Saturday, April 30, 2011

Celebration of Needlework 2011

Yesterday I attended Celebration of Needlework 2011 in Nashua, NH. I always love this annual trek 30 minutes (or less) from my home, (how blessed am I??), to meet up with stitching friends, take fun classes and shop... and eat... :-) The economy surely seems to affected Celebration this year. It was a much smaller crowd. There were only 4 students in the class I took, and I was told there was only 1 student in a class the day before :-( None of the designers I usually take classes from were there this year - no Betsy Stinner, no Catherine Strickler, no Jeannette Douglas, no Cynthia Zittel (aka Covol)... sigh... but, I still had great fun. There were still plenty of vendors there, and great friends too!

I thoroughly enjoyed taking this small class with Theresa Venette of Shakepeare's Peddler. The project is a small, basic spring pattern with the emphasis on learning a fun, easy and inexpensive way to convert this to a pincushion on a square pedestal... you will have to wait until I finish mine to see what I mean ;-) Theresa is lovely - a very open, candid and humorous lady. Totally fun!



I hit the shopping area with some gusto.... with my health issues this year, stitching has not been in the forefront for me. I loved being re-exposed to my favorite hobby while I was there. I picked up some Blackbird Designs charts, a La D Da chart and Shakespeare's Peddler's Jennie Bean... however, my biggest splurge of the event was this full kit for Quaker Diamonds. Karen Kluba was there (as a vendor, not as a teacher, unfortunately), and her booth was amazing. I could have furnished all of my house, my mother's house and your house with her many stunning models! This was the last of the full kits she had, so I feel like I won the lottery. I am so addicted to this piece already - so unusual for me to stitch on 28 ct using three strands of floss. Those who know me, know I am very much a one strand on 40 ct please, thank you so much... This is a treat and no strain on my eyes, thus no triggering of migraines. Whew! The colors are stunning, and I already know this is going in my dining area. The colors complement by newly installed Brazilian Cherry wood floors just perfectly. I am in stitching heaven again!

Plus, as well as spending time with dear, beloved Margaret as I do every year, I got to meet up with any dear stitching friend, Marie, for the first time ever! She is in transition, moving from Texas to Connecticut/New York/Vermont - some crazy combination of all three, actually :-) She is living in a hotel in Connecticut at the moment - what a treat for her to come and visit at Celebration... we had a fun dinner along with Margaret, and I got to give her my HoE Quaker Christmas Ornament in person!! Here is what I stitched for her...

Quaker Christmas Smalls
Milady's Needle
40 ct Flax Linen, Crescent Colours Floss - English Ivy, Auntie Dee, Sassy Brass, Bandana


On the health front, I am thoroughly enjoying "needle naps" (aka acupuncture) now... along with the magnesium supplement advice from Joanne, and Theresa Venette's recommendation for me to try Progesterone Cream, I think I may actually start to feel better soon - imagine that! My tinnitus volume is much lower as long as I keep this up, and I have only had a glimmer of a migraine since I first started acupuncture on Wednesday afternoon! Thank you to all for your help and support!!

Currently Stitching: Joy Christmas Ornament (thank you Margaret for giving me your used chart - I love this one!), and Quaker Diamonds





15 comments:

Margaret said...

Oh lucky you to live so close to Celebrations! It's my ambition to go there someday. A friend wanted to go this year, but of course my son's audition and orchestra concert are this weekend. :( The project you got for Theresa's class looks wonderful. Love the Quaker Diamonds piece you bought too. Bummer about the small turnout. Nice ornie you made for your friend too. Glad your health issues are getting better -- that's good news!

Gabi said...

I agree with Margaret. Lucky you.
LOVE the designs of Shakespears Peddler. Which Jenny Bean did you pick up? And the little project of Theresa looks just beautiful.
LOVE LOVE LOVE also your Rosewood Manor project. That one is on my (always growing) to do list as well. I wonder how the thread stitches up.
And so glad to hear that you found something to stitch which is not only absolutely gorgeous but also good to your migraines.

staci said...

What a fun time that must have been! I'm glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better...I hope things continue to improve for you!

Sharon said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Glad to hear you are feeling better and both projects are just gorgeous. I really KK Spring Quakers I believe it's called.

Susan @ Real Girl Designs said...

I loved my visit to Celebration a couple of years back - I would like to go again, but it's always held around my son's birthday, so I can rarely sneak away...

It sounds like you had a lovely time!

ollie1976 said...

Carol-that gift is absolutely beautiful.
-Jen

Hazel said...

Fab you are so close to that event. Lucky girl. I love your new quaker wip. It is going to look stunning.Lovely exchange piece too. x

Lynn said...

I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling better and that you had such a great time at C of N. I would love the opportunity to take a class with Theresa Venette. I like the design she chose for your group.
Your Quaker Diamond purchase is wonderful!! I know you will enjoying stitching this one. I'm having such a great time with my RM Spring Quakers. The Valdani threads are so gorgeous.

It's nice that you were able to meet Marie in person and deliver your gift. The ornament is gorgeous and so nicely finished!

Erin said...

Carol, I was at Celebration this year too!! I wish we could have met!! (I got there Friday around dinner time and left early Sunday morning.) Looks like you got some lovely things this year. I got pulled in by some of the lovely things at Scandinavian Stitches, myself...

Measi said...

I didn't get to take any classes this year, as I didn't find out I'd be able to head to Nashua until literally the night before. It was wonderful. Rosewood Manor's booth was stunning - I wanted to do every project there!

Coni said...

Oh, Carol, I am so glad that you are feeling better! The Rosewood Manor piece is just what the doctor ordered, right? I hope that you enjoy stitching it as much as I have....I was amazed that something was able to keep my interest from the beginning to the end wihtout one bit of boredom in between!

Now if I could just get crackin' on everything else....

Andrea said...

Sounds like you still had a good time. Love the ornament, the colours are just perfect.

szaberka said...

Hi, Carol,
Happy to find an other RM fun; I love Karen's designs too. I finished Spring Quakers lately, and am working on Past and Present now.
I would like to place my works on the Gallery of Samplers blog, could you send me an access? I've already tried to send you emails for this, but I got no answer (I frankly hope YOU are the organizer of that blog ;)).
Thank you and get better.
Erika
szaberka65@gmail.com

Jeanne said...

I'm glad you had fun at Celebrations Carol - what fun to meet up with Theresa from Shakespeare's Peddler and Karen Kluba - both such great designers. We all need that pick-me-up once in awhile to get us re-enthused...a show, some new stash or a class whatever works. Good to hear you are getting some relief from the health issues and hope the tinnitus continues to improve.

Anonymous said...

Carol,

I wish I had known you were going to be at Celebrations --- I would've loved to meet you. YOU may not know me, but I deal with Mike all the time for my Gingher scissor collection, and because I read your blog, I feel like I know you, too.

I bought the Quaker Diamonds and Spring Quaker kits at Stitching Jubilee back in October (?) and they're next in my queue for LARGE projects. I absolutely LOVE the colors in the Valdani threads and therefore just HAD to HAVE them! Hope you're enjoying working on them!

LOVE your blog, especially all the 'smalls' you've done. Simply exquisite!

~~Joanne~~