Summertime Stitching

I am safely returned home from my trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. Met lots of new people, which is always a treat, caught up with several old friends and learned a few new things, so a successful conference.

My only regret is that I was not able to get to Ogden. I was one short hour away from Shepherd's Bush and Jill Rensel!! Unfortunately, we were scheduled from morning until sometimes late in the evening, so I wasn't able to get away. Actually, my bank account is probably very happy that I wasn't.

Rant ON - People please, if the bag you're going to carry on is bigger than you are, please be polite and check it.  We all know it's not going to fit in one of those overhead bins, no matter how many times you turn, push or jiggle it around, just admit it. You're just making it difficult for everyone else on the plane. Thank you - rant off.

I typically read while I'm travelling especially if it involves flying as there just isn't enough room to spread out and get comfortable enough to stitch in cattle regular class seats. I did quite a bit of reading but also did a bit of stitching during those "turn off all electronic equipment" times I'm not sure how reading my Kindle during take off or landing is going to cause the plane to crash, but I'm not going to take any chances during the flight on an ornament. Here's my progress:



Holiday Joys
Homespun Elegance

There's not a lot left on this, so I may go one-at-a-time on it until it is done.

Before I left I did a little, very little, bit more on With thy Needle & Thread's Birds of a Feather mystery sampler:

Birds of a Feather mystery sampler
With thy Needle & Thread

I also started Tree of Stitches by Abi Gurden over at The Stitch Specialists Yahoo Group. I'm stitching this on opalescent Ocean from Silkweaver Fabrics I really don't like stitching on opalescent fabrics, as I have a very difficult time "keeping the box" but it looks really nice and gives a frosty look which is what I was going for with Weeks Dye Works #1269 (I don't have the tag) and Needle Necessities #130 (no color name, just a number) 

The photo is taken in front of a window, so you can see the parked thread. Parts 1 and 2 are done, part 4 is partially done and part 3 will be done when part 4 is done so that the placement is correct.

Have you put your order in for this yet!?!?

Blackbird Designs - Birds of a Feather - Summer

There is a main design and two bonus patterns per chart - it's a three part series. A year ago I would have said "this isn't my usual style, but I like it", but it seems my taste is changing as I've been ordering and stitching more and more of this style project lately.  I'm sure there's some deep psychological reason for it, but "I like it", seems like a good enough reason to me.