Aug19

Evolution of a Hedgehog

Posted on by
Standard

Hi Everyone —

Sorry to miss so many days of posting, but I had a monthly report due for work and a myriad of still on-going computer issues.

Sue has already filled you in on some of our adventures.  Here is the largest home in America — the Biltmore.

IMG_2877

Sue figured out that the formal dining room was larger than most good-sized houses at 2800 square feet.

IMG_2839

I could have sat on the loge all day long — so cool and breezy on a hot day.  So I made Sue sit for a spell too!

IMG_2864

In the Ming dynasty, this would have been your fishbowl!

IMG_2867

About halfway through our audio tour, Sue and I dropped off our audio set for a chit to return later.  So we went to the Stable Café for lunch — we had a stall all to ourselves!

IMG_2876

After lunch, we resumed our tour and saw the bowling alley, swimming pool, gym, changing rooms, and staff lodging and work rooms.

Alas, on Thursday, we had to get back to work on our stitching!  😉

Here’s the evolution of my Happy Hedgie from pre-work to the first day of class and then to the first day of studio time.  Sue already posted what Hedgie looked like at the end of the second day.

Studio Time
First Day of Class
Prework

He is beginning to look like a rat!  Thanks to Tina F for providing this stitching inspiration!

IMG_2883

I had hoped to work on Lombard Street during studio time, but we are stitching in a dark sleeping room and there really wasn’t enough space for such a big piece.   However, I got some wonderful suggestions and will be anxious to resume working on it — time permitting.

Cheers, Rosie

Aug19

Hedgie Day 2 photo and Lily of the Lake

Posted on by
Standard


I could not post last night as the room is too dark with all lights on to take a photo.  You can see all the parts added during the day which give the border as well as the quills so much more character.  This is a piece that I can see myself completing.  Not only do I like it but the directions are clear and there is no “new” techniques to learn without guidance.  There is more to add in the borders as well as the quills and each adds more character to the design.

Today was day one of Lily of the Lake by Gail Sirna.  I like the picture and the threads used are beautiful.  Today we completed enough of each petal to understand the stitch and how it fits in the petal–some petals are repeated.  The stitches are designed to fit the shape of the leaf with minimal compensation.  Thank you, Gail!  You can see the reflection of several petals which is stitched with a single thread.  Tomorrow we will work on the borders.

Sue C.

Aug17

Day One of A Dusting of Snow

Posted on by
Standard

Carol K. and Marge K. and I are all taking Gail Stafford’s “A Dusting of Snow.” I am really enjoying the class — Gail is a great teacher and I’ve learned a couple of new tricks…the piece is a manageable size, the threads are all cottons, and the finished piece is spectacular. The design is based on an actual gazebo that is a couple of blocks from her house.

Here’s my progress after a day of stitching…How is it that it looks like I’ve accomplished so little after an entire day?

Notice the magnet in the upper right — a special hand-crafted one for this seminar. Carol and I both succumbed when we saw them in the boutique.


And speaking of the boutique, it is spectacular! It’s run by ABC Stitch Therapy in Spring TX and they came with a huge selection of threads, cross stitch patterns, painted canvases, tools, and oh did I mention threads? On top of the impressive inventory, the people are really nice and helpful too.

This evening Carol and I went to dinner at the Grove Park Inn, one of Asheville’s landmarks, with two other stitchers we’d met at the opening banquet. We ate on the Sunset Terrace — outdoors, overlooking the MOST incredible view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dinner was wonderful, but the setting was equally if not even more wonderful.

This is a photo of one of the two similar stone fireplaces in the Inn’s lobby, almost as spectacular as the mountain view!

Aug17

Hedgie’s First Day

Posted on by
Standard

We are currently at the EGA seminar in Asheville, NC.  My first class is with Ann Strite-Kurz working on another of her animals, “Hedgie”. We did have prework to get in the correct shape of the animal as well as to have a foundation for the border design.

You can see how cute he is going to be!  It was a small class, fortunately because the room is small with light provided by large windows and two table lamps from the hotel, but we do have our own private bathroom!  Ann had us working on several areas to help us become accustomed to the stitches in areas where we may need to learn the best way to compensate.  We also began the framework for the quills and the framework for the background.  As the quills are blackwork, Ann explained the whys of the stitch sequence making learning the sequence much easier.  Ann also showed us a much easier way to get to the lobby by going outside instead of using the interior stairs or elevator!  Thank you, Ann!!

Aug17

Thursday in Asheville

Posted on by
Standard

I arrived in the beautiful city of Asheville, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on Tuesday.  Yesterday, Jill and I spent the day at the Biltmore Estate.  What an amazing place!

But the most ingesting was the kitchen and servants’ quarters – evoking memories of Downton Abbey!

