Hi Dena! What a fun weekend! There is nothing better than friends, stitching, and good food! Your bag is beautiful and so well done. Your last video inspired me to pull out a project that I hadn't worked on in a while. I've had the best time stitching on it! I've put in close to 1,000 stitches!! Take care! ❤
Margo, so happy that you were inspired to put that 1000 stitches in your older project! I have now been challenged to start a new project on July 1st that was published at least 5 years ago. We are to stitch 25 stitches or 25 minutes a day on it until it is finished. I chose Shakespeare's Fairies by Mirabilia as my new one. (needed a Halloween since I just finished my Haunted Mansion). Hope you are doing well. Looking forward to stitching with you again. Dena
Linda, so happy you liked my bag! I have it packed for my retreat already! Cocoa will be a happy girl today. her Daddy gets home from a long hike thus evening. Dena
Hi Dena! Your weekend at home w friends sounds perfect & your bag is gorgeous !! Thanks for shouting out my idea of the Christmas in July & Patriotic Stitching .. cant wait for July! Actually I started already decided not to wait. I started Christmas Rules this past week on my younger sister's birthday. She had passed from cancer 2 years ago & Christmas was her favorite holiday. So I decided to start early in her honor & have almost finished the 2nd section. I'll move to one of my Christmas WIPs this weekend that I havent picked up for awhile. Looking forward to my July stitching for sure & off to a good start. Hope your stitching plans go well also! Happy Anniversary & Happy Stitching! 😊
We must be so similar! I started three new starts yesterday, all Christmas projects, to take with me to my retreats. Needed some smalls to take. They were on my list for July to start them at the retreats, then I decided it would be easier to start them ahead and be able to pick them up and count off of where I get to with the new start here. LOL. Just can't wait! Dena
Thanks Rhonda! I really loved the color palette of the charm packs when I saw it on Fat Quarter Shop. Hope you are having a great week of stitching. Dena
The bag is fabulous. I’m jealous. I want one.!!! Just be careful. You don’t overfill with too much stuff and make it too heavy to lift. I’ve done that before. Have fun at your retreat. You do beautiful work, lady.!!
Patti, thanks so much for the compliment on the bag. I will be careful not to overfill. Thanks for the caution. I appreciate your sweet compliment on my stitching as well. Hope you have a wonderful week of stitching. Dena
Did I miss the showing of 500 stitches on your Haunted Mansion?. I watched the video twice and didn't see it. Thank you fir sharing all your beautiful stitching.
Your bag turned out beautifully!! It looks like Cocoa could fit in it! Your progress on Autumn in the Country was lovely to see! Can’t wait to see you in Sept!
Carolyn, can't wait to see you too my friend. I love my new tote bag for retreats and stitching meet ups. My current bag is a big too small, but it served me well. Dena
Beautiful bag. Now I want to sew a project bag. Coco is sooo happy. Great summer! Happy stitching (Its getting busy here. With summer activities, love it. But no idea when I watch again).
Wow!!! What a fun time at your house!! A mini retreat of your own!! Loved your bag, it is beautiful, and what a fun time. I want to come at your next retreat!! (haha)
Jenn, it was a fun time making those bags, cooking and stitching. It was similar to a retreat and we seemed to all enjoy each other's company immensely. Dena
Hi Dena I love your bag that you made it is absolutely beautiful. I have a sewing machine but I have only used it once and I have had it for about 10/12 years and bought it when I was working and haven't used it since. I really want to learn how to do project bags and sew some small projects. I think I want to try to build up my courage and learn to sew. In my mind I really want to do this. I have been working on my projects that I have kitted up and look forward to doing July Christmas with you. I always love seeing you progress and finishes in your video's. I love seeing Cocoa at Freds place and having fun. In the meantime Happy Stitching and be safe and kind. God bless Pat
Pat, so very happy you are stitching Christmas in July with me and look forward to seeing pictures of your progress! I have started three new Christmas WIPs to take with me on my retreats and fill up the days in my July schedule. Dena
Your new stitching bag looks huge. You'll be able to take a lot of projects with you. I'll have to see if I can find a pattern to make one, maybe. I haven't sewn at all since last year. Great catching up with you as always.
