A Roadtrip To Minneapolis and Met Up With 2 Friends

Our stitch group had so much fun last year when we took our 3 day roadtrip to Tulsa, Wichita, and Topeka that we thought we would do another roadtrip, but just an overnighter. This time we decided on Minneapolis and going to Stitchville USA. Plus some quilt shops and a really cool general store.

So on the road we were last Thursday at 8:00 a.m. and were at Stitchville USA by 2:00-2:30ish. I finally had the opportunity to meet Cathy and Joan. Both Cathy and Joan are absolutely wonderful gals. The 3 of us were in the "sale" room and talked for awhile and I think we could have spent the entire day in there gabbing away. They are just the best! I was so happy to have the chance to finally meet them. They had goodie bags for each of us filled with chocolates, a cute note pad and a hardanger scissor fob! I got Cathy and Joan each a tumbler that says "Stitch Happy" which they both liked as well.

My stitch group really enjoyed Stitchville and found plenty of treasures to bring home. I did a wee bit of damage and I came home with a new pair of Dovos! These were very much a NEED, they are Americana plus Dovos are my favorite kind of scissors plus they went perfect with the cute little hardanger scissor fob Cathy made for each of us!



Here is a pic of all of us.
Front: Angie, Carol, Beth, Jo K.
Back: Cathy, Wendy, Jo Barb, and Joan


Carol's daughter lives in the Minneapolis area and her family was joining us for dinner so since we had some time before meeting up with them we went over to The General Store.. What a GREAT place to go! Oh my word they have everything you can think of from footwear, kitchen items, candles, jewelry, clothing, toys, etc. They also have a nice little cafe.

That evening Carol's daughter and family joined us (as did Cathy and Joan) for dinner at Old Chicago. Afterwards, we gave hugs and said our goodbyes and shared how much fun we had together that day.

On Friday, we went to back to The General Store and then onto to 2 quilt shops. The first one was The Sampler. Which was a nice little shop in Chanhassen. I managed to find a couple of fat quarters. Then onto Eagle Creek Quilt Shop in Shakopee. This shop is wonderful! Its located in an old railroad depot! I managed to find a few fat quarters to add to my stash.

Then it was time to leave Minnesota and head back to Iowa.

It has become a tradition that we end our roadtrips with "calcium". That is our "code word" for ice cream. So when any of us say "where are we having calcium today?" Everyone knows it means ice cream! So we stopped in Iowa City at Cold Stone Creamery and had some.

Here is a pic of the stash I purchase on our trip.


I want to say to Cathy and Joan again, how much I enjoyed meeting them and how much fun Thursday was!

Now I am off to get some pics developed!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching,
Wendy Jo

Spring Exchange from Joanne

I participated in the spring exchange on the Stitching Exchanging blog and my package arrived yesterday and I was stunned by the pinkeep!

Joanne stitched a French freebie and it is gorgeous! I also love the packing fabric to!

She also sent 2 fat quarters and some pretty ribbon as well.





Thanks so much Joanne for a wonderful exchange!

My spring exchange hasn't been received yet so I have my fingers crossed that it will show up at its new home very soon.

I haven't been doing a whole lot since we got back from Denver. I am currently working on Deb's "An Emblem of Love" and I also received Edgar's yesterday. So I have been concentrating on those.

I will close for now so I can get back to my stitching.

Thanks so much for all your visits I sure appreciate them.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Home From Denver

Rex and I have just spent the last 3 weeks in Denver, Colorado. Rex was there on business and while he was working I enjoyed exploring Denver, the suburbs, the LNS and meeting Staci!

Staci and I had a great time going to the thrift stores, visiting a favorite quilt shop she loves (which was wonderful!), having lunch and going to the coffee shop where I stitched and she knitted some gorgeous socks (which she just posted on her blog)! Staci is just as sweet as can be. I have found a very special friend in Colorado that I hope to see again soon!

When I picked up our mail today, my pinkeep exchange from the Friends Through Threads blog was waiting for me. Goldie stitched me a Blackbird Design that I had actually kitted up and put in my stitching bag to stitch while in Colorado and never got around to stitching it! Now, I don't have to!



Thank you so much Goldie, I love it very much!

I sent to Nancy (no blog) and I stitched a design by Carol R. called Sew Blue. I stitched it on 40 ct white over 2 using GAST Dungarees. Nancy loves it and I was enjoyed stitching it and finishing it for her so I have very happy she loves it so much.



The only stitching commitment I have right now is my Emblem rr piece. I am waiting to receive Deb's piece from Margaret and then after that I will just have to stitch on Edgar's piece and then the round robin will be completed. My round robin piece is really looking very pretty. This is one piece I am looking forward to getting framed.

Well, I think I will close for now. Thanks for stopping by.


Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Valentine Exchange For Irmeli

Irmeli e-mailed me that she has received my Valentine exchange. I stitched Irmeli a pattern by JBW Designs called French Country Love and used the recommended sampler threads and finished it into a door knob pillow for her. I included lots of extra goodies (fabric cuts, chocolate, a scissor sack and fat quarters).

I am so pleased Irmeli loves her exchange. I really enjoyed doing this exchange with her.




I am about done with Suzanne's rr. I need to stop watching so much t.v. when I stitch! I tell ya, I don't get as much stitched watching t.v. as I do when I listen to music or just sitting quietly. Anyone else have that problem? Plus the Olympics ceremony starts tonight so I know I will be watching the Olympics, the winter ones are my favorite.

Anyone have any special plans for Valentine's Day? Rex and I are going to Stitches n Stuff (my LNS) tomorrow as I have a few things on hold there :) and then we are going out to dinner. Its still up in the air where.

On Sunday, Rex is going to finish painting the kitchen. We wanted something brighter for the kitchen as its rather drab and only has a few windows over the sink area so we went with yellow and it looks really good so that is the plan for Sunday.

I hope everyone has a good Valentine's weekend!

Thanks for stopping by.

Wendy Jo

My Heart is Heavy Tonight

I received a sad note in the mail today. It was from a lady named Pam, a friend (actually Pam said more like a sister) of Mary Jo's. I had Mary Jo's name in the Lizzie Kate Round #3 exchange. Pam wrote to tell me that Mary Jo had passed away on January 14th from metastatic cancer. Pam said from the diagnosis to her passing was only 3-4 days. Pam went onto say that it was peaceful with her husband and daughter at her bedside.

Pam said one of the things that gave her the most joy were the needlework exchanges. Her eyes just sparkled with excitement when she spoke of the exchanges and how much pleasure she got from them.

So I ask that if you are reading my blog entry that you keep Mary Jo, her family and her dear "sister" Pam in your thoughts and prayers. Our needlework community is alittle smaller now.

Pam said Mary Jo would have treasured my LK's "Love" pillow I stitched her.



Rest in Peace Dear Mary Jo.



Wendy Jo

A Few Things to Share

My mailman has been very busy filling my mailbox with a few goodies and its time to share what I got in the mail!

First up, is my birthday present from my friend Lynne (no blog) in California. Lynne knitted me a pretty scarf for my winter coat that I really needed badly and just love it. She also sent some wonderful chocolate along with a handmade card. Lynne has a side card making business and is so creative and I never throw a card of hers away, they are just such works of art and great to display!

Thanks so much Lynne for the wonderful birthday present, chocolate and adorable card!!

I participated in a Valentine exchange on the ASOE blog and received my exchange from Karin in South Africa. Karin stitched me a pattern from the book "Made in France". She also put some dried lavender from her garden in with the stuffing and it smells so good! Karin also included some wonderful chocolate as well!



Thanks very much Karin for a wonderful exchange! Yours should be there any day now!! (Fingers crossed!!)

Another exchange I participated in was on the Lizzie Kate blog. I received the following from Michele. She looked on my blog and saw I love anything Americana so...she stitched the freebie "Liberty". A really cute finish by Michele with the beading.



Thanks so much Michele, its on display at my house!

I then wanted to do a personal Valentine exchange with Irmeli in Finland, whom I met through Hooked on Exchanging and we have become blogging friends. Irmeli sent an obsolutely delightful package.

The scissor case Irmeli made is a design from The Workbasket and the design on the fob is from a French magazine Ge fil a aguille (I hope I have spelled this correctly). She stitched both on 25 ct. floba one over one with DMC thread. Irmeli's stitching is beautiful and her finishing is perfect. The pink scissors are just so cute too!!

Irmeli included things by Finnish designers (some chocolate, overdyed threads, a cute little sheep accessory all tucked in a cute heart shaped tin).




Irmeli, thank you so very much for an absolutely lovely exchange. Hoping my package arrives in your mailbox very soon!!

I have finished working on an exchange and am now working on Suzanne’s Emblem of Love round robin. Its been perfect stitching weather here in Iowa as it snowed on and off all day today and tomorrow...again...more snow so another day of stitching is planned.

I think I will close for now. Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching.

Wendy Jo

A Darling Fob from Cathy B.

I had a birthday recently and received a pretty fob from Cathy in the mail a couple of days ago.

The colors and the stitching Cathy did is just gorgeous! She is such a beautiful stitcher!


Cathy and I have gotten to know each other through blogging and the Friends Through Threads blog. I am going to have the opportunity to meet Cathy in person this April when my stitch group heads up to Minneapolis! I am really looking forward to meeting her.

