I was lamenting that the week had gone by too quickly and that the party was over! Technically it was just that my class with Debbie Stiehler was over…but really there is much more fun and frivolity to be had.

Tuesday night was the silent auction that would lead up into the live auction. The silent was beautifully laid out with stitched items, canvases, books, kits and ooh so much more. The bidding was over at 6pm as everybody anxiously awaits the final results.

That leaves just enough time to preview for the live auction before the bidding would start. The live auction consists of all stitched pieces; either by an individual, a well known national teacher or a guild. Unfortunately there was no picture taking allowed of the individual pieces.

This was the first year that online bidding was introduced and it proved to be quite the hit! The auctioneer that comes every year is a Texas cattle fast speaking professional auction guy. How do they talk that fast is what I want to know? I had a nice gab with him last year in Philly as I learned that there is auctioneer school. Did you know that? Go figure!

Now it was really time for us to move onto our next adventure. Headed back to our rooms for packing and getting ready for our morning. There were 3 cars that departed for points northeast as we drove to our new hotel in Old Town Pasadena, the neighborhood where the New Years Day Rose Bowl Parade is! One car picked up a new party attendee at the airport where we all met and checked in.

Back on the road again as we headed to Aristea, which is located in Santa Monica. Two more of our group were flying into LAX would be meeting us there. See where priorties are? Fly in and travel right to the closest needlepoint shop!

A beautiful shop that I love visiting as I always feel so welcomed, inspired and then a little heavy hearted as I think of Wendy. To me this will always be her shop…

There’s my Mr. Crow that I stitched for Wendy! a Melissa Shirley canvas

Beverly Churchfield was teaching and her afternoon class was coming in. Such wonderful canvases and stitches!

Laura Taylor was kind enough to come in and meet us on her day off. We thank you Laura! She wouldn’t let us leave until she snapped this picture of us. Left to right Elizabeth, Chris, Pat, me, Kristen, Nancy and Joanne. We all did some shopping and left very happy, but very hungry…well that was hard work! There is a great little outdoor shopping center across the street with wonderful shops and even better eating. Hamburgers or Mexican food was our choice along with a little souvenir shopping.

We could have done more shopping, but really put 7 ladies together and you don’t think that there would be some serious support the local economy going on? but we have to be mindful of traffic, which really is a way of life and more so here that in San Diego.

A great day, lots of stash enhancment and there is so much more to share, so I guess you will have to come back tomorrow and the next and the next! I must admit that I am really missing my cats.

and until next time…keep on stitching