Return to Squam

Wow ... looking back at my blog I

realize I haven't posted since my amazing

Maryland Sheep and Wool Experience!

Where did the time go?

I was busy preparing for my teaching at Squam 2016,

working as an Optician, and of course,

watching over my three little grandchildren!

Time does get away from me quite often lately.

Trying to find balance in life

between work, family and my teaching schedule.

Somewhere in there, I try to fit in some ART!

It was just a week ago that I attended and taught

at the amazing Squam 2016

at Squam Lake in New Hampshire.

I was gone for five incredible days.

To say it was Magical and Life Calming

doesn't seem to be enough,

it was a rare and generous gift!

I think it will be best to describe my experience

through my photos.

I grew spiritually, stretched my teaching wings,

had the sweetest roommate Kerry Lemon,

met new friends, deepened current friendships,

quieted my heart, tried new things, heard new poems,

helped others feel comfortable and welcomed,

walked along the trails in appreciation

and reconnected with my true self.

So here you go . . . Squam through my eyes.

A familiar greeting when I arrived

My Cabin ... Point Comfort

My view everyday from our bedroom

Mindy Tsonas's amazing Dream Catcher

My wish to come true

The familiar and beautiful Woven Heart

Walking the trails to class ... yarn bombs leading the way

My amazing classroom for three days

My Class Sample found a special spot

Students faced this beauty while they drew

We came inside the circle for reflections and insights

Students embracing the Zentangle® process

Some of their completed works ... so proud of their creations

 Beauty found along the trail

The gift of Peace along the trail (heart throb!)

 This beauty morning and night in our cabin

Fire in June ... hey I'll take it!

A treasured gift from Mindy Tsonas

Mini Workshop with Tierney Barden ... Paper cutting

My word was Squam

A different message each day before entering dining hall

Simple pleasures along your way

Working quietly to the sounds of nature

Mandala paintings drying before drawing on them

Creating a mosaic of our work from the day

Busy art tables

A small nature mandala demo

Jean was

 our winner of Louise Gale's new Mandala Book!

Thank you Louise!!! 

Emily won the class demo to take home!

Our students display of work at share table

 Creating a Squam Totem in Kat Stromecki's Class

It was so yummy!

My cherished totem to bring home!

 Found some quiet time on the dock for weaving

 How I love these two!

Mindy and Forrest

They worked the magic for everyone who attended!

How grateful I am to call them friends

Last night ... the Art Fair

Impromptu photo taken by Elizabeth

Oh how grateful I am to have these two amazing women

Elizabeth and Colleen

in my life!

Soooooooooooooooo

as you can see it was an amazing five days away from home.

Coming as a teacher was an even deeper experience for me.

Elizabeth thank you for your love and trust in me.

She has created a safe place for so many.

I hope each one of you will look into attending

just once in your life,

it will be a gift that keeps on giving.

This was a long post, but there was so much to share.

May your life be quiet and full of good things.

Trust in who you are and your own abilities.

Love yourself just a little bit more this week!

Donna Lee

Fun at another Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

It's hard to believe that last Friday

I was headed to 

The 43rd Annual Maryland Sheep and Wood Festival

in West Friendship, Maryland

(I am sure I have attended at least TWENTY FIVE!)

long before it became the sensation it is today!

Here it is a week later,

and I haven't found the time to write my blog post!

It was an amazing weekend,

time away with my sister,

reconnection with friends,

fiber, music, knitting, 

spinning on new wheels,

crowds, yummy goat cheese,

sheep shearing competitions,

color and texture stimulation,

(oh the yummy fibers I saw) 

and of course coming home

with some new fiber treats!

This time the trip was hard,

traffic was slow,

a four hour trip turned into six and a half,

cold rain and dampness took over,

I had a hard week before departing,

but still

the festival did what I needed it to do

 Restored my heart and love for fiber.

I had missed last year

and I really wanted to return to the sheep this year.

It did not disappoint me in any way!

I just love watching people from so many 

 different walks of life being

attracted to this fiber sensation just like me! 

My love for the festival

is always first and foremost

the sheep.

Spending time in the different barns,

petting and loving on the different breeds of sheep.

They are so sweet!

I never grow tired of seeing this part of the show.

Returning on Sunday morning is always our

favorite time.

We first have a wonderful breakfast at our favorite

French Bakery

laMadeleine's

then back to the fairgrounds

by 7:30 am!

(Parking is unbelievable if you don't arrive early)

A lot of people haven't arrived yet,

it's quiet and you can walk around and browse.

I finally get to see what I might have missed on Saturday,

with the huge crowds blocking my view!

The sheep shearing and shawl weaving is always

a fun thing to watch ...

it is always a favorite of mine

I was able to spin both days on a new wool spinner

called the MiniSpinner

by Hansen Crafts LLC

This is one amazing spinner!

Perhaps I will put it on my wish list

for someday,

the least expensive model was

$850.00

and came in a variety of gorgeous woods!

