Wednesday, July 28, 2010

SUMMERTIME BLUES

Hello everyone !  Had to hurry with a post or July 2010 would be gone.  I have been mostly stitching but don't have any photos to show for my efforts.  I am taking a class at a shop next weekend that I have never visited before about 2 hours south of me.  It is a Hem Stitch Sampler class by Indigo Rose - I have been working on pre-stitching for that.  I've made good progress and I'm quite proud of that.  I have not been to a class in a very long time so I am looking forward to a fun day in a new to me shop.  DF Linda is going with me to the class and we will be meeting DF Carol.  Both of these gals are in sampler guild with me and Carol and I have traveled together on many awesome trips so it will be a wonderful day spent in historic Mt Dora which is west of Orlando.

The other fun trip I have coming right up is a concert by  ROBERT PLANT - WHEEEEEE - Jody and I are heading to Clearwater on the gulf coast of Florida to see Robert on tour with  his new venture band of joy.  Apparently there are some guys in this group that he played with in pre-Zeppelin days.  I was not familiar with them but anything Robert does is gold in my book.  I did not see the acclaimed Raising Sand tour with Allison Krause.  The closest concert to us was Birmingham AL and that is about 9 hrs so we decided to skip it.  So the last time I saw Robert was in NYC about 5 years ago.  What a trip that was with BFF Jill - will never forget the excitement of being in NYC and seeing Robert Plant at the Beacon Theatre.  So - a weekend away sounds great.  I've mapped out a scenic route thru the center of the state - we'll stay off I 75 and go thru horse country.  On the way home we'll travel back up the gulf coast and might stop at Homosassa Springs to see the Manatee exhibit.  I've never been in that area of the state before and I never pass up an opportunity to do something I've never done before.

Last Saturday the Azalea Sampler Guild got together for our monthly stitch in.  There were lots of gorgeous projects in progress.  I wanted to show you the work of the talented and dedicated stitchers in our group.  My apologies to Jill and Henri - for some reason the photos taken on your side of the table were too dark to put up on the blog.  Henri finished her beautiful Hannah Horsfall quaker which was repro'd by another guild member Karen of the Spinning Monkey.  Then Jill had a new start on a quaker which is to be a purse insert - I think it was Quaker and Crown but I'm not very sure I have that correct.

So here is the show:

Here is Teresa's new start on the Bent Creek Alphabet Row - beautiful rich fall colors.


Kerrie's almost finished Jane Rees by the Scarlet Letter - I'm not sure of the linen but I know the silk is Gloriana Schoolhouse Red - this is so huge and so impressive in person




Another red beauty by Linda the french sampler Marie Lucie - I think she said the linen was graziano in 38ct and the red is overdyed cotton by Threadworx.



Jackie's beautiful Quilts and Quakers - the colors are just my style and the linen is PTP Mello and the called for Valdani overdyed cottons.



Mom is rocking along on her Vierlande which was in SANQ a couple of issues ago - this was supposed to be a guild SAL and Henri has finished hers.  Mom should be closing in on a finish in the next month or so.  I have two rows of alphabet but that is it.  Not sure who else is stitching this but I'll show more progress when I see them.

last but certainly not least is Kris' gorgeous Villages of HRH.  These pieces always blow me away in person.  They are so gorgeous.  This is on 40ct Lakeside - not sure of the color with the called for NPI I think.

And where is Mel's progress?????????  Well - I just don't have enough of that Hem Stitch sampler to show at this time.  After my class - I promise I'll show you what I've been doing.  I am also working SLOWLY
on the BBD AoTH - still on Snow Garden.  However I am making a little progress here and there.

Knitting hummm - I'm always knitting - working mainly on two summery jackets - on a moss stitch jacket by Debbie Bliss in her summer yarn Amalfi - very pretty - I think I showed the yarn earlier this summer in one of those Savannah stash hauls.  the other focus garment is the tea party cardi which I am knitting for a good friend using Spud and Chloe 50/50 organic wool/cotton - a lovely yarn in a bluish teal.  I'm itching to start another shawl - I have several in mind but mainly Seraphim.

I hope to come back to visit real soon.  As always - I look forward to your blogs and your comments on my blog.

16 comments:

Margaret said...

Homosassa Springs is right by where my FIL and stepMIL live! We've been there many times -- it's always fun. How cool that you're going to see Robert Plant. I heard that he's going to make a new album with a different female singer, but I can't remember who. I love the album he did with Alison Krauss. Too bad you missed that tour. Hope you enjoy the concert! And also your Indigo Rose class -- looking forward to seeing that too. Thanks for the show and tell from your stitch in. All wonderful pieces! Have a great time at your events!

Katrina said...

Gorgeous!!! All the WIPs are so nice, thanks for sharing :-). Have fun on your trips and with your class.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Enjoy your class and the concert. I loved seeing all your guild member's current WIPs. TFS

Alice said...

There is some great stitching going on! Just remember that some months go more slowly. Have fun at the concert, that is certainly something to look forward to.

Rugs and Pugs said...

Mel ~
Have fun at the concert and be safe!
Love all the samplers. So many talented people!!!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Kim said...

Sounds like a lot of fun...Robert Plant! Oh..and the sampler class! ;o) Have fun with both!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your Robert Plant weekend with the drive sounds wonderful. There is so much more to Florida than Disney and the beaches. I think you're drive is going to be very picturesque.

Kris's piece has me itching to get started on one of the HRH pieces.

I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing about your class experiences. Mount Dora is pretty too and Linda and Carol will be fantastic companions.

Jean in Georgia said...

Enjoy your Indigo Rose class! I've been fortunate enough to take a couple of classes from Catherine, and she's a hoot. :)

Isabelle said...

Hi Melody, I hope you enjoy your Indigo rose class:-)
Thanks for sharing all these marvellous current progresses of your guild stitchers : they all are very nice and so tempting :-)
Isabelle

Nancy said...

You are in for some fun times - taking a class and seeing Robert Plant! Enjoy all of it.

Thanks for sharing all of the beautiful needlework! Some very stunning projects.

Michelle said...

Love looking at all the WIPs. Enjoy your class - can't wait to see what you've been working on!

Karoline said...

Colour me DMC 504, Robert Plant & Indigo Rose! Have a lovely time at both of them.

Your guild are working on some gorgeous projects.

Jan said...

Mel dear one! One thing about you, is you always stay busy and always have alot of things going on! You live life to the fullest, and you can't get better then that!

Loved seeing the pictures, and of course I look forward to seeing your progress pics! Know your upcoming stitchey and concert plans are going to be over the top fun, and I can't wait to hear all about them!!

Big hugs, Jan

Susan said...

Loved seeing all of the pictures! It really is inspiring when you see other's progress, isn't it?

Wish I'd known about Mt. Dora during my trip to Orlando, and I really, really wish I'd known about the class. Would have scheduled my trip much differently! Hope you enjoy it!

Ms. Piro said...

Hi Melody,
I'm in cross stitch crisis. I've ordered some really cute things from Stitching Bits and Bobs, but don't know what type of linen to purchase. Can you help? The charts I've bought are as follows:

Prairie Schooler Sweeping Cobwebs
Prairie Schooler October
Glendon Place Sleepy Hollow (this says 28 Ct. Haunted Cashel Linen by Picture This Plus)
Prairie Moon Merry Christmas (Skull)
Prairie Moon The Crypt Club
Mirabilia MD109 Tree Of Hope

I just don't know what sizes to buy and there is no place up here that sells linen. Any thoughts?

Your blog is wonderful. Hope you are well.

Ms. Piro said...
This comment has been removed by the author.