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 1

The Bittersweet Stitching Sisters returned to Osage, Iowa for a week in October.

Home of the amazing Stitchery Nook.

It is definitely not just a "nook" ;)

It is a large shop with an excellent assortment of threads

linens

and patterns.

It is amazing that this town of about 3,600 people 

has not just a great cross stitch shop, but a quilt shop and 

an amazing wool shop too!

What more could a needleworker ask for?!

We spent an amazing morning at Ewe & Eye

and were so happy that our friend Barb met us there too. :)

It's become a Bittersweet Sisters tradition to have our picture taken 

in front of this lovely wall of wool. 

Ewe & Eye also has a wonderful selection of Stacy Nash patterns 

with many models by the talented Barb.

There is a sweet new coffee shop at the seminary

and so many great restaurants too.

It snowed for the first two days,

but then it cleared up.

This trip was just want I needed

rest and relaxation

peace and fellowship

and plenty of inspiration.

and there is so much more to share.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~Matthew 5:9-10

Blessings, Patti

Osage 2017 ~ Part 1

The Bittersweet Stitching Sisters returned to our beloved Osage, Iowa this year.

Such a beautiful time of the year to visit.

And look at this beauty! Kim brings a delicious chocolate cake each year from her local bakery for us to enjoy and this one was just gorgeous! Hard to cut into it was so pretty, but we managed lol!

We are so lucky, we just walk down the stairs and we are in The Stitchery Nook!

 I *may* have shopped there every day and still I forgot to take pictures!

You'll have to stop by their website or Facebook page to take a peek. 

Here are a few of my purchases ~ I had to restock on my favorite needles and couldn't resist some Murky linen and another unusual color.

I think that each of the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters couldn't resist this pattern and I just had to kit it up with such a wonderful selection of fabrics and fibers to choose from.

A few more new designs all kitted up and ready to go.

As much as I tried to work only on UFO's while we were there, 

I couldn't resist starting one new project once kitted:

I better hurry if I want to enjoy it this year!

We were so excited to see some new restaurants in Osage:

We had a delicious dinner at Taste one night.

I loved this great artwork in the bathroom

And Piggy Back Smoke Shack was also awesome!

Our trip journal has just begun :)

Next I'll be back with a favorite pilgrimage of ours...

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

~Psalm 62:2

Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters Trip~Part 1

 

The Bittersweet Stitching Sisters annual trip may be over, but we had a fabulous week that will live in our memories for years!

 

This year it was back to Osage, Iowa!

You may ask, why Osage? How many towns do you know that have a cross stitch shop, a quilt shop and a wool shop all within walking distance of my favorite retreat center?

It is heaven to be sure!

 

 

The Stitchery Nook is our home base - a wonderful shop with a fabulous retreat center right upstairs! You can go down and shop in you slippers :) (Believe me, I did it daily lol!)

 

It's a huge shop set up in an old Hallmark store - perfect fixtures for charts!

 

Aisle after aisle of cross stitch.

 

 

Tons of models.

 

A huge wall of linen

 

An entire aisle of fibers and my favorite part this year:

 

The entire collection of DMC perle cotton!

Perfect for wool applique and penny rugs.

 

They even have a separate scrapbooking supply room and custom framing.

 

You can visit their Facebook page here and their website here.

 

Among my purchases were:

 

 

Charts and perle cotton.

Waxing Moon Designs is a local designer and they had so many models  - I fell in love with the silhouettes.

 

And of course a variety of linens in such beautiful colors!

I also kitted up a rather large project, but forgot to take a picture...

 

 

Time to take a stroll down the block to Debbie's Quilt Shop.

 

 

You know that you will have fun inside when you are greeted by this pretty window.

 

 

Another large shop with a wide variety of styles.

 

 

So very organized and fun to wander through the aisles.

 

 

and the best fabric storage I have ever seen!

See a fabric you like? The fat quarters are stored right above - genius!

 

So many wonderful notions!

I had fun with mini charm packs, buttons and the cutest patriotic scissors ever.

Oops! Forgot to take a picture of my purchases - will need to add an update later!

You can find Debbie's Quilt Shop on Facebook here.

 

Thank you ladies for being so incredibly helpful and making our visit so enjoyable!

You know we will return!!!

 

I'll be back with more - next up will be Ewe & Eye (wool shop).

 

"Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

~Isaiah 55:6-7

 

Blessings, Patti

And so it begins...

 

The marching band played!

The children cheered!

 



 

The King and Queen even made an appearance!

 

The Bittersweet Sisters arrived in Osage, Iowa!

(Arriving during the Homecoming Parade was so appropriate :) 

 

We took up residence above The Stitchery Nook.

A wonderful and very large shop, perfect for picking up needed supplies and the first two items in the giveaway gift bag - the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue and the cutest little snail measuring tape that you ever did see. 

 

The retreat center above the shop is the newest and roomiest that I have ever stayed in. After staying for several days, I never want to leave!

 

We stopped in a new bakery "Taste" for a little snack, yum!

 

This cute little shoe store has the most perfect shoes for a needleworker and I just couldn't resist: 

A pair of boiled wool slippers with applique that are oh so comfy and a pair of clogs with wonderful and unique buttons - I was so glad that they had my size!

 



 

Then it was on to The Flower Gallery!

We loved this shop last year, a feast for the eyes and the nose.

We couldn't wait to see what artist, Carol Herman had created this year!

 

 

There were lovely items displayed inside and out.

And here is the treasure that I purchased this year:

 

I just loved the red barn board and the Indian corn.

 

The most wonderful surprise came later that evening, when Bittersweet Sister, Nicki gifted each of us with a custom made piece by Carol Herman!

 

Bittersweet vines painted on shaker boxes - each unique.

Be still my heart!

I will treasure it always...

 

I guess that I should end for now before I bore you, but I have so much more to share :)

Blessings, Patti