A Hobby House Primitive Needlearts Retreat

It’s been a long time and I’m not sure if anyone is still following blogs, but I had something so fun that I wanted to share. Earlier this month I was blessed with the opportunity to visit upstate New York to attend the Primitive Needlearts Primer Retreat at Hobby House Needleworks and Hobby House Wool Works.

The lovely shops are located along the beautiful Erie Canal.

The weather was nice and warm with the leaves just starting to change colors.

Just visiting the shops was special in itself, but I also attended two wonderful classes. 

My first class was with the talented mother daughter duo of Kathy Barrick and Liz Matthews. 

Kathy presented a lovely new sampler.

Of course it was kitted beautifully.

We also had a wonderful in class project inspired by her Pinstuck Pincushions pattern. 

You can see Kathy’s example in the bottom right of the pattern.

And here is my finish:

I was so thrilled with the final pincushion!

It is stuffed with sawdust and it is hard to tell from the photo, but the handle is a string of antique black mother of pearl buttons! 

I had so much fun with this that it definitely won’t be my last pinstuck pincushion.

My second class was with the legendary Maggie Bonanomi.

It was so good to see Maggie and Harold in person! It’s been some years since I have done so.

And the class piece was lovely!

I have two wool projects that I really need to finish, but I think this will help me to finish them up so I can get started on this lovely kit!

I have much more to share about this wonderful retreat and hope to be back soon with more.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

~Jeremiah 29:11-13

Blessings, Patti

Joy

 

Life has been hectic at work and at home and unfortunately my blog has fallen to the side.

I did want to take a moment to share for those that have read my blog over the years.

My dear sister in law, Joy, who has battled stage four cancer for the last five years has gone home to be with the Lord. She fought long and hard and stayed with us as long as she could. I know from my faith that this is not good bye, but “until we meet again” and that we will see each other again one day. 

Until then, I will miss her terribly.

Joy was the second of seven children and the oldest daughter.

She was a born caregiver and nurturer her entire life and even until her final days. She helped with her younger siblings and continued on with a career in early childhood education. Her specialty was children with special needs. She knew how to get down to a child’s level, engage them and listen to them. Joy interacted with adults in the same wonderful way. She was a wonderful example and role model as to how to parent and I hoped I could do the same when I became a parent. 

Joy was also a gifted artist - painting, quilting, sewing, cross-stitch, doll making, crafting - she excelled in it all. We had so much fun years ago doing craft shows together and more recently Joy would open her home to craft events. These were more than just craft shows, but time to visit, connect and indulge in snacks and baked goods with those that attended.

You can see some of her home shows here and here.

Joy was also a great letter writer. She preferred letters to text messages or talking on the phone and had many pen pals. She spent her extensive hours in chemotherapy writing to others including those battling cancer like my mom and Nicki, our Bittersweet Stitching Sister that passed away in July 2020. 

Joy and Nicki were never able to meet each other in person, but it gives me comfort knowing that they are together now.

Joy left behind her devoted husband, two children and two grandchildren that she adored and adored her along with her mother and six siblings and her large extended family. 

She will be greatly missed until we meet again.

All photos are from Joy’s garden - a truly beautiful and peaceful oasis.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

My God is my rock, I. Whom I take refuge,

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

~Psalm 18:2

Blessings, Patti

Wild & Wooly Escape

This past weekend Mom and I attended the Wild & Wooly Escape 

in Shipshewana, Indiana.

This retreat has been going on for a few years, but this was the first year we attended.

Mary Blythe of Blythe Girl Designs was one of the featured teachers!

This was part of her display of current designs in her classroom.

So much eye candy! 😍

Mom and I each took a class with Mary.

Mom took this class

And I took this one.

Mary is a wonderful teacher and I highly recommend taking a class if you ever have the opportunity!

She is so generous in sharing her knowledge and in all the little extras.

Of course I couldn’t leave class without a few more of her delightful patterns

And her amazing book filled with great designs 

And a few of her favorite notions.

The retreat also featured “destash” tables.

I didn’t think to take pictures when they were chock full, but here is a pic from the last day.

Mom and I brought three large tote bags of items to sell and just about everything found new homes -

Providing lots of funds to restash LOL!

I was delighted to find this sweet kit on the destash tables 

Along with this darling pattern

And this amazing project bag made with Blackbird Designs fabrics 

Made by fellow attendee Monica.

Love it! ❤️

The Blue Gate Garden Inn had lovely areas for stitching both inside and out 

when you wanted to move around a bit.

This was my view when stitching outside one afternoon.

The retreat also had a show and tell one evening where each attendee could present a finish. 

Mine is on the left - Rebekah L. Smith’s Thistle Runner and Mom’s Koi Pond by Crane Designs. 

The finishes were all stunning! To see them all, be sure to visit 

the Wild and Wooly Escape page on Facebook.

There were vendors on site as well. 

I promised myself not to buy any wool as I have enough to vend myself lol,

But who could resist these tonal packs?!

Each and every attendee also received a door prize and mine could not have been more perfect!

A quilt book and kit based on Christmas at Marshall Field’s on State Street in Chicago. 

So many family memories have been made there starting with my grandparents taking me and your sister to The Walnut Room as children and my husband and I doing the same with our boys…

Of course you have to shop when in Shipshewana!

A visit to Yoder’s Department Store is required!

They have an amazing selection of cookie cutters and a few went home with me.

Along with this great fabric collection and two pairs of shoes - 

LOL they have it all!

I did a little antiquing and those water spout handles caught my eye.

Here are my tiny treasures.

The tiny red tin box was special and the ruler says “for the ladies work basket”.

I made some good progress on my class piece while there.

I had some delayed surgery on my foot two days after returning, but it’s given me an opportunity to slow down and think about how wonderful this retreat was! 

Mary and Lisa did a phenomenal job putting everything together - from the classes, to the vendors, to all the activities - it was just perfect! 

And Mom and I are signed up to return next year!

We can’t wait!

And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

~Micah 6:8

Blessings, Patti

A Special Meet and Greet

Earlier this spring I was fortunate to attend a Meet & Greet with Priscilla Blain and Chelsea Carter at Tomorrow’s Heirlooms in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Priscilla and Chelsea are the mother daughter duo, Stitching with the Housewives 

and they havea fun and addictive floss tube channel on YouTube.

They are prolific designers and brought an amazing trunk show with them

It was so much fun to see so many models in one place in person.

They were displayed beautifully by season along with lovely quilts that Priscilla has made.

I’ve collected many of their charts already and have several more that I need to collect 

after seeing them in person 😉

It was such a joy to meet them in person!

And this is the exclusive chart that was created just for the meet and greet.

Tomorrow’s Heirlooms did a fabulous job, 

And we each received a wonderful goodie bag

With the exclusive chart

Another Stitching with the Housewives chart, little travel scissors, 

and a sweet thread ring from Sampling of Memories.

While I was there I did a little shopping

Adding to my collection

It had been a bit since I had been in a cross stitch shop and it was a lot of fun.

It was hard to be good ;)

There is a favorite antique mall near by, so I stopped there as well.

I found these neat garden stakes.

And the tiniest sewing scissors and a thimble for my collection.

I have one more catch up post that I would like to share and then I’ll be up to date.

Stay tuned!

“God is our refuge and strength,

An ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Blessings, Patti