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

"It's a Major Award!"

In December, Zappy Dots held a Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway on Facebook.

I entered this photo of how I used one of their needle nannies in a finish.

I was absolutely thrilled when I found out that I won the grand prize!

I felt just like the father in the move "A Christmas Story"

and wanted to shout, "It's a Major Award!"

When the box arrived, it didn't say "Fra Gee Lay" ("It must be Italian") on the side, but I knew that it contained precious cargo...

It wasn't a leg lamp, but it was even better... 

Look at all these wonderful treasures! 

I just love all that they sent and am going to enjoy them so much!

I'm sure you will see them all in future posts.

Thank you  Zappy Dots for your generous grand prize!

Just a few days later, Mom and I each received another unexpected box in the mail.

This one was from Rebekah & Kelsey Smith.

In early December, Rebekah & Kelsey hosted

"Wool & Friends: A Christmas Gathering"

in Ohio to celebrate a book launch of their newest book.

Mom and I were unable to attend, so they sent us the table favors!

Aren't they so sweet?

Wonderful homemade potpourri, a sweet ivory bottle brush tree to enjoy all winter

the prettiest cookie that I ever did see and

Me - a contributor?! So special!

You can see more about where Rebekah & Kelsey will be by checking their website here.

Most of the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters decided to participate in an ornament exchange this Christmas and I thought that you might like to see them:

From Nicki to Linda

From Wendy to Nicki

From Carla to Wendy

From Linda to me

and here is what I stitched for Carla.

"Yuletide Shanty" by Plum Street Samplers

Since she doesn't put up a tree any longer, I decided to finish hers as a pincushion

in a little tart tin.

  

It was my first time doing this type of finish, but 

Vonna of The Twisted Stitcher walked me right through each step with her tutorial here.

Thank you so much for sharing Vonna!

Well I promise that this is my last Christmas post and I will be moving on now ;)

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, 

which were just as they had been told.

~Luke 2:20

Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters 2019 ~ Part 3

Time is flying by and I haven't finished posting about the Bittersweet Sisters adventure!

Not only is Osage, Iowa home to so many wonderful shops, it is also home to Jacquelyn aka Waxing Moon Designs! We were so thankful to our Bittersweet Sister, Nicki and to Liz & Shari of The Stitchery Nook for arranging for us to spend an afternoon with Jacquelyn!

It was great fun to get to know her and to hear about how Waxing Moon Designs came to be and the stories behind the designs. 

 The Stitchery Nook has an amazing selection of her patterns and most of her models as well.

Her house trio series is my favorite!

Summer House Trio

Spring House Trio

Autumn House Trio

Christmas House Trio

The new Turkey Trio

and my personal favorite the Winter House Trio!

I love everything about this especially the amazing finishing that Liz keeps coming up with!

You know that I had to come home with several of her patterns ;)

And do you see the neat charms next to the Halloween House Trio?! They are so great with lots of detail on the front and the back.

If you are interested in any Waxing Moon Designs, be sure to contact the Stitchery Nook and visit Jacquelyn's Etsy shop here.

I still have one more post for the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters and then I'll move on to Christmas...

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. 

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, 

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

~John 6:35

Blessings, Patti 

Bittersweet Sisters 2019 ~ Part 2

The Bittersweet Stitching Sisters spent a lot of time... well, stitching.

We worked on many projects and brought other projects to share.

This is the beginnings of an amazing project that Carla has been putting together for us - a history of the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters.

We met in 2010 which means that next year we will celebrate our 10th year together!

The Bittersweet Sisters worked on a quilting project of love for Nicki's family.

Here is the amazing quilt that Linda made.

Linda finished these lovely smalls for the Animal Crackers series 

by Stacy Nash while we were together.

She also completed this project by Maggie Bonanomi.

Linda received a refresher course from Nicki on lacing and framed this piece during our week together.

It was so appropriate as this was a Boxwood & Berries class that we all took together. 

Hmmmm I should unearth my unfinished piece...

Wendy created this quilting project of love.

And worked on this project for a round robin group that she is in.

Wendy and Carla both brought this quilt kit with and they worked on them both together as a team.

Carla created this quilt project of love.

And she put together these lovely eggs by Prairie Schooler.

Carla shared this fabulous finish from a Dyeing to Stitch retreat with Blackbird Designs.

And she made progress on this sweet design by Notforgotten Farm.

Nicki shared this amazing red sampler that she has been working on

and I love the linen on this new start!

Nicki framed this while giving Linda the refresher class on lacing.

and she still found time to knit on this pretty sock - the yarn has such a pretty subtle sparkle. 

Kim finished this masterpiece quilt project of love!

It's a whopping 108 inches square!

And she also made this neat Tim Holtz quilt top.

Unfortunately I don't have a quilt project of love to share since I don't quilt :(

I worked on this Hands On Design on the right.

Shari, co-owner of The Stitching Niche, was working on the same piece.

She is doing hers on black perforated paper!

I thought that was genius - much easier to see the holes on the black perforated paper. 

It never occurred to me!

I made good progress on mine that week.

I also worked on my Trip Around the World by Primitive Gatherings.

and I made some progress on "Thistles Table Runner" class kit by Rebekah L. Smith.

It is so inspiring to spend a week with the Bitterweet Stitching Sisters - so much talent to enjoy!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

~Psalm 95:1-2

Blessings, Patti