Monday, May 16, 2011

fun, fun, fun!

First off, here is Susan.  She's coming along slowly but surely.


This pic was taken with a flash and the rest were taken with just my ott lite.  (It's rainy today.)


She's pretty, isn't she?


I love that duck in the middle!

So is that the fun, you ask?  Well, Susan is fun to stitch, but no.  That's not what I was referring to in the title.  And you will want to throttle me, cause I'm going to tell you about the fun, but I don't have pictures of the fun -- except for a few.

This weekend was a two day class at my LNS with Jeannette Douglas.  It was a fun two days too!  Jeannette taught us a new piece called the Island of Hope Sampler based on her research of Ellis Island.  She requested that we not show too much of the piece since she's hoping to teach it at another location next year.

But I figured I would show you a small part of my sampler to give you a tease.


I think the lovely star quilt motif is one of my favorite parts of this design.

Jeannette is such a lovely person, very fun, and a wonderful teacher too.  We got to work our way down the sampler, doing a motif here and a motif there and learning new stitches and techniques along the way.  It was great to be able to stitch on the sampler as we went along.  Jeannette also showed us a slide show about herself and her family, her designs, and of various places where she has taught.  At the end was a lovely slideshow of sampler collections and stitching tool collections she has visited.

Of course we also got to shop.  lol!  I picked up a few things, of course.  I so want to stitch this piece of Jeannette's.


As is so often the case, the picture doesn't do it justice at all.  For one thing, it's not stitched on white linen.  There are also smalls to go with the piece.


Jeannette showed me how easy it is to do the finishing on the box top and the smalls.  She says she is another one of those who would rather be stitching than finishing, so she likes easy finishing.  Which is good!

And there was a model of this piece that one of our class mates had stitched and which was framed.


Once again, the picture doesn't do it any justice at all.  IRL, it's spectacular!  Beautiful colors (red, ladies!), wonderful stitch design.  It's so neat!  So of course I had to get it as well.

I'm so glad I took this class.  Jeannette is a wonderful teacher and so much fun to learn from!

Finally, I won a prize from Catherine of Bramblewood Stitches.  She and her family had gone to Williamsburg, and while there, she picked up a cute bag to give away.  But she gave me much more than just the bag!


It had goodies in the bag as well!


She gave me some charts -- and she really picked well, she knows my tastes!  Also some chocolate (yum!), some stationery, a lovely piece of linen, and some fibers that look very very Williamsburg in color!  Thank you so much, Catherine!  I feel so spoiled!

I forgot to mention last week that the boy child's NYSSMA score wasn't that great.  He got a 95, an A.  Not good enough for All State.  But that's ok.  The boy child doesn't seem to mind.  He's just happy to be done with NYSSMA auditions for good.  :D

I will close with a picture of the two friends in a position that the boy child seems to enjoy.  I think Mia enjoys it much less.  lol!


Poor Mia!

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi!  I enjoy our visits.  Have a great week!

53 comments:

Annie said...

Your sampler is really moving along quickly.

And that class really does sound like fun. It's so cool to take a class with a master and stitching celebrity. Bet that sampler will be a beauty! Congrats on winning the prize too.

Cari said...

Your Susan Rambo is BEAUTIFUL...Do your needles ever melt because you stitch so quickly?? LOL Your work is amazing Margaret.

I love the JD designs as well. How wonderful that you got to take a class with her. I love her designs. I have several...but then I have several of everyones!! Ugh...

The prize you received is super duper too!! I love each and every piece she sent to you. How much fun is that?

Love the pic of Mia and the BC...so adorable as usual. Hugs and Happy Stitching!!

Marion said...

Your stitching is beautiful as always Margaret!!
How lucky for you that you got to take a class with Jeanette Douglas!!!
What would the week be without a shot of Mia and the boy child....love this one!!!
My word for the day...Quack...that's what it feels like here...day after day...after day...after day of rain!!
Take care
Marion

Katrina said...

Susan is gorgeous!!! And sounds like such a fun class. I love Jeannette, she is such a good teacher.

Cute pic of the boy and the kitty too :-).

Love to Stitch said...

Sarah is coming along great!! How fun to meet Jeannette, her designs are all fabulous! Great job on the boy child in his auditions-- 95 is still outstanding. But, more experience under his belt it super too :) Maybe next week a new finish?!!!

Hazel said...

Your stitching always leaves my mouth gaping! I don't know how you do them so fast. Beautiful giveaway win from Catherine. She was so very generous and yes she really did choose you some great charts. x

Francesca said...

Hello Margaret,
I'm always following your great works and LOVE how Susan is coming out and how fast! I put my first stitches on her just yesterday and spent all the afternoon making a conversion in Pearsall's silks, have so many and must use them, wish me good luck...
Your Blog is in my favourite list, is a must.
Have a nice week,
Francesca
http://lasoffittadeltempoperduto.blogspot.com/

merumo said...

