What to add? 🧙

The last time I worked on this was at the Grace Notes Retreat... in August 2023!

I added the witch and that was it. Just recently, I added the bottom part. I'm not sure what I was going for, kind of a mess of fall leaves? I also gave her a sparkly wand.

But, now what?! I'm trying to keep it all Maja's designs from The Snowflower Diaries, but can think of what to put above the ground and/or to the right.

Any suggestions?

This is what October looks like, but I wanted a more Halloween feel.

These are the previous months.

The 1st Grace Notes Retreat 🎶

Through friends, I heard about a retreat from Grace Notes Fabrics and I was ready to join them!

Three weeks ago today, I traveled to Pennsylvania, not that far from me.

You can already see the beautiful fabric they have to offer.

We had tickets in our goodie bag and could also earn more tickets with games in the booklet we received. These were the items available for the raffle. So many lovely things!

These were on the brag tables, all stitched on Grace Notes Fabric. Lots of amazing stitching on gorgeous fabric. I hope to be able to add to it next year.

The Grace Notes Retreat Crew, they all made it such fun!

Jamey, Hannah, Colleen, Corrin, John, Sheri, Allison, and Karla

This was my area of our table, just a little bit of a hot mess.

And what's a retreat without the giveaway table?!

This is what I came home with.

Our goodie bag came with this booklet, which included plenty of sweet patterns and games.

There were lots of goodies inside!

And also very generous stitchers who gave out their own goodies.

This was the set up for shopping, as well as patterns on the left side against the wall.

I was mainly interested in fabric, especially for this piece. I wanted to use purple for the witches and the one I had started before just didn't look right to me.

I found this and it's perfect!

I also bought all these smaller pieces to stitch who knows what on. I just love all those gorgeous colours!

Sheri (of the Notes Crew) made this beautiful quilt for a raffle to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation and Precious Life... $1000 was raised!

And with the leftover fabric, Sheri made every one of us a needle book, what a treasure!

And can I say, there were tears.

Each table had a frog and when announced, the person who had it because they were frogging, received a prize - I won the little imagine book.

Also shown is the needle book from Sheri and the boo boo stick that was in the goodie bag I forgot to show.

Last win was the actual frog which I got. Sadly, we spend quite a bit of time together!

Fran and I each had a finish, yay!

I then worked on The Snowflower Diaries, which I'm way behind on. October was a porcupine and a snail, but I wanted something more for Halloween and wanted to use one of Maja's actual designs. I decided to make her witch into a bunny, based on another one of her designs. I still have to finish the bottom part and add more flowers. I know it's not quite like the rest of the series, but I like it!

Here's a reminder of what the rest look like.

And besides cross stitching, there was some bobbin lace happening with Arlene. So beautiful, but I'm not sure I'd have the patience to attempt it.

Our Grace Notes Retreat Group!

And here's our table of stitchers.🥰

This is what I've been working on since getting the perfect fabric there.

Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.

So for their first retreat, it was an AMAZING one! Thank you for making it such a memorable weekend.

Everyone was so wonderful and friendly, and the place was perfect. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Fully Finished Gallery ~ May 2023 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL for May. Be sure to have a look and see what others have finished this time!

This is the Joyful World SAL for May from Maja at The Snowflower Diaries. I tried making the kitties look like our Ming and Maximus, they will have to do!

Here they are in the little shelf.

I finally finished this little guy and decided I wanted him next to me when I'm stitching, so he's on my light.

Maybe next month I'll be more productive?!

And I'm still trying to catch up with blog reading, imagine that.

Fully Finished Gallery ~ April 2023 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL for April. Be sure to have a look and see what others have finished this time!

This is the Joyful World SAL for April from Maja at The Snowflower Diaries. Finally finished and in my little shelf.

I've had this little sweet kitty stitched since last summer, but finally placed it on the box. It's a Margaret Sherry kitty, I changed the mug colour and made him look like Mr Finn. This is our future daughter-in-law C's graduation gift from getting her Masters, she can use it as a pen/pencil box at work or maybe even candy?!

The back of it, with some MORE purple!

You probably saw this for the blog hop, but it's another finish. I stitched the mini peeps on perforated paper and then added them to the white bunny I had stitched before. I guess I should have outlined that one, it's a little hard to see. Using light pink fabric might not have been a good idea.

Not cross stitch, but I did finish this for Gman1 and C - although this C is for our last name!

It's a hodgepodge of black and white photos of them, the engagement one too.

Not too bad, let's see what I can finish next time.

Now to catch up on some blog reading...

 

Fully Finished Gallery ~ March 2023 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL for March. Go have a look and see what others have finished this time!

Maja at The Snowflower Diaries offered the Joyful World SAL way back in 2016, and here is March. I started stitching it in German for meine Mutti, although I still have to finish Oct - Dec. She saw the ones I stitched, but sadly never got to see them all finished. I will continue them in German and will think of her every time I see them.

At least I should have this one to show every month!

It's still available it you're interested.

I stitched this little one for St. David's Day. You can sort of see the sparkles in the fabric.

And here they are together, on the shelf I bought in Havre de Grace on St. David's Day.

Maybe you'll join in next time?