Today was the start of my class, Dusting of Snow by Gail Stafford. Although I was in class for a full day, you can see how little was done – just a couple of trees, half a shrub, and a tiny bit of sky.


Tonight we went to the Grove Park Inn for dinner.  We were joined by Cathy and Lynn from New York.

What a feast!  What an amazing place – a historic hotel with a view that is beyond words!


Jill and I were so glad to be able to enjoy such a wonderful evening!


More from the happy campers tomorrow!

Aug16

Touring Biltmore House

Posted on by
Standard

Today Carol and I went on a tour of the Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilt home in Asheville that has been open to the public since the 1930s. The day included a self-guided audio tour of the interior of the house (think Downton Abbey), a little stroll through some of the gardens, a buffet lunch at a restaurant in a building that used to be the cowsheds, and then a visit to the Biltmore Winery for some wine-tasting and, of course, some wine purchases.


The views from the house are spectacular, across acres of forest to the Blue Ridge. We were told how Mr. Vanderbilt had a large scaffold constructed in the precise spot where the house would be to determine if the views were going to be captured as he wanted…I think he succeeded!


My favorite part of the tour (aside from the view) was the basement–the kitchens and pantries, laundry rooms and so forth, where the work of keeping the house running was done. It was easy to imagine all the servants bustling around keeping things on an even keel, enabling the Vanderbilts and their guests to live the life of ease that they did.

Aug13

August SOTM Group

Posted on by
Standard

Hi Everyone —

For once I was back in NJ for the Stitch of the Month session.  My Razzle Dazzle is sure suffering the consequences of all my travels!

Here is this month’s progress:

IMG_2832

Slow and Steady Wins the Race!  From the top, right to left:  Sue C’s My Way, Rosie’s Razzle Dazzle, Linda M’s Starts, Diane’s Stars, Tina’s Stars, Jill’s Stars, and Dee’s Different View!

As you can see, the Stars pieces are gorgeous and moving along smartly.

I know we’ve all had these annoying, pesky knots in our threads, so I thought you should see what my project dealt with this week:

Birds nest

It is the same phenomena — called a hockle — caused by the release of tension on a twisted line — in my case about a one-inch steel anchor wire!  And you thought you had problems!

I am looking forward to the coming week at the EGA seminar in Asheville, NC.

Cheers!

Rosie

Jul17

Missing all of you

Posted on by
Standard

Back in May, I started to post an entry about my 2016 Stitch of the Month, which is finally finished.  Well life got in the way and the blog entry never got published.  Here is what it said:

“So I’m only five months behind, but I prevailed.  I am totally finished and framed with Stitch of the Month for 2016.  It is the ANG Stitch of the Month by Susan Hoekstra (a former NJNA member)  It is called Feuilles D’Ananas.  This is a fun way to stitch a project and I liked figuring out the variations on the turquoise color scheme.

I won’t be around much the next several months, so I won’t be able to attend our chapter’s official Stitch of the Month monthly gatherings.  However, I am hopeful to take a stitch or two of this year’s project, Tony Minieri’s “Stars for the New Millennium.”  I”ll keep you posted!  I wish a fun summer for all.”

 

Well, I am now addicted to the “Stars” piece.  I am having so much fun. Working on that design is keeping me from doing the baby knitting that I need done by September when my newest grandchild will be born.  I agree with Jill W., these colors make me happy!  I can’t wait to see how the next area showcases all of them .  My overdyed thread is Silk and Colors, 994 – Kaleidoscope.  All of it just pops!

IMG_2031.jpg

So now I will really wish all of you a wonderful summer.  I will miss all of you in the fall while I help out with the big sister and brother and of course the new baby.  Grandchildren are the only thing that will trump my addiction on stitching the Stitch of the Month projects!  Happy stitching to all.

Jul9

Stitch of the Month – July

Posted on by
Standard

Eight of us once again convened for another session of Stitch of the Month.  We enjoyed a day of stitching and chatting, and celebrated both Sylvia’s and Nancy W’s birthdays with cupcakes, ice cream, apple pie, and cookies.  There is no denying that we enjoy our stitching sessions!

Sue C, who is working on My Way, and Joan, who is finished her Stars for the New Millennium, both left before we took this picture.  We’ll get them next time!!

IMG_1021.JPGTop left – Nancy W’s Granite; Top right – Linda’s Egyptian Nights; Middle left – Margaret’s Egyptian Nights (with some experimenting on the sashing); Middle right – Sylvia’s Royalty; Bottom left – Jill’s Black Iris; Bottom right – Tina’s Cherry.

Most of us are using colors included in the instructions with a few changes to suit individual preferences.  Both Jill and Tina are stitching in their own colors and threads.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s progress next month!

Happy Stitching!