I know it’s taken a few days to post about the second day of The Enriched Stitch retreat. Unfortunately, work got in the way!

We spent Day 2 on some of the other buildings in the piece. You’ll notice that these buildings are covered more fully since they are in the foreground. I love the tied stitch on the large red building.

I had a wonderful time stitching Winter Farm Fun. The class was very enjoyable and the venue couldn’t have been nicer. And the weather was just glorious! I am looking forward to finishing this piece. I hope that my schedule allows me to attend next year’s retreat.

Happy Stitching!

The weather was much better today than yesterday.  A beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine …  Even though we were indoors, the beautiful autumn weather was still uplifting.

Upon arriving at the class this morning I was delighted to see that the canvas Winter Farm Fun is even more gorgeous than the picture I had seen.  This is the type of canvas that has intimidated me for many years – beautifully painted with stunning shading.

Winter Farm Fun – Karen Cruden for Ewe and Eye

Although i have one or two in my stash, I have hesitated to try to stitch them as I thought the stitching would actually detract from the piece.  I could never imagine how to recreate all that shading.  Well, now I know.  The coverage is very light on this canvas with lots of open stitches so that the painted canvas shows through!

Suzie Vallerie, the owner of The Enriched Stitch, is teaching the class along with two assistants.  The class is very relaxed and no one from the needlework police is in attendance.  Today we worked on the sky, which is stitched with Accentuate (not an easy thread to manipulate) as well as the snow (done in a darning pattern), some of the trees, and the red house on the left side.  Here you can see my progress on the house – the exterior walls are done in Weeks Dye Works and the roof in Kreinik.  Tonight I am going to try to finish some of the threads that have been started, just so I can start off tomorrow without a lot of spaghetti.

Red House

The hotel facilities are terrific and the grounds are stunning.  After we finished stitching for the day I took a walk around and even visited the beach.  Then I had a massage which I really needed after a day of stitching.

Long Island Sound

My Room

Rear of Water’s Edge Resort and Spa

And I was remiss in not posting that we each received a lovely “goody bag” upon check-in at the hotel.  All the necessities – a bottle of water, a needle magnet, a very cute little accessories bag, and chocolate!

Day 2 tomorrow after which I will be heading home.  Please keep your fingers crossed that I-95 through Connecticut is moving smoothly!

Happy stitching!

So earlier today I said that I was heading to Westbrook, CT for a stitching retreat.  Along the way I stopped at Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont, NY.  I had been to this shop once before and hadn’t really planned to stop on this trip.  However, yesterday I saw a Facebook post from the shop that they are having a 20% off sale on all Halloween canvases.  I happened to mention it to my husband who had accompanied me on the last trip to the shop.  He emphatically stated that this was a great shop and I had to visit again (he and the daughter are my worst enablers).

Of course I forgot to take pictures, but the shop is a great find.  Lots of canvases that I haven’t seen in shops near us as well as threads galore and all those needlework toys!  Betty, one of the owners, is terrific and so helpful.  Oh, I did pick up a few canvases …

Purchases from Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont

Then I headed up to Wilton, CT.  I printed out directions from Google Maps, but decided to test using the phone app as a GPS unit.  She and I did not get along at all – whenever she had to reroute me because I hadn’t followed her instructions, she simply kept quiet for a while.  So I still used my printed directions.

This was my first visit to The Enriched Stitch in Wilton.  The store did not disappoint, although Route 7 hasn’t improved in the 20 years since we last lived in White Plains and traveled those roads.  The store had lots of different canvases and threads, and was bustling with shoppers on their way to the retreat.  I found a gorgeous Christmas canvas, that was even better when I was shown the finished model.  It was a stand-up music box.  Stunning!  Here’s the canvas (I forgot to take a picture of the model).

The Enriched Stitch Purchases

Both Mary Susan, the woman who wrote the stitch guide as well as stitched the model, and Ginny couldn’t have been more helpful.  I also ordered a canvas that I had seen on the shop’s website and was on display at the shop.  It was spectacular on the website and absolutely incredible in person.  It’s called Harvest Moon, also by Ewe and Eye.

I couldn’t capture the image but here is a link to the finished piece.  http://enrichedstitch.myshopify.com/collections/ewe-and-eye/products/harvest-moon-1

I finally arrived at my ultimate destination and am thrilled with my room.  My room is off by itself just above the lobby and there is a great sitting area right outside my door.  I’ll include pictures in a subsequent post.  Now I’m going to get ready for the Meet and Greet!

Happy Stitching!

Although I am not able to attend the ANG/EGA Seminars quite yet, I do try to save some vacation days for local classes. Today I am headed up to The Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT for a two-day stitching retreat run by The Enriched Stitch, which is located in Wilton, CT.  We will be working on a painted canvas designed by Ewe & Eye exclusively for this shop.

I will be making stops at Stitch by Stitch in Larchmont, NY, a fabulous shop that is having a 20% off sale on Halloween canvases and The Enriched Stitch which I have not yet visited.  Reports on the shops as well as the retreat to follow!