OMG, Susan is growing so fast and pretty while mine is still going slow!! I'll have to put an extra fuel on my needle to move faster! lol What a fun class you attended over the last weekend! Your stitches look beautiful and very tempting to do some colorful speciality stitches... Say hi to Mia from Ms. Limo :)))

Siobhán said...

I'm just cracking up over that last photo.

Your Susan looks FANTASTIC!! I loved seeing your Jeannette pieces--both WIPs and stash enhancements!

Melissa said...

I bet Mia likes it. Our Daisy loves being held upside down. Mia looks pretty relaxed there!

Gosh, congrats on your boy's 95. It's amazing that's not enough for All State - oh well.

Yes I'm totally jealous of the lovely stash you won from Catherine - lucky you! And the class...what can I say?

Susan IS beautiful!

Deb said...

Every time I see this I wish that I had started it.

The class looks like so much fun. I can't wait to see the finished product.

And wow, you've been on a winning streak with giveaways! You go girl!!

Sylvia said...

Sue is looking oh so lovely! And she is moving along well. Your JD sampler looks amazing from the little bit that you showed. She really does have a wonderful sense of color.

Great Giveaway win.

I think Mia looks about as relaxed as a cat can when she is laying on her back. LOL

BrendaS said...

Susan is GORGEOUS! You are moving right along with her.

Lucky you to take a class from JD. I took a couple a few years ago and she was such a delightful teacher. I LOVE her stuff.

Cute pic of Mia and your son:))))

Michelle said...

Susan is soooo pretty! Love that duck!! And your class sounds like such fun. I love the litle bit you've shown of it. It sounds like a wonderful piece.

♥marylin♥ said...

merveilleux ce sampler ! et tous les cadeaux quelle chance !!! vous avez été beaucoup gâtée je suis heureuse pour vous !

amitiés mon amie

KarenV said...

Sounds like you had a great time with Jeannette, I've always enjoying those of her designs that I've stitched!

Wonderful progress on Susan, I really love the flower border. Mia is such a cutie, even upside down :)

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Wow~ that is alot of goodies, girl!

How exciting is that? Love your samplers you have!!!

Jennifer
Feathers in the Nest

valerie said...

Susan is looking great!

How fun to take a Jeanette Douglas class. She is such a sweet lady and sooo funny! Great start on the class project!

Congrats on your win from Catherine. Great stuff! I love that bag though!

95% sounds great! I can't believe that's not good enough to get in.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Susan R. looks fabulous... so yes, she is very pretty. The class piece looks very nice too. I'm so glad you enjoyed your weekend class with Jeanette. Nice stash haul too.
Cure snap of little Mia and her favorite boy child.
Congrats on winning a very lovely giveaway. Enjoy.

Annemarie said...

Excuse me, but did you really say Susan is coming along *slowly*? I think I'd better give up stitching altogether, then. She's a sampler of stunning beauty. Your perfect stitching helps :o)

Sounds like you had fun at that class!

purple24 said...

Absolutely beautiful! Susan is coming along very nicely.

That class sounds fun. :)

Bertie said...

Looks like you are catching up with Merumo Margaret!!! Your Susan is lovely. Congratulations on winning that wonderful prize, the bag is gorgeous, looks like Toile:))
Your new upcoming projects looks so beautiful, very Royal indeed. Did you get up for the wedding at 3am! LOL.

Nancy said...

Susan Rambo is beautiful and I think you are moving along quickly on her!

Glad you enjoyed your class and shopping this weekend! Must be fun to meet such an accomplished stitching celebrity!

Sorry your son did not make All State but glad he is ok with it. Love the picture of him and Mia, he does seem to love that cat!

Deborah said...

Your sampler is coming along beautifully! I love the colors. I would love to take a Jeanette Douglas class. Your piece looks beautiful.

woolwoman said...

Margaret - I had to laugh about your comment of Susan "coming along slowly" gees - I wish you could come and live in my world for a while - I think you would give up on my meager progress. Anyway Susan is beautiful - a local friend is stitching her and I love seeing her progress too. How wonderful you were able to do a class with Jeanette Douglas - I love your sneak peek and the Royalty ABC caught my eye too but I'm glad to hear you say the finishing was not hard and it was really beautiful. Enjoy your week! Mel

Berit said...

I also love that duck--he's got so much attitude! :D

z3mom said...

Wasn't Jeannette just great! I see you also fell for the Royalty Sampler - me too ;) Sigh. I gotta work on my Isle of Hope tonight to have something to show on Thursday. You and your friends should start coming to the Thursday GTGs and we can all help each other along. Wouldn't Jeannette be tickled if we had 5 of those samplers finished!

Tina

mdgtjulie said...

