A Day Trip....

I went to my favorite little town today - historic Occoquan,Virginia. It is around a 40 minute drive from my house. It was a bit warmer today than I like it when I go to this town. But at least the shops were cool. Going from the bottom picture - up to the top - this is the tourist center. Looks like an old saloon from back in the olden days. The next shop is called Country Morning. This used to be one of my favorite places to go, but they've been making some inventory changes lately and I just don't find things there anymore that I want to buy. Really saddens me. Hopefully as they settle into their new "look", things will get better. It was better today than the first time I went after they made the initial changes. So, as the Halloween and Christmas months come along, I'm sure they will get more of what I like! This could be good or bad - LOL! Then I hit the Golden Goose - this is a Christmas shop that is open all year long. If you can't find an ornament for every theme, you are not looking! They also have a nice Halloween section which my niece loves to look at when she comes for a visit. Then I went to Personally Yours, which is my absolutely favorite place! A lower level and then six rooms upstairs. I hit a few other places - found some nice Christmas "gifties". I walked down on the wooden walkway along the river. I took some pictures, but they turned out badly. Fed the geese and ducks some crackers - altho you are not supposed to do that! But they looked so hungry and were following me as I walked from place to place. Grabbed a bottle of water and went over to my last stop of the day - In Stitches. I got a piece of linen and some more sampler threads and was on my way for the drive home! Hope you enjoyed coming along on my trip with me! Remember, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger....

This and That....

I've been wanting to do some of "the girls" by Carriage House Samplings. Suzannah is one of my favorites as I love alphabets done in unusual ways - hence, this one done on her apron caught my heart. I've started her three times, trying to find the right linen shade. I really wanted to do it on the Lakeside Autumn Gold as chosen by the designer. However, getting 28 count in this fabric is hard. So I bought 32 count - and almost went blind trying to stitch on it - LOL! With the darkness of the color and the tiny holes - well, let us just say - forgetaboutit! I went out looking again on Saturday and found this Weeks Dye linen in Cappachino. I thought the color was close enough! And I can see the holes - tee hee! I'm even biting the bullet and putting out the money for the NPS threads. Oh what a total delightful sensation to stitch with these threads!

These cabinets are what I use to put all my DMC threads in. I find it convenient to just put them in these little drawers and number a label on the outside. However, as more and more DMC colors have come out, I've had to more colors in one drawer - sometines two, sometimes three! This often involves renumbering alot of drawers. But it still works for me. I'm also amassing a large collection of specialty threads by NPS, Weeks Dye, Crescent Colors, and Gentle Art. I've put them in large baggies with their name written on the outside. I store them in a lovely - and big - box I found at Michaels. Note - my husband really dislikes me having these thread cabinets on the hearth. But he has learned to deal with it - or at least keep his mouth shut - LOL!

I'm not sure where I found this DMC sign. I've had it for years and years and really treasure it.

Yipppee Skippeee!

My parents are coming for a visit next week. They will get here at some time on Friday, the 17th. I haven't seen them in over a year and a half. They are coming from Ohio.... I'm not sure what we will do, but it will still be nice just having them around for awhile. I know we will make a trip to at least one shopping center! My Dad loves to go walking around shopping malls - LOL!