The Learning Girl Sampler

Good Morning!

Just a quick update on my current WIP....


I hope to finish her this week - I definitely have startitis but am determined to finish this piece before starting anything new.

New items from Market should be rolling in soon - can't wait to see what everyone chooses to work on first.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post - what a wonderful community our little blog world is.

Cari

Framed Pieces

I finally received the last of my stitching from my LNS (I dropped it off in June). This one will be perfect for the Fall Season...

Blackbird Designs

Moonlit Garden

Recommended Fiber & Fabric

Someone had asked to see my 'Christmas House'. I pulled it out for the show last weekend and thought I would snap a picture before putting back in storage ('til Christmas).

Christmas House

Patricia Andrle

Recommended Fabric & Fiber

(The red beads on the porch railing garland are my extra touch)

I have a little housecleaning, a 200-word response to a discussion question for school, and a big pot of chili to make before I can settle in with my cross stitch.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cari

Sweet Stuff

A few more pictures from our craft fair on Saturday. One of the artists painted signs for us - this little awning was my favorite - isn't it cute. So was everything displayed beneath it!

I'm not sure if you can tell, but the brown thing is a bench and it has a yellow quilt draped across the back of it - how clever is that!

And these amazing cupcakes - aren't they beautiful! We had a hard time convincing people that it was ok to eat them - so, I showed them :-)

These were so fun, they are sunflowers, the middle is miniature chocolate chips and the ladybug is a red M&M. I am going to have to give these a try.

Our chocolate fountain was the big hit of the day - I wish I had taken a picture of the masses surrounding this thing with their toothpicks outstretched. Someone had made these delightful eclairs and I decided they would be really good dipped in the fountain - I was right, yum! Of course, an hour later (it was probably only a few minutes, but still embarrassing) my one friend came up to me (laughing I might add) letting me know I had chocolate on my mouth (both corners) and my chin. I say one friend because the other 100 ladies in the room never said a word - but now I know why they smiled goofily at me whenever I stopped to chat - real funny aren't they. Several ladies chose a corner of the room and displayed all their wonderful pictures and souvenirs from their missions trips abroad.

I do have stitching to show, but haven't had time to iron it and take pics. It's been a busy week and it's only Wednesday.

Enjoy your day!

Cari

The Show...

was a wonderful success. We are blessed with so many talented women in our church. I was amazed at all the wonderful works of art! We had knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, card making, tole work, quilting, poetry, gardening, baking, cross stitching, etc.

First up are the quilts, they were all beautiful, but this first one is my favorite! There are no captions as I am quilt-illiterate and do not know what type they are.







The Garden area:

We had 7-8 artists display their work, the picture below is of work painted by my dear friend and artist, Alethea. She amazes me at how talented she is and that she finds time to be creative while being a wife, mother of 4, and she homeschools. She no longer paints 'smalls' as she calls them. Everything she does now is huge and it is all fruit and veggies. She's so funny, each picture she paints is about someone in her life.

Lastly, is the cross stitching. There were only two of us. The first is mine and the rest belong to a lady named Barbara, who does amazing, amazing!, work.

Blackbird Designs
Strawberry Garden
Recommended Fabric & Fiber

You should be able to click on the pictures below and see a closeup. They are all done in beads. 'Joy' she designed herself. She had a whole table of her work, each just beautiful. She and I have recently become friends due to our cross stitch obsession. She is such a delightful lady. She called me Saturday evening to tell me how much she loved my work and offered to let me go thru her stash! She is 74 and said that she will never be able to stitch everything and would love to share it - can you imagine, I am so excited

By the end of the day, my poor feet were so sore. I got up early and ran, not considering I would be on my feet the remainder of the day - from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. AND in heels - silly me.

Well, that's all folks..

Thanks so much for stopping by, I enjoy hearing from each of you.

Enjoy your Monday!

Cari

Gathering my work

for the big day tomorrow. We have a luncheon and all the ladies at church will be displaying their handmade items. We have so many talented women at church, I can't wait to see what everyone brings. I gathered items last nite and dropped them off at the church - it was so hard to choose which framed pieces to take. I chose Strawberry Garden, Noah's Ark, The Lord's Prayer, Christmas House, and a piece I don't know the name of. Then, I made the mistake of opening my finished drawer, too many to choose from but it was such fun perusing through old pieces. Next I moved onto my WIP drawer which left me with a guilty feeling :-) In the end, I chose two additional pieces one finished and one WIP...

Rosewood Manor
Inspiration
Recommended fiber and fabric

Mirabilia
Cinderella
Recommended Fiber and Fabric

I love planning events, but I always stress that maybe no one will show up or that we will run out of food and of course, with this event, I pray that nothing happens to anyone's precious pieces. I hope to have lots of pictures to share.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cari

This and That

First I have to say a big, huge thank you to Robin. She sent me the remaining "Spot of..." patterns from Drawn Thread! I can't wait to start on Fall, it's so cute! Thanks again, Robin!

Drawn Thread

Spot of Summer, Spot of Winter

Spot of Fall, and Welcome Spot

I am still working steadily on "The Learning Girl Sampler" and enjoying each stitch (except the french knots). I failed to read the instructions thoroughly and did not realize until last nite that all Satin Stitches were to be done with 3-ply (everything else is 1-ply). So I am going back and stitching over the outside blue border. You can see where I started in the top right corner - it looks fuller and brighter. Only 10 more letters to go and I should be able to start on the house soon.

The Learning Girl Sampler

And last is a little design I did several years ago and pulled out to make into a pillow. I'm sorry, I don't know who the designer is or the design name. Believe it or not, I did take time to iron it this morning - I probably shouldn't even admit that, oh well.

I have a busy week ahead of me. The Women's ministry at church is having a lunch this Saturday. It's also an opportunity for ladies to showcase their talents, it's titled "God's Bountiful Blessings". I am on the committee and we still have a few last minute items on our to do list. I can't wait to see all the wonderful things the women are bringing to display - quilts, knitting, scrapbooks, paintings, needlework, and even some ladies reading their poetry. And my favorite, the bakers - homemade goodies for all us to taste, yum!

Happy Stitching!

Cari

Guess What I Found...

those of you who are A&E and Plum Street Sampler fans are going to be so excited. I couldn't believe it when I saw the picture and was more surprised that it wasn't on Paulette's blog first...

A Picture of her new A & E Sampler, "Paradise Lost"!

Theresa of Shakespeare's Peddler has an orphan of the day each day her shop is open - so I visit her sight frequently. Well, today she has a picture (the WHOLE picture) of "Paradise Lost" - hurry and check it out, it's great!

On another note, my Toy Story will return to my WIP pile for a revamping of the toy section.

Thanks to everyone who stops by to visit. I just love everyone's comments - you are all wonderful!

Enjoy your weekend.

Cari