Was Love In The Air...

For you??? I wish I could say that my Valentine's Day was thrilling but the reality was frozen lasagna thrown in the oven and early bed time. Woo Hoo!
I'm still digging out from Nashville boxes and ice. We got about five inches of sleet and have been walking on top of it since Thursday. The mail lady and newspaper lady are both having a hard time getting to the mail box/paper box. Out of desperation I spent about 45 minutes pounding the ice off of my car and told Chuck that it was like the Dukes of Hazard when I backed out of the driveway! I was getting out and would do what ever it took!
I took my camera to Nashville but have no pictures to show. Well, the only ones I got were of my room once it was put together but Courtney is "modeling" in the pictures and I'm sure she would be mortified if I showed them! We both had a fantastic time in Nashville. My room was beside Barb and Alma of Blackbird Designs. What a treat that was! They are the most fun girls. We had a great time. Courtney and I made them a special gift (as well as for Paulette, Breanna, Cathy Campbell, Liz and Kathy Barrick). But it's up to all of them to share what it was. Lots of silliness though!
I didn't get to many of the rooms as there just isn't enough time. But what I brought home is fabulous! Paulette's new designs were amazing. The Dead Man's Chess was unbelievable. About a million stitches I think. Kathy's girls were awesome. Much bigger in real life than they seem in the pictures. My favorite was her Quaker Study. I plan on stitching that as soon as I finish the repro that I'm working on now. Cathy Campbell had beautiful things as well. A repro, a beautiful over one sampler for her mother but my favorite of her things were the accessories. A check book cover, eye glass case and card case. Those will be stitched by me as well. And trust me, the pictures on the internet do NOT do them justice. I picked up the "Quaker School Girl Samplers from Ackworth" book from Edna Medlin's room. She had some wonderful antique samplers for sale but I was good and refrained from buying any. La-D-Da Lori had amazing new releases and the most clever puzzle that she made from her Alphabet sampler. Barbara Hutson was in the Lakeside Linen room with her repro Maryland samplers. I got Sands House Sampler which is so beautiful. It has a freehand border with chain stitch which I can't seem to do. But need to learn so I can stitch this piece one of these days. I ordered Counting Book and Counting Book Sampler from Cynthia of Little By Little. Her room is always so cool and Carmen and Candy make it even more so! Wish I had more time to look as I know there was so much more to see and buy.
I came home from the market newly excited about my little design business. I had such a bad year last year and am ready to get back into some creative thinking! I have a few designs started already and lots of ideas churning around in my head.
I also have some things worked out for the retreat. I will be getting info on the front page very soon and will start taking reservations just as soon as I get a total together.
Thanks to all of you for your support. I am very, very lucky to have so many new friends. Enjoy all of your new market purchases and get busy stitching!