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!