Day 3 & 4 Tea & Stitches Retreat

This retreat has been so much fun. Everyday is something new with more new stitches, surprises and seeing other stitchers projects. I have been so busy at the retreat that I haven't had time to blog, so I'll try to catch up while we are on the road to Lakeland and then Ocala.

 This was a lovely surprise fill with chocolate kisses for snacking while we stitched.

 When we arrived Saturday moring we had a packet of beautiful threads from Valdani. I love Valdani threads and no one carries them in my area so they are a luxury.

We stitched all morning with Jan showing us sseveral new stitchess whie we practiced. This is the sample pin cushion project we are all working on to get us ready for the Romancing Baskets pattern Jan so graciously gave us. Of course, when working on our pin cushion we can embroider any way we choose. Jan's is so pretty and it makes you want to try to copy her stitches. I did use different fabrics that we got in our kits, so mine won't look just like Jan's.

Lunch time again.. I feel like all we do is stitch and eat. Hey, that's all we do do. A delicious lunch of Polynesian chicken, wild rice, grilled vegetables, salad and cheese cake.

After lunch we returned to find another treat. a little box of chocolates.

Some of the other students brought various embroidery books to share, some of which were out of print, but had they wonderful patterns.

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We stitched until 3pm and then it was time for tea and show and tell again.

 These are 2 of Elan's. Very nice. quilts

 After the retreat was over for the day, David picked me up and we went to dinner at Aunt Kate's in North Beach, SA.

 A nice salad and a basket of their special breads.

 I had the Shrimp and Grits and David had the Seafood Platter. Too much food, but good.

DAY 4 of the Retreat. This is the last day of Tea and Stitches. It has been so much fun and I hate to see it end.

Another little surprise was waiting for us when we arrived. A little high heel shoe of silk ribbon from YLI,

 And a Bonus pattern of the Romancing Bskets Pin Cushion we are working on.

 Names were drawn all through the retreat for door prizes and I won a package of wool fabrics and matching threads from Weeks Dye Works. My favorite colors too. Thank you Jan and WDW.

 Jan shared with us the project she plans to work on at the next Retreat in October, but I can't share it becuase it is a secret, but it is beautiful.
Before we left for the day, we gathered for lunch and a departing surprise. More chocolates and tea to take with us and more door prizes.

Ann won 2 door prizes. Lucky girl. I won 2 last year.

We checked in with Ryan.  Emma was better, but Trevor had  a fever of 102, so we decided to go over and visit while we could,

 This is a picture of  Najla and Trevor when he was feeling better.

And a few days earlier.

 And this is today. Poor boy. We went over to visit and spend some time with everyone. I had bought some tulle to make Emma a couple of TuTus that did not require sewing. They had pink and white glitter in the tulle and it was everywhere. They turned out pretty fluffy and you can see. This is today and Trevor is feeling much better. Maybe he is over the worst of it. Wish we could stay longer and visit more, but we have an appt. to get the recall on the MH steps fixed while we are in the area. Then we are going to Ocala to visit Maryann.

Day 2 St Augustine

It was day 2 of the Tea and Stitches Retreat. David drove me to JAX and dropped me off so he could have the car during the day. This day is would be all day from 9 to 6, but I had planned to eave early to meet Ryan for dinner in SA.

We we arrived in the classroom what did we find, but a sweet little red box and a pretty bag of goodies.

The red box contained a tiny ceramic bowl with a pin cushion and the bag had several new hand dyed threads to try.

 We all began working on our big red pin cushion with Jan's instruction. What fun.

 Before we knew it, the morning had slipped by and it was time for lunch. Again a terrific lunch. This lunch was beef burgundy, bow tie noodles, asparagus, salad and cake.

 The room was already set up for our afternoon tea with all the lovely china tea cups on the back wall.

 Behind the tea cups was a sampling of Jan's gorgeous quilts hanging behind them.

 When we arrived back in the classroom there were more surprises. Bette Augustine who in now in California had made beautiful needle books so that we had a place for all of our different types of needles that are used when doing our stitching. It was so delicate and lovely.

 It was tied with ribbons and had silk flowers and even a little china teacup.

 A what was in the little red package? A very handy book "Know your Needles" that tells you which needles (both machine and hand needles) are for which fabrics, threads and when you use them. A treasure for sure.

 After stitching for a couple fo hours more, it was time for tea . Jan's husband Joe actually arranged for the tea and cakes for tea time. What a nice guy.

 After tea it was time for show and tell. This is Pat's crazy quilt.I think it's the most beautiful crazy quilt I've ever seen. The detail and embroidery was unbelievable.

 This was another quilt. Wonderful 3D blocks too.

 And Kim is working on Jan's pattern from last year.

 After lunch we returned to the classroom to find another surprise.

 This was the kit we needed to make the sweet scissor holder out of an old doilie. It had beads, a little rose and hearts. This is mine which was finished by the end of the afternoon.

 As I met David in the parking lot the geese were all over the campus. They were are very active this time of year as they were all very protective of their nests. There were a couple of cats that the geese chased away whenever they came near their nests. They did the same for people too. And watch you step.

When met Ryan for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. The kids were still sick and Najla stayed home with them. It was nice to see Ryan and talk to him. They have made such a success out of the animal hospital they own, I'ms so proud of him and Najla and so happy for them. 

Day 1 St Augustine

It was a beautiful day in SA. The sky was sunny and the temperatures were breezy and perfect.

We checked in to the campground on Wednesday and had a good night of rest. The Retreat didn't start until 4PM so we had the morning to relax and do whatever before heading to Jacksonville.

I wanted to look for a new pair of summer shoes, so we headed to the outlet mall to check it out. I did find 2 pair of cute shoes. 

 Afterwards, we headed for a lunch place. I had noticed on one of the RV forums that a great place to eat was O Steens on Anastasia Island, so we decided to check it out for lunch. This restaurant is cash only and no reservations accepted. It was a little hole in the wall and you walk up to the outside window and give your name. We had to wait about 30 minutes before our name was called which wasn't too long a wait.

 The food was fantastic. I had the fried shrimp, with 2 side vegetables and David had the scallops. Everything was delicious and we would definitely recommend this place.

When we got home and unboxed my shoes, Bentley staked his claim on the shoe box. It doesn't fit him, but it didn't matter--in he went anyway. He looks like he's saying, "What's wrong, MOM?" "Didn't you get this box for me?"

The Tea and Stitches retreat is held at the Herbert Center on the University of North Florida campus. I attended last Spring and had such a great time, I wanted to come back again. Most of the people are from Jacksonville, so many know each other, but they are all so nice and it's easy to meet new friends here. The project this retreat is centered around  Jan's new quilt Romantic Baskets. Her pattern hasn't been releashed yet, so we were the first to see it. It has 2 versions, one in red and one in blue, both with beautiful hand embroidery stitches adorning the baskets.

The workmanship is incredible. You just can't stop looking at it. As usual Jan, her sister Jo, Kathy and Natalie out did themselves on putting together this retreat which is full of prizes and surprises.

When we arrived there was a pretty personal name tag complete with silk flower and ribbon, a free pattern of Jan's Romancing Baskets, a bud vase with silk yellow flowers and a  paper yellow flowered vase with chocolate candy. Even our items list for anything we might want to purchase was adorned with red ribbon flowers.

Let the fun begin,

                                         

                At 5:00 we had dinner. A buffet of delicious pork, green beans almondine, potatoes, spinach salad and coconut cake. Yum!!! When we returned to the classroom there was a beautiful red box with a lacy ribbon and flowers at each of our places.

In opening the box we found a kit for making  a 6" pincushion that will be our practice work for the Romancing Baskets quilt. In the box was the basket template, several types of hand dyed  silk threads and floss in various colors, a book of embroidery stitches, batting, and belt canvas to finish the pin cushion.

We worked until 8:00 appliqueing our basket on one side of our pin cushion. and doing reverse applique on the other side.

It was so much fun, but a long day.

We were hoping to see Ryan and family tonight, but the kids both had fevers, so we decided to wait until tomorrow when they were feeling better.

Headed to Florida

We are headed to Florida so that I can attend the Tea and Stitches Retreat http://www.grahamcrackercollection.com/classes/tea-stitches-retreat/
  at UNF in Jacksonville. The Bonus is that we will be staying in St Augustine and will be able to see Ryan, Najla and the kids while we are there.So looking forward to this.

Before our trip, the kitties are all due for a nice nail trim. Our process is to trim all their nails and after they are ALL trimmed, they each get a little pile of catnip, I did Finny, followed by Bentley and then Nickie. As each of them finished one by one they go over to the spot in the kitchen where I give them their catnip and wait for their treat. I really think they enjoy their nail trimming time.

To get ready for the trip, we headed to Petsmart to load up on kitty food. As I was putting it away in the pantry I turned around to throw out the empty cat food box and there was Bentley sitting in the empty box with Nicky looking on. (Look between Bentley's ears). Ha ha, Very cat-like.

We drove down to Forsyth, Ga  for an over night stop and the kitties just settled right in. They love their bunk and having their own beds on the top bunk (with their own window) and their bathroom below in the the lower bunk.

The next morning Bentley had a great time watching the big gooses walk around the campground.

I did have the bed made, but while riding, Bentley likes to get under the covers and ride. In the old motor home he would get under the pillows and we could look back and watch all the pillows flying up in the air as he crawled under them. Crazy Kitty.

Next post, I should have some Retreat pictures.