Happy almost Friday! I am so excited about this weekend. It is my Guilds Stitching weekend in Oak Brook. I have been thinking about what I am going to work on for about a month now. I think I will work on Safari and Chicago Santa for needlepoint and Beautie Spot for cross stitch. I still have to pack my bags but I took off work tomorrow so I could get an early start. I want to go to the cross stitch shop, the needlepoint shop and the mall. I need to find a dress for a garden party fundraiser in early May.


Going to the burbs should not be that big of deal. Basically, I am getting a hotel room 20 miles from my condo. I don't go out much because I have been trying to be good and work on my projects that I have. Plus, I am not particularly fond of driving. I also don't shop much in Illinois because of our crazy taxes, especially in Chicago. I usually have more time and it is much easier to shop in Florida so I usually shop there when I am at that condo. It does make my winter wardrobe a little sparse but I can get over that.


I did finish the bottom of my ort box this week. I just did not get a picture of it. I think I am going to stitch across the bottom like I should have in the beginning before I take this off the stretcher bars. Then I have to cut out the pieces and figure out how to assemble the box.


The ort box project sent me on a search for Ultra Suede. I thought I had the perfect, high end fabric store a mile from my house. What I found out is they do not carry much Ultra Suede in house. It all has to be ordered. I ended up settling for something called Angel Suede. It was only about $20 dollars a yard and since I only need 1/8th of a yard it cost me $2.50. so that was ok. The Angel Suede did come in nice colors it was just not the same as real Ultra Suede. I also wanted to see and feel the upholstery Ultra Suede for my dining room chairs. Once I got home, I found I could buy real Ultra Suede $20 to $30 dollars cheaper a yard on line. I will have to order swatches but that is quite a savings especially since it will also save the 10.5% tax in Chicago.


On a sad note, my SIL's mother passed this week at a much to young of age. She died of cancer so it has been expected. I am don't think we are going to the visitation or funeral. It would take us 6 hours of driving for a 2 hour visitation. I did see my SIL, brother and family two weekends ago. I am going with the thought that we comforted them while they were visiting and they really do not need me crying all over the place. (I don't deal with visitations or funerals very well. A ridicules amount of tears!!)


Hope everyone has a great weekend with lots of stitching. I will take some pictures at the retreat so you can see some of the beautiful work of the Guild ladies. Kelly