Wednesday 7 July 2010

Lighthouses and school children

I am so very excited. In 2007 I started a lighthouse RR. Well, this RR has had it's issues. The designs are from Stoney Creek. Each lighthouse took a huge number of threads and a very large amount of time. Each person who stitched on it grumbled and complained their way through their block. When my local stitchers had done their contribution, some away stitchers volunteered their services. So after 3 1/2 years, it is home. I still need to stitch the last block and do the border. I am going to add the name of each lighthouse under each block and then add the names of the stitchers at the bottom. It is not done but it is home in my hands and that is where it will stay.
The last stitcher was Jenn from Sweetpea Stitches and she included photos of the lighthouse she stitched. Her husband also stitches and he did all the back stitching on her piece. She and her DH do lighthouse tours and had actually been to the Selkirk lighthouse that she stitched. I am planning to frame the photos and hang them near this RR when it is done. She also included some lovely little angel pins that she made and a lighthouse design that her DH had stitched.


My stitching has been for 2 exchanges that went out in the mail last week. I did work on a RR for a local stitcher. Barb (no blog) is a retired teacher and find this cute design in an old pamphlet. My Thursday stitching group are working on this for her. I did the two little guys to the right - one dipping the girl's hair in the inkwell and the second under the desk. Kinda reminds me of my boys when they were young. LOL.




I  received this package in the mail yesterday. In my recent exchange with Clare, there was a set of thread keepers from Rosewood Manor. Unfortunately, a couple got broken in transit. When I contacted Karen at Rosewood Manor about replacement cost, she generously sent me a replacement package at no charge and included a free pattern. So a BIG Thank You and a worthy mention goes to Karen Kluba at Rosewood Manor designs!!!


I stitched the April block on my SanMan Snowman. Love these little pieces.


I really need to take some time and get back to my BAP's but it is too hot to pick up a large piece of fabric. With the Humidex, it was over 100 degrees here yesterday. It was not quite that hot but close Monday and today is supposed to be even hotter then yesterday. I plan to spend my day on my swing outside, stitching and enjoying the breeze from the water.  I hope all of you who are experiencing this heat wave survive well.

Till next time, keep those stitches crossed.

24 comments:

Karen said...

Your RR is amazing! There is so much detail in the lighthouses!
The little kids at their desks are adorable too! And your work on SanMan Snowman is looking good. I was looking at that pattern recently. I think the snowmen are so cute.

It was really nice of Karen to replace the thread keepers and the pattern she sent is gorgeous!

Mary said...

The lighthouse RR is fabulous! The colors are gorgeous. You can tell from the detail that each one took a while to stitch and is truly a work of art!

Rachel S-H said...

All the stitching is fabulous! I love the schoolhouse stitching, and the lighthouse RR is amazing. Well worth the grumbling.

Christina said...

I just love those snowmen! I've seen them on another blog and made a promise to myself that I'd HAVE to stitch them before Christmas this year. The school house stitching is so cute. As a school teacher I would so love somebody to stitch that for me! There's lots of back stitch on the lighthouses, no wonder there was lots of grumbling!

Jules said...

The Lighthouses are to die for! It's great that the one stitcher included pictures of the actual lighthouse she worked on. Wouldn't it be cool if you could get pictures of the others as well?! What a wall hanging that would be!

Your exchange piece is really adorable as well!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the pics. They're so fun to look at.

Danielle said...

The SanMan snowmen look great!

Katrina said...

LOL, those lighthouses were a lot of stitching ;-). It's really gorgeous and I am glad it's home.

Nice gift too!

Myra said...

I love lighthouses and your RR is fabulous!

Judy S. said...

Wow, Kathy, you've really been stitching up a storm! What lovely pieces. Did you happen to find out when the next snowman is coming out? They sure are cute.

Lynn said...

Wow, those lighthouses are incredibly detailed! Now I understand their complaints but was it ever worth it! It's fantastic!!
That piece for Barb is just too cute. She's going to love it.
We're melting up here too. The air conditioners at work are old and can't keep up with the heat. We might as well not have any. Add having to wear those heavy lab coats and it makes for a miserable day.

Clare said...

Kathy - the Lighthouse RR is wonderful - and also the "little boys, looks like a cute design. Sorry to hear that the thread keepers were broken in transit - I'll make sure the next ones are double wrapped!

Heidi said...

Be sure those snowmen don't melt...lol! They are so cute and must cool you off a little in this summer heat. It is even hot here in Holland now. Yuk! I am not a summer person other than liking to stitch in the garden.

Okay, I can see why everyone would grumble about those lighthouses as they look involved to stitch BUT what a result! That is going to be the most beautiful piece when it is finished and in a frame. What a piece to own...lucky you. The school desks RR is just too cute for words. What a fun way to stitch this up. She will love it I am sure.

Hugs from a very hot Holland ~
Heidi

Michele said...

love the lighthouse RR!!! Sure turned out beautiful :)

Carolyn NC said...

RR is gorgeous, as are your exchanges! Threadkeepers are great and how cool to hear how generous some designers are!

Carol said...

What a beauty the lighthouse piece is, Kathy! You and your fellow stitchers did an amazing job :)

Hope you've found a nice cool place to sit and stitch during this heat wave--sounds as though we've just about reached the end of it--phew!!

Lynette said...

Wow, that lighthouse piece is so gorgeous - I bet you were so pleased (and relieved!) to get it back.

I love the school piece too!

Missy Ann said...

We all know my opinion of lighthouses. But that RR most definitely is a winner.

I met Karen a couple years back at Celebration, she is a lovely person.

Michele B. said...

Your lighthouse RR is amazing. I can't wait to see it finished and framed. When I got back into stitching after about 20 years the first thing I stitched was a lighthouse. There is just something so appealing about those structures.

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

What a treat to have friends who will help you stitch a project, and such a wonderful piece. Some time ago(late 80's/ early 90's) I stitched all 18 of the Peggy Dickies "Memories in Miniature"(school desks/kids) and also did this same pic twice for a retiring teacher/friend and another friend who happened to be a retiring principal. What fun that collection was. Just a tad curious to see just where near Lake Ontario you are?
Be always in stitches.

Dani - tkdchick said...

I am sooo glad your lighthouses have made it back safely! That was a lot of work. Barb's RR is adorable and so are your snowmen!

stitcherw said...

The lighthouses look wonderful, what a great sampler. I'll bet you're thrilled to have it back home to be able to enjoy seeing again. Cute piece with the kids, and the SanMan design is so sweet with the little snowmen.
Sue

Carolien said...

Hi Kathy,

Your RR looks marvellous. The border is so nice too. Happy stitching while finishing this RR!
That school class is soooooo cute. Did you do that too, the ink part? I mean: the genes from your boys come from ... ;)

Take care & hugs, Carolien

Patty C. said...

I love snowmen and these are sooooooooooooo cute !!!!!!!!