My Lake Co Fair Results, Part Three

Ok, since I've been asked ... yes, the fairs can be a fun thing to participate in. Each fair does things a bit differently. I am not sure how to locate the fairs in different geographical areas. I am certain some fairs have limitations, like "have to be a resident of the county", "have to be 18 or older", etc. Those guidelines are clearly stated in the premium booklets. I enjoy putting entries into the variety of categories. I do this for fun, to meet new stitchers, chat with stitching buddies, and try to inspire others to pick up their needles & fibers. By my nature, I'm not a competitive person. It doesn't matter about who wins what, what the judge does (or does not do!), crabbing about the judging is all part of the fair experience. My goal is to get some extra $$ to cover my annual EGA national, regional & chapter dues -- and, SAN-Q magazine subscription. Each ribbon has cash awards: $5.00 for 1st, $4.00 for 2nd, $3.00 for 3rd. If I ever am awarded a sweepstakes rosette or grand champion ribbon for my stitching, I'd probably faint! My stitching projects are usually items I enjoy doing and there are tons more stitchers out there creating more challenging projects than mine.

Buzz My Grapes Tabletopper and BellpullDesigned by Claudia Dutcher, Dutch Treat Designs, c.2000
I used DMC perle Coton #5 553, 327, 840 (2 skeins), 801, 729, 2052 (4 skeins); DMC perle Coton #12 3042 nun edge. I added bee buttons ... which is not recommended by C.Dutcher b/c they may get in the way of whatever you are placing on top of the tabletopper. I added them anyhow b/c I don't usually place items where I sewed on the buttons. Now, does that make sense? The buttons are Item #JAB-1101W from Just Another Button Company, Distributed by Norden Crafts, Ltd.

The Sanctuaryc.C.A. Zittel, The Drawn Thread, 2001
I joined a Stitch-Along Group for this project, sponsored by House of Stitches. We were taught the variety of stitches (I think 26-27 stitches) by Sharon Henderson. The group met monthly from 2004/Nov thru 2005/August. Between you & me, I would not have been able to do this without Sharon's assistance. She was able to show us the stitches, provide tips, and continue to encourage us along the way!
Design 170 W x 222 L. I used Weeks Dye Works Bordeaux, Cadet & Thyme. 21 colors of Anchor Floss [which I won't list here!]. I stitched this on 32-count lambswool linen. The photo angle is odd b/c of the glass.

Tiny Stuff: Flying Hare Pin/Ornamentc.1997 Sandra Sullivan of Homespun Elegance Ltd.
This pin is stitched with Anchor Floss #374, 1001, 359, 905, 862, 852 - on Zweigart 28-coung Cashel Raw Linen. The three small charms are available from Homespun Elegance. I confess to be a Homespun Elegance junkie. And it all started with the Tiny Stuff patterns. I probably own them all -- the small cards, Tiny Stuff I-II-III. I tend to stitch the Tiny Stuff ones [no telling why] more than the larger Homespun Elegance pattern leaflets. I keep all the small cards together in a cosmetic case, with linen, floss, charms ... in my car!! [sigh] nuf said.

Bargello Candles StockingA design by Lois Caron published in McCalls Needlework December 1977Freebie on the Caron Web Site
I used Watercolour Far Horizons + Rose Quartz, Caron Snow, gold Kreinik metallic & DMC #5 Perle Cottons (bright pink & white) on 25-count white Lugana.

Congrats to Deb L for the Best-of-Show rosette on her L&L Angel. I saw the pattern she is using for next Summer -- another gorgeous design : ) In addition to Deb, congrats to the other NANI ladies who entered in Lake & Porter Co Fairs -- Carol C, Mary C, Sue D, & Elaine H. Looking forward to having Melody M add some entries next year.

The Stitcher's Garage Sale, held on Saturday, was wonderful. I'm not sure how much money was raised for the American Heart Association. Wish more people would have stopped by. More on that in another post.

