My most excellent visit from Patti

What a wonderful weekend!

Patti from Stitching in Lobster Land was my weekend guest as she made her way to Pittsburgh and Ohio. We had a blast! She arrived on Friday afternoon and I can’t describe how happy I was to see her. I last saw her almost a year ago, at CATS in Hershey. I felt so comfortable with her when I first met her and yes, that feeling remained when I saw her on Friday. It was like time and distance really didn’t matter, we picked up right where we left off. So, first of all, we gabbed and gabbed, just to catch up. Patti brought me a most wonderful hand blown glass ball to hang in my window. It’s cobalt blue and green. TOO pretty. Then we went outside to see the ponies. And then we had show and tell. Patti brought a few Heart In Hand patterns, her stitcher’s wallet (which is gorgeous) and an exchange piece that’s too cute for words. And I shared my first string stitching and some of the second stringers. We had an Upstate NY dinner, spiedies, corn on the cob and salt potatoes. I had black & white cookies for desert but we passed cause we were stuffed! Then we got down to business...it was Friday, so we both worked on our Stitcher’s Wallets. Patti is almost through the second page but I am still plugging away on the first page. But seeing what’s to come has spurred me on to be more dedicated to work on it cause it’s truly a beautiful piece. On Saturday, we got up and made the drive to Stitchery Row, my very local LNS. Along the way, we sightseed a bit, we went to the ATM and drove past where I work which is down the block from Stitchery Row (how convenient for me...and how inconvenient for my checkbook!). Kimberly (the shop owner) was so gracious to us, we pawed through the patterns and fondled the fibers & fabric. Patti bought some Lugana to stitch Prairie Schooler’s, Seasonal Sampler patterns (Spring has Come, Summer Breeze, Autumn Winds and Winter Wind) over one after she saw my Autumn Wind WIP. What a bad influence I am! But she was really good with her purchases, me, not so much! I bought a piece of 36 ct Flax linen to stitch a French redwork sampler, a piece of 28ct Cream Lugana to kit Brenda Keyes, Plymouth Sampler, 2 skeins of Gloriana silk in lucious fall shades and 3 skeins of Weeks. Also, I bought the Whitman tin pattern. A nice haul! And it was so nice to spend time looking through all these patterns with someone to share the excitement.
Then it was off to Owego for lunch.

We lunched at the Hand of Man, a very eclectic gift shop that also has a small restaurant in the back of the shop. We ate lunch on the veranda overlooking the Susquehanna River. SO relaxing!

We both commented that it was heavenly, not too hot and the breeze was just right. The veranda was lush with potted and hanging plants. The atmosphere is conducive to great conversation and relaxation. And the food is great too,. After lunch, we went browsing in the shop, talk about sensory overload. Patti definitely liked all the displays. The shop is jammed with goodies arranged in themes. It’s truly unique. Then we strolled down River Row and stopped in shops that piqued our fancy. A quick stop to Dunkin Donuts for Iced Tea and we were on our way home for dinner and an evening of stitching!
Patti & I both stitched on exchanges, so there are no pictures to share just yet. She made great progress but the frogs were visiting me so I wasn’t as productive.

Sunday morning came very quickly and Patti had to get on the road. David went to Best Bagels and came home with breakfast for us. And before I knew it, we were giving Patti directions from the house to the highway, hugging goodbye and promising to visit again soon. The weekend with her went by so fast. But it is one that I will remember for a long, long time!

I promise to post some pictures of my Quaker Alphabet exchange that Cari sent to me when I get home tonight She made me the most exquisite scissor fob from a Workbasket freebie in lovely Autumn yellows and oranges. She stitched it over one on a very high count fabric (it’s a wonder she didn’t go blind) and her stitches are so uniform an perfect. I am in awe! Along with the fob she sent me a pair of Gingher scissors. She must have known that I lost my pair of Ginghers when we took the Cadet back to Rochester last week. So, I am using the pair she gave me (and I promise they aren’t leaving the house) and when I use them, I think of her!
Thanks, Cari!!!