One Stitch at a Time

Learn about the quilt shop and yummy threads I found on my travels.

Some days it’s just a few stitches that give you pause from the tasks ahead.

I’ve logged over 3,850 miles since March 2nd. It started with a trip to see my Dash One (Paige Kiefner) as Sister Mary Robert in A Sister Act in Rochester, NY. For this sixteen hour drive, I travel during the daytime only, taking two full days to get there and, of course, I check out quilt shops along the way.

Paige Kiefner

Paige Kiefner as Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act

Quilt shops break up the trip into smaller segments and they always have a bathroom and opportunities to wander, stretch the legs, and refresh the mind. If they could just gas up my car…

It was a fun and tiring trip (not much sleep when you drive four days to spend two and the kiddo is working ’til about midnight each night). The show was great (I saw it twice) and it’s always fun to spend time with” ma Paigee”, the opera singer/Tae Kwon Do/barista.

I found some great shops along the way, but my shout-out for this trip goes to Red Rooster Quilts in Dublin, OH. I arrived to spend the night in Dublin, so I was delighted when I saw this shop was open late on Thursdays. It was a no-brainer when I had to choose between a free meal at the hotel or hit the quilt shop less than a mile from my hotel. The store was well-lit and the staff was friendly but, most importantly, the place was packed with fabric, notions, trims, threads, wool and books– it was eye/hand candy everywhere you looked!

When a certain wool project caught my eye, a gentleman quilter/worker took me aside to show me his work and introduce me to Ohio’s own, Sue Spargo, her wool and dyed to match wool thread (when he let me feel the thread between my fingers, I was sold.)

Sue Spargo

I was in wool heaven and immediately had some project ideas starting to form.  When I learned the shop was going to be open on my way back through (so many shops are closed on Mondays, but not Red Rooster Quilts), I purchased Sue’s Creative Stitching book so I could learn about her technique, check out her website for more information, and make a more informed purchase when I hit the shop on my way south. (Very responsible of me, right?)

It didn’t take much browsing through her book and website before I was committed to learning all 50 stitches and adapting Sue’s creative stitching into my own styles and designs. I purchased a small wool pack and a matching wool thread pack with a couple of necessary needles (and a couple of unrelated fabric selections) on my second visit.

While I was in New York, I learned that my dad was going to have to have surgery in Texarkana, Texas. So I made my way back to Missouri, stopped for one night to see my husband and daughter Jacquelyn, pay bills, do some laundry, and get one good night of sleep before I headed down south. While I was home, I drew out a quick sketch on freezer paper and gathered up my handwork supplies.

I stopped on my way to the hospital to pick up my dad’s Quilt of Valor.  Quilts of Valor Foundation is an organization I proudly support and I am happy to say that my local quilt guild presents registered quilts each year to veteran’s in accordance with this program.  My 90 year-old dad is a World War II veteran. I think he has enjoyed having his quilt with him.

My dad and his Quilt of Valor

I was able to spend several days at the hospital with him and every now and then, when things were quieted down, I would pull out my wool and take a few stitches while my oldest sister, Sharon, crocheted. When all my prayers were said and I just needed to trust, stitching was a peaceful calm for the many unanswered questions and unkown future for my dad and our family. I had to leave after three days, but I am here again (two weeks later) with my dad who is still in the hospital, but getting stronger each day. We have a few more answers now and one thing I am sure of is that God’s hand is everywhere.

Before this trip, the members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at my church gave me a knitted shawl to present to him. It’s soft and warm and he loves it.  My oldest sister, Sharon, is in this picture with me and dad (my middle sister is out of town right now).

Dad with his Prayer Shawl

So every now and then, when all is quiet and dad is sleeping, I pull out my wool and make a few stitches.  There’s no real plan here, just trying different stitches, making this my  “Under the Sea Sampler” and learning as I go. If you get a chance, check out Sue’s stitching art and pull her fabulous wool and wool thread through your fingers.

This is my Under the Sea Sampler–in progress.

Considering my previous post , I brought this on myself…on my way to Rochester, I hit blizzard conditions from lake effect snow from Lake Erie. I guess I deserved that!

Blizzard conditions off of Lake Erie.

 

 

 

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5 Comments

  1. Merle deneke

    Love your posts and the enthusiasm that you have for you craft. Hope all is well, keep up the good work. Come home soon.
    M

  2. Lynnore Meyer

    My prayers for you and your father will continue! God is good. He has a plan. He doesn’t make mistakes

  3. The Bee

    Thanks so much, Lynnore! You are right and I need to keep looking UP (heavenward).

  4. The Bee

    Thanks so much Miss Merle! Hopefully you’ll see my vehicle soon.

  5. The Bee

    (It’ll be good to see your house!)