Thx for all the kind words re. our power issue & the storms, etc. We had more storms last night & still have our power on. We are fortunate as others are without power again ... or without power still. I heard 3200 without power in Lake Co & 500 without power in Porter Co.

The Sanctuary

Finished!

Tomorrow, I'm taking it to House of Stitches for a frame.

The Sanctuary WIP

I have two more borders to add ...

The Sanctuary WIP

I didn't get ALL the trees done in this border.

CORRECTION: Yes, my post was confusing ... sorry.
After I ironed shirts, I finished stitching the trees in this border --- the next border is the poem & I hope to work on it this afternoon/evening.

I need to put pink french knots on the garden gates, too.

FOUR more borders to go (poem, rapid stitch, hemstitch, floral border) ... think I'll get this finished for the fair?

Needlechat

Game Board SamplerSAL - I added the red house. Looking forward to seeing progress pictures from Bine, Cathy, Myrna, + Nicole.

Heard from Kay O (does not have a blog) & she has 3 houses done on the "left hand quarter". Melody? Have you worked on your sampler? (also without a blog)

I added tree trunks & garden gates to The Sanctuary. I would like to get tree tops added this week ...


Saturday, (6-May), I attended a workshop sponsored by Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana, EGA chapter. CiCi Case, of CiCi Case Designs, taught Mail Art Envelope. I had a wonderful time learning how to put together an envelope with linen (and fabric lining). As you notice in the photograph, I'm just starting to stitch the motif on the envelope flap. As I get closer to mailing, I'll put up another photo.

The kit CiCi put together was fantastic. She had the linen, fabric for lining, perle coton, floss, basting thread, snaps, stamps, beads, a charm -- color photograph, background information on mail art, and pattern. The hands-on demonstrations, designing tips, hints, and teaching by CiCi were excellent. I learned so much!! CiCi had a scrapbook with photographs & brought along several mail art envelopes (stitched & gone thru the postal systems). What creative stitchers : )

I've enjoyed seeing photos of mail art on blogs & look forward to completing this kit.

More trees ...

I added some of the garden gates & corner trees. Next, will add the trees on the upper half.

Not many new stitches ...

I added a few trees in the border ... have garden gates x 4 & more trees to stitch. The next border has a portion of a poem by Andrew Marvell called The Garden. Will try to get more trees & lettering done this coming week.

Drawn Thread: The Sanctuary WIP

Finished the fourth garden from The Sanctuary. c.2001, C.A.Zittel, The Drawn Thread. It was so much fun working on all the flowers w/stitches like: rhodes, eyelet, rice,jessica, etc. I will add the date last.
Started working on the border with trees and gates. Not sure how much stitching time I'll have over the week-end (Alex performs in The School of Rock - Middle School Play).

Everybody: Have a nice week-end & stitch well : )

The Sanctuary

Kay: This is The Sanctuary - picture from the pattern - by Drawn Thread. I hope to have it finished by December 31st. Thanks for your e-mail & please consider starting a blog of your own ; )

MIOM + KISS (keep it simple stupid)

This week, I am reminding myself of KISS. I get overwhelmed with the Back-to-School shuffle. 8/24 first day of class. I must remember to breathe, de-stress, & mind the household budget. Flat wallets aren't fashionable! Our 3 are registered in Middle School (8th gr), High School (Sophomore), & College (Freshman). I have several sheets of information to read, supplies & clothing to purchase. I'm freaking out. Mixed feelings about our oldest daughter heading off to college. Where did the time go? I'm such a fossil. I need to get a task list & start crossing them off one - by - one!

MIOM projects: 1) The last in my stash of Mill Hill kits - my last perforated paper kit - called Woodland Santa; Bell Ringer Santa .... 2) Sanctuary WIP (untouched last week)

Must do projects: Friendship Round Robin. Passing along the garden/friendship theme & receiving a 'games of life' project. I'm stumped about what I should add ..... need ideas fast. So far, there are monopoly cards, scrable board, checker board, dice ... hmm... Possibly a chinese checker board ... just unsure what to stitch.

