Seven Years Later...

Paneras Knitting Girlfriends - 2012

In 2012, I wrote about my "Circle of Influence". You know...you become the five people with whom you spend the most time. Here's a link to that post. I wrote about the quilty ladies at Sandy's Quilt Shop where I spent many a Saturday morning. I also wrote about the wonderful group I spent every Tuesday night with in Port Charlotte.

At first we met at Books A Million, but after showing up one night to find out that they'd closed their coffee shop and were looking to "cater to a younger clientele", we pulled up stakes that very night and moved across to Paneras. It was the best move ever, as they were much more hospitable. We never looked back.

Over the years, our group changed, grew, and we suffered losses. Our 100 year old friend, Beulah had to stop coming because the slightest wrong move would break one of her bones. She moved to a beautiful facility in Sarasota, and we were sad to see her go. The two ladies in front wearing red - Adele and Helen - passed away during that time. Then, my dear friend, Ellen (in the green) moved back to Delaware to be closer to her daughter. Tammy (back row, far right) was the founder of our group, and she and her husband (a military man) moved to Virginia with their family. 

New members came and went, but our group still met every Tuesday, taught willing newcomers, and shared our projects. One of those regulars was my friend and fellow Wisconsinite, Anne (standing in front of Tammy in this picture). I forgot her hometown, but we always had something to chat about, and her work was impeccable. 

When Handsome and I decided to move back to Wisconsin, these were the beautiful friends (and those from Sandy's) that I missed the most. Even though we came back to dear friends we'd left behind when we moved to Florida, my heart still belongs to these women.

Fast forward to last Saturday. Jan met me at Touchmark and she unloaded my Explorer as I began setup. Did I mention Jan is a Life Enrichment Coordinator there? She shared her artistic skills with them, and they create beautiful things. Anyway, she chatted with residents as they passed through the room my booth was in, and frequently introduced them to "her sister, Donna".

My back was to the room as I set up my wares on the table and displays I'd brought along. Jan said something to another lady, so I turned around to say, "Hello", when I froze in place. Likewise, the beautiful face staring back at me shared my shocked expression.

Who was looking back at me but my friend, Anne. I immediately teared up. Words can't really express just how emotional I became seeing her. I couldn't stop hugging her and telling her how happy I was to see her. She told me, "You have no idea how much I've wondered where you are and what you're doing!" I kept telling her how much I missed her and our Panera ladies, and that seeing her was the most fabulous surprise ever!

She told me that she had tried to muster a group to knit and stitch at Touchmark, but only a couple of ladies had shown any interest. They continue to meet on Thursday afternoons in one of the parlors, so she didn't have to be completely alone.

We talked about old times, old friends, and I got her up to date about the ones I could. Then, I told her that after Christmas she could count on me driving up to Appleton a couple times a month to sit and stitch/knit with her and her friends. I meant every word, too.

Look at it as an extended Birthday gift, or an early Christmas gift, but seeing Anne was indeed a gift. I can't wait to see her again - but I have a few things to accomplish before Santa comes, so my next trip to Appleton will have to wait until after the holidays. It will be like old times when I can once again sit and create with my friend, Anne. I'm still smiling.

Baking Successes...

Baking Day at the Farmhouse

 

Just had to share a successful baking day, following my Spritz cookie incident. On Thursday, I made 16-1/2 dozen total cookies. All three of these cookies were first-time attempts for me.

The first recipe I made was a Lemon Crinkle Cookie, using a lemon cake mix and real lemon juice as the main ingredients. My friend, Wendi shared the recipe with me. Once all the ingredients are mixed, the dough is dropped by teaspoonfuls into confectioners sugar and formed into balls to bake. Easy! Yield: 6-1/2 dozen

The second recipe is a Molasses Cookie recipe. These are chewy and delicious, but I think my measuring technique of fluffing the flour, gently scooping it into the measuring cup and leveling is the reason the cookies look flatter. Next time, I'll just scoop the flour into my measuring cup, level it off and pour into the mix. A surprise in this recipe is a 1/2 cup of oatmeal! YUM. Yield: 6 dozen

The final cookie is special to me. When we still lived in Florida and met with the knitting/crocheting ladies every Tuesday night, we always had a gift exchange at Christmas time. My friend, Kathy R. always brought delicious Greek Koulourakia Cookies. 

