I trust that all of you are keeping cool while your needles are flying! It has been hot here in the Shenandoah, however, over the past two days the heat has broken a bit and the humidity has thankfully lifted.
I do wish to mention a great giveaway over on Kim's blog Threadheads Unite. She is a stitchy/quilty person and is having not one but two giveaways...one for a stitchy person and one for a quilty person! Make sure to head over and check it out!
Well, I have been madly stitching away on Richmond Sampler. I *finally* finished the flowers on the top border! Woo Hoo!! Now, I get to start the lovely over one verse. I think that I am going to focus on two or three words a week. That way I can get started on the birds and the massive house. I apologize for the horrible pics. I have tried everything to get a good snapshot of this sampler and to no avail. However, I have included a couple of close-ups. Eventhough the flowers have been annoying me, they are rather pretty.
I decided to enter two of my latest framed pieces into our local county fair. And guess what??? I won FIRST PLACE for both!
Needlework is part of the 'Homemaking Division" and therefore shown with such things as knitting, crochet, canned goods, apparel, etc. Where were the quilts? Well, they were shown elsewhere. This is where I get a little hot under the collar. My stitching, along with the knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and other hand crafts are shown in the 4-H Livestock show ring. Yes, you read that right. My beloved stitching was on a table right next to where the cows, sheep, goats and chickens were shown. The quilts, however, were shown in a large, air conditioned room separate from the livestock. The art show was in the same room, and get this, the horticulture exhibits. Yes, the plants were kept in an air conditioned room, free of dirt and debris while my precious stitching sat for six days in an open, dirt floor arena. Now please understand...I love quilts and I appreciate the time and effort that goes into making quilts and I do not in any way think that the quilts should be shown anywhere other than where they are currently shown. I DO think, however, that maybe the homemaking exhibits (which include my stitching) could be moved to the indoor room and the horticulture exhibits moved to the outdoor arena. Just a thought....
(stepping off of my soap box....)
Now, last but not least, I have more fabulous news to report. It is official, I was offered a full-time teaching position and I accepted!!! I am absolutely thrilled and I cannot wait to start (next week!...eek!) For many months, I have had my eye on the Lizzie*Kate design, "ABC Lessons," and told myself that as soon as I had a job I would buy it for myself. And that is exactly what I did.
I plan to stitch it and hang it in my classroom. I think that it will be perfect next to my desk. Thank you to all who have kept me and my job search in your thoughts and prayers. Your positive thoughts and well wishes worked! I am truly blessed to have such wonderful stitchy/blogging friends...you guys are the best!
Well, I am off to watch my annual summer addiction...Big Brother! Stay cool and keep those needles flying!