Shipshewana goodness...

How's it going people?!
I tell you what...I just returned from a fabulous weekend of friends, food, fun and spending money!
I attended the Inspired Needle retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana this past weekend and a great time!

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Lots of stitching...

My table mates and more stitching...

Saturday night exchange group...

One of the main reasons...

was to meet up with the Illinois stitchers, many of whom I have an online friendship with through blogging. I met them and they accepted me into their group unconditionally! We had a good great time and I think they even liked me :) or at least I sure do hope they did!

Here's some gals many of know...

on the fair end is Linda of Keeper of the Crowes , in the middle is Brenda of Brenda's Stitching  and finally is Karin A Stitching Expat Life . In front in the blue plaid shirt is Ranae of Stitch by Stitch

and next to her in the teal and black sweater is Ranae's good buddy Anna (no blog).

Here's a sweet picture of the gals directly across the table from me...

I got to look and view their sweet, smiling faces any old time I wanted! In the red sweater is Pat (no blog), Linda and Brenda. All of these ladies, are just as sweet and kind as can be! :) Hi ya girls!

Here is Barb (holding coffee cup) and Jayne another pair of sweethearts! (neither blog) Barb is like a guru with linen colors for projects. I believe most of us used her expertise a lot during the weekend. (Which you will see more below....)

There was lots situations going on at the Situation Table. In depth discussions deciding on fabrics, projects, charts - which usually resulted in me purchasing something else, even if I wasn't in on the Situation Table discussion! I nicknamed the whole frenzied scenario "SHARK ATTACK" ~ cue Jaws Theme Music *please*!

Barb overseeing the color of linens...

More consultations...notice Barb again available for discussions!

Situations being discusses with Patti (left), Jayne, Kellie and Pat

What is a retreat...

I ask you if you don't spend a little cash (Okay, Okay, a lot of cash) Here's the stash I purchased.

(I won't bore you with the Brighton Bracelet and charms, little nick-nacks and food that I got to bring home to my kiddos....)

I purchased 4 charts (believe me I had more, but I thinned them out as I have enough charts to start my own business!) But the ones that I couldn't leave behind are (back to front):

Prairie Moon - Peace on Earth

With Thy Needle and Thread - JM Gardner (which I called 50 different names all weekend)

The Scarlett House - Christmastide at Holly House

and

By the Bay - Mermaid Cove

The girls decided I need to visit....

The House of Stitches in LaPorte, Indiana (about an hour north of Shipshewana) because they knew I'd never been there and that I too needed to go pay homage :) So on Friday, Brenda loaded us up and off we went! I, not having a shop that has such an extensive fabric selection near to me, went a little nuts:

On Saturday evening...

We all were gifted with this sweet scissors holder, beaded fob and DOVO scissors!

On Sunday....

we all had to pack up and leave. I wanted to get a group shot of all my stitching Buds so here we are! Yeah, I belong in a gang! :)

(far back l - r): Barb and Laura (Maude and Mozart)

(back): Katrina (The Needle's Promise), Anna, Karin, Patti, Jayne and Kellie

(sitting): Me, Pat, Linda, Brenda

(front): Ranae

I finally wanted to get a picture with the two people that made it possible for me to attend:

Cathy (owner of Inspired Needle)

and

Laura who bugged Cathy and got me on the waiting list!

Laura, Cathy and Me

What a fabulous, great, good time I had! Thank you Cathy for a wonderful experience and awesome retreat!

I also want to wave hello to all the stitchers I met, both new friends and old friends! And a special thank you to the Illinois stitchers that welcomed me with open arms and treated me just like I was one of their own! I love you gals!

Now...
what did I stitch on retreat?! Well I had a lot of stuff in my bag! I also bought a lot of stuff....but I stitched on only one thing. I had hoped to *bang* it out in a day, but due to my BS-ing I kept on miscounting and frogging and miscounting and frogging. Heck, I think I stitched this cottage about two times over from all my stitching and frogging. But finally today, I finished it and here she is:

"March Cottage"

Country Cottage Needleworks ~ Nikki Leeman

Copyright 2012

Stitched as charted

And....here's where I am to date on the project....I know BEHIND as usual!

Speaking of Country Cottage Needleworks...

have you seen the announcement of her New Series? You can view a snippet and read an explanation to Nikki's latest and greatest 12 month series here: Santa's Village

Does it strike your fancy?...

well it should! It has mine and because I'm the master of disaster...I'm going to open a Santa's Village Stitch~A~Long (SAL). If you would like to join....(and if I were you, I'd reserve my spot if you plan on purchasing and stitching these pretties as spots ALWAYS go rather quickly) Please kindly e-mail me: Vonna at thetwistedstitcher@comcast.net and I'll get you on the list. I haven't created the blog yet, but I will ASAP.

Thank you so much...

my dear friends, blogging buddies and readers for hanging on for this rather loooooong post! Until next time, I'll be keeping my "hands to work and heart to God" just like always!

Love,

Vonna xxx