Blackbird Retreat

What a fun, fun weekend! I went to Chicago to see my friend Karin and attend the Tomorrow's Heirlooms Blackbird Designs Retreat. We had such a good time! I went a couple days early so we could have some girl time, shopping and chatting. Our first stop was Tomorrow's Heirlooms, where I got some linen and threads. I will say if you are looking for a hard to find chart I would definitely call them. They had a huge inventory of designs. Then it was off to Inspired Needle for some more stash enhancement. I got several gorgeous cuts of 40 count Lakeside and R&R, more thread and charts. Inspired Needle was such a cute shop, loved it. The second day we went to an Outlet mall and I got to go to my first Vera Bradley outlet store. Wow oh wow, they were having a good sale :-). I didn't leave empty handed, LOL.

The retreat was amazing. Barb and Alma are just so great and they have so many fun ideas for needlework. I always leave their classes inspired. I think I am turning into a groupie, LOL. I also got to meet Laura, Teresa and Pat (no blog). They are all so sweet! I have to admit I shamelessly snitched this picture from Laura's blog, I hope she doesn't mind. All my pictures kept rotating themselves when I uploaded them to blogger :-(.

The Class Pieces

I have been working on my Anniversaries of the Heart piece. I am stitching it on 40 count Olde Town Blend. It's been such a joy to stitch. I am hoping to be caught up in the next week or so. I want to just stitch the charts as they are released.

Karin stitched me two Blackbird Designs Ornaments and had them finished by Deb. They are both so beautifully stitched and finished. I just love them.

Next up for Karin and me is the Shepherd's Bush Retreat in September. We are, of course, taking the Blackbird Designs track :-). It can't come soon enough. I hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer. We are in the midst of several home projects, landscaping, concrete and deck refinishing and in between I am stitching whenever I can. I love this little verse and it seemed perfect a Blackbird post :-).

The birds have ceased their songs, All save the blackbird, that from yon tall ash, 'Mid Pinkie's greenery, from his mellow throat, In adoration of the setting sun, Chants forth his evening hymn. by David Macbeth Moir