MIOM & Key Lime Almond Joy

MIOM! MIOM! Woot. Today is the day to move something from the WIP pile & get it DONE. Found some WIP candidates + must-do stitching this week.

ONE. Caron Keeper freebie chart x 2 fobs. (got carried away, stitched two of these). Making one for a girlfriend - birthday 8/10. She is a sweetheart & sent me 2 squishies in the mail over the Summer .... She gave me a skein of Waterlillies by Caron AND a Victoria Sampler heart kit. The other fob made with left overs from Drawn Thread...Forget-me-not Fob (freebie) .... EGA classes. Have them pinned & ready to launch the finishing .... (8/9 - still workin on!)

TWO. Project Encore. Just need to whip it shut using a long arm cross stitch. For Grammy K's birthday (Sept) So cool to be ahead of time on her gift. Still pondering a nice pair of scissors. (8/8 DONE)

THREE. (Woot! 8/9 DONE!!!) Camp Quality. Have the stash stuff OUT. Been thinking about the motifs I want to use (spider, web, broomstick) -- I'll draft on paper -- pin to the felt -- stitch thru the paper & felt. Buttonhole edge ..... yuk, that buttonhole isn't a friend of mine. My spacing gets off. Friday deadline. More info on annual volunteering at http://www.surfnetinc.com/NANI under outreach programs. Past projects were canvas & aida.

FOUR. Friendship Project - garden/friendship theme. No photos for obvious reasons! Should pass this along by Friday.

FIVE. Sanctuary SAL -- oh my; oh my .... such a neglected sampler. I've enjoyed this project, challenging stitches, lovely colors, interesting detail ... & am behind my group by a few months. Should snap a close up of the part I'm working on ....

Snack of the (last) Week: Peter Paul Almond Joy - bite size: White Chocolate Key Lime flavored coconut - almond candy. Bought a bag for my M-I-L & forgot to take them when we visited! Of course, nobody here likes them -- but ME! I hate my bathroom scale. (and I don't allow the word hate to be uttered in our home ever --- but, my scale and I have issues to resolve) Today, will watch what I eat .... back to salad & fish & chicken & h20 & lighter foods.

The Sanctuary (Drawn Thread) & Fair Entries

I am behind in the Drawn Thread - The Sanctuary ... SAL (Stitch-a-Long) .... by A LOT. I know tomorrow the group gets together and goes over the Hem Stitch. I am still working on one of the center areas .... and should be done with the next all-around border of lovely trees and gates and stuff. It is a beautiful pattern & helps to have Sharon H show some of the stitches & share tips. I think Linda R will be showing us the hem stitch. I need a refresher!

Porter County Fair .... July 21-30 http://www.portercofair.org/
Be there! I don't know how many entries I will have ready for drop off on the 17th.

I know I have a tabletopper (acorn), one sampler w/glass (Dawn Lewis), one plastic canvas box (CQ project), and a pretty Reindeer Parade small pillow/ornament (JBW design?) ..... maybe I'll have the 1st steps into the box lid. Usually I have about 8-10 entries .... spent so many stitching hours on the English Band Sampler Course .... Think this little Scissor Fob would be a good entry? I did get the stitching completed .... not the finishing. I need a yellow and blue cord. Not sure the tassel.

Back to 1st steps -- I'm on the last stitch. I need to couch down some laid floss. Still need a border in another color -- don't want the canvas edge to show! I see a 'dome' effect on the canvas & don't think it will matter in the box lid. Canvas is really not my thing ... but this design by Ginny Morrow was so beautiful.

Been bogged down with a headache that I woke with yesterday. Today, went to Walgreen's for some Sudafed. Felt like a criminal while the clerk filled in by name/address in a book, verifided my identification w/my driver's license, and then I signed their book. Guess Sudafed is a hot drug item. I just want this headache to CEASE. I have things to do ....