The Kindness of Strangers, Catherine Jordan Class and Misc. Stuff

Happy Monday everyone! I figured that I better make a post now before the week got totally out of control.

I was really touched this week by a couple of things. The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me. A post or two ago, I made a whiny remark about not having time to make fobs for my scissors. I wasn't really whining, just lamenting the fact that I wasn't born a four headed person with eight arms so that I can stitch faster in the time I have! About a week later a package arrived:

Inside were these:

(Sorry for the bad pic - I took this ten times in different locations. I think I need a new camera - or maybe a new operator????)

Ranae made me not one, but two beautiful scissors fobs. I can't tell you how stunned and touched I was by her gift of giving. Both are beautiful and have extra touches that I was so surprised at. Envision me doing the Snoppy Happy Dance here. On the red and black one - a sewing machine charm - of course, I love sewing. On the second, the saying, "Laugh often, love much", another one of my favorite sayings with my name in beads strung along the length. Now I certainly can't lose those as I take them on my travels! Ranae, your thoughtfulness really, really touched me so much and I can't thank you enough for them. They look beautiful on my frog:

Ranae, I will think about you everytime I use them!!! They're beautiful!

The second act of kindness from a stranger was this blogger award from Wendy. Wendy, thank you so much for the award, and everyone stop over to see her wonderful blog. I'm suppose to designate people to pass this award to, but I can't pick only a few people. Every blog that I have listed on my sidebar are blogs that I love and I couldn't possibly pick only a few. So this award is for everyone!!

I am so touched by people's thoughtfulness!!!

On the stitching front........

.........little stitching was done this week. Basically just the whale on Block 6 and not even the entire whale. Stitching time has been at a real premium! Hopefully after this week and my daughter's rehearsals and performances are out of the way and I get my sister settled (arrival Thursday), there will be more time for stitching again.

This weekend I had the greatest time attending Catherine Jordan's Map of the Great Lakes of North America class:

We were the pilot class for this project and it was a fantastic experience. I would have never known that this was the first time she had taught it. It was the entire weekend - Saturday and Sunday. I've never done a two day class and I have to say that I really wish I could fit more of them in. I had severe stitch butt, but it was so much fun! Terri, Julie and I had the greatest time! Okay, I'm not in this picture - I'm camera shy. But as you can see, T & J are having a great time!

We didn't start off with the large map first. Catherine had designed a companion notebook for us to work on first so that we could get the hang of painting on the fabric:


This was what I got done over the two days. Doesn't look like much - could it be because we were also jawing a lot during the class?? No, not us - okay, we did get shussed a couple times! LOL We also worked on some hem stitches on a bookmark so that we could get the hang of finishing off the edges of our map. Eventually the notebook will look like this. I'm using Wisconsin's as an example, but you'll get the idea:


Catherine is a such wonderful teacher and sweet person.


I learned a lot of tips and techniques and I can't wait to start on the larger map. She also brought along a few more of her projects and I'll tell you it's hard to resist. I ordered the Jamestown Map (shame on me). My family spent a lot of time along the East coast when I was young, so I had to have it!!

Jamestown Map:

She also brought along a couple others.

Texas Map:

Illinois Map:

The Illinois map is so striking in person. It still hasn't been released as of yet (I believe later this year), but I know that I will have to have it. Never spent much time there, but the beauty of this map makes it a must have for the stash pile. Maybe someday I'll actually get it done and in the den! LOL

Catherine also brought some things along for sale. I wish I had taken more pictures of all the beautiful things she brought with her. I had to pick up this ruler. It has Adam and Eve on it, so you know I can't resist. Not a clear picture (again).

Catherine is coming back in September as there was an overwhelming response to this class and the group had to be broken down into two. She is also going to be teaching a couple of 1/2 day classes for painted and embroidered needlebooks, and yes, I did sign up (but shame on me, I didn't take a picture of it).

Her works are wonderful to look at and to work on and have so many details in them. What's nice about them, is if you have memories of a place within the state, you can add your own touches, or she will help you add them in. Michigan is big on apples, so I know that I'll have to add that, and my mom was in the running for Peach Queen in Romeo many years ago, so I know that I'll have to get that in there too! It's going to be such a fun project.

Well, that's it for me. Being gone for a whole weekend - well, you can imagine what the house looks like. The DH and kids did clean the bathrooms (SHOCK!!) and weeded out the entire yard (a daunting task sometimes), but there is a HUGE pile of laundry that I have to start on. I also have not had time to check blogs for the past four days, so I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Thanks for all your comments once again, thank you so much, Ranae, for the beautiful fobs and Wendy for the award, and I hope that everyone has a wonderful, stitchy week.