Stash and Village Progress

Wow, I am exhausted and I have not even gotten my post written. Just ran into a snap uploading pictures from my camera. Usually I do it through my HP printer, etc. with its software. Tonight it kept telling me there was no memory card even when it was stuck in the printer. Ended up using an Adobe down loader that did work, but then I had to figure out where it saved my edited photos. I get so frustrated with technology that I was almost ready to throw it all away. Since that process took so long this will probably be Thursday post instead of Wednesday one.

Last Friday I attended a Sewing and Quilting Expo in Kansas City with my stitching friend Sandi. She has gotten into quilting sort of through the backdoor. I like to quilt and sew, but would rather cross stitch. Sandi is working on finishing some things her mother had either in process or planned when she passed away rather suddenly. Now Sandi has the quilting bug pretty good, plus she also does sewing for her granddaughter. She make her Halloween costume this year. She wanted to be a cow, she had a cow costume and so did her Cabbage Patch doll Josie. i digressed a little here. The expo was held on 4 days with a merchandise mall open for 3 days. Various classes are held each day with a very diverse set of topics. The one class I took was Crochet 101. Even thought I crochet, I thought there might be some tips I could pick up. My mother, grandmother and an aunt did some beautiful work with thread instead of yarn and I have always wanted to be able to do that. Never been very successful. The teacher was very good and the class time went way too fast. The yarn we used in class was smaller than regular worsted weight yarn that I have used for afghans, so it was a different experience working with that. When I asked her my question about working with thread, suggested that I start with sock yarn. It is a very small yarn and then try again with the cotton thread. So I bought some sock yarn and have done a little work with it. I like the way the stripes appear in it. Did not take any pictures of that. It did not even enter my mind to do that. Maybe in a later post.

Could not go through a merchandise mall without buying something. Here is some fabric that I bought. The two pieces of red were bought at separate booths, but are companion pieces. One has snowmen in it and the other is just the background of the snowmen. Did not even realize it until I got home. Funny how things like that happen. No particular project in mind for any of these. I just like them. Also shown is a marking ruler that is marked off in 1/2 inch increments that you can use a chalk marker in to mark various widths for cutting. Still struggle getting my rotary cutter to work for me.

Here is a purse that I bought at one of the quilt shop booths. It looks just like a Vera Bradley bag, but did not have the Vera Bradley price tag. It was only $20 and has six pockets on the inside and one with Velcro closing on the outside. I love it. The handles are a good length too.

On the stitching front I have been working on the last 2 of 4 Christmas presents. Both are about 2/3 done. Sometimes it is hard to find time to stitch on them other than at home, since the people that they are for are involved in both of my weekly stitch therapy sessions. Also working on another design model for The Sunflower Seed. She has decided that one part of it needs to be changed so I will continue with the rest of it until the changes are done. This one needs to be done by before December 1st. The other design model is being put on the back burner til this one is done. Been trying to stitch as fast as I can, but when I do that I end up frogging more mistakes. Her Nashville market is coming up in February and she is already stressing over it.

My VOHRH has had to go on hiatus for a few days. Trying to get the other things done first. Also was waiting on some more silk. Got that on Monday, so was able to fill in one blank spot on the church steps today and tonight. Also has run out of the green for the grass and now am trying to finish that part too. Below is the progress so far.

Sunday the ladies of the church are having a Mission Fundraising Soup and Dessert Lunch after church. I am making at least a double batch of Taco Soup. Never really paid any attention to how many it serves, so after making the double batch, if I don't think that is enough I will make another. Also making a cream puff dessert. Good thing there is no home football game this weekend. I would not have time to take a whole day to go. Have bought the paper products for the lunch, still need to do some shopping for my soup ingredients and crackers and carrots and celery. Will do that Friday morning. Tomorrow (Thursday) I am working at the LNS-The Sunflower Seed. Things continue to be busy there. I know I have two orders to check in and price plus she told me today there are some patterns of hers that I can put together. It is better to be busy, but then I don't do any stitching. I guess she does not really pay me to stitch. LOL.

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween and not too many tricks or too much candy.!!!!