Kanday, it is rather large, but I have my projects, my lights, my table mate gifts, etc. in the bag ready to travel. It is open, so I wouldn't take it on an airplane, but in the car it is great. Dena
Hello Dena! That’s a great tote bag, I bet that was fun to have a “group crafting”! I will be doing “Christmas in July” again this year & have already chosen what I plan to work on. Take care.❤
As always, great projects and fun adventures with you! 😁 I think you forgot to include the progress on Haunted Mansion - hopefully we can see how far you got on your next video. 😊
Oh my goodness your going to Tulsa ok? I always thought that would be fun to go to. I live in Central Ks. We have a new cross stitch store in McPherson ks. Making that bag looks like so much fun. I love the colors you picked out. Coco was so cute. Next video will be fun.
Kathyn, yes, I am so excited to be going to Tulsa for the retreat with my friend Donna. Making our tote bag was so much fun and two of the five of us finished our bags and the other two are almost there. Dena
Thank you so much Dena for another wonderful flosstube. I just love your bag - the fabrics you chose are beautiful. Well done on finishing that and fully finishing your little stocking and pillow. Cocoa looks like she is smiling in the last photo - so precious. I’m all ready for July stitching but in the meantime, better finish my June prompts! Happy stitching.
Ines, thanks so much for enjoying my stories about Cocoa! She is sitting next to me here in the office as I am answering comments, huffing at me to take her for a walk. I am trying to wait until it cools down a little so her feet won't burn on the street! She is telling me she really doesn't care. LOLOLOL. Dena
Dena - That tote bag is amazing; I love all the space it gives you for holding projects and all the pockets to hold your necessities. I had to laugh when you mentioned that you needed to take Cocoa for a walk; as soon as you said that W word, Buster's head popped up from where he was sleeping on the bed in my office. I had to tell him that HE was not going for one right now. Happy stitching! - TaMara
TaMara, ohhhh, I will have to be careful not to say the W word in front of Buster either! LOL. Thanks so much for the compliment on my tote bag. Happy Stitching to you as well. Dena
Hi Miss Dena! I've been MIA for awhile but life happens. It's good to see you and see what you're stitching! Thank you for all that you do for the stitching community. Take care ~Darci
Hi Dena. Your bag turned out beautifully. It is a great size. I just love your Summer Treats project. The colors are just perfect. Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful stitching and your beautiful Cocoa. Take care.
Crystal, thanks so much for the compliment on my tote bag. I am in love with it. Cocoa is at the groomers today getting pretty for her daddy's return from the AT hike he's been on. Thanks for visiting again. Dena
Dena, I loved that bag! It turned out so beautifully. Thanks for sharing your stitching with us this week! I hope to be catching up on some more of mine.
Yes indeed, it is fun to feel you make some catch up progress. I have today to finish up my BINGO game and my acrostics then I can do some get ahead stitching. Dena
Hello Dena I love your In the village piece the colours are heavenly.I wish I had your enthusiasm for back stitching. Have you stitched any Plumb Street moon series samplers? Your bag is awesome congratulations. The rabbits are adorable along with the other ffo. Happy stitching
Neil, I have not stitched any of the moon series samplers. I am assuming by that question there is a lot of back stitching in those. I have stitched Stoney Creek patterns and they have a lot of backstitching! Dena
Yvonne, I am stitching Spring Quaker with the called for Valdoni threads. However, I am splitting one of the three strands off and using only two strands. I find the three strands that it comes with originally are just too thick for me on 28 count (which is called for). Dena
Omgoodness; that bag is beautiful! You picked great fabric. Is there a pattern that can purchased or was it something that your friend made on her own? If there’s a pattern, I would be interested in ordering it. Love your other finishes as well! You are so motivating!
Linda, my friend was shown how to make this bag at a quilting weekend, so I will have to ask her if there is a pattern. We didn't have a pattern. She just walked us through the steps. Dena
Cheryl, I used the Pellon foam from JoAnn Fabrics. I had it cut off the bolt. I forgot to include the clip about Haunted Mansion, so I have added it into this week's video. Sorry. Dena
Pamela, I count two backstitches and one full cross. So I count the backstitches and divide by 2 to get the number of stitches for my stitch count. Dena
