough . . . for now.

The Nashville Market the beginning of March . . . has become more fun (and profitable) each year as friendships grow with shop owners and fellow designers.  Love exploring Franklin, TN and discovering new things in the area.  Can't wait for next year!

Prim Stitchers Society Retreat the beginning of April in Marietta, GA . . . also fun . . . and enjoyed seeing familiar faces and meeting new members . . . sad that there will only be two more.  Here are the highlights of the Merchant Mall this year:

Kathie and I ready for the shopping to begin here at The Nebby Needle!

 Summer House Stitche Works

Teresa's Prim Treasures

 Dixie Samplar

Threadwork Primitives

 Homestead Needleworks

 Homespun Elegance

Notforgotten Farm

 Stitch N Button

 By My Hand Needl'wrks

Death By Thread

 Dames of the Needle

Carolina Stitcher

Kathie and I had loads of fun at the final night banquet shared with 

Lori (Notforgotten Farm) and her sidekick Joan.

 Profits were spent at the Merchant Mall as well as several quilt shops along the way and in Marietta.  There's no money to be made in this business . . . it just keeps me in my addiction to needlework!

Celebration of Needlework the end of April in Nashua, NH was great fun!  It was a long drive broken up with a stop in Myerstown, PA (at cousin's) and a stop in NJ at Janis' house to discuss how we were going to operate this joint venture . . . and helping her stain boxes for her class.  

I shared a booth (and hotel room) with Janis Note of Noteworthy Needle . . . we are the "N & N Girls".

 We were able to "cover" for each other with check-outs while Janis taught and we took breaks . . . worked out great!

I forgot my camera . . . had the tripod and battery charger, but no camera . . . so Janis lent me one.  Here are some of the highlights of Celebrations . . . sorry, didn't take a picture of every booth.

 Stephanie of "Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie"  http://stephsfabbys.com/

 Niky of "Nikyscreations Primitive Designs"

 Candy of "The Workbasket"

Beth of "Summer House Stitche Works"

 "Lindsay Lane Designs" . . . where's Meg?

Niky and Candy shared a booth directly behind us . . . 

 visiting made easy!

After setting up our booths on Thursday, Niky and I took our free afternoon and went exploring (call that shopping) around the Nashua area.  We started off at Frye's Measure Mill in Wilton, NH

Our next stop was the Peterboro Basket Company

Bought a K-cup basket for The Hubs.

We also stopped at Michaels on the way back for the evening "Preview and Power Shopping".  Yes . . . we bought there as well . . . no doubt there was little profit from this show . . . LOL!

We skipped the final banquet that was a fund raiser for Breast Cancer

(looked like fun with all the donated vendor baskets for auction) 

to dine at Martha's Exchange in Nashua . . . very delish!

Karen (Rosewood Manor), Candy, Niky, Me, Janis, Stephanie and Meg (Lindsay Lane) 

(thanks Denis for taking the picture).

Then . . . we wrapped up the evening with some Port-sharing in our room at the Marriott.  

Was able to stop for a two day visit with my daughter in Connecticut on the way home. . . had fun even though she had a sore throat . . . got to be "mommy" and take care of her.  Then on to an overnight at Beth's (from Summer House Stitche Works) . . . a wonderful hostess!  Took a brief trip down memory lane . . . Beth lives 7 miles from my three years of living in Camp Hill, PA and graduating from Cedar Cliff High School.  Drove by the old house and school . . . wow . . . what a difference in both since 1967-70!

Great fun and great new friendships . . .

still playing catch-up at home and stitching someone else's design for a change 

while I recuperate from all this traveling.  

There's no place like home!

~*