Retreat-Saturday

Saturday

I got the okay to shop from my hubby "Bob". Berly was nice enough to take me back to 2nd Street Beads and I picked up a few things that I found in the magazines I had purchased earlier at the retreat.

Then we had our own truck show from Monster Bubble designer Heather Holland Daly. A stitcher and a beader, a girl after my own heart. LOL!

My purchase from the trunk show.
Then she give us a class on stitching on screen. Which was fun and I plan to make mine into a bracelet.
Monster Bubble designer Heather Holland Daly, Debra H and Alyena.

Group picture...Heather, Debra H, Berly, Karin in back. Front me, Alyena, Vickie and Meari.

Turns out that Berly is a model stitcher for Monsterbubbles. Heather brought two pieces Berly stitched!

(picture from Meari)

Then we were off again to Illinois to another cross stitch shop "Mom & Me". Very nice lady that owes the shop and she was very helpful. Looking for patterns, buttons and even sewn a piece of material that one of the girls bought from another shop.

Debra H is laughing because I said "better move that butt or your be in my picture".
My purchase from "Mom and Me".

I received most of the snowman patterns from the retreat, but I didn't have this one. Vickie found it for me.

A change in cars, I came in Debra H car to the cross stitch shop and left in Meari's car to go to Hobby Lobby before they closed. Meari was going to show me the good stuff to buy so I could do my own mat cutting.

My Hobby Lobby purchase.
I also bought this from Meari, she had two.
My one and only start and finish that I had at the retreat.

Earlier in the day while Berly and I were going to the bead shop, Vickie, Karin and Meari went to a community yard sale. One of them found this box of treasures and this is what I picked out. Thanks girls.

Retreat - Friday

Friday

Berly and I up and moving by 7:30 am CST. By 9 am everyone was up. I used my GC that I won in the door prize Thursday night, from 123 stitch. I ordered the all the buttons I needed for Grandma's House and the rest of the Mill Hill charms I needed for the Christmas tree I have been stitching on for years. LOL!
Then we were off to Shamrock Cross Stitch. Very nice shop, even though they had a nice selection of buttons and charms they didn't have any that I had on my list. I still found a few things I couldn't pass up.
Vickie, Karin & Meari going through the sale baskets.

Then Berly, Vickie, Karin, Meari and I were on our way to the Gateway Arch. On the way we called Coleen. She was suppose to attend the retreat, but family things got in the way and she wasn't able to make it.

You can see the sun shining off of the Arch. When you walked up by it you could feel the heat from the sun.

The tiny holes are the windows we looked out of.

We (Meari, Karin and I) got our tickets, but had about 45 minutes to kill before we could get in line to go up the Arch. Berly and Vickie went to another cross stitch shop in IL. So, we checked out the gift shops and the museum.
Then the line took about 20 minutes or more before we got in the small tennis balls that takes you to the top. That was a ride. There are 5 seats in a very small space. If you are tall like Meari, you would be a little cramped in there. I looked over at her once on the ride up and she didn't look very comfy. I asked her if she was okay.

We reached the top!

Picture from the top of the Arch you can see the shadow and that the river is high. The other pictures I took up there didn't turn out very good.

Meari trying to get a good picture of the Arch.
Goodies I purchased from Shamrock Cross Stitch and I bought an Old Fashion Candy cookbook in one of the gift shops.

Then we met up with Ruth Sparrow, Twisted Threads designer at Magpies. Where at one point in the history of the building, it was a "white" witch house. Thought that was a little interesting. The food was so good there, I ate everything! We paid for Ruth's dinner with some of the retreat deposit.

Aleyna, Ruth and Debra H leaving Magpies.
Ruth came back to the hotel with us and showed us how to cross stitch embroidery style.

Ruth, Debra H, Berly, Karin back row. Front row me, Aleyna, Vickie and Meari.

The reason I am looking over is because Vickie likes to give people bunny ears when we are going group pictures. So, I was trying to keep an eye on her. (Tee-Hee).

This was in the goodie bag that Ruth gave everyone.

Ruth is a very neat lady and I hope that our paths met again.

After Ruth left I went for a swim. Then we pick patterns from the donations.

