GOOD TIMES!!!!!!

Well, I am home from CATS...I can't believe it's already over. The weekend just flew by. I left on Thursday morning, thinking that the 4 days would just stretch on forever but here I am back home...with fond memories.

The trip down to Hershey was uneventful until I got of I-81 and MapQuests directions no longer were right. The mileage was all wrong and of course, the skies opened up and it POURED as I was driving somewhat LOST. I passed the amusement park and I found myself driving in farm country...lots of open fields...I guess Hershey Park grew out of the farmer's fields! Anyway, I couldn't see to drive, I was approaching I-83 and I got scared, I thought that I missed a turn or I messed up somehow,so I turned around and went to the Outlets...No, not to shop but to ask directions. The nice guy at Nautica told me how to get to the hotel, I just hadn't gone far enough and I MADE it...a little jittery but OK. You have to understand, this is like the 4th time in my life that I've driven somewhere by myself other than going to Pittsburgh. There, I met up with Nancy from GloryBee designs (what a sweetie) and Patti, from Stitching in Lobster Land. After we said hello, it was like we had been friends all our lives...TOO COOL! We got dinner and went SHOPPING!!! I did some serious damage to my checkbook that evening, I purchased a La-D-Da pattern and a Plum Street pattern from Mimi's Attic, and the new Prairie Schooler designs from the Silver Needle, R&R fabric from a local vendor. Let me tell you, photos on the internet do not do these pattern justice! They are phenomenal up close and personal! The Prairie Schooler's were done OVER ONE and they are the teeniest tiniest stitched pieces. I declared that I am now going to do everything over one after seeing them.

On Friday, we had breakfast with Carol and her husband, Mike. It was nice to meet them. What a great couple! Then it was off to class. I had a hardanger class with Lori Birmingham. WHAT A GREAT class!!! I found out that I actually can DO Hardanger. Lori is so funny and she is a great teacher. We practiced Kloster blocks and actually cut the fabric (she has a great technique that she shared) and wove the bars and created a dove's eye on a doodle cloth. That class was worth every cent. The lady sitting next to me was from my neck of the woods so we chatted for a bit until we were asked by another stitcher to stop...how embarrassing!

Sue (Red's Thread) came up from Virginia for the day, we had a blast together! We went shopping (more fabric, Sweetheart Tree patterns that we swear we are going to do as a SAL together) and once again, it was like we were friends forever. Once our wallets cried too loudly, we went to dinner with Patti and Nancy and settled down into the Stitching Lounge until Sue had to leave for home. I really didn't want her to go...we were having TOO MUCH FUN!

Saturday, I went shopping (again) and stitched a little in the morning with Patti and Nancy. Then I went to my beaded bracelet class where I discovered I had 10 thumbs and no control over the 7 foot of thread to stitch the beads onto to make the base of the bracelet. Although I liked the design and once I got into a groove, I realize that beading really isn't for me. I know my husband would breath a great sigh of relief if he could read this blog, I am not going to be bringing home beads.

Saturday night, Patti, Nance and I met up with KiwiJo and her husband Pete for dinner. We had a good time getting to know them and Jo shared her beautiful stitching with us. She brought some incredible pieces with her! Once we got back to the hotel, Pete went to watch football and the *girls* went to the lobby to stitch a bit. Nancy did a happy dance on the coffee table for finishing her exchange piece and as a reward, she started stitching Salem Sisters. Patti continued on CHS's Dainty Housewren and Jo stitched a cute zebra for her cousin.
I worked on an exchange.

So before I knew it, Sunday was here...the hotel was quiet, the stitcher's lounge and all the classrooms were turned back into banquet areas...and it was time to say good bye to Patti and Nancy. That was so sad! CATS was over...

We promised to meet again at my house in the Spring (if the remodeling EVER gets finished) and meet 1/2 between NY and Massachusetts to do our own stitch-in. I must say that I made wonderful friends this weekend, life-long friends (Patti, Nancy, Sue and Jo), got to meet up with other bloggers and shared our love of needlework. If you ever get the opportunity to attend a stitching weekend, be it CATS or Celebrations, don't hesitate! It's worth driving in the pouring rain, melting your credit card and using your grocery money! I have wonderful memories and I made WONDERFUL friends.

I'll post photos later...

And now, back to REAL life...pfffttt!