Monday, January 12, 2015

Stitchin' with Stacy--and having a blast!

I spent last Friday and Saturday with Miss Stacy from Buttermilk Basin, at the Village Dry Goods Winter Retreat. This is the third year I have attended and it has been fun to become acquainted with Lisa Bongean, Pam Buda, and now Stacy West. It was a 3 day event this year, but I only did the last two days. This was our project on Friday (this one is Stacy's, but mine is almost finished).
 It was designed to be a picnic basket cover, but I think I may make a wall hanging with mine.

Stacy demonstrated the necessary techniques and stitches, and introduced us to my favorite  new fusing product, Soft Fuse. I don't think I will be so hesitant to start prepping new wool projects now that I have learned about this.

This is the room full of stitchers Stacy managed with her easy-going, fun-loving style, and we did have a good time. The Village Dry Goods gals made sure we had plenty of peanut M&Ms, pretzels and Swedish Fish on each table to fuel our creative activity.

 We came away with near-finished pieces and good memories.

Friday evening was the dinner/trunk show at the event center of a local restaurant.
Good food and company.
Lots of fun--you should have seen Cindy (in the middle) dance as she helped display Stacy's little quilts.
And plenty of inspiration. I'm wondering now why I didn't buy that pattern on the right.

If you haven't already noticed, Stacy's pattern niche is small, prim-style, monthly themed designs.

One of the shop owners brought a cute little granddaughter helper.
So many tempting monthly pinkeep and candle mat designs.
I want to try and show you a year's worth of her banners. Blogger doesn't cooperate when I load this many photos, so I won't even try to put them in order. I think you can figure it out. You can click to enlarge any of them if you want to.



  
 These banners finish at just under 8x15"--a lovely size for hanging on a door or in a little space that needs brightening.

Here is our project on my second day.
Just some stitching on the black edge, buttons and a few decorative stitches and I can make mine into a pillow like Stacy's.






On the left Jamie is stitching her beautiful heart (love her wool), and across the table Stacy is helping someone with their project from the first day (which I didn't attend).

Everyone who attended the dinner/trunk show received a pattern with some of the wool needed to make it.
My friend, Kim, made time to start hers. It is one of the banners shown above, and it is so cute.

To the right, one of the shop owners (RoLayne) is trying to share her box of Peeps. She actually likes them, so it was very thoughtful of her. I passed. : )

 Stacy has so many wonderful patterns. Shall we talk about how many came home with me? Maybe not. We did receive some as gifts, and I won a couple in the crazy game we played each day, but I also did my part in emptying my wallet. If you'd like to check out her patterns click here. You can click on each of the categories on that page to see all of the patterns in each collection. And rumor has it that Miss Stacy will be sending some patterns to be given away on this blog, so stay tuned.

If you are still with me, you have earned a nap--or chocolate--or both. : )
Until next time,
Janet O.

  



40 comments:

  1. Janet, you go to the neatest retreats! I don't know if I dare look at her site for fear my wallet might empty too. LOL I keep telling myself to work on projects and patterns that I have. Oh, to have a nickel for every pattern and yard of fabric that I haven't used ... I'm so glad that you had such a good time. Your projects look wonderful (but of course!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such cute projects! Looks like the treat was a blast. A great way to spend a couple of days. I think I'd need recovery time though. Looking forward to the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like you ladies had a wonderful time! I love all of the projects, they look so fun.
    Kristie

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a fun retreat, I've yet to try the wool embroideries, looks very tempting.
    Julia ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an inspiring post!! I love your heart pillow so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a super fun retreat. The setting looks amazing too. Her designs are really sweet and have such lovely details. Isn't there something so prim and homey about wool.
    Say - I've had a hard time finding Glycerin to make soap - where do you get yours?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for sharing your weekend with us. It must have been awesome to be there. Love all those projects, especially the house and the heart. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Stacy's patterns. What fun to spend the weekend with her.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lucky you! Both in getting to do two days of classes with Stacy and in bringing home some of her designs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, what a fun retreat that was! You have such wonderful retreat adventures ... I admit that I'm just a little jealous. The only retreats around here are the "sew-on-your-own-projects" variety ... and while I enjoy that time where I can make some real progress on whatever quilt I'm working on, I would love the opportunity to participate in a "class-type" retreat led by a well-known teacher. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. That looks like so much fun! Fantastic you could take more than a day class and be so inspired!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks like a wonderful retreat. I am just a little envious. Thanks for sharing all the great pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  13. How fun!!! Always a treat for you share all your quilty/life experiences with us!! Inspiration deluxe!!
    I don't usually read your other comments - just don't take the time - but I agree with Kathy...aka Nana! Though I think our guild is trying to get some well-known teachers etc here.
    Blessings and hugs!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a fun exciting retreat! So many wonderful patterns and ideas. I can see why a few might have come home with you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. So fun Mom :)
    I really like what I see of her candle mats. Anything "rabbit" now catches my eye...so that one at the top is kind of tempting. I wonder if I could make it a lop eared though :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. How fun to go on a Winter Retreat! I'm going out to play with my Quilt Buddy later today. Gotta work on my Grand Illusion blocks again. Almost a flimsy! Quilt Guild is tonight and my Lotto block is already made. I'm resisting the WOOL projects. Glad you got a chance to play with a new to you product.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh what a wonderful retreat! I want some of these wonderful designers to come to my area. The projects look wonderful and I will have to try the newest product for prepping wool