As you can see I didn't leave empty handed. Thanks to all the designers and shops that donated to the ILCS retreat. They were all so kind and generous.

ILCS Retreat - Thursday

Thursday

Wednesday I had texted Vickie, because I knew her and Karin were going a day early. They started having fun without me. ;( They found two beads shops for me. YEAH! Thursday morning I texted Vickie "Are you up?" Vickie "I am now." (Tee-Hee)

Thursday morning I was up and ready to pack the car by 1 am EST and was on my way to Berly's house.
I had a detour that was going to take me up to Valpo. I was not going to go that far out of my way. So, I turned around and went back to where the detour started. There was a gas station on the corner and I thought I would ask the person working, the best way to get around the detour and back on track. He told me that 8 west was open that I could go around and make it through. So back to the car and I tried to go around. But my side of the road is torn up and there is just gravel on my side of the road. The other side is built up with new pavement that is about 2 ft higher then my side. I went through one big water puddle and then came another and I decide I wasn't going to go any further and backed up all the way. Took the first cross road, hoping that the next road I could just go around the road work. It took me in a circle. So, I went one more road and it took me right back to 8 pass the road work.
Arrived at Berly's and we packed her car and was on our way. Karin and Vickie met us at the front of the Hotel and we went to Starbucks, Berly needed her fix. Then we went to Bass Pro and Vickie and Karin showed me all the things I should buy. You think that they are bad (good) enablers in email, what till you get them in person. LOL! Which reminds me I was going to go back and buy that carrier and then forgot about it. (Duhhhh)
Then we were off to the Historical District. Vickie and Karin had did some exploring the day before and they knew what shops we wanted to check out first. Debra H and Aleyna met us there.
Our first stop "Stitches Etc." What a great shop, the ladies working were so nice they even helped me find things on my list.
There was a bead shop in the Historical District called "String Along With Me" and I picked up a few things there and later that day we went to "2nd Street Beads". What a great bead shop, of course I bought a few things.

While we were in the Historical District I wondered off into this cute little shop called "Memories In The Attic". That is where I bought the frog ring and a frog for the stitcher who frogs during the retreat. I had forgotten to pick one up before I left. The monkey dolls they sale there are so cute. She let me take a picture of them.

From left to right...Karin, Vickie, Debra H and Berly. If you look closely in the picture you can see me in the window reflection, taking the picture. YEAH! Meari arrives.

Starving we decided to stop and eat at "Garden Cafe Ala Fleur".


We are all checked in and started setting up our stitching room. It was small, but it worked out just fine. Notice now how empty the stitching room is and how nice the table looks. More pictures later.
Left to right...Karin, Berly, Meari, Debra H, Aleyna, Vickie.

Meari gave everyone a gift bag of goodies.
I showed the "Quiet" to Bob, he read it and laughed. Thank you Meari, that was very nice.
I went swimming then layed out in the sun for a few minutes and just enjoyed the moment.
From the Free For All table.
My goodie bag from the designers.
Around 9 Monique Keylon from "My Mark" joined us and we had our own private trunk show, then she stayed and stitched with us. She gave everyone a thread keeper. Thanks Monique, it was a pleasure to have you at our retreat.

Vickie won the first door prize. She picked her own name out of the cup. LOL!


I won the second door prize and I picked my name out of the cup.

(all pictures should be clickable for better viewing)

A quick update before the retreat

Exchange

I joined the Summer Exchange at ILCS group, this is what my partner (Vickie) sent me. I love it all. The Waxing Moon Design was one I almost ordered myself, but glad I didn't now. The flip flop pattern is so cute, she sent the charms with it too. The material is so pretty and the light yellow piece is huge! Thanks so much Vickie.

Beading

I finished 3 more beaded ornaments! These will be for my sisters. I have a few more to go, but ran out of bulbs. So I'll have to order more.

Bike

The Country Road Bike Shop, found a used babysit for my bike. I can either just have the rack on the back, like the picture below shows or I can have the babysit on the rack. It goes on and off easy. I just got it last night so I haven't had time to take Kayden out yet.

