The Ties That Bind...

Paneras Girlfriends (l-r: Norma, me, Terry and Alice. Missing, Kathy)

 

It was like old home week last night. I drove down to Port Charlotte to see my friends from our Fiber Divas group at Paneras. Kathy was also there, but left before we got to picture taking. (We'll be sure to get another shot of the group when I return in two weeks.)

 

We had so much fun visiting. It's been two years since I've seen them, and the group has changed a lot in that time. Dear Adele and Helen passed away before I left. Tammy, our founder, moved to Virginia. Ellen moved to Maryland. Margaret doesn't "snowbird" from Canada anymore. Beulah is over one hundred years old, but no one knows where she is. Doris is in assisted living in Venice, and Krisann moved back to Massachusetts to be near family, as did I. The only members of our core group who still meet are Kathy, Norma, Terry and Alice. We spent the evening remembering the days when we were all together, and the shared interests and stories that bound us together all these years.

Last night, a new lady, Eileen, joined us to learn how to knit. Kathy was sitting with her and had her knitting away by the end of the night. That's what we used to do together, and how our group grew to nearly two dozen members (during "season") on any given Tuesday. We would share our love of knitting and crochet with anyone who wanted to learn. I know they'll continue to do that, even as our little group changes.

I'm looking forward to seeing them again before we go back home, but this was a nice reminder of the dear friends we left behind, and what I loved about living here in Florida. It was really nice.

Girl Talk...

Front L-R: Elizabeth, Alyce and Ellen...Rear L-R: Doris, Norma, Cathy, Donna, Krisann and Terry

 

I wouldn't dream of leaving town...even for a little while...without spending an evening with my knitting and crocheting girlfriends at Paneras. Thanks to modern technology (even if it's only a telephone in some cases), I'll be able to keep in touch with them from the farm.

 

To commemorate the evening, we asked one of the servers at the restaurant to snap a picture of all of us. I'll miss seeing these beautiful, smiling faces each week, but I know the summer is going to pass quickly with all we'll be doing.

 

The trailers leave today, and then it's time for sparkling up the empty house for its next caretakers. There will be dinner out with Number One Son and Handsome tonight. Goodness, we've earned it!

Socks, A Block and Fiber Divas...

Brynwood Needleworks - Lorna's Laces Sock Project

Last night was my night to get together with the Fiber Divas at Paneras.

As I'd finished the Hedwig socks (see photo below), I needed to set up another pair to work on. I sorted through my sock yarn stash and chose a beautiful wool/silk blend from Lorna's Laces.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fiber Divas (l-r: Adele, Kathy, Krisann and Norma)

It's always nice to gather with the ladies. Adele is still recuperating from her fall and subsequent hip surgery, so Helen (in the next picture) has been kind enough to pick her up and bring her Paneras. We're thrilled to have her back in our midst.

Kathy is working an intricate pattern and says that it's "knit 10 rows, unknit 5". She's having a little trouble making headway, but I know she'll have a breakthrough and be much further along by next week.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fiber Divas (l-r: Doris, Anne, Ellen and Helen)

Ellen just celebrated a Birthday, so there was cake and song in her honor. She always has a kind word and a smile, and I'm so glad she's not only a part of the group, but also my friend.

Ann is working on a small quilt project. I enjoy seeing her latest project, and she's currently hand quilting this piece. Everything she makes is lovely. She's also a Wisconsin native, so we share shopping stories (usually of visits to Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, WI) whenever one of us manages to get back "home".

Brynwood Needleworks - Finished Hedwig Socks

In case you're curious about how the pattern finished up on the second Hedwick sock, I'm sharing a photo of the finished pair.

The pattern matched right up to the rows marked with the red arrows. The only thing I can think of for an explanation was that there was a cursed knot in the yarn right around this area. The knot was a little surprise from Opal Yarns, inserted in the production of this ball of yarn. Factory installed knots are the bane of all knitters, and this one knocked my second sock off-pattern.

Lucky that this part of the sock will usually be inside a shoe, but I don't think the recipient will mind that the socks don't match exactly while they keep feet toasty warm this winter.

Brynwood Needleworks - Signature Block

I've already managed to finish a stack of projects this week...a signature block going into a quilt for a friend; the machine embroidered commission is on its way to my client; and half of an order is done for another.

It's only Wednesday and I'm a little ahead of schedule. I'd say that's not half bad!

Time Spent With Creative Friends...

My Tuesday began with a trip over to Port Charlotte to join my guild friends for our once-a-month Sew-In at the church. We work on anything we want, so I had let everyone know that I'd be there to put labels on our dresses for the Dress A Girl Around The World project. This was actually the first time I'd attended, but I'll definitely be going back from now on!

Carol (in front) and Judith (in back) came just to help sew labels! We quickly had all our dresses finished and were caught up by lunchtime. I was immensely grateful for the help.

