Those of you that have been following my blog know I had hoped to finish my work on one of Mary's under-the-sea blocks to share today. Last Wednesday night, I wondered what I had been thinking?! Time crept up on me again and the trip we had planned to take to Lincoln City had nearly arrived. Thursday was filled with chores and Friday with packing and driving.
We thought it would be fun to take a trip with the grandparents and cousins before my eldest heads off to college this fall. We left on Friday and returned home yesterday. It was a bit windy and chilly, but the sun was out and the company was wonderful. It was a perfect weekend at the coast.
We rented a house with an ocean view (translate this to read 'with 3 flights of stairs') and within walking distance of the beach. The house had a hot tub on the deck and a game room featuring a poker table, a pool table and a projector movie system. Basically, we were pretty spoiled. We were also within walking distance of Highway 101. We took the teens on a walk and this Prehistoric shop was so popular that we had to stop on our way to the Candyland store and on the way back to the house.
Last night, it was very clear I would not have time to stitch enough to share with you on Mary's under-the-sea block. What to share, what to share? It was a perfect opportunity to start on a new goal... (My second new project in 2 weeks, and my friend at Magpie's Mumblings and I were just discussing how I was NOT going to start anything new. I caved, what can I say...)
At the beginning of the year, Valerie Bothell started a group on Facebook called Joyful Embellishments. Every Monday through Friday she introduces a new stitch combination that may be used to embellish a crazy quilt. This morning, Valerie introduced stitch #116.
I joined the group last month, but had not decided if I wanted to put all the stitches onto crazy quilt blocks or if I wanted to create a booklet of stitches like the one Annet at Fat-Quarter created with her Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) stitches. (Here is a link to her completed booklet. I love it!) Last night, I decided on making a booklet of stitches. Valerie has a Joyful Embellishments Pinterest page that makes it super easy to find the stitches in order.
Using 2 strands of DMC 701 for the feather stitch and 2 strands of DMC 223 for the lazy daisy (also called a detached chain stitch), I completed Stitch 1 on 28-count Monaco evenweave.
I am linking with the Monday Stitchery Link Party #10 at Super Mom - No Cape. If you do any hand stitching, I encourage you to join in the fun. There is another great free pattern available today, too!
Thank you for stopping by!
Renee
11 comments:
OMG it has been years since I have been to Lincoln City. Good idea to make a stitch book.
Sounds like a great weekend. Your feather and detached chain are pretty.
Life and spending time with Family is so important. Looks like you had a wonderful time together...three flights of stairs and all. Lovely stitching and great idea to create a stitchery book. June JOY...
Beautiful stitches Renee! I just know your stitch book is going to be beautiful! I love this FB group.... so much talent and inspiration. I haven't actually started a stitch book... I thought I was too late but you have made me think again! :) x
I'm also in this CQ group, but haven't stitches any of the examples yet. They are great for inspiration. Thanks for linking to my TAST book!
Annet, thank you for such an inspirational TAST book! :)
Very pretty rendition of the stitch. I'm so glad you had such a wonderful family time. That is more important than almost anything else you could have been doing - making those family memories.
Seems to have been a perfect family weekend.
Oh what a beautiful rental place. I would just move in haha. So glad you guys had a great time. Love your idea about the stitch book. How neat. Good luck with it.
Oh no, I won't give in to temptation to rib you about caving and starting something new. I would never do such a thing (lol). I follow the Joyful Embellishments group on facebook but rapidly realized that I wouldn't be able to find time to keep up.
Oh I love the idea of a stitch book! I clicked over and then click again to get to the slide show of her stitch book. And one of the pages has given me some more ideas for my Under the Sea block. So thanks so much for the link.
You may not have got as much stitching done has you'd originally planned but you did make progress on the biggest WIP of all... that of building a loving family and all the wonderful memories that go with it!
Thanks for linking up to the Stitchery Link Party again last week and for linking back. Aloha hugs!!
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