Poor Mia. YD actually puts herself in a similar position to get belly rubs sometimes!! Weird for a cat, I know. I love the star motif on the sampler. It's beautiful. Grats to the boy child on getting a good score! Have a good day!!

sampler lover said...

Hi Margaret, Susan is looking really lovely. Will have to get mine out and restart it.
It looks like you had a wonder time at your JD class and your stitched piece looks lovely. I love the sunburst design.
Really love the bag along with its load of goodies that you won. But the bag looks really lovely. I have a fondnest for Toile - Sandra.

Loretta a/k/a Mrs. Pom said...

Ahh, what temptation! Fortunately, neither the eyes nor the hands are up to that small work these days. But that sampler is just gorgeous!

Loretta a/k/a Mrs. Pom said...

Ahh, what temptation! Fortunately, neither the eyes nor the hands are up to that small work these days. But that sampler is just gorgeous!

Melanie said...

Ack! What a tease!!!!!!!!!!

Catherine said...

Your stitching is beautiful as always!! Love this piece!! Sounds like you really enjoyed your class - thanks for sharing about it! I am so glad you liked all the goodies in your bag! Another great pic of Mia and your son - what great friends they are!

Carol said...

I'm loving Susan Rambo more each week, Margaret--really, really lovely :) And what a treat to take classes with Jeannette Douglas--you sure picked some pretty future projects!

Congratulations on Catherine's giveaway win--she picked some lovely treats for you :) Enjoy!!

Nancy said...

Susan is such a beautiful sampler. I love all those cheerful colors!

Spending time with Jeanette Douglas was thrilling I'm sure! I love the quilt star motif too - it's very pretty.

Wonderful picture of Mia with the boy child!

Giovanna said...

Susan Rambo is gorgeous already! The JD class piece looks lovely too. And congrats on the win!

Scrap said...

your sampler is WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL oh là là, this is the best

Cathy Lloyd said...

So glad you had fun at JDD class. Always fun to meet teachers/designers. Love Susan! And you lucky duck...always winning fabulous things from blogs! Wahoo! Enjoy your week!

barbara said...

Mia does not look unhappy even if she is upside down. ;)

And what do you mean, slow progress? You seem to be zipping thru this to me!

Those goodies in your bag are gorgeous. I can't wait to see you stitch up the cat!! Mia wants to be immortalized!

Tanya said...

Susan is just beautiful. It won't be long now before you have her finished. Congratulations on winning! Looks like you had a great time at your class too.

Sally said...

Your Susan Rambo is stunning Margaret!

Sounds like you had a wonderful time at class. Nice new stash :)

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Susan Rambo is so gorgeous! You probably have her done by now, I'm guessing - since I'm late in visiting your post.

Sounds like a fun class with Jeanette and your piece looks really pretty.

The prize you won is awesome and love the pic of the boy child and Mia.

Sue said...

Susan looks great.

Natalia said...

Margaret, sounds like a fun time with Jeannette !!! She is a wonderful lady. I really enjoyed her class at Shepherd's Bush Retreat.
Susan is looking great and you continue to be a super fast stitcher !!!
Nice goodies you got. You have to stop winning all these giveaways. LOL !!!

Jean said...

Wow your Susan Rambo is coming along, she is just stunning!. Pia looks happy to me :)

Karen said...

Susan is so beautiful and you're making great progress on her! I like the duck, too; funny, I'd never really noticed it until you pointed it out but it's so cute!

Great pic of the Boy Child with Mia! She doesn't seem to be minding being upside down *too* much :-)

Donna said...

Your stitching looks great and I just love the bag. Your cat should hang out with mine, Just kidding HAHA. Mia is adorable

Ellen said...

Slowly but surely on Susan--surely you jest. You are amazing.

Glad you enjoyed your classes.

As usual your blog is a feast for the eyes.

Jackie's Stitches said...

More like Mach speed on Susan to most of us stitchers!

A 95 A isn't good enough? Competition must be really stiff. What was the benchmark grade?

Gabi said...

Susan is a beauty. Love that duck too.
And now I'm so curious how the rest of the JD model looks. But I guess I'll have to wait a while.

Dona said...

Yes, Margaret, Susan Rambos is pretty! And it looks like it will be done before long.

Another wonderful prize! Very nice.

Mia and the BC look like they like hanging out together.

Anonymous said...

Mia is just as gorgeous as ever!

Margaret, you are such an inspiration. I just adore your work. How fortunate to be able to take a class with Jeanette Douglass. Her Royalty ABC is lovely. I also love her new Quaker Stitches.

Love, love, love Susan Rambo.

Susan said...

Margaret, you've GOT to stop showing us these gorgeous samplers. I want to run out and get the chart for each of them when I see your beautiful stitching!

I am so jealous that you got to take a class from Jeannette Douglas. The sampler looks fabulous and I'm hoping she will release it as a chart in a year or two.