I am going to take advantage of being at a spa – I’ve already booked a massage for tomorrow evening, knowing that my back will really appreciate it after a day of stitching!

Happy stitching!

I tried signing up this morning and was successful.  I really have nothing to say except that I can actually blog now!

Hi, Everyone —

Sue and I had another grand adventure today!  Thanks goodness for Sue’s Garmin which USUALLY is quite good at getting us between destinations!  We are still puzzling over the “Make a U-curve” instruction, however.

We visited three stores in Scottsdale today.  We parked in front of Be Stitched and chose to eat lunch at the Italian restaurant next door!  It reminded us of Nonna’s in Florham Park.  Bella and Ellie Bean would have loved it!

The Sign of a Civilized Society!

Be Stitched is a lovely shop that specializes in painted canvasses.  I was able to get a Kreinik color (and size) that I have been searching for in NJ.  This shop is known for its packaging and even my simple thread purchase was tied up with a beautiful green ribbon!  Sue and I both said that it did our hearts good to see the eight or so women who were all stitching around the big table working on their (different) canvasses.  But, seriously, Be Stitched is so bright and cheerful — who wouldn’t want to stitch here?

Be Stitched — Where Needlepoint Magic Happens!

Next we drove to Old Town Scottsdale to a shop that was appropriately called “Old Town Needlework“.   When I was in Tucson last weekend, I read on the Needlepoint Facebook page that Old Town Needlework was holding a retreat at the Omni Resort in Tucson.  So I asked if this was their retreat and “yes” it was!  So I asked to see what they stitched at the retreat and was shown a lovely piece designed by Toni Gerdes.  So, of course, both Sue and I had to check out the colorways and pick one for each of our stashes!  But then, what a wonder of Arizona-themed and counted projects we discovered here!  Janice and Annelle were so much fun to talk to and will have a few things put aside for us at merchandise night next Tuesday!

Old Town Needlework had plenty of New Time projects!

The last shop that we visited was Bead World in the same shopping center as Be Stitched!  Who knew?  Anyway, I was able to pick up a few of the beads that I wanted to use in “A Different View”.  This was my first venture into a bead shop and it was interesting and a bit overwhelming!

We finished our day at the laundromat — where none of the machines worked for me unless the manager came to help!  I wonder what will happen when I try to fill the rental car with gas tomorrow?

Cheers!

Rosie

Yesterday was a non-stitching day. Originally I had signed up for the Frank Lloyd Wright by Bus tour through ANG but got a call a few weeks ago that it was canceled due to not enough participation. Luckily we found out through someone from California that we could do the same tour through the Chicago Architecture Foundation and it was actually cheaper than through ANG. So Joanne from CA, Heidi, and I caught a cab yesterday morning up (down?) Michigan Ave to the CAF. The bus took about 1/2 hour to get out to Oak Park during with a docent gave us some background on Frank Lloyd Wright, which was very interesting. In Oak Park, we first spent about an hour or so touring the inside of Wright's home and studio. As familiar as I thought I was with is designs, I was amazed at what he put into his home and studio – the openness, little nooks, high ceilings, interesting use of materials on the walls and floors, lighting techniques, and overall flow from room to room. Unfortunately, we we're not allowed to take pictures inside. We then spent an hour doing an outside walking tour of homes he's designed in the neighborhood. Several you weren't sure if they were his because they were deisned around old Victorians – they didn't tear down and rebuild the way we do today. We ended at the Unity Temple that he designed and incorporates the principles of Unitarianism. We then took the bus back to the CAF, which is across from Brant Park and Millenium Park.

Bean statue

Being such A beautiful day, Heidi and I walked back through the park ans saw the reflective Bean statue.

After a late lunch we decided to check out Navy Pier, which is an entertainment district about a mile from the hotel overlooking the lake. After dinner at Seasons52, which was fabulous, we headed to Expo. Expo is 2 hours at Seminar where about 25 or so vendors display and sell their wares! I have to say, it was a bit overwhelming! I did purchase 2 sets of Rare Earth magnets and almost bought several other items but decided to wait since many vendors did not take credit cards. I did get to say hi to Susie from Stitches From The heart where she had A La Mode on display, which is a new Jean Hilton release that they have a one-year exclusive right to. I had already ordered it from her (she told me it's probably waiting at home for me!) so it was wonderful to see it worked up – the photos don't do it justice!

Tuesday night was the silent auction. There were probably a hundred canvases plus charts plus finished pieces. I put a bid on several but was outbid even over my 2nd bid! You could tell the popular ones! Many canvases could have been purchased for as little as $5.

Monday night was the Teachers Expo, where the teachers display their work and the classes they offer. It was interestingly o see and talk to them about possible workshops for NJNA. We'll have to see!

Today, it's back to NJ for me. It's been a lot of fun – some minuses but mostly pluses. I'm looking forward to Myrtle Beach.

Happy stitching,

Diane

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