In the Nation

Much happiness in Red Sox Nation!

Wonderful to watch the boys win in Fenway.

I almost finished my canvas last night. Just a bit of sky to go. But I may rework my stars on the flag. 'Cause I can.

Yes. I admit to watching nearly every Red Sox game - maybe 145 out of 162 games? And now comes the deep darkness know as the off-season...

But first - time for some celebration!

Yes. I Am Busy Stitching

In fact, I've just got a moment to spend here as I am trying desperately to finish my Fenway canvas before the end of the World Series. I could only have 7-8 hours left...

Only sky and the stars on the American flag left to stitch. 

Been so busy running around and never staying home. I haven't slept in my own bed on a Saturday in 4 weeks and it's about to become 5 weeks. 

Here's a few snaps from my last adventure - the horses of Assateague Island.

Say Yes

On the recommendation of Susan Elliott, she of the blog "Plays with Needles," I purchased a copy of a book called Improv Wisdom. These days I read nearly all my books on my Nook. I chose this book as one I have downloaded on my phone.

So here I am sitting in a crowded restaurant on my way back from a Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting reading this book. And the second chapter is about saying yes.

It seems to me this entire weekend was about saying yes. I didn't really want to run away for a stitchy weekend the week after Seminar. But I said yes because I had volunteered my Chapter to host this meeting next year. So yes, and yes.

Got to the hotel and said yes to an early dinner with a friend. Said yes to bingo when I truly felt like staying in my room stitching. Said yes to myself about walking even though I'm having an ankle tendinitis problem. Said yes to stump work. Yes to rayon threads, twice in one weekend. And yes to a volunteer job. Yes to a dinner companion who is now a new friend.

I don't think I said no the whole weekend except to desert!

All this before I read the book. Maybe I am an improviser by nature. I had fun. And expect to have more.

DMC No Hassle Tassel

DMC just posted directions for how to make a tassel from a skein of Light Effects. I think this with the right charms, would look pretty great. 

So I'm parking a link here for me. But you can use it, too. 

DMC blog

Gender Reassignment Surgery

Yes. You read the title correctly.

But it doesn't involve hormones and surgeons.

Just a needle and thread.

Our niece gave birth to twin boys one week ago. And I had found this canvas on sale this summer of a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. So I'm turning the Anns into Andys.

I'm using Pepper Pot silks on this and oh my. It's like stitching with butter.

No repainting. I'm just stitching the reverse image and when these are done I'll have two ornaments - one for each boy.

Comments

I still can't publish comments from my phone.

Will try to fix this when I get home.

Louisville has been a blast!

Can't wait to come back in five years.

At the Galt House

Every minute of the trip to the EGA National Seminar in Louisville has been a pleasure.

First - I have a terrific traveling companion and roommate. We've been taking care of each other and maximizing our experiences. We shopped our way here through West Virginia and Ohio. And we've got plans on continuing on our way home through Kentucky. Then there was Wednesday, our day off from classes, where we hit nearly a dozen different places. Our lunch that day was Comfy Cow ice cream as we'd had such a fabulous breakfast at Wild Eggs.

We are staying at the Galt House and the folks here are extremely helpful and friendly. I don't have a bad word to say except for the food at the opening banquet was subpar. We'll see how they do tonight.

I will gladly return here with a smile.

From Louisville

I'm exhausted. Five nights in a row of sleeping poorly will don't that.

Thus far, Friend and I have visited needlework shops in West Virginia and Ohio. And survived two days of classes.

Here's a photo of my Nutcracker penny rug in progress.

I'll get details about the teacher up when I can.

Also here's a fabulous table. Some of you may have this book like I do.

On the Way

This morning I woke up in the suburbs of Cincinnati. My partner in this adventure and I meandered our way here slowly yesterday from Virginia. Funny, we never ran out of things to talk about.

Stopped at a nice little shop in St. Albans outside of Charleston. The owner was extremely nice and helpful.

At home, DH is furloughed. Thus, I am being conservative with my spending. Felt badly about leaving him behind. Last year he went with me to Santa Fe where he had a tremendous amount of fun.

Today we are stopping at the needlepoint shops here. Then we'll head on to Louisville. Tomorrow penny rugs!

Trippy

Couple of photos I took on Sunday when DH and I went to the National Gallery.

We haven't been doing the museum thing much lately so this was a welcome treat.

Even ran into a stitching friend which was funny.