For everybody who thought I was never, ever going to start stitching…well class started yesterday! I didn’t get much done, sort of just getting my feet wet. This is the beginning of my first stitch which now that the Kreinik has been added and it looks pretty awesome! well after this picture of course…

In case you forgot, or maybe just started following my stitching life, this is what I am working on. This is Bastet, an ancient Egyptian goddess and the canvas is by Tapestry Fair. I started working on the columns first. It is pur~fect to have at least 1 stitch that you have down to a T that you can go back to in between. You know in between those stitches that give you angst.

The day started out with introductions. Beth, Meredith and Suzanne are standing up front. Gosh where is Tony?

Here he is! If you have ever taken a Tony class before, well a canvas enhancement one anyway, he talks about the canvases and the ideas that they had. He didn’t pick them all out, since there are only 52 in the class…but mine was one, so I felt special! Pictured here, he is holding a cat canvas by Maggie. He flies around the room so quickly, that it is tough to capture just the right picture.

Notice how they are all wearing pink? I guess they got the memo! They were matched to Tony’s new Cole Haan’s black shoes with pink trim…I want a pair of those. I hear there are more colors to come this week.

Class was off on a road trip to the shop! How fun was this?!

Colonial Needle, the home of the Lee leather goods was here helping stitchers select bags and canvases from their lines.

Painters Threads by Tentakulum was showing us their wonderful threads. They are all named after famous painters such as Van Gogh, Matisse, et al. The color palette that is associated with the painter is the color that that thread is. There are YLI ribbons, silks, cottons, pearls and so much more dyed in their line.

A little gift from my seat mate Donna! Thank you and this will bring a chuckle to Tony when he sees it.

My first day of class was wonderful! Meredith was our teach for yesterday afternoon and then this morning. After lunch they will move about the room to different tables, so we will get more stitch ideas from another teacher. Meredith and I figured out most of the cat, the columns and have started working on the bottom designs after a few trips to the shop for more threads! Today she is teaching a few of us to bead on a loom which we will consider for her collar.

It amazes me yet again that with 52 students in this class, that there are no duplicate canvases! Maggie is the most popular this year, along with Brenda Stofft, Ewe & Eye, Shorebirds,  Danji, Lani, Leigh, Sophia, Melissa Shirley, Peter Ashe and so many more being represented!

It seemed that the class was over way too soon. But today will be another day of more brilliant ideas from the Fab Four.

A few of us headed over to Reading Terminal to order up from Dinic’s, the home of the best pulled pork sandwich in America. But they close early on Monday’s and how could they! We all headed our own way around the terminal looking for something delish. Pat & I opted for the fresh turkey place and we ordered up open face sandwhich’s and trust me they did not disappoint! Left with ice cream and my choice was Guadalajara Tracks, coffee ice cream with chocolate swirls and espresso chocolate beans. Wow, I may have to go back for that again.

and until next time…keep on stitching

to all of our stitching friends in the path of the hurricane…please be safe and I pray for the best.