Inspired Summer Seminar

Hey Blog Buddies,

How has your weekend been going?  Seems we've had more than our fair share of rain here just lately, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the attendees at Inspired Needle's Summer Seminar with Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers.   I know, I know--yet another seminar/workshop?  Don't I have enough to stitch?  Well, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Paulette whose blog I've been following and designs I've been stitching for some time--and it was just a 30-minute drive. There were 50 of us at the Ruffled Feathers Clubhouse, and the entire day was delightful!  Paulette was very friendly and lots of fun and she designed a wonderful new patriotic piece for us to stitch!

Laura, who blogs as Maude & Mozart is on the left in this photo.  I was glad to finally meet her in person after knowing her "virtually" for several years.  (You should go to her blog and read the highly entertaining exploits of her "posse" at this event!)  Paulette is on the right--she really didn't need to wear her name tag!

 

Here is the project we stitched--Liberty Inn.

Everyone oohed and aahed when they saw the entire project--

Paulette had given us only a sneak peek ahead of time.

She also gave us pins, crushed walnut shells and six fabulous pieces of wool...

 

...to make a few of these lovely strawberries.

The designs on many of them are done entirely in pins.

Paulette gave us complete instructions

on how to finish these.

Cathy (who is Inspired Needle)

gifted each of us with a  nifty project bag.

 You can see that I have the Seminar project

stuffed into my new bag already.

If you're me, you can never have too many project bags!

She also gave each of us this super cute thread holder,

which was inspired by one of the motifs

in the Liberty Inn piece.

Cathy, you're the best!

The kit contained 36-count linen,

and Paulette recommended that

the piece be stitched using only one strand of floss.

Since I am a bit of a maverick (and a coverage freak),

I chose to stitch it using two strands.

 Here is the difference between my two strands on the left

and my friend Joyce's one strand on the right.

I've got to admit that I really like the way

the colors in her piece seem to have more contrast,

but it's too late for me to start rippin'!

Here is where I am so far.

I'd really like to continue on with this piece,

but I was in the middle of getting caught up

with four months of a SAL before the seminar,

and feel I should pick that piece up where I left off.

So I'll put Liberty Inn away for now.

Such problems!

Hope your weekend went swimmingly.

Thanks, as always, for visiting!