Summer 2012

While many parts of the continent have very high temps, we in Alberta are enjoying a lovely summer. At the beginning of July Dale and I took a week to go to Whitefish, MT. We had a super week, weather was terrific and all the July 4th celebrations are always a sight to behold to Canadians. On my JDD facebook page I think I posted a picture of both the CDN and US flag flying that week, that was so nice to see. So we celebrated July 1 – Canada Day in America! It was great. On the way home we took the way through Glacier National Park, it was awesome, there are just no other words. If you have never done the “Going to the Sun” road it is a must at some point. We have done it a few times and each time it gives awe inspiring visuals. We had a perfect day and once at the top – Logan’s Pass – you could see mountain flowers side by side with glaciers, so neat to see. We saw mountain goats too, with a little baby goat, so cute. This will be the first year in many that I will have a few autumn releases, it always seems that my classes take up so much time, but even though I have classes and busyness…… as usual! I did work on some general releases. Look for them to come in September. Working on the instructions and covers etc. in August after I get back from my niece’s wedding in Ontario!

So looking forward to Shepherd’s Bush retreat Sept 26-29th! An absolute delight to go! and the bonus is that they are in my time zone!! Mountain time, terrific to go to an event and not have to do time change. In October I will be at Acorns and Threads in Portland, OR – October 20,21. The pieces are surprises – but totally fun!! Looking forward to sharing them with you all!

Here is picture of Lake McDonald in the Glacier National Park, did you know that it is connected to Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta to make one -they (the US and Canada) created the world’s first International Peace Park: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP) in 1932-it’s kinda cool.

Lake McDonald July 2012 in Glacier National Park

New patterns !

Although you saw Strawberry Stitches in the Just Cross Stitch Issue last spring, I thought that for those of you that missed this lovely pattern you could enjoy it now! It is the 10th in the ‘STITCHES’ series and is a pleasure to see unfolding as you stitch it. I love eating strawberries so I was sure I would love stitching them too! I am just working on a strawberry pin button to put on the freebie page for you…. not quite ready, I have to finish it into the button, finally found a mold to fit. There is an embellishment package available as always with  a lovely mixture of Thread Gatherer Silk N Colors, Soie d’Alger, Belle Soie, Gloriana Silk and some Mill Hill beads and a By Jupiter Charm. I couldn’t find a handpainted one that was cost effective! I also have to share the ‘Garden Secrets -Autumn Set’ It turned out great. I put all nine into a quilt, wonderful gal here in Calgary put it into a quilt for me and Flo stitched into a finished quilt and it turned out great. These again are like the spring series which I did in 9 parts but this way you get all 9 at a much better price point, because I don’t have to do nine covers and nine sets of printing, and nine frames….! It uses the lovely Crescent Colours Floss and The Gentle Art Sampler and Simply Shaker threads. I again worked from a wee bit of blackwork and made nine little autumn themed pieces that can be used in any fashion you think might be interesting.

I am steadily working on my stuff for fall, have some done, some not SO done! but it is all coming together. My work is out on some trunk shows, so get to see them at Mom and Me Forever in Bethalto, Illinois and at Cross My Heart Columbus, Ohio.

Always fun to look forward to summer, enjoy your holidays if and when you get them, I know from working in nursing for 30 years, it was not always a given that you got summer holidays. Just when I had lots of seniority I go and quit to do this!! <grin>

Bonne Chance

Good Luck? you might say… what is this about? It is a funny little story and you will have to ask me about it, but I did have such a wonderful, super time both at Celebrations and my 2 classes in Montreal, hence the French! I probably should say BONJOUR! Bienvenue…. to you all… Celebration of Needlework in the New England states is such a wonderful event, everyone is excited and the designers have made so many special things…. it is just great to see some of the class projects in ‘real’ – it does truly make a difference seeing things for real rather than on the net. The vendor marketplace is always so nice too, vendors set up lovely booths and it is a stitcher’s shopping adventure. I was thrilled to see so many old friends and spend some time with some of you in class, what a treat, it was great to see you! Even though Manchester, NH is really quite close to Montreal — when you think how far west I am in Calgary -but there is no direct flight and so it was a trip over Philly to get to Montreal but it was awesome once I got there. I had some lesson time myself in Schwalm- whitework embroidery, and taught at the Lakeshore Stitchery Guild and a group called Les Brodeuses Québécoises . It was exciting to meet with old friends, having taught at the LSG in 2006- and it was a treat and to meet new stitchers to me at the other guild. It was an adventurous few days in the community where we had the second set of classes as the cadets were practicing for ‘Jean Baptiste Day’ and it was a fanfare of either “Oh Canada” or other songs that I didn’t recognize but they could softly hum to, and I was enchanted, at one point they sang a beautiful song in French to me, it brought tears to my eyes. So you can imagine, music and handwork crosses all language barriers and despite the translating we had a wonderful, memorable time.

Thank so very much to everyone on each part of the journey that made it fun and memorable, to each one of you that participated in a class that I taught, and to new and old friends, I am blessed indeed!

Au revoir…. ’til next time….