Weekly update - June 16, 2019

I'm frustrated by the fact that my favorite link party, Slow Sunday Stitching, has had a recent 'upgrade' to the link platform.   Not Kathy's fault, but I can't link up any more.   I post on my work computer and the new platform requires 'cookies' and is not a 'verified' site for my corporate IT.  Nor will the IT folks let me configure my laptop to accept cookies.   Sigh.  

When change is a BAD thing and "improvements" are anything but better.   So until I buy a personal computer (which I wasn't planning on doing until I retire), no more Slow Sunday Stitching.....

But I do like the discipline of the weekly progress report.   We'll see how well I do with that when there's not someone keeping me accountable.

This week, I did the one band on the VS sampler, and I finished Block 21 for 'Aunt Lottie's Garden'

My weekend, though, was taken up by the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival.  It was the first 'large' quilt show that I've ever been too.  Impressive.  I didn't even make it all the way through the vendors.   I was pretty good with my spending.   I got a grab bag of 1930s vintage scraps and several templates for hand quilting and pounce to mark tops for hand quilting.

Needlework WiPs: The Silver Needle Camp Projects

Last week was Silver Needle Camp.   This was my third time at the fall camp.   I know the directions and feel comfortable on the drive now, and I had a great table of people to stitch with.

The weather was so-so.   As is often the case in mid October, there was a mix of weather.  I was chased all the way south from Topeka to the OK state line by thunderstorms closing in behind me.  Lots of lightning in the rear view mirror.   It was starting to rain hard and it was about 10 pm on Wednesday night when I got to Independence KS, so I stopped for the night.  My co-worker, Kelley, is from around there and recommended a nice hotel, The Appletree.  I got a room with minimal hassle despite it being late and having no reservation.    Their breakfast bar was good, too; I got back on the road by 9 am. 
Thursday was glorious weather, crisp and blue skies with bright puffy white clouds.

Got into Tulsa and met up with Beth at a great restaurant near the Silver Needle shop called "The Silver Skillet".   I highly recommend the Chicken Avocado sandwich - but come hungry because it is HUGE!!!   Beth had to go back to work, and I got some shopping in at the Silver Needle.  I bought a new pair of cutwork scissors from the German company Dovo.   Very skinny points on those, which should be just the thing.  I can't wait to try them on the next Victoria Sampler Four Elements project.

The accommodations at camp are two to four person rooms.   I was in with three other 'solo' campers.  If you come in a group, you can room together.  

the "Bunkhouse" and the pool

The food was wonderful as always.   Breakfast and lunch in the cool retro restaurant onsite.  One dinner of pizza from a local (non-chain) pizza place plus Lindy's huge salad bar, other dinner is at an Amish farm.  Miz Rachael does a wonderful family style dinner for us.   The little daughter of the house who was just a toddler the first year I was there is now about five or six and solemnly handed out rolls from a basket.  So darling.   Alexis is about the same age and I can totally see her helping like that.   (I don't take pictures at the farm, it would be rude.)

retro dining, yummy food

We got three charts and four projects for camp.  

Pincushion in a Sudberry House base. 

Chart is "Kiss A Bit"  by Hands on Design/Just Another Button Co.

On hand dyed charcoal Aida

Two projects from Heartstring Samplery from the chart "Festive Little Fobs: Beekeeper Edition".  One (bottom) to finish as a fob, the other (top) as a tray.
On 28 count "Homespun" linen over two with Gentle Arts Sampler floss.

And last but largest, "Hocus Pocus Halloween" by Heart in Hand.  The original on this is tiny - 32 count over two.  Blown up to 9 stitches per inch (18 count Rustic Linen over two) and done in perles and ribbon floss, it's still darling.  It will be finished as an oversized ornament for a holiday display or to center in a wreath. 

Great weekend, then it rained on me all the way home LOL. 

Home again, Home again

I am just in from the Silver Needle Camp in Oklahoma.   I am exhausted and still have to sort out something to wear to work tomorrow.

Our "bunkhouse" - big stitching room to the left,  Rooms off camera to the right.

It was earlier this year due to Lindy's daughter's wedding.   But I think she got so much positive feedback that she's considering making the earlier date permanent.   I would love that. 


Cool retro lodge on the other side of the pool.  I keep expecting the cast from "Dirty Dancing" to show up

Cute projects.....  More details to come.


Silver Needle Camp - Fall 2017

This weekend was the fall 2017 Silver Needle Camp.   As always, the venue was superb, a restored 'retro' lodge from the 1960s.   I always keep expecting the cast from Dirty Dancing to show up LOL.

This year we were not the only group there.  There was also a small convention of Native American/Aboriginal/First Nations Christian outreach workers.   They had a drum circle and dancers one day and even though they were on the other end of the property, you could faintly hear them, like the heartbeat of the world.

The projects this year are Plum Street - a cute 'rustic' designer.   I have three kits and the finishing to do.   First up is a Christmas piece, "Skating Santa" to finish as a 'package box' - a faux box - with jingle bell feet.  Totally cute.

One thing I love about camp is that you get to learn new finishing techniques.  This year, the "Package Box", a "Flat Box Topper" and an "Open Wedge".

Some pictures of Sequoyah State Park Lodge  area.

EXHIBIT: Mummies of the World

Just got back from Union Station in KC and their exhibit "Mummies of the World".   I spent about 4 hours in the exhibit and loitered through at my usual 'read every card' pace.   One nice thing about going to museums alone is that there's no 'hurry up' nagging from other people.   As with the "Pompeii" exhibit, I timed my visit to take advantage of a free public lecture presented  with the exhibit.

The lecture was presented by Dr. Hunt of the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian.   He spoke about the new techniques of non-invasive study of mummies and other artifacts.  CT scanning and other radiography, micro sampling for DNA and other chemical analysis.

Sometimes I wish I would have been selfish and gone ahead with my masters and eventual doctorate in anthropology instead of opting to do the sensible thing and get an accounting degree and spend 30 years in business.   I know I am good financial shape because of that decision and I understand why my mother insisted on it.   As it turns out, I DID have to support a minor(ish) child after my husband died young.  JC was still in High School (though he had just turned 18) when his dad died.

But I would have LOVED to be the one giving that lecture instead of listening to it.