Before we moved north, I asked Kathy if she would please share her recipe. She did share with all of us, and I've kept the recipe safe for six years, never mixing up a batch. The truth is, I loved those cookies so much, and they looked so difficult, that I was afraid to attempt to make them...until Thursday. I'm so glad I finally did!

They turned out just the way I remember Kathy's, and they're now at the front of my cookie-making list - year-round!! A perfect biscuit-type cookie to pair with a hot cuppa tea. Yield: 3-1/2 dozen

I'm feeling pretty chuffed right about now. Forget about those Spritz cookies for the rest of this season. I'll watch some YouTube videos and see if I can learn some new techniques to try again next year. In the meantime, my 2022 choices will be these three (plus chocolate chip, of course)!

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!

Guitar Man...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Guitar Man" Embroidery

Destiny and I got busy with a new Retreat Bag project yesterday. I'm calling this one, "Guitar Man" based on the embroidery.

Brynwood Needleworks - Destiny working on "Guitar Man"

This Retreat Bag is already spoken for, and it was fun deciding on fabrics because I know who'll receive it. I've chosen a buttery-soft, black vinyl for the exterior, and a musical lining fabric to coordinate with the design "we" stitched out on the front.

Brynwood Needleworks - "Guitar Man" Finished Embroidery

 

The embroidery is finished, and all ll the parts and pieces are cut, prepped and ready to sew together. I stopped so I could to get to Paneras last night, but the rains were keeping our other ladies home. I picked up a loaf of bread, grabbed a soup and latte' to take home, and was back almost before Handsome and the pups knew I was gone!

 

Today is Nifty 50s, so rather than lug my machine and tack in the rain, I'll set up some new pincushions. My shop has been biiiiiizzzzeeeee, so I need to restock. I'm going to add some Daddy-themed Retreat Bags in time for Father's Day giving, too! I hope to list those up on Thursday or Friday, leaving plenty of time for Priority postage to deliver for gift giving.

 

Gotta run. Time for another working "play date"!

 

She'll Be Missed...

Brynwood Needleworks - Diva Helen

 

Handsome and I moved to Florida in 2001. After spending too long just hanging out at home, I decided to relearn knitting and get out to meet some new people. 

I met Helen in 2008 through a mutual friend (Netta) when I joined Project Linus to knit children's blankets. Helen was also a member of our Tuesday evening Panera's group. 

Helen was a dear, sweet friend and I loved her infectious smile. She had a wicked sense of humor, and made the best desserts to share with all of us when we got together. I have a tiny doll in a locket that she made and gave to me. She was a talented dollmaker years ago. She loved to travel, too.

Yesterday morning, I received a call to tell me that Helen passed into the everlasting on Thursday evening. She was preceded in death by her husband, and is survived by four children (and her grandchildren). She will be missed by her family...and remembered fondly by those of us who called her "friend". 

Rest well, Helen.

xo

Gifties For The Girls...

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

Each year, the ladies who meet at Paneras make handmade gifts to exchange. Sometimes it's a favorite recipe (Kathy's Greek cookies or Ann's pumkin, apple or lemon poppyseed breads); a crocheted gift (Krisann's crocheted s'mores!), or even Christmas ornaments.

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

This year, I pulled some of my knitting sheep fabric (for the exterior) and coordinating fabric for the inside, and then I grabbed an assortment of zippers.

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

I asked for suggestion from my friends in my Brynwood Facebook group, and settled on Tammy's idea of Bubble Bags (these cute triangle pouches).

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

Each one started with two 6 1/2" squares (one for the exterior and one for the lining), a zipper and a Brynwood label.

