Pandora’s Boxes…
is the last of my new releases for Baltimore. This is a larger design (finished design size is 12×16). The instructions are 40 pages and the pattern includes eight different colorways. I really enjoyed stitching this piece, using four different Watercolours along with a variety of other threads (silk, metallic, and cotton – solids and overdyes).
We’re off to Baltimore tomorrow – had a great day in DC going to the Smithsonian (Museum of American History) and the DAR Museum. The info people at the Smithsonian sent us there to see quilts but the exhibit was closed so we got a private tour of the museum instead and it was really interesting. I think I could spend weeks and weeks in DC going to all the museums – I loved it. We then drove to Alexandria and went to In Stitches – a fabulous cross stitch and needlepoint shop. I walked in the door and just soaked up all the wonderful displays, patterns, THREADS, models, etc, etc. Of course I bought a pattern (who ever has enough of them?!) and some threads for a future design which has been percolating in my brain! We also made a trip to Jinny Beyer’s quilt shop in Falls Church, which, if you’re a quiter, is somewhat like going to a quilting mecca. Jinny herself was there and we got to meet her and talk for a bit. Also really fun was running into a woman from Pensacola who had been a long time customer of ours at Needle Delights – talk about small worlds!
Tomorrow we head to Baltimore and are planning a trifecta trip to a needlework store (The Stitching Post) along with a quilting store and a knitting store. Ellen at In Stitches told us about the quilting and knitting store (I don’t know the names) being close to the Stitching Post. I wanted to go to The Stitching Post last year but we didn’t have time. Tomorrow night we’re looking forward to our first (of probably several!) crabcake meals.
Saturday night I’m looking forward to going to the Orioles-Yankees game for a Stitch N Pitch event – sounds like fun, especially since I’m a fairly avid baseball fan. One of the greatest things to happen in Pensacola this last year (besides me getting to design full time!) has been the opening of our own waterfront minor league ball stadium. Our team is the Blue Wahoos and they are a farm team for the Reds. The stadium is wonderful and going to the games has been so much fun – I’m planning to get season tix for next season!