NOVEMBER NIBBLES

November has been full of wonderful little nibbles of pleasure all thru the month so far.

First it's my DH birth month and while we did do a lot - it was a day to celebrate him.  Sorry no photos, just a quiet dinner or two for just the 2 of us.

The next big event was a full week of exciting duClay EGA events.  First our friend Kathy Rees of Needle Delights rolled into town on a Friday afternoon for 5 days of fun in our area.  She did a wonderful "taste of " Christmas ornament for us.  I can't believe I didn't get any photos with my own phone but hopefully someone did and will post to the duClay blog in the near future.

Kathy was also here in NE FL to see Merrilyn Heazlewood who was on an International Teaching Tour and had just taught at the recent EGA National in DC.  Sun Region had engaged Merrilyn to come and teach for us thru the ITT program sponsored by EGA National.  What a fantastic opportunity for the members of Sun Region to have someone from the land down under - Tasmania to come and learn from. 

Our local chapter duClay EGA was selected by the SR board to be the host chapter for this class.  We had an awesome time with Merrilyn.  We did her Tudor Garden project - a counted canvas project in a 3 day class.

The class was well attended with 18 members from Miami to Pensacola. 

 Many members from the duClay chapter took advantage of the class.  two were already gone home when this photo was taken, my apologies for not including our President Linda and our Secretary Becky in the photo.  Merrilyn was so much fun, we went to dinner every night and learned a lot about her work and her life in Tasmania.  To me - it was just a perfect class and just what the ITT is all about.  Learning, sharing and giving her a glimpse into our lives and she into hers.  AWESOME!

There's been some finishing along the way.  My dear mom stitched this Prairie Schooler ornament out of the 2014 JCS ornament issue.  I used plaid wool for the backing.  Let me just say it's not as easy to do triangles as one would think.  it's not perfect but I am learning and mom was pleased.

Another finish is this baby afghan for a DF's first grandson.  I'm a little late as he was born in the summer time but it's just now getting cold enough for this worsted weight blanket.  For any interested knitters out there - I used Dream in Color Classy in the Beach Fog colorway.

 This garter stitch placket was included in the pattern - it looked like it was begging for some personalization so I used wool applique to put the child's nickname in that spot.  I've heard his mom and dad were both so pleased.

Last up today is the first ornament in the Hats Bats and Boots Halloween canvas club by The Needlepointer in WA.  This is the 2nd club I've done with them.  These are exclusive designs by Pippin Studios in Canada.  This shop is the distributor for her canvases and they are all so fun!

OH here's the shocker - I did the finishing on this ornament too!  Yes the beaded edge was put on 1 bead at a time with a needle.  YEP - it took hours and hours but I am so pleased with the results.  I cheaped out on the hanger and used ribbon because once I got going with the finishing - I wasn't stopping to run to the store to buy a better choice.  I figure it will only be seen maybe a month out of the year so who cares - it's all about the ornament anyway not the hanger. right?

Here's the back - I just used a piece of quilting material out of a charm pack.  Don't even remember the designer but I think it was a Moda fabric.  I have a bunch more of these babies to stitch, not sure I will keep up the beading theme but who knows I may change the color of the beads and keep using them.  The beads are 6/0 Japanese seed beads.  The threads and stitch guide was provided in the kit.
Simple but adorable.

Who among us can even believe Thanksgiving is ONE WEEK from today?????  I know I sure can't.
Seems like we just got thru with hurricane clean up and BOOM it's Christmas.  Our chapter's Christmas Tea is 3 weeks from Saturday and I'm woefully behind on my challenge list and have a whole bunch of stuff that is close to being finished but NO WAY I can finish it all in 3 weeks along with my exchange gift and my dear mom's finishing is waiting too.  Gees - how did I get appointed to be the chief finisher.

Oh yes I'm still knitting too.  Love my knitting.  I have one shawlette almost finished and of course many in various stages of completion.  It's my rug hooking that has suffered most in 2016 - I bet I haven't hooked 3 or 4 times since the two camps I attended in the first quarter of 2016.  Sad I know - another Christmas will go by and no Santa and Ewe will be completed.  I think we are going to get a little cool weather this weekend - maybe I'll get Santa and Ewe out and pull a few loops.

Whatever you do and where ever you go or don't go for Thanksgiving - I hope you have a little quiet time to do a few stitches or pull a few loops.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours ~ ~ ~