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

Fifteen minutes later, I had a completed pouch! By the end of the afternoon Monday, I had sixteen ready to take with me to Paneras last night. (They were a big hit!)

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouches (Bubble Bags)

One can never have enough little pouches for keeping knitting, sewing, crochet or craft tools...or little accessories or any sort.

In fact, these were so simple to make that I think I'll make more in the next month to donate to our quilt show boutique in February. They're a little like potato chips. It's hard to stop at just one!

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!

Time Out Of The Studio...

 It's been a while, but yesterday I got to spend hours with my girlfriend, Amy.

 We had so much fun catching up that I didn't even think to snap a photograph

 to share...that much fun! (This one is from a day we spent together a while ago.)

Amy, her daughter and son, Megan and Clay, have joined their creative minds
and talents to form a new company called "Post Stitch". I had to find out all
about their new venture and am so excited for them. Please click HERE to see
their website and learn more about their online knitting projects-in-a-box.

She left late day to go to fly north. She's going to spend a little time with
Megan's family in Georgia, but we'll be getting together again as soon
as she gets back. I'm looking forward to seeing her again. I love this gal!

web image

Handsome and I are also taking turns helping a dear friend with eye troubles. Wednesday, I took her for a surgical procedure and yesterday, Handsome did the follow-up appointment with her. She's going to need another surgery, so today, I'll be taking her to a specialist in Ft. Myers for a preliminary evaluation.   Please say prayers for her. The doctors are thinking she might have macular degeneration. She's one of my Paneras friends, but more than that, she's a dear, loving friend. We're praying that the surgeries will reveal other, curable issues and not a slow loss of her eyesight. We'll know more today after she sees the doctor. I'm taking my ribbonwork projects with me. They're great busy work while I wait.

It's A Start...

 When I was at Coffee Club last Saturday, two of the girls had already finished

Block One of the Wooly Critters series. (Talk about real overachievers!) 

I got back home, pulled out my wools (which I shared with you here), and set

about creating my first block. Although the other gals are machine sewing their

pieces, I will be hand stitching all of my blocks. I finished setting it up yesterday

 afternoon and then stitched while I chatted with the girls at Paneras last night.

 I love the colors and the texture of the wool. I can tell this project is going

 to be fun to work on. Block One isn't finished yet, but will be soon.

I'll have to remember to pace myself. Only one block a month...or
maybe two if I get my other projects done as planned. Maybe.

Thank you to everyone who left Birthday messages for Handsome

here or on my Facebook page. He really liked reading your good wishes.

and

Thank you, also, for leaving condolences on my Uncle John's passing.

Our family appreciates your prayers as we grieve his loss. I'm meeting 

more family members because of my post, and I think he would like that.

The Next Generation...

 The women in our Paneras group love teaching new knitters, crocheters or

needleworkers. We frequently teach women how to get started, but nothing

is more fun or satisfying than teaching young people what we already know.

 Recently, two young ladies asked if we would be willing to teach them

how to knit. Adele and Ellen told their moms what they would need to

get started and the girls returned the following week anxious to learn.

The girls are actually cousins, and one of their moms sat close by to watch.

Adele took on the younger of the two, and Ellen asked the older girl to 

sit down next to her. By the end of the evening, Ellen's student was 

knitting away, while the younger one was skipping around the restaurant 

saying she'd try again later. We giggled and recognized that a few 

years in age can make quite a difference in a child's attention span.

Perhaps next year she'll be a little more enthused and coordinated to learn.

Holding those long knitting needles can be a little awkward, too.

Meanwhile, the rest of our group had settled in with their own projects.

Blankets, sweaters, washcloths and scarves were being created.

