This is a symbol of how progress is coming this summer! Not only is there a garden, road trips, and beach calling, but there are too many projects going on at once here!
So beware, this post is LONG and OFF-TOPIC for the most part, but if you quickly scroll down, you may see photos of things that interest you. We have a set of amazing customers who are more than capable of stitching our designs out faster than we can produce them, so there's been a lot of questions lately on where this or that series stands so this post is for YOU!
Let's start where the last post left off!
If there's one thing at the top of the list, it's the My Christmas Album plaid borders-- so appropriate for July, don't you think!
;-)
The conundrum of the upside down bow has been solved with a bow that looks better upside down. This is an amazing, fully embroidered quilt-- right down to the plaid! We are fully stitched, but now we have the tedious process of writing instructions-- look for your borders next week. Lots of you have been following along with this one--
thank you for all of the encouragement!
Next, we had a bit of a summer road trip, through New York and New Jersey.
This is a beach town, Ocean Grove, NJ, where four generations of my family have summered over the past century. We try to make it down at least once a summer. After being devastated by Hurricane Sandy, it was nice to see the boardwalk finally refinished-- all in Trex, so no more nasty splinters. I'll skip the story when I was about eight and sat my little bottom down on the very EDGE of the planks to enjoy the beautiful view---
OUCH!
This is Clinton, NJ, where I spent most of my teen years, met my wonderful husband, and we partly raised our son and daughter until the San Francisco Stitch Co. adventure began. If you are driving by, DO NOT MISS IT. They have the mill, an art museum, and a main street with the best local shops.
While standing on the edge of the river (ha-- you see that I am constantly living on the EDGE of things) we watched a little mother duck sweetly trying to herd about 11 little ones out of the current and over to the shore!
And so, the next Cloud Club bird is on the way!
This is going to be a Wood Duck looking at his duckling... of course, the mill will be in the background. So that road trip was worth it, just for that inspiration!
Meanwhile, back home...
You may think that I am now using "A New England Album" as a lap throw on the couch... GOD FORBID... there is too much spilling in this house!
It is now off the wall, washed, and blocked for another adventure, this time at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Mass. Every August, they do a showing of a quilt from each of the local guilds. I was beyond honored to be selected from my guild, The Bayberry Quilters of Cape Cod. Artists always pick nice places to live, and New England is FULL of them, so don't miss this show, if you are anywhere within a couple of hours. A "Viewer's Choice" award will be given, and then that person's guild gets their own entire show at the museum! Of course, I would love to win that for the home team-- so full of talent, so consider voting for my quilt!
This is the last time this quilt will be shown...
Of course, my husbands laughs because I've said that more than once to him as he helps me take it off the wall.
Speaking of my guild, we are having our OWN show as we do each summer in the beginning of August. It is also well worth the drive. We have 300 talented members, many award winning, and also enough vendors to do some serious damage to your budget. It's on beautiful Cape Cod, in Hyannis, from August 8-10.
Come on Thursday to avoid traffic-- I will be volunteering all day so ask around for me and say hello! The Christmas Album will be finished and on display, knock on wood.
"Mon Cheri" will also be in the Challenge quilt category-- yes, I'VE FINISHED SOMETHING, right down to the label and sleeve! This was mostly an experiment to try lattice-- SUCCESS! and it is with some pride I announce that my hand applique skills have finally arrived! This is also Viewer's Choice, but this time, you're allowed to vote for someone else, (I won with the ship two years ago) and believe me, you will have no problem finding one you like as the guild is TOP FLIGHT.
Now here are some pictures of my garden, another constant source of distraction:
I spend a lot of non-embroidery time there, but it has the benefit of much inspiration! In the last picture, do you see the little snake peeking out from our rock wall? I was SO hoping he would come out... I really love all of God's creatures, except for maybe mosquitoes. Will there be a Snake and Insect BOM? I think not.
And let's finish with more Christmas!
This is my stocking that I started 22 years ago when "Caroline" was born. I pulled it out when I was starting to consider digitizing cross stitch for machine embroidery in January. I've been working on it, snail's pace again, for the past six months, just for a half hour when I drink my tea in the morning. I brought in on the road trip-- do your projects travel with you?
If you ever want a hobby that proceeds more slowly than the lightning fast pace of quilts-- cross stitch IS IT!
;-)
Nonetheless, I was pleased to pull out the picture I took in January, and I have made progress.
If you've noticed, cross stitch is having a bit of a revival right now. I noticed the newer designers, for the most part, don't add back stitching anymore.You know, that is after you finish all the crosses, you go back and outline every tiny shape!!
Most people hate it, but it's honestly the best part for me-- you don't have to keep referencing the chart--just stitch around everything!
I'm still not sure if this will be done for Christmas-- it's become a bit of a family joke-- oh, I'd LOVE to prove them all wrong!
Still there?
Thank you so much for your patience and for visiting my little corner of the world...
here's a blog-only reward for you!
Take 25% any purchase through Friday, July 26th, no minimum purchase required-- just use coupon code blather19.
Happy Summer!
xox
Carol
Thanks SO much for sharing all the beautiful pictures. Everything is GORGEOUS! Happy, Happy Summer. XOXO
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