Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Stitchers & Stitching

Hello July & Friends!
   How can it be July? Time is flying by. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Canada Day or 4th of July or you are just enjoying your summer.
I finished Betsy's House last night. I really enjoyed stitching this, I think it is the colors. The design is by Plum Street Samplers and I used the recommended fabric and threads.
  
I jumped right in and started the LK Halloween mystery after that. This has been sitting in my stash calling to me for the last year or too. I stitched this while watching the Women's Soccer World Cup game! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸wow!
  
I stitched the fob from my Colonial Gathering club piece. This has been in my travel bag.
There has been a little progress on Margaret Randolph too. I need to focus on her and get her done! I love the greens and that bright blue.
  So there is the stitching... Now for the Stitchers.
 I had the chance to work in Connecticutt    3 weeks ago. I used to live there so I was 
very excited to catch up with friends & family.
   I had the wonderful chance to meet up with Krista from Just Stitching Along. 
We met up in Waterbury and talked stitching, CT, moves, the Rolling Stones and lots of other things. I have followed Krista's blog for years. She is also one of the moderators for the Scarlet Letter Stitch-A-Long. So glad to meet you in person  Krista!
   I really started stitching seriously when I lived in Connecticut. I was fortunate to meet a group of Stitchers that would get together once a month. One of the core group had moved to Colorado and is in the process of moving back to CT and she made it back in time to meet up for dinner! I can't believe this worked out. I haven't seen these friends in 15 years!
Here we are! Sandy in the left explained to me what stitching "over two" was and introduced me to samplers and convinced me to go to Sampler Gathering the first time. Kathy who is next to me gave me last minute French knot instruction and fueled lots of stitching with broccoli cheese ritz casserole. Jan on the end also introduced me to samplers(she loves strawberry borders) and taught me how to do colonial knots(which I always use because I still have never mastered French knots!).
   We had so much to catch up on. One evening was not enough. Hopefully I will get back to CT in a couple of months for another get together. I love these girls!
  While in CT I also saw Rich's brother and his family. The nephews are now 22 and 21... Wow!
   I also had a chance to have my favorite pizza. I judge all other pizzas by this one.
Henry's in East Windsor, CT. It has been family operated since the 50's. The same people are making the pizza and the waitresses have been there for 30 years.
I ran into the mall in Meriden to pick something up at Best Buy and saw this picture of the mall from back in the 90's. I worked for Lechter's Housewares for 10 years and spent lots of time at this site.do any of you remember this chain? I loved that job! Retail back then was very different than it is now.
I am going to leave you with this view of Hartford.
 
Thanks for traveling with me!
Stitch On!

Chris

23 comments:

Robin in Virginia said...

What a fabulous trip you had to Connecticut! How nice that you were able to meet up with Krista as well as your former stitching group! I remember Lechter's! There was one at the Tyson's Corner Mall in VA.

Your stitching projects look great. Congratulations to you on your finishes and good going on your WIPs.

Robin in Virginia

Vickie said...

I am always happy to see that you have a chance for stitching. :) I remember Lechters.

Anna van Schurman said...

How great you could get together with your stitching buds!

Julie said...

Lots of fun and happy times you are having.

Justine said...

You have been busy! Lovely photos of you meeting with old friends.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

My sister in law and her family lived in Hartford for quite a number of years. They now live in Carlsbad, California.
It's great that you've managed to catch up with stitching friends, at least travelling has given you the chance to do this.

Heritage Hall said...

I did so much of my stitching when we lived in Farmington...CT area
just encourages it....Did not know about Henry's and will pass the
word and get there when next I cross the State border. Don't you
just love those reunions?

butterfly said...

Hi Chris what lovely stitching, and so nice for you to meet up with stitching friends hugs.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Betsy is just lovely, congrats on the finish and your scissor fob too!

It looks like you had a great time in CT catching up with old friends and meeting new ones!

Anonymous said...

your stitching is so beautiful and even I wish I could stitch like that. I love your pieces!!

DebbieSFL said...

Your stitching is great and I am so glad to know that someone else uses Colonial knots as I also cannot make a French knot to save my life!! LOL!

marly said...

So glad you got to meet with your buddies. The pizza looks glorious but so does every meal you post on Facebook. Yes time is flying by but so are you!! I can't keep up with where you are!

Beth said...

Love the Quaker accents on Betsy's House and the blues in Margaret Randolph. How fun to reconnect with old stitching friends.

Cindy's Stitching said...

Oh how nice Chris. you are lucky to meet up with your friends. So glad that worked out for you. really like the patriotic piece you finished. The pizza looks yummy.

Carol said...

Looks like CT trip was a real treat, Chris, and I loved seeing your stitching. Glad you are having time to connect with friends AND stitch on your work trips :)

StitchinByTheLake said...

Love, love, love Betsy's House! What a fun time with friends - it's always so much fun to revisit old times. It's funny that you can do the colonial stitch but not the french knot. I'm just the opposite! :) blessings, marlene

Brigitte said...

So great that you find the time to stitch in spite of your stressful job. And this finish is absolutely great. I love Paulette's designs very much. And you made some nice progress on your other projects.

A wonderful chance to meet up with some stitchers that you know from blogs and from the past. Must have been great to get together with them.

Margaret said...

YES! I do remember Lechter's! lol! So great that you got to get together with your old friends from CT. Nice that you met up with Krista too! Love your stitching -- you are doing great! If I worked like you, I wouldn't get anything done. CT is such a nice state. And it's our neighbor. :D We go there for various reasons. Hope life is treating you well!

~Narita said...

I'd really love to walk in your shoes...

Annette-California said...

Look at you with all your stitching progress! Congrats on Bestys house finish. LOVE IT!!! Super fantastic that you got to visit with stitching friends! What a fun group! I've not heard of Lechter's Housewares may be we didn't have them in the bay area Ca.
I worked retail for years too (Nordstroms). Glad I was young when I did - LOL! Happy travels! love Annette

diamondc said...

Hi Chris: Love this post.
Betsy's House is so sweet, LK Halloween looks like a sweet stitch.
Your scissor fob is adorable.
Margaret Randolph is a beautiful Sampler.
The pizza looks so yummy.
Meeting up with new and old friends is a real treat in life.
What a beautiful picture of Hartford, that bay is lovely.

Blessings
Catherine

Sally said...

Looks like you had a fantastic trip Chris.

Love Betsy's House and your start on the LK mystery looks brilliant. The scissor fob is sweet.

Linda K's Stitching Corner said...

Your Stitching is just beautiful...wow....

I am glad that you had a good time on your trip and got to see family and friends and spent some time with your stitching friends.

Happy Stitching
Linda K