I have been riding my bike to and from work almost everyday. Except when there were things I had to do right after work or run some where during work. I think that has only been 2 or 3 times so far. I have been really lucky and haven't be caught in the rain, until day. I was 2 1/2 town blocks away from the store and I heard thunder, then the rain started, but I did get to the shop before it rained hard.

Parking Wars - Part Two

A while back I had said the one of the shop owners that we share the building with always parks up front. Well this morning after it has stopped raining I walked outside to get some fresh air, the shop owner's son pulls up (he is the one that has been in the shop, since school has been out) and parks his truck, gets out and starts complaining about someone being in his parking space.

OOOOOH!!!! perfect opportunity!!! I couldn't help myself!!!

Me-You are not suppose to park here.

Him-What? Someone is in my space.

Me-You are suppose to park over in the city parking area (as I point in that direction).

Him-I have stuff to unload.

Me-That is fine, but when you are working here all day, you need to park over there.

Him-There is no place to park over there (he is pointing around the block, not at the city parking place).

Me-No over there in the city parking area.

He walks away. I just happened to be calling Bob at that time and he heard most of the conversation. LOL!

Bank - Part Two

I got my pen numbers for my cards from the bank finally (except for my business card) and tried to call the 800 number to active them and it said "time was up". So I had to go to the ATM to active them. While I am holding all these cards (my personal, Dylan's personal, my business and one card I have no idea who's account it goes to) two each old bank and new bank. I accidentally used Dara's card, that was the card I had no idea who it belonged to. I got rid of that card, I don't need it and it had my name on it. Yes, I transferred the money into her account when I got home and figured out who's account it was.

The bank also had told me to open all my mail, because when they send a pen number it doesn't look like it is coming from the bank. "PNC-Bank Card" right on top of the envelope!!!

ILCS Retreat

I'll be leaving every early tomorrow (Thursday) morning for the ILCS retreat!!!

Grip, Grip, Grip!

Stitching

Finished a quilt block for Betty W.

Turtles

The pet store by us brought over a turtle and asked me if I wanted it. They know that I have 3 painted turtles. Well, first I said "no" because I wasn't sure what kind of turtle it was, but after I did a little research and found out that the turtle is a Common Map Turtle formally known as a Northern Map Turtle and that they do well with painted turtles.
The next day I asked them if they still had the turtle and they did. I brought him home. Yes, it is a he, that is another thing I found out when I did the research. Now I need a female so he won't be lonely. He doesn't have an official name yet. Kayden says his name is "Two".

"Two" is on the left. He can really stretch his neck out. On the right is Maggie.

And this is Moore. He/she (still to young to tell) has grown a little, but not much.

Beaded Ornament

Finally finished Dara's beaded ornament that I started at the beginning of the year. Finished it at work and put it in my basket on my bike to bring it home. I thought I had it snuggled in tight, but I hit a big bump and out it came, smash on the road. The ornament was shattered but the beaded all stayed in place. I couldn't believe it. Too bad it fits around the ornament, so I couldn't just slip in on a new ornament. Had to take all the beading apart and start over.

My Week

Here is where all the "Gripping" comes in...Last Friday our bank was closing early because they are changing the name of the bank and they would be closed (no on-line banking either) until Monday. We tried to get to the bank before it closed, but I sent Dara with a deposit and she just read the sign that they were closing and didn't go up to the building. So, the deposit didn't go in, I tried to get on line to transfer some money, but it was already down.

Monday came and I called the bank because I when I got on line to check the accounts the only accounts I could see were our personal account and the kids. I couldn't get to the business account.

It just so happens that the Bank Manager is a girl that I went to high school with. We knew each other, but I wouldn't say that we were "friends" or anything. I was (and still am) good friends with her younger step sister. Anyway we talked on the phone all week trying to get it all straighten out. I knew that the business account was going down and I needed to get some money in there, before we got charged, etc.

Friday came and I got into the business account, but it would only show me the business and our personal account and not the kids account. I transferred money into the business account and saw that there were $388.00 of charges.

Saturday I called her again, she called me back and removed all the charges and is still working on getting all of our accounts to show up together.

So, besides smashing the ornament, dealing with the bank all week and having my house a mess 24-7 because I am not home to clean it. I bet your week is looking better now.