Great stitch day - little stitching progress

Yesterday was a wonderful stitching day even though I probably only placed 25 new crosses on the handtowel I'm working on for the 'Secret Pal Exchange'. What made it so special? Well, not one but three things.

First of all Felicity is sending me the wonderful Margaret Sherry booklet. She doesn't even know me but saw on Alison's blog that I think it's adorable & rushed out to buy it for me. Thank you so much, I'm so looking forward to seeing my first MS patterns.

Secondly Alison agreed to team up with me for a project for all of 2007. We'll tell you more about it later but are both looking forward to a great stitching experience together.

And then as icing on the cake I attended a stitch morning at a local quilt shop. The mother & daughter who own the shop are wonderful women who make beautiful quilts & give quilting lessons (I attended a few when I started my applique quilting, which by the way I haven't pulled out in months). When I was in their store last week they invited me to their Wednesday morning get-togethers where everyone just works on whatever project they feel needs some work. Now I thought "quilt shop = quilting projects" & I brought my Grandmother's Flower Garden flowers to work on. Great surprise when I discovered that although some ladies were quilting, one lady was crocheting and two were cross-stitching. It was a wonderful morning with lots of stitching & chatting (or should I say CHATTING & stiching) & I thought: "I've found my Wednesday morning home here". I will try to resist the temptation of cross-stitching there & keep that morning for quilting as I have a long way to go.

Better share a few images as I'm always looking for pictures on other blogs. When you see these my theme for the 'Secret Pal Exchange' won't be a secret any longer but that's OK as she doesn't know me or my blog. I finally decided to stitch two things & buy a little kit in the same theme.

The needlebook is now finished except for the insertion of the blue felt page for the needles. I've bleeped out her name 'just in case'.

This handtowel is being stitched with a Victorian Homes pattern designed by Debbie Patrick. These houses are from my favorite city in the world (and I've seen a lot), San Francisco. When we were still living in Northern California I would visit Debbie's wonderful shop on Pier 39 every time we went into the city. Last year I heard that this particular shop has been closed but she still designs & sells both on-line & from another location. Her 'Golden Gate Bridge' is in my stash & often calls to me.

And then finally the little kit to round off the theme. It's an Anne Keenan Higgins design from Plaid Bucilla called 'New Home'. Now it's not that I know my SP has a new home, but I thought the pattern was cute (reminds me a bit of Michael Powell) and she can always leave the word or words off.

If your stitching week has been half as good as my stitching day was yesterday you're having a great week.