Full steam ahead!

Wow... its been over a month of the Bitch and Stitch and I am loving it!!!  There has been such a nice rotation of stitchers involved, and having a standing date "vale la pena" (is worth the effort!)

It's easier than we think to go about our day to day errands and work, unfortunately prioiritizing other things ahead of keeping in touch with friends, but this is a great way to make sure that friends stay on the weekly agenda!  At least that's what I am finding, and loving MOST about the B&S!

So thanks to all the 'bitches' who keep it going!

Last week Vanessa joined us for the first time, and took a considerable chunk of conceptual work out of her tea pot cozy project.  What she put together so far looks great!!  And I think that I might have to get a tea pot cozy going myself!  Plus we found a great little anarchist tea cozy cross stitch pattern with Jacquie a few weeks ago, so there might even be a tea cozy show off in the future!

But back to the here and now!

This weekend Elaine and I headed out to The Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library Fundraiser - brunch and craft learning event.  It was a  great way to get out of the house, go check out the Crafts museum, nibble on snacks  and try some new crafts. 

We started out at the braiding station and jumped right into learning an 11 strand Algerian braid - That's right ELEVEN STRANDS!  And it was pretty smooth sailing after we got the hang of it!

While I puttered away on that Elaine learned another braid using five loops of yarn... pretty neat stuff, and very rhythmic! 

As we braided away, sipped on coffee and chatted with the other crafters there, my attention kept getting sucked back to the felting table.  Felting!  I have recently been so curious about felting, and here was the opportunity to try it out!  Poor Elaine told me I reminded her of her beautiful but wild at heart husky who cannot keep it together if there is a squirrel or rabbit or anything that moves near by.  Try as hard as he might, he just can't collect himself and resist the urge to chase.  ...Well that was me with the felting.
Finally we went over and tried our hand at it!
Its hard to describe, so take a look, then ask for details at the next Bitch and Stitch.
ha ha ha ha  Bait and Hook!

Thats all for now, this week we meet in St.James, I will send out a map of exactly where!

agenda motion passed

Elaine and I passed the motion that our new symbol is the Rolling Stones neon light that I proudly own, but sadly store in a closet.  It will be the mark of the stitchers! and we will throw it in the window of the host of the week, to guide us and our needles and yarn into the right living room!  WOO HOO  (I knew there would be someway to incorporate into my adult life!!!)

Now back to regular business:
I get so wrapped up in stitching my little heart out that sometimes I completely forget to snap pics of the good work we are up to.  So you will just have to rely in the following description.
(based entirely on the meeting minutes of course!)

In the last two weeks Jacquie learned to embroider and invented a great new gel nail treatment consisting of french knots and glitter, she will no doubt proudly model this at the next B&S she attends.  Kara finished three intricate christmas stockings in a manner of hours, and is now starting on a santa suit done completely in 14kt gold thread (modeling optional.) Elaine planted tulips in my couch for the next spring and then knitted a cover to protect them from the hard asses that occupy my couch on Wednesday nights. And I, after making the perfect Pavlova for my guests, finally finished that Gustav Klimpt cross stitch with all 136 colours of embroidery floss, now just to stitch it to my Super Cape and I am all set!

Well at least thats how I remember it!  Guess you'll have to get your butts down here to see for yourself next time!


But since I don't have any pics I thought I might show you where to find some in case you are ever in need of material in which to waste time on the internet one slow work day:

• Feeling Stitchy is fun, and has some pretty cute finished projects ranging in degrees of difficulty.  Cross stitch and embroidery heavy, just the way I like it.
• For those of you ready for more challenging inspiration and seriously jaw dropping stitchery, head over to Mr. X Stitch!  (If Amy Goodman is my un-official internet girlfriend, then Mr.X Stitch is my un-official internet boyfriend... gotta be fair right!)
• For DIY fashion and style check out Threadbangers.  Lots of good stuff for sewing fanatics or beginners!  Plus great ways to recycle old clothes into new looks!
• Vintage Transfer Finds will make you want to learn to embroider TODAY in case it is further down on your life list than that!  The warning on the site reads:  So cute they can hurt you... so I warned ya!
• Cross stich text... you type it, they pattern it.  Perfect!
• And seeing as the holidays are slowly creeping their way ever closer, if you don't already know about Etsy...GET ON BOARD!  It is the best gift buying tool (not to mention idea borrowing) on the net!  There is nothing that you cannot get from somebody creative on Etsy.  I live by it, so go check it out!  And if you want to see my personal Etsy faves, here they are!

Now get off the net, grab you needles and head on down to my place.... the Pavlova is almost set!

Shauna