My husband and I went to our Adirondack cabin for Memorial Day weekend.  While we did have to do the season opening chores, like putting out the swim raft and dock and mulching the paths, I also decided to set some stitching goals for the weekend.  I had 4 goals, one for each of the projects I’m “currently” working – A Different View, my block for the Family Garden project in honor of Barbara Davis, my Ort Box with a Twist, and a Snowmen stocking for my daughter’s boyfriend. 

Since I’m way behind on “A DIfferent VIew”, I wanted to at least get the octagon outlines stitched.  I was having a terrible time counting correctly and keeping the canvas taut.  I completed 2 3/4 and finally decided the stretcher bars had to go as one pair of them just wouldn’t stay tight.  I’d had the same problem with that pair on last year’s SOTM and solved it by putting small brads into the corners to keep it tight; however, this year it just wasn’t working!  So I put it aside until yesterday when I was in New Hope and stopped at The Gazebo to pick up 2 pairs of 16″ Evertites.  I remounted it and hope to have the octagon outlines and borders done for next month’s SOTM meeting.

My goal on the Barbara Davis project was to complete my block, which I did (yeah!).    This is an interesting project since it is mainly cross-stitch on 24 count canvas.  By working from outside in, I was able to complete it without miscounting!  I had forgotten the fun of seeing a picture come to life with counted cross-stitch since so many of my counted projects have been more geometrics.

My 3rd project was to complete at least one block of my Ort Box, which I did!   I know it’s only one but I was able to play with my fibers and decide what I wanted to do at least for the pockets.  I have more than what the project calls for although I’m not sure there’s enough of some so I’m playing!  Hopefully, now it will go a lot quicker.

My last project was to put in the first stitches on the Snowmen stocking.  This is an inexpensive painted canvas from Dimensions that came with floss to be done in basketweave or continental.  I decided I liked the stocking but wanted to use different fibers and stitches so I’ve been doing some planning and buying different possible threads, especially pearl cotton and some metallics.  I had an idea for one of the scarves and it seems to be working okay.  I’m doing a scotch in a pearl overdye offset with a scotch/woven combination in different colors of pearl cotton with a metallic center.  It’s coming out with an interesting effect.  Once again, it’s a challenge to design a stitch guide for a painted canvas; however, it’s a nice opportunity when combined with doing charted designs.

It felt good to accomplish my stitching goals although I didn’t get as much reading done as usual!  I did get some of the chores done around the house and got to sit in the sun when it was out!  Overall, it was a successful weekend!

Hi, Everyone —

Last Sunday, Susan Hoekstra conducted a pilot class for NJNA for her piece “A Color Interaction Study — A Thread for All Seasons.”  Each of the participants had signed up for either a Pastel, Seasons, Brights, or Jewel Tones colorway.  Our kits were elegantly appointed  — A+ for presentation!  One interesting aspect of the kits was that NOT everybody doing the same colorway had the same threads!

Since this was a pilot class, Susan asked us to stitch either by quadrant or by stitch so that she could see which worked better!  Additionally, yours truly didn’t follow the oral instructions and started my stitching from the center instead of from the top.  This resulted in my having different compensation than everyone else, but Susan said she was happy to see how my starting point would affect the final product!

About twenty minutes before our lunch break, and again about twenty minutes before the end of the day, Susan requested “needles down” so that we could each observe the different effects of colors and stitch order had on the various colorways.   Amazing!   I learned a lot about contrasting color values as well as complimentary colors.  Susan certainly proved herself to be an excellent teacher  and we all learned a lot.

Pilot Stitchers for “A Thread for All Seasons”

Sorry, I won’t post a close-up of the design since Susan hopes to teach this at a future ANG seminar.

Every other year, the Morristown Hospital Auxiliary does an enormous fundraiser called “Mansion in May”.  So today, our NJNA President, Diane, and I met to tour the mansion in Peapack-Gladstone and to enjoy the onsite cafe for lunch!  It was a beautiful sunny day and the estate was incredible.  The way that this works is that various decorators vie for the opportunity to decorate a room in the mansion.  The winners have to create their room in a few months and ultimately put the room back to its original condition — unless the owner decides to “buy” the room.  The house, Blairsden, was awesome and Diane and I saw many wondrous things, but apart from a few rooms, the decor was decidedly modern for the house.

Diane poses in front of the reflecting pool!

Here’s a close-up of the house:

Blairsden!

Our lunch was delicious and I forgot to mention that several of the NJNA members have been volunteering to help at the cafe or as docents in some of the rooms!  It was quite an experience — but apart from a needlepoint rug, not much needlework.  But I think we have a new idea for organizing our stash!

It’s always fun to stitch  (or to tour mansions) with friends!

Cheers, Rosie