Friday, September 21, 2012

Super Ninja-Quick post

September has been a crazy month for me, and its not over yet.  It started out with a trip up to the LA area, to meet up with a group of Southern California stitchers.  It was my first time meeting them, and it was a very enjoyable day of stitching and chatting.

I combined that trip with a short RV-camping trip with my parents.  They were on their way up to Oregon for my dad's 50th high school reunion, but they started out by staying for a few nights at Seal Beach.  While we were there, we visited the Getty Center, the Getty Villa in Malibu, the Queen Mary, and the Aquarium of the Pacific.  I then got to drive back down to San Diego where Princess Annie and I got the house too ourselves for a few days.

A friend came out from Chicago to stay for a long weekend and of course I jam-packed the time with fun things to do.  A tour of the Midway, a wine-tasting walking tour in Temecula, an evening of dining at the La Mesa food truck gathering, and of course a trip to the zoo.

Another few days alone, then the parents get back from their trip and I immediately leave for a drive up to Ogden and Park City, UT.  Yep, the Shepherd's Bush Retreat.  I've been looking forward to this for ages, and had budgeted my pennies for it.

Anyway, I'm slowly getting the hundreds of pictures I've taken the last few weeks organized, and needed to post about an exchange I participated in earlier this summer.  It was my first exchange with Stitched With Love Exchanges, and I really enjoyed it.

I received a lovely pillow from Loretta, who obviously paid very close attention to my profile sent out with the exchange information.  She stitched my a Blackbird Designs pattern (one of my favorite designers) in red (my favorite color).  Lots of other goodies were included, and I can't wait to try the Carrie's Creation's silk she put in the package.



I stitched Summer Splendor by LHN for Cherise, since that was one of her favorite designers, but I brightened up the colors a bit since one of her dislikes was "dull" colors.  I finished it into a small stitchers tray, and also included a coordinating crushed walnut pin cushion and fob, using motifs from the design.

LHN Summer Splendor, stitched on 36 ct linen with assorted overdyed floss;
 finished as a stitchers tray with coordinating accessories


Hopefully soon I'll get some pictures posted from the various outings, or at least uploaded to a public album.  The jaguar babies at the zoo are so adorable, and one of them was being very adventurous while we were there.

Somewhere in all this madness I've been doing stitching for an Animal Antics exchange, 2 Halloween exchanges, and working on the 3 packages for my blogoversary winners.  Oh, and of course school too.  I'll probably spend all of October posting pics and catching up from what I did in September.

20 comments:

dixiesamplar said...

Wow, you have been busy...both with traveling and stitching! Love your exchange goodies you received, and the set you made was gorgeous!!

Maybe you can find a few days to relax now :o)

cucki said...

I love the cute tray so much..it is so sweet.
Love the exchange goodies You received..
Have a lovely weekend xxx

cucki said...

Ohhh and the pin cushion and fob is so cute too :)

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

You HAVE been busy! Love the exchange you sent and received. You made quite a lovely collection of stitching accessories!
Good luck with school and all the other exchanges you have going.

Margaret said...

You've been very very busy! Wow! Love the exchange, both given and received. That tray -- wow! Hope you have a blast at the SB retreat. So nice that you can go back and enjoy!

Nicola said...

Gosh you have been busy. I love that your father still goes to his high school reunion after 50 years. Beautiful exchanges.

Barb said...

Sounds like a fun busy Sept. I love what you did with Summer Splendor.

Vickie said...

Whew! That's a lot. what a wonderful exchange.

Mary said...

Busy, busy, busy! So glad you've still had time for some stitching though. How much fun to see the exchange pieces!

butterfly said...

So busy , love all your exchanges given and received,
It's great having so much fun.hugs.

Keeper of the Crowes said...

So good to be busy!!! How fun! Can't wait to see your upcoming pictues. Hope you'll share more about the SB retreat.
Linda

Anne said...

Beautiful exchanges Mindi! I love your interpretation of Cherise turning it into a tray! So lovely :D

Sherry :o) said...

Awesome exchanges - both sent and received. I have the Summer Splendor done, but not finish/finished...on my pile. Sounds like you have been busy, but with fun. Look forward to hearing about your SB retreat!

Siobhán said...

Wow, sounds like a busy (but fun!) time! LOVE the exchange pieces! Enjoy the SB retreat--hope you'll share photos!

Lois said...

Certainly sounds like you've been busy! Love the exchange pieces both sent and received. I am very envious of the SB retreat!!!

Chris said...

Wow! Busy girl but it sounds like you have been having oh so much fun. I can't wait to see the future updates.
The exchanges are wonderful both given and recieved.

Catherine said...

Definitely busy times! Love your exchange goodies! Good that you are still finding time to stitch with all you have going on.

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Gorgeous gift received and what lovely gifts you sent too.

Kathy Ellen said...

My goodness, but you are a truly busy girl! Wonderful exchange you received, and I love the beautiful tray, pincushion and fob that you stitched for Cherise. She must be thrilled to receive them!

Blessings in Stitches!

Angela said...

It does sound like you have been very busy! Lovely exchanges both sent and received :)