I smiled as I watched the little girls. I remember learning to knit as

a young girl. My stitches were too tight, and my hands were sticky

from being so nervous, which only made the stitches harder to move

on the needles. I was great at making squares and rectangles, so all

my Barbie™ dolls wore rectangles of fabric that I sewed together and

then cut holes in for armholes. I had no idea that the knitting would

run and my little knitted pieces would be ruined. I was creating 

something with my own hands...and I was proud. I'd made it myself.

It's the same for the young girl working on her first scarf at Paneras. 

She'll remember this years from now. We're helping make memories. 

It's really a wonderful thing to pass a creative skill on to the next 

generation. Participating in that is an honor, indeed.

On Being Organized...

 If I gave you a list of all the things I need to accomplish this week, you might

just gasp. I know I did! I keep a daily notebook with my tasks outlined page-

by-page, and when I accomplish items on my list, I check them off. It helps me

to see what I'm able to get done each day. My daily pages also have lists of calls

 I need to make, things I need to pop in the mail, incoming calls, appointments

and anything else I want to commit to long-term memory, like family stuff.

This week has a lot of entries, but I've also managed to tick a number off my lists

already! On Thursday, I'll be teaching Session Two of the "Over The River" class,

so I'm busy creating the block for that class and working on the embroidery, too.

First thing yesterday, we had a service tech appointment so that took up part of

my morning. Even so, I cut all the components for the "Block-in-Block"...uhhh...

block. (lol) I only need six to go into this quilt, so I was happy to have five of them 

finished mid-afternoon. They're lookin' good but, because the designer didn't

specify the finished size of the blocks, I needed to make at least one to know the size

 to create a paper piecing foundation for my students who'd rather use that method.

Mid-afternoon I began editing my recording of Handsome's North Port Concert 

Band concert last week. (It's due to the band members on Thursday night this week.) 

I managed to nearly get to "Intermission" before I needed to leave to meet the girls 

at Paneras for our weekly gathering. I was a little tired, but I went anyway.

Another item on the list is to do the stitching on the last applique' block for the

guild quilt. I took that with me to Paneras and stitched away while my friends

and I chatted and caught up on all the news since we last met together. It was nice

and I was really glad that I didn't decide to stay home. There were over a dozen

gals there, and my sweet friend, Margaret is heading back to Canada on Friday,

 so I got a chance to say "toodles" to her before she and her hubby pack to leave.

Today, I'll prepare my orders to ship, along with some Easter gifts to send North to

Mom Grace, my sister and our grandchildren. Next, I'll finish editing the recording   

for the Concert Band, and burn the DVDs. They'll be ready for delivery on Thursday.

I'll also make that last block and the paper foundation for my students this week.

Once that's finished, I'll do more embroidery on the panel and I'll be ready for class.

This is when FOCUS really comes in handy!

One more thing...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHELL!!!
(click on the "Happy Birthday" link to write a message on Shell's blog)

My Circle of Influence...

Sandy's Saturday Coffee Club

"You become the five people with whom you spend the most time."

I'm blessed to be surrounded by so many more loving and talented women. Our time together is always filled with creative ideas and shared values, and when someone is ill or bothered, we're always there for each other. We miss each other when we're apart and we look forward to each visit. We're "family" in every sense of the word.

I'd like to start by introducing you to all the generous and talented quilting women with whom I share most Saturday mornings, and many days in between. These are the gals you frequently read about here on my blog...the Saturday Coffee Club.

They are (l-r) Flo (my applique' teacher and mentor), Joni (who does perfect machine applique' and loves all things "duck-y"!); Nora (whose quilting skills are envious); Fay (everything she makes is fabulous); Kathy (her wicked sense of humor exceeds my own and her long arm skills make my quilts look better than they actually are); me, and Brenda (who is one of the kindest, sweetest people I know, on top of all the gorgeous things she creates). They inspire me to hone both my quilting and my friendship skills and I love each and every one of them.

Paneras Yarn Girls

Then, there are the women who gather together on Tuesday nights at Paneras in Port Charlotte, Florida. I first met many of them through the Project Linus group that I joined four or five years ago. Adele and Helen (in the red tops) and dear, dear Ellen (in the green vest) are still part of that group. They helped me to become a consistent crocheter and we've visited and laughed over many a knitting project. They're still waiting for me to complete my ivory bamboo sweater!

