Bittersweet Sisters 2018 Trip ~ Part 6

The final part of the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters annual trip!

Be sure to read through to the end, it will be worth it ;)

I bought several kits at Country Sampler - two cross stitch and the fabric kit for the star that I shared on an earlier post.

At JJ Stitches, I bought these two patterns along with the kit for "So Beholden". 

I'm thinking of doing a mash-up of both patterns...

At JJ Stitches, I also bought these three wools - thought they would make great evergreen trees 

and this pattern that I haven't seen before.

At Lynn's, I increased my Hands On Design stash with a few patterns.

 And a sweet kit (Autumn Skies) that is currently exclusive to Lynn's of Madison.

And Plum Street Samplers' "Scary Two" is all  kitted and ready to go!

I forgot to share this sweet gift from Carla!

She is a lace maker and actually made lace for each of us! 

Isn't the entire display lovely with the antique buttons and bobbins?!

She also created some wonderful daily kits for us!

I'll share once I make some progress on them!

Finally what you have been waiting for: 

A little giveaway!

I'm sharing some of the wool that I purchased.

In addition, each year we bring patterns and supplies that we no longer need and share with the rest of our Bittersweet Stitching Sisters. This year we agreed to share some with you. So we're including two Blackbird Design charts for the November and December stockings.

Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me: do you decorate for Thanksgiving?

You can also email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Thankful" in the subject line.

I'll pick a winner using random.org on Monday, November 19.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: 

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

~Psalm 100:4

Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters 2018 Trip ~ Part 5

So what did we work on during our week at the Second Story?

Linda, Carla and I worked on our "Bountiful" - a 2016 Boxwood & Berries class project

 from Maggie Bonanomi.

Linda and I finished ours.

Carla was amazing and ironed, cut, placed and stapled all of her pieces in less than a week!

Linda and Wendy attended a Maine cruise with Maggie Bonanomi in September and worked on Maggie's "Book of Days". Carla and I were inspired and brought our supplies so that the "experts" could help us. I was happy to just get my blank book put together (on the right), 

but Carla even put together and finished her cover (on the left)!

Linda also worked on this gorgeous table mat and just about completed it!

Nicki worked on this lovely penny flag.

And worked on "Step into my Garden" by Maggie Bonanomi.

And worked on knitting a pair of socks!

Kim worked on this Tim Holtz quilt - she has a lot more completed, 

but these squares are the highlights ;)

She also worked on a cheddar quilt.

Wendy finished this sweet cross stitch piece - right on time!

And started towards the next holiday season.

She also made progress on this piece.

(I think I may have to stitch this!)

And you have already seen these, but I fully finished these with their hexies during our week.

It was a productive week for all!

I'll have one more post along with my traditional travelogue giveaway - coming soon!

 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

~Psalm 100:3

 Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters 2018 Trip ~ Part 4

On the way up and during our trip, we did a bit of antiquing.

I saw some lovely and inspiring pieces.

 All of these seed boxes were unopened - fully intact.

Growing up we had this set of carolers on display each year.

They live at my sister's house and still come out each year :)

This pillow is done in solid cross stitch - so much work!

It almost came home with me.

I also loved this chip carved cabinet.

But where would I put it?

This hexagon quilt was a cutter, but oh so pretty.

 The fabrics were old and gorgeous.

So what came home with me?

I bought a pair of Gurley pilgrim candles to go with my collection of Gurley turkey candles.

I thought this shoe pincushion was different since it was a man's loafer rather than a ladies shoe.

The piece that truly intrigued me is the wooden high heeled shoe. 

It was made by Vulcan Corp., a Wisconsin shoe last maker. This 100+ year old company reinvented itself when the need for shoe lasts declined by making bowling pins. This shoe is dated 1942 and has the word "Victory" on the heel. The wording on the toe has faded, but after some research I discovered that it originally said "Remember Pearl Harbor". 

A treasure for sure!

After all of these posts, I bet you are wondering what we stitched while we were there...

That will be my next post.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

~Psalm 100:1-2

Blessings, Patti

Bittersweet Sisters 2018 Trip ~ Part 3

One day a few of us went on a shopping road trip.

We stopped at Mill House Quilts in Waunakee.

Then it was on to:

JJ Stitches in Sun Prairie.

It's been several years since I've had the opportunity to stop here

 and it is as wonderful as I remember.

Inspiration the moment you walk in the door!

A wonderful selection of wool.

Darling patterns that I haven't seen before.

And kits for their delightful models.

This kit made me want to learn to quilt!

The colors and quilting were absolutely fabulous!

And everything wasn't just for fall...

They have a beautiful Christmas and Winter room.

So much inspiration everywhere that you look!

All too soon, we were on the road again, heading to:

Lynn's of Madison!

Here they were hosting a phenomenal trunk show of Hands On Design!

I think I started hyperventilating!

Sew many designs I have been admiring online, available to see in person!

One more beautiful than the next!

Lynn's had hosted a class with Cathy Habermann recently.

I wasn't able to attend, but I was so thrilled to see these all in person!  

I would have loved to buy all of the patterns :)

How do you ever choose?

I was especially thrilled to see this model as I am stitching it right now.

This is a bigger than usual piece for me, but seeing it in person inspires me to keep stitching!

We made one more stop, but I'll save that for the next post.

 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. 

Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, 

the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good; his love endures forever.”

~2 Chronicles 5:13

Blessings, Patti

Happy Halloween!

We interrupt our Bittersweet Stitching Sisters travelogue to wish you a

Happy Halloween!

"Old Black Cat and Friends"

by Pineberry Lane

I stitched these sweet pillows last October, but didn't fully finish 

until my week with the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters.

I thought that the little English Paper Piecing hexies added a little fun to the finish :)

"Hallowe'en Jack Sewing Roll"
by Stacy Nash

I finished stitching this piece two years ago, but wasn't sure on how to fully finish. With my Bittersweet Stitching Sisters for support and inspiration, it is finally finished!

I made a few tweaks on this design ~ adding a grinning Jack and taking Stacy's lead and adding more hidden objects in the bottom border. My favorite is the teeny tiny mouse in the bottom right hand corner. 

Here is Stacy's original design.

And just this week I had one final Halloween finish:

"Bittersweet & Broomsticks"

by With Thy Needle and Thread

(an abbreviated version)

My second "Priscillafied" finish! Inspired by Priscilla Blain of The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch.

I used another $3 wooden pumpkin plaque from Target and set off the cross stitch with a great homespun plaid that I found at Country Sampler. A bow and some berries and I was all set!

I'm trying to finish up a final Halloween wool applique design 

and then it is on to Thanksgiving stitching!

We now return to the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters travelogue...

Hope everyone enjoys at least a little favorite Halloween candy today!

For it is by grace you have been saved, 

through faith—and this is not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

~Ephesians 2:8-9

Blessings, Patti