    ReplyDelete
  18. That looks like a super fun retreat--love your basket cover!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a wonderful retreat! Thanks for sharing. Love the little bow ties from the last post, also.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It looks ike a wonderful retreat Janet - and I love the projects you were doing - very yummy :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. The retreat looks like so much fun! Love the projects and what a great trunk show! Tell me about Soft Fuse...I've never used it - I love Steam a Seam light 2

    ReplyDelete
  22. That looked like a worth while retreat. You accomplished a lot. The designs are so country which is just what I like. So glad you could go and have such a good time.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh Janet I feel so very far away from all the fun!! New Zealand seems so far away! Gosh if I win Lotto I am there for the next one! I think this is the first time I have seen a photo of you and may I say you have a such a kind warm friendly face.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow!! What a super fun retreat!! May I go with you and Kim next year?? :-)) And the spot the retreat was held at is fabulous!! Were you suprized when you walked inside?? I love your bird and flower pillow!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Looks like you had a GREAT time!! I love Buttermilk Basin patterns. Thanks for sharing your retreat!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'll have to check into that soft fuse too--I like wools but pieces don't really stick down well. Glad you had such a marvelous time :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. That retreat looks like so much fun! I am so glad you got to go. I think it would have been hard to decide on which patterns to get. Do you like the Soft Fuse better than the Steam-a-Seam light?

    ReplyDelete
  28. ooh janet looks like a fun event! and i do love her patterns too...esp those pumpkins....they always make me swoon....LOL; will have to check them out. so glad you got some away time in this cold season....i'd love one of those myself

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hmm..my vintage picnic basket is feeling naked now...thanks!
    Looks like you had a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh my goodness!! What a lucky girl you are! I would love to take a wool workshop like this one day. That candle mat BOM is very tempting...but I should finish the last round of Buttermilk Basin candle mats I have! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  31. Your heart pillow is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing all the photos of the retreat, I feel like I got to go with you, if only by proxy. It's good that you are also fueling the economic recovery, too! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love your post and I loved sharing time with you and getting to know you at the retreat! You are very talented and so fun to be around! Thank you so much for the awesome soap!!!! Keep up the fantastic work! All my best... Stacy {Buttermilk Basin}

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Janet - Sounds like you had a great time at the retreat - and the facilities look like they were great! Love your projects - you were already so good at wool applique it's interesting that you could have learned even more about it! Pricey fusible, but it's really good? Thanks for all the great photos.....RoLayne has lost SO much weight - she looks healthy!

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a great retreat! Looks like fun with a great designer, a roomy facility, and adorable projects made and shared by everyone. Your photos easily let us see the fun of the retreat with all the smiles and all the enthusiasm you shared. It looks like Buttermilk Basin patterns are definitely ones to check out.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Aaaaaah!!! What a fun time you had!!! I'm really enjoying all the photos ... I've scrolled up and down through your post several times just taking it all in! Wool is such fun, isn't it? And these patterns are just you to a "T"! :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a great time! I would love to go to one of those events! I am going to look into the products, looks like " I need to know!" Thanks for the heads up!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Janet, I love what you made. It looks like you had a great time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. It looks like you had so much fun! Stacy and her quilts are right up your alley - so warm and fun and full of life! I love the heart pillows :) And that's a great picture of you with her. I can't wait to tell my woolie friends to try the Soft Fuse!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh, how I would have loved to be in attendance at this retreat, thank you so much for sharing all the fun and productivity! You have presented a lovely photo journal, almost as much fun as being there. I am inspired. Your banners are wonderful too, such a great blog-brightening idea.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Looks like a good time was had by all! Great projects.

    ReplyDelete

I love to have your comments and feedback.