Tammy (on the far right of this picture) is the inspiration behind our gathering. She was the organizer for the original group when we met at Books-a-Million, and she's always been the glue that holds us together. Her heart is as big as a house, and she not only knits and crochets, but she also spins her own yarns and throws her own yarns bowls, vases, dinnerware and more out of clay.  I treasure her gifts. Her pieces are both beautiful and useful and I'm proud to call her my friend.

Margaret (front row in the blue and white top) is from Canada. She travels back and forth each year, and we always look forward to her winter migration. Her work is incredible. When we met last night, she gave Tammy a pair of fingerless mittens. She had made them yesterday! (She uses the "two at a time" method, working on both mittens on one circular needle.) They were beautiful, and now that Tammy is moving north after Christmas, they'll be much appreciated as they help keep her warm.

Kathy (who completes the front row) and Anne (in black behind her) also share their talents with our group. Kathy creates beautiful, ruffled scarves to sell and Anne not only knits, but she's my "quilting sister" and fellow Wisconsinite in the group, too. She is teaching me more about hand stitched quilts, and I suspect that by the end of 2013, I will have created my first hand quilted piece under her guidance.

I regret that I don't yet know the rest of the gals in our photo very well. A couple are newcomers, and the others are "part-timers", but I look forward to getting to know them better as time goes on. I've seen their work and will continue to look forward to seeing their creations as they share them with us.

I mentioned that Tammy is moving north after Christmas. I'm not in the least bit happy about this. She's going to be moving to Virginia with her husband as they follow a great work opportunity for him at Quantico. I mean, this is much further away than Tampa or even Atlanta! It's not like she'll be able to "pop in" to see us once a month. We're all sad to see her go, but wish them the best in their new adventure.

I believe that our best "family" is made up of the friends and relatives who most closely share our values, our interests and our love for each other. These women are the family that live in Florida, close to me (along with Handsome and a few good friends outside this group).

It is said that "water seeks its own level". I am forever astonished and grateful that all these beautiful hearts are part of my Circle of Influence. I am blessed.

Hearts and Hands...

This sweet little girl is Angel Dawn. She's a normal thirteen girl except for one thing. She's been fighting for her life for the past two years. She has a malignant brain stem tumor. I first learned about her through my friend, Marydon at Blushing Rose.

Recently, I found out that she had collapsed at school and was in need of some cheering up. Marydon asked me if I'd be interested in sending her a little something to brighten her day. Of course, I was more than willing to, and I asked my friend, Tammy if she'd like to send something along in my package. We sent a small quilt and a pair of handknit fingerless gloves to her.

The following week, I told my girlfriends at Paneras about Angel Dawn and asked if anyone was interested in making something to send in another package. Boy, did I get an enthusiastic response!

Kathy made a beautiful knitted shawl so that Angel Dawn can put it over her shoulders if she's feeling a little chill.

Margaret made a cute beaded bracelet and a little beaded pouch necklace (and even placed a bill inside!).

Adele crocheted a beautiful afghan. If you look closely, you'll see that the motif is actually angels!

There are other things, too. Ellen made a crocheted hat. There are colored markers and books, a crocheted bag, and a few girly toiletries, too! I'm just sorry that I don't have more photos to show you of the kind hearts that contributed them.

The package will go in the mail tomorrow and I just know that there is going to be one happy little girl on the receiving end. All of us who have taken part in the giving know that we're receiving much more by our actions. We send a collective hug to a child we've never met, but more than that, we're sending prayers for her complete healing.

If you're moved to contribute something to bring a little sunshine into her day, you can contact either me or Marydon and we'll share an address with you.

PS. Thanks to everyone who sent Birthday wishes to Tag yesterday. We really appreciate all the love and happy thoughts you send our way.