From a M.A.G.I.C. Act to a Disappearing Act

Hello all! Wow, my huge apologies. The last time I posted to the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild Blog, I shared the details of our holiday party and then we held our January meeting at the beginning of 2017. After that I disappeared like a rabbit in a magician’s hat, or to be more exact, my daughter entered the second half of her senior year in high school. On top of all of the normal senior activities, she’s a softball player who was trying to continue her softball career at the college level. Well, I am happy to report, the talented girl has signed with a college to continue playing and will get a good portion of her tuition paid for her. To add even more to my plate, her high school softball team has entered their playoff run. On top of that, my son graduated Air Force Basic Training in March. So, needless to say, I have been running wickedly crazy for the past few months and will continue to do so through prom and graduation, which are approaching way too fast for me. However, sanity is beginning to return and I am now able to return to TRSG meetings and, more importantly, catch up the Blog! First, let me say thank you to Sherry S. for taking pictures for me in my absence. It is greatly appreciated. Enjoy!

January Meeting

In January, we shared the completions or progress on our 2016 M.A.G.I.C. (My Annual Good Intentions Contracts). Our goals are made at the beginning of each year by diving into our stash of UFOs and pulling out projects that were started, but somehow have never been completed. Throughout the year, we work to complete those projects and fulfill our M.A.G.I.C. goals. It is a great way to bring out projects long forgotten and cross them off our UFO lists.

January Show & Tell

IMG 0926 Fotor — Cyndi S. – Bless This House by Catherine Theron Designs SCR-EGA Seminar 2016

IMG 0928 Fotor — Cyndi S. – Bless This House by Catherine Theron Designs SCR-EGA Seminar 2016

IMG 0931 Fotor — Mary W. – Snowflake Mitten by A Collection of Designs

IMG 0933 Fotor — Mary W. – Owl Star Ornament by EyeCandy Needleart

IMG 0935 Fotor — Mary W. – Cardinal Star Ornament by EyeCandy Needleart

IMG 0936 Fotor — Mary W. – Fox Star Ornament by EyeCandy Needleart

IMG 0938 Fotor — Jeannine M. – Cross Stitch Nation by Heartstring Samplery

Jeannine chose her own threads for this wonderful piece.

IMG 0942 Fotor — Debbie H. – Twelve Days ornaments of her own design

These ornaments are samples of a limited quantity ornament club that the Stitch Niche has started. The next time you are at The Stitch Niche check out the newest ornament kits.

IMG 0946 Fotor — Betty H. – Pincushion Fan by Notforgotten Farm

February Meeting

We did something different for our February meeting. Members brought in their favorite pieces to share and talk about why these pieces were special to them. It was definitely stitching eye candy for everyone in attendance.

February Show & Tell

IMG 0948 Fotor — Cyndi S. – Tulip Town by Threads Through Time on 40 ct. gauze

IMG 0951 Fotor — Karen H. – Owl Fob by Fern Ridge Designs

The beaded fob was lovely gift for Mary W.

IMG 0964 Fotor — Karen H. – Peppermint Twist Ornament by Cindy Hambrick

IMG 0953 Fotor — Michelle L. – Mermaid Fraktur by Plum Street Samplers

Michelle stitched this on 36ct Earthen by Picture This Plus with the called for threads.

IMG 0958 Fotor — Betty H. – Mustard Seed Manor Sewing Box by Stacy Nash

Betty’s book finish is fantastic!

IMG 0960 Fotor — Betty H. – Sepia Sampler by Notforgotten Farm

IMG 0962 Fotor — Sherry S. – Merry Little Christmas by Shepherd’s Bush

I love Sherry’s finish in this little wooden tray.

IMG 0966 Fotor — Judy M. – The Tudor Rose Sampler from The Proper Stitch by Darlene O’Steen

IMG 0967 Fotor — Judy M. – The Tudor Rose Sampler from The Proper Stitch by Darlene O’Steen

IMG 0969 Fotor — Judy M. – The Tudor Rose Sampler from The Proper Stitch by Darlene O’Steen

This was a TRSG Stitch-A-Long that was started the year Judy became a member of TRSG.

IMG 0971 Fotor — Shelly M. – Madonna & Child by Gigi R Designs

IMG 0972 Fotor — Shelly M. – Madonna & Child by Gigi R Designs

Shelly’s beautiful piece was framed by The Stitch Niche.

IMG 0974 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

IMG 0978 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

This piece was stitched as a group project with the Austin Stitchery Guild in 2003. This piece is stitched reversible so that the back is just as beautiful as the front. The framing was done so that the back is on view as well. It truly is a treasure!

IMG 0977 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

IMG 0976 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

IMG 0975 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

IMG 0979 Fotor — Linda C. – Loara Standish Reproduction Charted by Joanne Harvey

IMG 0981 Fotor — Patti M. – Unknown Design by Unknown Designer

This was the first sampler that Patti ever stitched.

IMG 0982 Fotor — Robert H. – Red Deer by Gigi R Designs

Stitched on 46 ct. linen. Robert converted the Red Deer to a Brown Deer.

Solomon — Robert H. – Ann Maughan 1851 by Gigi R Designs

Stitched on 52/60 count linen with Tudor Silks.

Codi M. – Friends Are Like Bras by Lizzie Kate Designs

March Meeting

Sorry, we have no show and tell from the March meeting as we held a stash sale. However, I as mentioned above, my son graduated from Air Force Basic Training, which is held at a base in San Antonio, Texas. I don’t know about you, but whenever I am on a road trip, I always try to find a local stitch store to check out. Although I have been to San Antonio many times, family and time constraints never made it possible for me to check out this lovely little shop. This trip, I was able to visit Stitches From The Heart. While I was at Stitches From The Heart, I was able to enhance my stash with new market releases. Then while checking out, I was struck by a beautiful Heaven and Earth Designs Nativity Scene (that I unfortunately did not photograph) hanging on the wall. The stitcher of this Nativity Scene allows the shop to hang it throughout the year except during the holiday season. While telling me about this piece, the shopkeeper pointed out another beautiful piece that the stitcher allows to be hung in the shop. This piece is definitely up our alley and totally knocked my socks off.

Dutch 2B1 — Anita J. – Dutch Beauty by Permin of Copenhagen

Dutch 2B3 — Anita J. – Dutch Beauty by Permin of Copenhagen

Dutch 2B2 — Anita J. – Dutch Beauty by Permin of Copenhagen

I do not know if we will be lucky enough for Ms. Anita to be a follower of our Blog and see that we are admiring her work, however, if she does, I hope she knows, her stitching is wonderful. Its my understanding that Ms. Anita took this piece with her on many trips until it was completed. As if this piece did not jump at me in the shop, just before I started working on this Blog post, I saw a member of a Facebook sampler page posted a source for purchasing the Dutch Beauty chart in case you are interested – Traditional Stitches offers the chart and several kit options. Maybe we will get lucky and someone will be drawn to stitching this fantastic sampler.