A Visit to NJ and a Retreat!

In July, I went to visit Amy @Born To Stitch before heading to the Stitch NJ Retreat.

Her sweet Momma got a new puppy, this is little Lovie!

She is the biggest, little ball of fluff! And no, she's not spoiled at all. 😜

I was at the shop when she was filming her Flosstube with Eda, and having Mel @December Stitches as their guest!

There are more new cute designs, be sure to take a look @December Stitches! It you see anything you like, let Amy know.

If you know me, you know I don't really watch Flosstube. I guess I'm just old school and still prefer blogs, which I find easier to follow and doesn't take as long. (Even though I'm way behind on my reading!)

But having friends who make them, I'll watch them every once in a while, sorry it's not more!

Amy roped me into this episode for a few minutes near the end. It was fun, but I'll keep blogging! 🤣

Born to Stitch Flosstube #10

AND, she's planning a retreat next March after the Nashville Market, so exciting! RETREAT INFO HERE!

 

This one is new to the shop since I've been there, I love it!

I might have gotten a few things!

Some were gifts that I didn't show.

Of course you can't not take a Bruce photo while there.

Including me!

After that, I headed to the Stitch NJ Retreat, hosted by Arlene @Works by ABC.

I didn't take as many photos, but here's a few.

My stitching set up - I seem to keep adding more accessories to "help" me stitch!

This was our goodie bag, nice treasures! I think this is everything, but I might have taken something out and forgot what it was... sometimers. 🤷

And this was the vending room on Saturday.

The lovely Corrin @Grace Notes Fabrics.

Sew Pretty Pins

Bags by KraftyKim

Annette @Mind Your Needle

Pinny and Tunny

Jenn @Silvercatspaw Studio

And of course, the host of the retreat - Arlene @Works by ABC!

A few items I bought from them. I know I got fabric too, but I don't remember where I put it.

I love the daffodils - for St David's Day in Wales!

The room, with our table in the corner.

Our table - 3809, is fine!

What a lovely surprise seeing Danielle and Jill! I met them when they blogged, way back when! 😂

And Stephanie @OhSewCrafty, she still blogs too!

   

And who doesn't love the give-a-way table tables?!

I found a few things I couldn't leave behind.

There were so many donated raffle prizes to choose from (sorry no photos) and this is what I was lucky enough to win!

I love the kitty project bag, but haven't decided what to get from 123 Stitch yet.

The money collected for the raffle went to SAVE, $6,525! I think she said it was more than last year. I was happy to contribute! 

Who knew NJ could be so much fun?! 😆

May Literally Flew By! ✈

 A very delayed posting for May!

DH and I took an evening flight to New Orleans to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary in May. We decided to visit my brother and sister-in-love since we don't get to spend much time with them.

We stayed the night in NOLA until my brother came to pick us up the following day and take us back to their house in Baton Rouge.

Some lovely Black Eyed Susans (Maryland's state flower) in New Orleans.

I got my Beignets, yum! Although not in the French Market location.

We had fun walking around and visiting all the lovely shops...

And bars! I had a frozen drink that I had to drink very slowly and have a sit down, it was powerful!

Mermen made nice window displays in this shop, oh my!

There is a stitching shop there, The Quarter Stitch, but mainly needlepoint and knitting. So many beautiful pieces and the angels were gorgeous.

They did have a small area of cross stitch, and I bought this one to stitch.

Before my brother came to pick us up later that afternoon, we had lunch at Butcher. Delicious and fun!

This is their backyard, complete with pups, Dixie, Rose and Loki. Isn't it beautiful? And that dragon, love it! 

Rose and Loki keeping me company while stitching.

The next day, we went to Houmas House Gardens to wander around, it was so lovely.

The next day was our anniversary and we headed back to New Orleans for the day.

Sights in the French Quarter.

We went to The Spotted Cat for drinks and to listen to the music.

This is one of the songs they were playing... 

🎜"We are, 🎶so happily married..."🎝

The perfect song for our anniversary that day!

I wish I could tell you who the band was, but I can't remember and couldn't find them anywhere.

My lovely SIL bought me this fun shirt and I brought the cups home for the cats water.

Then we headed to Deutsches Haus, as we have heard so much about it from them we just had to go. Their girls had a brick made in honour of our Momma, it was so nice to see it.

More sweet gifts from my SIL, gnomes and a Nuremberg Bridal Cup.

The day we left, we went to LSU for brunch and to see Mike the Tiger. But all we could see was his paws since he was sleeping in a corner.

We had a wonderful time together and already look forward to our next time, just don't know when yet.

I was able to stitch on the plane, before dozing off!

Almost home, flying past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.