So thank you so very much Cathy for the gorgeous fob! My scissors are very happy:)

On the stitching front I have been working on an pinkeep exchange which is about done so no pictures for now.

I also received in the mail from Margaret, Suzanne's Emblem of Love RR so I will begin working on that in the next week or so. Suzanne has chosen to recommended colors and it is absolutely gorgeous!

Well, I think I will sign off and get busy with some stitching.

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Carol's RR and a Gift

Happy new year (even though we have been into 2010 for 3 weeks now!). I hope the new year has started off well for everyone.

I have finished up my part of Carol's rr and I really enjoyed it. Carol chose Vikki Clayton threads (I believe the name of the thread are magpie tears..very pretty blue) and I hadn't worked with these before and enjoyed it. So Edgar now has Carol's rr and I am awaiting the arrival of Suzanne's rr from Margaret.


I know this is probably going to sound pretty odd and strange but...I stitched something for my Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Janae. She has taken a position closer to home and I wanted to do something for her as we had a great relationship and I'll miss her ALOT! She was so easy to talk with, she listened, very knowledgeable, caring, compassionate and really into women's health.

I have met the new FNP that is taking her place, Rachel and she is very nice and we hit it off really well. So I am pretty happy.

So here is what I stitched for Janae. She really liked it alot. Its a Pine Mountain Design.



I have also been working on Valentine exchanges and am finishing up the last one now. Then I will start thinking about what to stitch for my pinkeep exchange on the Friends Through Threads blog.

So, I think I will close for now, I hope everyone has a good weekend and has some time set aside for stitching.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Gifts and Stitching

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Rex and I spent part of Christmas Day with my mom and I managed to do a little stitching as well. I worked a bit on Carol's quaker round robin.

First up is some stitching I completed. One thing I made into a pinkeep and the other I just stitched and haven't finished as of yet. Both are designs by Heart in Hand. I just love these cute little snowmen!

I also stitched up a Christmas ornament. The design is by Helga Mandl.





Now the gifts.....every year I always send my friend Lynne (no blog) in California something stitched by Lizzie Kate as Lizzie Kate is her favorite designer as well. So..this is a design that is featured in her latest Tiny Tidings leaflet. I think it turned out pretty good. Lynne also loves flavored coffee, like I do, so I sent her a package of that too.



Lynne doesn't have alot of time for stitching right now as she is a very busy mom and works full time so this year she sent me a gift subscription to any magazine of my choice so I choose the magazine All You. I have been picking it up at the store alot lately and really like it so thought a subscription would be nice. She also sent some lovely kitchen towels, which I love, and some peppermint bark too!



Next up is what I sent to Carol for her birthday. I wasn't able to take a pic of the birthday gift myself as the store packaged her gift for me. So if you copy and paste this link and it will take you to a pic of what I sent. http://www.ibloom.com/ItemNumber/400847_LittleHugsPlaque.aspx

Its an Isabel Bloom. They are very popular here in eastern Iowa as the company is based in Davenport, Iowa. Its very unique and wanted to send Carol something special this year. I have sevearl Isabel Blooms and just really love them.

I also sent Carol something for Christmas and chose a Blackbird Designs pattern from JCS ornament issue from last year. This was my first attempt at a stocking and I am really happy that it turned out so well. It really wasn't hard at all to do. So I see many more of these in my future! LOLOLOL I also sent a quaker coaster that I know she would also love and its in her favorite color --- BLUE!





Well, I think that about does it for today. I have stitch group here tomorrow so I need to be thinking of a dessert to serve, nothing sounds good right now and do some housecleaning.

I hope everyone has a great week and if I don't check back in..have a safe and happy new year!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching,
Wendy Jo

An Ornament Received and a Birthday Surprise Sent!

I participated in the Winter/Holiday/Christmas ornament exchange on the All Seasons Ornament Exchange blog and I received my ornament from Tracy yesterday. Tracy made me a cracker from an issue of the Gift of Stitching magazine. I love it! I am going to have to give making these a try, they are so cute!

Thanks so much Tracy and the card is cute too!




I also surprised my SIL, Jane. She is a dog lover and when my stitch group went on our road trip earlier this fall and paid a visit to Lizzie Kate's studio, I saw Linda had this all stitched up and was going to have it in the LNS soon, I knew it would be a perfect piece to stitch for Jane's birthday, which is next week.

This is my first piece ever to frame! I know...shocking! LOLOL (I must give some credit to Rex....he did cut the foam board!) It turned out great...Jane loves it..and I am a happy camper!

Happy birthday Jane!!


I am stitching on "snowy" things right now..no pics yet. I hope to have something to share soon. I also have a couple of Christmas gifts that are on their way to new homes so I also hope to be able to share pics of those as well very soon.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo