Not a bad place to spend the day? This was the grounds of where our stitch~in was held on Saturday , at the beautiful Torrey Pines Christian Church nestled on La Jolla Scenic Drive. Closer to the coast and the weather was just purr~fect!
We were invited to arrive early to enjoy a continental breakfast. I was thinking pastries and sweets? well was I ever wrong! there were cheeses, deviled eggs and the most delicious smoked salmon made by our chapter president Nancy. Is these nothing that she doesn’t do? BTW, AlleyCat loves smoked salmon!
The baskets that were there to tempt you to buy lots of chances were plentiful. This beautiful hand made stitching chest was quite the hit!
Books to buy were overflowing as were lots of other donated to the chapter items, such as canvases, stretcher bars, charts, threads and just everything a stitcher could want.
Class was about ready to start…I’d better find my seat. Kay was a wonderful teacher and very patient. First thing we needed to do was lace up, which is a Japanese technique to keep your canvas drum tight. Yes I know that there are Evertites these days to do that, but this is the traditional way of framing up. It took a while to for me to remember my lessons with Shay Pendray and say yes, I remember how to do this!
As you are stitching and the canvas is no longer taut, you undo the lacing thread that you had wound around the tack and tighten! There is a system to it and when the slack in the thread is gone you wrap the end of the thread around one of the tacks and you are ready to stitch again.
The lacing took awhile as this is a new technique for allot of us…but isn’t that why we take classes? to learn all we can? Next was the creating the basting lines with specific counts.
Yes this is all I got done for the day. Lacing, basting, the waffle stitch and the beginning of the burden stitch. To the right of the burden stitch that has been stitched, your initial is to be placed there in a style of stitching called Or Nue’…but I have an idea! I am going to look for a cat silhouette to put there instead. I know I can find one in one of Brenda Hart’s books… now if it’s the right count! I will look forward to the evening when I can steal away a few hours to continue working on this piece.
According to Wikipedia Or nué’ is a special technique invented in the 15th century, wherein many threads of passing or Japan thread are laid down parallel and touching. By varying the spacing and color of the couching stitches, elaborate, gleaming images can be created.
Door Prizes were being given out all day! I was so surprised to hear my name called and this is what I selected. I am absolutely thrilled with my new toy.
Class was great and a wonderful day was had by all! Time was flying by and it was to draw those winning tickets to see if you were one of the lucky ones.
Helen was quite thrilled that she was the winner of this beautiful stitchers chest!
A Memory Table dedicated to 2 of our family members that left us this last year. Barbara Lawson and Shirley Fetterolf were enjoying their own stitch~in. Thank you to Nancy and her husband for assembling these memories of these 2 wonderful ladies. You will be forever in our hearts and minds. and until next time…keep on stitching
