CREATIVE STITCHERS RETREAT

Without further ado the Creative Stitchers Retreat Pages are now live and ready for viewing.  I have diligently been working for several days to have all the information available stitchers might want.  This is something new for Claire and I and we are trying to incorporate as many of the fun, enjoyable, engaging.... and relaxing.... things we most like to see ourselves.  Enjoy! 

Also, for those who might have been wondering when I would get back to stitching and updating with progress photos, there is a new photo of Funky Rose on the retreat pages which shows it 90% complete.  Just a few more evenings to see it fiinished!

MY WORK SPACE

Lots of people might be having a holiday today, but I'm here at my computer desk working away.  I really like my flexibile schedule but sometimes I do forget what day it is.  But at least we have been having pretty nice weather this last week or so.  I know, I know, it is all relative, but we in the San Francisco bay area must have something to complain about,even if it is only about its being overcast (with fog early and late).   I have lived in other climates and your body definitely acclimates to wherever you are, so now I'm used to a very narrow temperature range, which can be a problem when I travel other places.  Anyway, here is a photo taken as I turn to look out my window into the backyards.  Even though they are not visible from this phot, the pink jasmine is blooming and the first bulbs are beginning to come up. 

I really like having a separate computer work area separate from my other creating and stitching spaces.  I spend a lot of time here as all the instruction books are created here much less this blog and website. 

I've been busy adding more colors of Soy Luster Shadows to the site and finishing up the Creative Stitchers Retreat pages. They are scheduled for this Tuesday night.  I have also been updating the Upcoming Pilots page to include the pilots for 2009 Seminar classes so if you think your group my be interested in that type of workshop check out Pilot Classes. 

Hopefully the photos of project updates will return by the end of this week.  Several now have completion deadlines over the next few months!  There is also the fourth and final design in the works for the Silk Ribbon Flower series. This series is fun to stitch....it's just finding the time....but I have promised to have it ready by Mid May, latest. 

Well....back to work, but enjoyable work,  for me.  Hope you are enjoying your day.

SOY LUSTER SHADOWS

My the weekend just flew by.  Lots of time on the computer.  Everything having to do with it always seems to take me twice as long as I had planned.  However, the pages for the retreat are close to being finished and I was also trying to put up on the website the first 13 (of 40 total) colors of Soy Luster Shadows.  As of 15 minutes ago they are "live" except for three pictures. Whew!  Because I use several unusual or not widely available threads students are always asking where they can get more of them.  I love to try out lots of different textures and really want stitchers to be able to use them for other projects, not just mine. 

I'm starting with the Soy Luster Shadows by Pure Palette for a few reasons.  One, they are not yet widely available, but hopefully that is changing. Two, I love the fact that it is not as shiny as stranded silk, about the same as good quality cotton floss, and so works well with cotton or silk.  But the main reason is that I love the Shadows, but the only way to use it the way I do in projects, i.e. two MATCHING threads used together in the needle, is to take the stitching lengths directly from the large dye skeins.  And the skeins don't come skeined that way.  So I decided I would need to re-skein them into 40 yard dye skeins just right to use for shading and "shadow" stitching.   

On Saturday I was very excited to hear my proposals had been accepted for next year!  Always very exciting news!! I loved stitching all the designs so I'm really excited about having stitchers see them.  Those of you who have been visiting for a while have seen the designs developing, or pictures of the finished ones. 

Even though I was busy most of the weekend I still did get out a little to enjoy the nice weather we are having right now.  But at least when I was inside, my computer desk is in a comfy corner next to the windows looking out into our backyard.  We have several hummingbirds that zoom past my window from time to time, plus a dove family visits regularly along with blue jays and robins.....all this in a 25 X 30 foot back yard.  Remember...this is San Francisco.... most of us don't have big yards. 

Well, I hope everyone had a good weekend....and not too cold!   

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