August 30, 2008

S.E.X., R.A.K., trade...three different ways to enhance your stash and all three happened to me today!

Uncle Wes drove me to the Macaroni Grill in Annapolis this afternoon to meet the two Carols from the Heirloom Stitchers group. We had lunch together, along with Carol Bo's son Raymond, and spent the meal chatting together. Carol's husband and F-I-L arrived for their own lunch and Ray decided he wanted to stay with his dad while us three ladies went to Catonsville to raid the LNS.

Now comes the S.E.X. (that's Stash Enhancement eXperience for those of you with a dirty mind!)...Carol Ba couldn't believe that I planned on going to the LNS with only five dollars but that's exactly what I intended to do. She told me to buy whatever I wanted and she would spot me until I get paid on Wednesday, so I purchased enough Soie d'Alger to get started on both Common Ground and Queen of the Needle by Just Nan. I also picked up 2 small "Doodles for leftovers" kits by Hob-Nobb Designs, a container of Thread Heaven (mine disappeared), a new Needle Nest, Lizzie Kate's "Housework Never Killed Anyone (but why take a chance)" Snippet, an acrylic 12" ruler that holds a stitched band in the middle, and a purple needle minder. Carol Ba and I are both purple fanatics, so we split a two-pack of needleminders between us. Of course, there were other things I ogled and fondled, but I contained myself and spent just under $60 for all of the above.

Here is a close-up of the Hob-Nobb embellishments. I couldn't resist these two charts. I enjoy doing these "Doodles for leftovers" charts because they don't tell you specific colors to use. Rather, the idea is to use whatever is in your stash, hence "for leftovers."

When we got back out to Carol Bo's truck following a jaunt into the adjacent yarn shop, she said "You've been RAK'd!" and placed Just Nan's "When Barnabee Met Bella" biscornu chart and the WDW fabrics for it on the seat between us. This was one of the charts I had ogled and put back. The fabrics are 30ct Morris Blue and 30ct Lilac. This is going to be gorgeous when completed, so now I have to get the silks for it!

Speaking of silks and Just Nan, I know I said I was going to stitch Common Ground in DMC but I have since changed my mind. Or had my mind changed for me, whichever you prefer. Kathy Y brought her Common Ground to the last Heirloom Stitchers meeting. She is stitching it with the silks Nan calls for. We were both astonished to see the difference between the silk and the DMC conversion I used to start mine. It was so drastic that I have decided to frog the small amount of border I have stitched and re-start using the recommended silks. I was able to purchase one of each green needed, so I will probably begin on that early next year. I still have 72 finishes to do to meet my goal for this year so I won't be starting any more large projects until 2009.

Carol Ba had a birthday party to go to so Carol Bo and I headed back to my house where we picked up a very excited Kasey Kay and took her downtown. Kasey and I gave Carol a walking tour of part of Downtown Annapolis and City Dock. We checked out William Paca's house, the Paws Pet Boutique on State Circle, and then headed over to the Starbucks in the basement of the Maryland Inn. Carol is very interested in architecture, so I knew she'd enjoy being in the basement of such an old building. Kasey accompanied us in her "assistance dog in training" capacity. She was so well-behaved that none of the employees even realized she was inside the building. We were on the other side of the fireplace so they couldn't see her once we sat down. Kasey did very well on her extended "stay" and didn't try to get up to greet newcomers, just rolled onto her side to accept their adjulation and petting.

Carol had to get back home before Ray started driving George crazy asking where she was, so she dropped Kasey and me off at home and headed back to her house. I have to thank both Carols for their wonderful company and gifts today. I appreciate it so much and it was nice to get out of the house.

Kasey and I walked down to the mailbox around 8:00pm to see what goodies the mailman left us. My trade from Nancy K arrived! I am sending Nancy 24" of Aida band and a chart and she sent me the American Sampler by Leisure Arts and The Quiltmaker by Told in a Garden. I saw this TIAG chart and fell in love! Each side is twenty miniature quilt squares and there is a pen-and-ink print by Greg Kempf to frame between the two sides. Kempf is an Amish artist who uses his talent to show his people to others who would otherwise never get to see them. The American Sampler is another wonderful addition to my collection of patriotic charts and kits.

So there you have it: S.E.X., a RAK, and a trade; the different ways my stash was increased today. It was alot of fun. It wore me out. I wouldn't change a thing about today! Thank you Carol, Carol, and Raymond for getting me out of the house today. Now I'm probably going to have to sleep all day Sunday to recover!