My week in the North Woods unplugged

Our week in the Northwoods may be my favorite week of the year.

A week to unplug, relax and recharge.

It was fairly cool the week that we were up there.

But we were still able to spend a lot of time in the kayaks.

 

Enjoying the peace, sounds of nature and the scenery.

Do you see the eagle nest in the bottom right corner with the young eagle?

Hard to zoom in while in a swaying, drifting kayak...

 

I rode along at some lovely golf courses.

This course was so hilly, that the golf cart felt like a rollercoaster at times.

so peaceful

on a lovely day

Of course I did some stitching while riding along, but I'll save that for my next post :)

We went to an old resort that we haven't visited before.

The lodge was gorgeous and in pristine shape.

 I'd love to curl up by that fireplace and stitch all day long...

The details in this newel post were amazing.

Such love and care put into this building.

quiet corners outside as well

And lovely views.

At the other end of the spectrum...

Our trip isn't complete without a visit here!

I think that they have every candy known to man lol!

But their home made chocolates are what I come for!

On a rainy day, you can't even get in the store.

But we found the secret is to be there on a sunny day early in the morning 

when they first open the doors ;)

And lastly, you can't imagine the surprise when we were eating dinner at a local pub and these two sauntered in!

Two dachshunds! Just when I was missing Peanut and Leia oh so much!

They made their rounds quietly, pleading with their eyes for a handout or two at each and every table.

They weren't very successful while we were there, but judging from their looks 

there are plenty of generous people happy to share :)

For whatsoever things were written in times past, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus,

~Roman 15:4-5

Blessings, Patti

A Farmyard Parade Finish!

"Farmyard Parade"

by Brenda Gervais

With Thy Needle and Thread

Sometimes you see a pattern and you just need to stitch it immediately!

That's what happened when I saw this sweet pattern.

I dropped all that I was creating and focused on these.

I've admired Brenda Gervais' "Patriotic Poppies", "Sweet Violet" and "Boo & Baa-ble" patterns, where she adds wool to her cross stitch and so I thought I would try her technique on this pattern.

I'm so happy with how it turned out!

I also love working with ric rac and decided to try the technique that Brenda included in this pattern. I love the ruffled edge that it creates.

I already had some linen ricrac to use. I didn't think much about it, until I got to the second pillow. Then I realized that I just barely had enough, not even a half inch to spare. Phew!!

I had to share the backing fabric as well.

I thought that it was just perfect for these pillows!

I enjoyed them for about a week and then packed them away with my patriotic decorations for next year.

Here you can see the original design with the stitched poppies.

I hope that Brenda Gervais creates more patterns with Ole and Ora!

They are such a joy to stitch :)

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

~2 Corinthians 3:4-11

Blessings, Patti

Tomorrow's Heirlooms 2018 Retreat ~ Part 6 ~ The End

As a final post, I have to share the goodies and shopping from this retreat.

Tomorrow's Heirlooms provided each participant with this wonderful bag - perfect for shopping and to carry our new projects to and fro.

Isn't their logo/motto wonderful!

They also gave each of us these wonderful ort jars and new scissors!

Love them!

After seeing the lovely models, these patterns from The Sampler House came home with me.

And I *needed* to add to my collection of Heartstring Samplery patterns too. ;)

I also bought this sweet necklace / floss holder created by Beth - the Adam and Eve go perfect with my box :)

I stopped by the shop to pick up these two new patterns by Plum Street Samplers.

I forgot to take pictures while visiting the shop, but you can see them in the Summer 2018 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine! They were the featured shop!

So you may be wondering, how much stitching did I get done during the retreat?

Well there was much chatting and visiting, but I did do some stitching:

The word "floss" is done for Beth's box top.

And I have a start on Tanya's tray.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to pick them up since.

Fingers crossed, maybe I'll find some time soon!

It was such a special retreat!

I feel so blessed that I was able to attend!!!

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

~Matthew 25:37-40

Blessings, Patti

Tomorrow's Heirlooms 2018 retreat ~ Part 5

Another fun part about going to retreats is seeing what people bring their supplies in 

and "Show and Tell" that they might bring.

Above is what I brought my supplies in - A fabulous project bag that Faye of Carolina Stitcher created from a Stacy Nash design. I won this project bag from a giveaway on Faye's blog some years ago and treasure it still. The sweet Adam & Eve box was created by Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery years ago when she was creating paper cuttings.

Margaret, our friend and table mate brought this beautiful ensemble...

as well as this fabulous project bag.

Many people also brought Heartstring Samplery projects to share

This one was my favorite!

I love the design and the perfect frame!

I brought the strawberry pincushion, fob and needlebook on the left 

based on "The Strawberry Collection" framed on the right.

I loved "Cross Stitch Nation"!

Why haven't I purchased this pattern yet?

The soft colors in this piece were lovely.

So much fun to see the way they are finished.

Items that I haven't made yet, but need to reconsider :)

I love the saying on this framed piece.

And take a look at this sweet pumpkin close up...

Darling!

I have one more post to finish up blogging about the retreat...

If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. 

So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

~Romans 14:8

Blessings, Patti

Tomorrow's Heirlooms 2018 Retreat ~ Part 4

Our retreat continued on Sunday morning with this sweet kit from Tanya Brockmeyer of The Scarlett House.

Such a sweet pincushion in an old Ball jar lid.

And she collected enough lids for all of us - Wow!

I am just thrilled with the entire set.

They look so wonderful together!

And Beth had one more kit for us as well:

This sweet mason jar wrap ~ a perfect place to store a collection of thimbles.

And look at the great backing fabric she found for it ~ perfect! 

I love the little stitched thimbles!

Too cute!

And Beth has quite a collection of thimbles!

Another wonderful coordinating set!

My friend Kim and I had so much fun!

And it was great getting to know both Tanya and Beth better!

I still have more to share about this lovely retreat!

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Blessings, Patti