Hoosier Stitchers Retreat

Camp Ray Bird Oct. 2010

Back side of the lodge, faces Bass Lake.
Hoosier Stitchers

Let the stitching begin.

Shirley, Annette, Katie and Liz.

Alicia

Deborah

Coleen and Bert.

Jessica gave eveyone little spiders with M&M's.

Katie, brought her dragon she was stitching on last Spring Retreat.

Show & Tell

It didn't take long...lots of laughs and giggles and a few "Bettys".

The snack table, I swear it grew as the retreat went on.

Classes were Beaded Spider by me and Flat Fold by Liz.

Spider Class

Spider Class

Flat Fold Class

Of course we dyed material. We have been doing this since the first class that Coleen gave us a few years ago. This is always fun!

Debbie

Pam & Greta

All the meals were great. Thanks everyone for doing your share.

And a special thanks for those that went over and above the call of duty!

Finishes!

Nancy Lee

Marie

Bert

Marcia

Annette

I am sure there were more finishes, but I was probably sleeping, eating, showing or out for a walk.

Late one afternoon I built a fire and those that wanted to watched the sunset.

Dirty Santa Bag

This is a game we play at most of the Hoosier Stitchers retreats.

Bring a bag of stitching goodies, then everyone that has brought a bag draws a number.

#1 picks a bag and shows what is in the bag.

#2 can pick a new bag or steal the bag from #1.

This goes on until all the bags are gone, but one bag can only move three times and it is dead.

This is what I found in my bag. Thanks so much Pam!

Shopping without leaving the lodge...

I gave Liz (she is co-ower of Fancy Works) an order of things that I need (want).

I bought Bert's chart when she finished it.

I also ordered a pair of hand warmers from Jessica.

And Nancy Lee bought a beaded lanyard from me.

Then we went shopping, House of Stitches.

This is what I bought and I ordered the buttons for both patterns.

Liz was the one that drove and was nice enough to stop at an antique shop. I wanted to look for a frogger. They didn't have one, but I found these, silly bowls.

My Stitching

I finished!!! Crystal Tree by Sandra Paradise from Stitcher's World magazine Nov. 2004

Then I stitched on... Lizzie Kate's Double Flip.

But I forgot the other patterns.

So, I pulled out...Witches Stitch Too by Homespun Elegance and stitched the left corner and started on the moon.

I did the finishing on this one before I left for the retreat Thursday.

It is a candy dish.

Liz, gave me these flowers.

They are sitting on the end table.

Thanks so much Liz!

When I got home I found this card from Lorrie.

Thank you so much Lorrie, I love the card.

This was the first time I have ever hosted a retreat and I feel it was an honor to do so.

I think everyone had a good time and no one went hungry. I know I came home with about 5 extra pounds. Can't wait for the spring retreat.

I took a few walks around the camp site all the pictures can be seen here.

A quote from Debbie (I couldn't say it any better myself)...

Retreat gals - you continue to amaze me. I cannot believe what a diverse group we have yet how strong we all are. Did we get some of the world's problems fixed??? Nope, but I think if any one of us were put in charge, there would be some BIG positive changes. I am amazed every retreat how we love and support each other and come away feeling stronger and more loved. I guess it is true that the more we love, the bigger our capacity for love is. You are ALL remarkable women!!!!

Last but not Least...

I received an email from Craft Gossip, they have posted by cauldron!!!

A quick update

New Designs

I just finished my new design. I am still working on the pattern. I have decided to call it "Orbit". I am also working on a necklace to go with it. But I ran out of the dark blue beads. I called 2nd Street Beads in St. Louis MO, to see if they would send me more, because I haven't found them anywhere else. They we very happy to send them. Now I wait!

Special Order

This is the other special order I was working on. A few weeks ago when I was out with the Argos group. One of the girls ask if I could make her one but in Garnet. I have a set that is made in Amber. So, I made a couple for her to see which one will fix right and also which color she will like best. She lives in FL, so it will be a day or two before she gets them.

Close up of the Bracelets

Today I am doing laundry, packing and a little shopping for the Hoosier Stitchers Retreat. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

What's For Supper?

Halloween

This will probably be my last Halloween decoration for this year.

Materials need cauldron, wax paper, paint, plastic bugs and/or worms, form spray (insulation) and newspapers not shown here.
Place some wax paper down to help protect your work surface and the foam will remove easy from the wax paper. Wad up the newspaper and fill the cauldron to where it is almost full. Then start spaying in the foam insulation.
Once you have the foam in the cauldron they way you want, start placing your bugs and worms in the foam. I had my foam flowing over the side. You can make yours anyway you want, I think it would be neat to have it tipped over too.

I started by trying to paint the foam, but I didn't like the way it looked so I watered down the paint and just sprinkled it on with my fingers.

Finished and a picture of my little helper, Kayden. He liked putting the bugs in the foam.

Earlier this week I tried to make a ghost with starch and cheese cloth. It looks pretty neat, but it will not last more then one Halloween. It just isn't stiff enough. I tried several other applications too. First I used the starch and let it dry, then I used Future Floor wax (it is used for beading sometimes), then I tried spray glue. Nothing seem to make it stiff enough.

And last but not least I make a witch banner. Which you can find the pattern at my shop at Etsy. When printed out the templates are the actually size, which would make great appliques for shirts, towels or bags.

Special Orders

Please remember that I do take special orders. A friend email me with a request to make this necklace. These are her pictures. I didn't get a good picture of it and she was nice enough to take one for me.

I am working on another special order right now. No pictures yet.

Saturday

I did my first craft show in years. The last one I did Dylan was a toddler I think 2 or 3 years old, he is now 16. It was a small show, but I think I did okay and I plan on doing more this fall winter.

Well, that sums up my week. Hope you had a wonderful creative week too.