Everyone who attended loved seeing all the different dresses, and so many creative ways that made each dress beautiful and unique. I had taken along five sets of patterns and spec sheets, and before I left, they were all gone with promises to make more dresses!

Beth Anderson had made these five sweet dresses and asked another member to deliver them to me because she couldn't bring them herself. We got them labeled, too, and now have eighty eight (88) dresses. I know there are more on the way to me. (Other group members have let me know they're in the mail already!)

The cutoff date for this effort is August 15th, but I'm allowing a week for mailing. After that, I'll still take in dresses toward our next deadline (which hasn't been determined yet), but they won't go with these.

I'm going to contact our Florida ambassador, Monica, after August 15th to set up the date to take this batch to Orlando. I'll let everyone know when that is just in case other Florida group members care to join me for the trip.

I had to take this picture of a quilt my friend, Pat made. I didn't know it, but the Tuesday Sew-in group had been working on a quiltalong project for the past six months. Pat had hers finished by this month's meeting and I was smitten. It's a fabulous quilt, and now I'm sorry I didn't know about it sooner (so I could have made one, too). I'll know better next time!

L-R: Cathy, Adele, Ellen, Krisann, Brenda , Pam, Claire, Karen, Norma and Doris. I'm behind the camera.

My day ended with the Fiber Divas at Paneras. We had a nice group last night and everyone was working on something wonderful. (I'm doing my Wooly Critters sewing when we meet.) 

Time spent with creative friends, is time spent relaxing and renewing my spirit. I look forward to the time and ideas we share, and I'm blessed to call them my friends.

Working On The Wooly Critters...

I belong to a quilting and sewing group called "Nifty 50s". It's comprised of women who share a common interest. We're each invited to join the group, and I was fortunate to be asked to become a member last year.

We meet two Wednesdays each month, and yesterday was one of the days for May. We bring our machines, projects and lunches, visiting and playing from 10 am until whenever. It's a great time spent with like-minded, talented ladies.

I took along my current block project from my Wooly Critters Sampler quilt. I took these photos in the daylight, but by nightfall, all I had left to stitch was the butterfly. 

 

This block will go on the "Finished" pile today, and I'll set up two or three more blocks so they're ready and waiting for me. I can work on them at Paneras on Tuesday nights with my knitting girlfriends, or carry them to future Nifty 50 get together(s). At this rate, I might just finish this quilt in 2015!

Family and The Fiber Divas...

Yesterday, Aunty Margaret, Uncle Dick and I headed over to Englewood Beach.

It was a perfect day for it, too, considering 88º, a lot of sunshine and a breeze.

As we walked from the parking lot out to the beach, I could hear my aunt

and uncle's reactions to their first view of the Gulf of Mexico. I smiled.

They've been married over fifty years, but they still hold hands. They're such an

inspiration to their children and the rest of our family. We all had a great time.

In the evening, Aunty Margaret joined the Fiber Divas at Paneras. I offered my

work-in-progress, organic cotton shawl for her to work on. Now I have some

of her handwork in it. She sat down and fit right in with our group and is now

an Honorary Fiber Diva!

She was kind enough to trade places with me to take a photo of me with the   group. (Note to self: When you're the tallest person in the group - by at least a head - don't sit front and center in the picture! lol) Thanks, Aunty!
I'll finish up a commission this morning in the studio, and then we'll head  out for a little "retail therapy". I'll share commission pictures tomorrow.

A Mild Diversion...

  I'm still knitting, but took time out to select and cut fabric for an upcoming event. I'll be attending our Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild retreat the first weekend in June. Arleen is the chairman for our getaway, and she selected a nice handbag as our group project. We're asked to precut and pre-quilt our fabrics ahead of time. These are the fabrics I chose from my stash. My main fabric is on the far right, and the other two fabrics will coordinate on the inside and outside of the bag.   The cutting is complete and the quilting will take place before I pack to attend. I'm not planning exotic stitching patterns - probably choosing a cross-hatch quilt pattern to secure the fabrics. I think this will be a fun handbag to make, but it will be fun to use, too. Once I've made this one, I'm sure I'll make more!

 I also wanted to let you know that Adele was back with our Paneras group  last night. This was her first time back since her nasty fall. She broke her arm that night and is mostly frustrated that she can't crochet. She was using a loom last night! That gal just never gives up and it was great to see her. We also discussed a name for our group. Since we have knitters, quilters, crocheters and embroiderers, I put forward the name "Fiber Divas". They loved it, so henceforth we shall be known by this name. They want me to  create a sign that we can place on our meeting table each week. We went  around the table and giggled, prefacing each of our names with "Diva".
"Hi. My name is Diva Donna and I just put another project on my list." I'll keep you posted on that one.