Christmas Gifts

I have had a quieter than normal Christmas this year.  I had major surgery on December 4th and as a result I had to have all of my decorations up before hand and most of the Christmas gifts bought.  Everything went well and I'm slowly regaining my strength.  Haven't had much energy to blog but Christmas will be over and I'll miss not sharing.  I got to go to one party with stitchy friends and I thought you'd like to see my wonderful presents.

How about out of town friends first.

My travel partner in crime, Diane, aka Nan's Needlework, sent me a great quilting magazine.  I mentioned once that I was drawn to star quilts and thus a whole lot of star quilt designs at my fingertips.

She also sent me this cute ornament design that I've seen on a number of blogs.  Love that polka dotted linen.  Thanks Diane!

Amanda moved to Indiana last year and all of us in the Cincinnati area miss her terribly.  She hosted our Tiara stitching group for about a year.  She sent me this cute sheep covered in thread holders and they all have skeins of wool thread hung on them.

His little legs are stitched with the alphabet.  Pretty unique and fun.  Thank you Amanda!

Every day I enjoy Punkin's Patch blog posting. And every year, she puts out a Christmas card design, note cards and calendar.  The sheep all have their unique personalities along with the cats, dogs and horses.  I especially like Hank, the sheepdog.  I won a giveaway and a set of Christmas cards.

I missed the Christmas guild party but, Linda hosted a small stitchy party and it was the first day I drove.  It was good to get out and give the DH a break too.

Here is the ornament Linda gave to me.  Bright and shiny.

The stinker also gave me this set of  measuring spoons.  We had seen them in Salt Lake City and I had declined buying them so she snuck back and got them for me 'cause I love bees.  Thank you Linda!

Next up is Anna Mae.  She stitched this cute hot chocolate mug.  So pretty and bright.

She added in a candle, note pad and cute ort container.  Thank you Anna Mae!

Evelyn stitched this pretty Christmas tree on red even weave.  I love the beaded star on top and pretty hanger.

She included the little trinket tray and the cool beeswax candle.  Thank you Evelyn!

Lisa, The Inspired Stitcher, stitched up this cute Merry ornament.  She's so good at getting her initials and year stitched on everything she stitches.  I usually forget.

We all got a cute reindeer headband too.  They were a little tight so we all looked like we got free face lifts when we managed to get them on our heads (bad, face lifts).  We got a good laugh out of them.  Thank you Lisa!

Patti stitched this Santa Claus for me.  So detailed and cool with his rocking horse charm.

It was in a nice box along with hand lotion and candle.  BTW, this is the ONLY thing from Bath and Bodyworks that I will buy.  It is the best hand lotion and doesn't have that weird leftover fragrance.  Thank you Patti!

Christie, of Indigo Rain, gave us this little snowman bucket filled with candy. (I ate it) and a cute ornament all kitted up for us.  Thank you Christie!

Meem made each of us a tea cup pin cushion.  Every one was different and they all were from an antique store.  Sooo, pretty and unique.  Thank you Meem!

As you can see, I had a wonderful stitchy Christmas time.  Next time I'll show the ones I managed to complete.  Till then, Happy Stitching!

Marsha

Shepherd's Retreat - Part 2

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pin cushions people made and brought in for the exchange.  Each was just as nice as the other.

Mine is on the far right in the picture below.  It has a fine chenille trim around the edge. My friend and travel companion, and driver extraordinaire, Linda, got my pin cushion in the exchange.

I wanted that slice of pumpkin pie.  I thought it was adorable and unique.

Our first evening was a welcome and the teachers presented their class pieces.  Our welcome gift was that cute little necklace.  It came with all the supplies and a tiny booklet of 5 different patterns to choose from.  I've worn mine quite a few times now and love it.  The picture on the right is from the kit we received.  The tote bag, the linen piece for the tote bag and all supplies.  Each teacher designed a different row of the sampler.  The scissors were in a cute little bag and presented to each of us at the start of our first class.  The next day the sheath was presented to us at the start of our second class and the acorn fob at the start of our third class. The sheep pin was on the ribbon tied to a Shepherds Bush shopping bag.  The wooden ornament was given to me by friends that cooked us a delicious meal.  I was floored by the generosity of the Shepherd's Bush team and friends of friends that I didn't even know.

My first class was with Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Designs.  She is cute as a button. That's Patti on the right who made the really cool watch necklace.

