Until We Meet Again...

As you have probably guessed,

the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters will not be gathering in 2020

due to to the pandemic. 

 

We have been together for over 10 years now and look forward to spending time together each autumn.

We've been on many adventures each year

Throughout the Midwest

We've taken classes with our favorite teachers

at some of our favorite places

Although we hope and pray to be together again in 2021,

it won't be the same

We lost one of our dear Bittersweet Stitching Sisters this summer.

Our dearest Nicki passed away

We were blessed by her amazing faith, her endless generosity, 

her boundless support and constant positive attitude.

Nicki was always thoughtful and inclusive

She was talented in all of the various mediums that she worked in

from cross stitch and quilting to rug hooking and wool applique and knitting too

We are blessed for having known her

She is greatly missed!

Until we meet again...

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

~Psalm 91: 1-4

Blessings, Patti

A Perfect Pandemic Vacation

I don’t leave the house much, let alone go on vacation 

 But our week at the cabin in the north woods seemed perfect this year!

We spent many hours in our kayaks.

We love watching the loon families.

I love time spent in a kayak.

I saw a creature swimming quickly across the river at one point and had to follow it to see what it was

 We’ve seen muskrats, otters and mink in the past.

This time it was ...

A snake! I’m not sure what kind of snake, but it sure could swim fast!

I brought this tote bag filled with one EPP project, two wool appliqué projects, and countless cross stitch projects 😉

So what did I work on?

 I did some wool appliqué on the golf course as is tradition.

 I finished

 June Truckin Along

By Stitching with the Housewives 

(I was close to finishing before we left.)

And I finished an abbreviated version of

July Truckin Along

By Stitching with the Housewives

We didn’t go out for dinner as we usually would, but cooked at our cabin instead.

And we didn’t shop much but there were a few shops that we were comfortable going to as masks were required and social distancing and hand sanitizing enforced.

 I was so happy to find some treasures are River’s Edge Antiques & Quilt Loft.

This needle and pin book was destined to return to Chicago and the etched scissors are so sweet.

I found a few thimbles for my collection

When I got home I discovered a tiny note stuck in this thimble advertising Monarch Ranges - what a treasure!

And the find that made my heart skip a beat:

A baby shoe last with the unfinished baby shoe still on it.❤️

Look at the amazing sole

Size 2 - so tiny!

It does my heart and soul good to spend some time in nature!

Mom and I are hoping to go on a little adventure in a week.

Please keep your fingers crossed for us that it will be safe for us to do so.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Blessings, Patti

Stitching with Mom & Pennies from Heaven ~ Volume 23

For the past several years, Mom and I have gotten together on Memorial Day weekend to create a pincushion together. This year it was:

“Slice ‘o Summer”

By Maggie Bonanomi

Originally from the Country Sampler Maggie Club

Now published in Maggie’s Book “Pure & Simple”

I so look forward to our stitching projects together...

I also have to share two of Mom’s fabulous finishes

“Wool Sampler”

By Maggie Bonanomi

Stitched on an old feedsack

You can still see faint signs of the feedsack - love that!

And I love how Mom put her labels in the center of each flower on the back.

And this amazing masterpiece:

“Fish Tales”

By Jan Mott for Crane Designs

This piece is so amazingly realistic!

The details, colors and shading really make a statement!

I can’t stop admiring it,

Truly a work of art!

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

~Ephesians 3: 17-19

Blessings, Patti

Happy Easter!

 

“Mr. Bunn’s Garden”

Design by Maggie Bonanomi

For Maggie’s Club at Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin

Finished just in time!

I tweaked the flowers to be my favorites - daffodils.

“Holiday Hoopla - Easter”

By Brenda Gervais for With Thy Needle and Thread

Another finish for Easter ☺️

I thought I’d share a few other favorite vignettes

A favorite design by Rebekah L. Smith

Some favorite Schneeman creations.

And my Rae Dunn Easter collection is growing 😉

Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter!

“He is not here! He has risen!”

Luke 24:6

Blessings, Patti

A Blessed Thanksgiving

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with blessings!

I have two new finishes to share:

"Gobble Gob"

by Plum Street Samplers

These turkeys just make me smile!

"Bountiful"

by Pineberry Lane

2018 Quaint Country Ladies Club

for Dyeing to Stitch

Here are some vignettes that I shared on Instagram & Facebook:

a collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers

vintage Gurley candles

a favorite over one Cross Eyed Cricket piece from 1999

Another oldie but goodie over one

and a Maggie Bonanomi class project from years ago...

and I finished this sweet freebie from Stone Street Stitchworks!

It was charted for DMC, but I converted it to fancy floss.

I guess it will have to be fully finished for next Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving from here on Winding Vine to each of you!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

~Psalm 100:4-5

Blessings, Patti