On the second day, my first class was with Jeanette Douglas.  She's fun and funny and her sampler will have lots of specialty stitches and the river part has sparkly thread.  I love me some sparkles!

Pat and Pam of Lakeside linens presented this class piece honoring the first Thanksgiving.  I learned some good tips such as, press your linen before you start stitching and the wrinkles will come out easier after you're done stitching.  Who knew.

On the last evening we had a wonderful meal.  Here are my delightful travel companions, Evelyn, Lisa, Patti and Linda.

In front of our plates were these delightful jars.  We had made buttons the evening before under the direction of Just Another Button Company.  Lots of fun.  The buttons were baked far into the night and this is how we got them back on the last evening.  Clever.

We got to pick a pin cushion (they were all in a bag so you couldn't see).  Here's my pick!  I love it.  Carol Sure was the stitcher.  If you know her, tell her thank you and I love it!

Everything we were gifted with at the Shepherd's retreat was beautifully presented.  Pretty packages tied in ribbons and scrapbook paper tags in wonderful fall shapes.  Made a person feel so special.  I never expected any gifts so they were all such wonderful surprises.  This was our last at the end of the evening.

And this is what was tucked inside.  Linen, threads, the chart.  What a great retreat.  If you get the chance - go.  You will be so delighted and pleased.

And yes, they did have a shop set up.  Here's my stash.  Just couldn't help myself.

Marsha

PS. If you know Linda, and even if you don't know Linda, please send prayers or positive thoughts and energy her way.  Thanks a bunch.

Shepherd's Retreat - Part one

I'm still trying to process my trip to CO and Utah.  I had a great time visiting with my sister and her family in CO. We went to the pumpkin patch where we traveled the corn maze, shot pumpkins, took a hay ride, pet animals and had pretty weather to enjoy it in.  It's nice to be around children who appreciate every little thing.  Hugs, pleases and thank yous were in abundance.  My nephew and BIL cooked delicious meals.  It was was wonderful just to 'be' with them.

Next, it was on to Utah. My stitchy friends from Cincinnati picked me up at the airport and the whirlwind began.  A trip to the Latter Day Saints' temple area was first up.  We also went to Antelope Island to see the Garr Ranch, bison, deer and a coyote made an appearance.  But, of course, one highlight was Shepherd's Bush and then Jill Rensel's framing studio where I dropped off Penny America to be framed with the 'Rensel' treatment. The day before the retreat began was spent stitching with my friends in our condo.  


Here is the 1st temple that was out grown.  Very pretty.

This is a fountain, part of a huge garden park, on top of one of the largest conference centers in the world.  We took a tour and it was very impressive.

L to R, Me, Evelyn, Lisa, our tour guide who was very nice, Patti and Linda.

Flora and fauna on Antelope Island.

Mr. Coyote was not afraid of us at all.

Mrs. Mule Deer.

One of many bison herds on the island.  That's the Great Salt Lake out there.  Icky, in my opinion.

Part of the Garr Ranch.  We had gorgeous weather.

Well, hello.

The, Shepherd's. Bush, Ogden, Utah.

Jill Rensel's framing studio.

The view from The Canyons, Park City, where the retreat was located.

Did I mention we had beautiful weather?

A tradition, I somehow anticipated, my retreat companions made gifts for all of us and I made something for them.  Evelyn made the cute pink sheep bag on the right with a few giftees tucked inside.  Patti made the necklace in the middle.  We each had a different crown stitched for us with trinkets inside and our initials hanging from the outside. Got lots of compliments wearing it.  The tiny turkey pin cushion with beaded edge and bee pin was from the lovely Lisa. Adorable!  She also gave us a froggie shopping tote that came in handy to carry my stitching around the retreat.  The zipper bag on the left is from Linda. It's adorable and came with wonder clips and the best eos lip balm for the dry dry air of Park City.  The project bag in the back ground is what I made for everyone.  They were all different but just like the Halloween one I made for Diane, a few posts back.

We showed off our pin cushions for the pin cushion exchange.  For $5 you gave a pin cushion, Shepherds Bush matched all the money collected and donated it all to Heifer International, and on banquet night you got a pin cushion in exchange.  Fun.  Linda made the basket with houses on top, Patti made the pumpkin, Evelyn the big turkey, Lisa the little turkey and I made the bee hive.  Great work ladies.

That's it for today.  I'm warming you up for the actual retreat.


 Marsha