I did bring home a beautiful spinning batt

filled with gorgeous colors and fibers

and I can't wait to spin some yarn for my Tapestry,

I will continue to spin on my sweet

and ever faithful 

 Schacht Spinning Wheel

named Felicity

I was especially excited to meet
knitting designer Anne Hanson
of
Bare Naked Wools!
The booth was amazing, her pattern creations
were unbelievably beautiful.
It was hard to choose just one.
When I saw her latest shawl design on display,
I knew that would be my MSWF treasure to take home!
Isn't it stunning?????
Pattern and exact yarn came home with Donna Lee.
I just hope I can knit it!
(With my new size 7 circular needles from Signature)

She was so sweet to let me take a photo with her!
Quiet and Gracious,
oh so talented Anne.

I could go on and on about this amazing festival,

but I don't want my post to be too long!

How I love seeing this familiar friend greet me

each and every year  . . .

It let's me know I am welcome here

and I have returned HOME.

If you ever have the chance to attend

this amazing show please do so.

Mark your calendar now for next year!

It is always the first full weekend in May

and has been Forty Three years and counting.

Come for the experience of it,

come for the sheep . . .

they will never disappoint!

I am so glad I am a fiber artist ... I love

knitting, spinning and weaving.

It seems to me I have been in fiber my whole life.

It is a gentle art, as are the sheep where the fiber comes from.

It is so beautiful to see others

appreciating exactly what I love so very much.

All of the fiber arts take time, but it is so worth the time.

Fiber Arts slow us down, they teach us to appreciate the

sweet things in this life.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend,

do something fun for yourself.

Stretch your wings,

appreciate where you are right here and right now!

Blessings to you,

Donna Lee

Returning to the Needle

A work in progress

I have been working on a beautiful sampler 

for months now.

It is titled

"Quaker Seasons of Friendship"

and was created by Designer Pat Ryan
a Crown & Thistle Design.

I first saw it hanging on the shop wall

of 

"Dyeing to Stitch"

my local needlework shop.
(An amazing shop that I took for granted for years)
I chose a beautiful hand-dyed vanilla linen
and variegated hand dyed silk called Berry Cobbler
by BelleSoie

My sister and I both began the piece on the same day,

she has completed and framed hers already
and it is a beautiful accomplishment.

I on the other hand am just a quarter of the way done ...

I am savoring each stitch.

 I have also learned that I can't "stitch along"

with anyone.

I must go at my own pace.
My timing is my timing.
I thought stitching with my Sis would motivate me to stitch more.
It did in the beginning . . .

But I did learn that, I don't want

to stitch under pressure or deadlines,
or along someone else,
it just doesn't work for this little stitcher!
My needlework relaxes me
and I pick it up whenever I can find the time.

This sampler was to be my return to needlework,

after a very long journey away.

Hard to believe that in 1990,

I was the founder of the

Tidewater Sampler Guild,

where women who loved stitching, 

antique samplers and their history

used to gather

at the Historic Francis Land House

here in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I stitched for years and then slowly 

let my life get in the way,

my focus had changed.
Wow that was over 25 years ago!!!!!!!

I've realized now

that sometimes we must walk away from something,

in order to return to it.

So in between working three days a week,

teaching Zentangle®, Tapestry weaving,
raising Josie (my 8 month old Lab)

and loving on my three grand babies,

finding the time to stitch is a sweet luxury!
I did find time to sew this adorable
pin cushion to add to my needlework box,
I love it!
The linen I stitched on had the polka dots on it!

Pattern by The Scarlett House

This past weekend I attended the

Dyeing to Stitch Spring Fling Retreat

at the beautiful

Greenbrier Country Club.

The guest teachers were the design team

of Blackbird Designs,

Barb Adams and Alma Allen   

and they were so amazing!

Two creatives who are the best of friends

and share the love of the needle!
How delightful these ladies were!
How lucky we all were to get to spend time with them
right here in Virginia Beach!

Barb and Alma

We first created an adorable pin cushion box.
It was a lot of fun and lots of laughter

could be heard around the tables!

When our boxes were complete,
Kits were handed out and 
we began stitching the pin cushion,

that will be tucked inside.
(here is what the finished piece will look like)

During the retreat we were also give two other kit designs.
I've got a lot of stitching to do!

Sampler Kits

We created our own pin designs for our cushions
and had fellowship around the tables

with other needlework "enthusiasts"
I plan on making more of these!

My pin designs

I am so glad that I attended this event.

Ann and Pat worked so hard to create

an incredible experience for all who attended!

They sure did succeed!!

My goodness the treats kept coming,

one surprise after another!

The highlight gift was a handwoven basket

created for each attendee,

by 1803 Ohio Farm Basket ... a treasure!!!

The food was delicious,

the teachers were stupendous,

the atmosphere was happy and joyous,

the attendees came from all over the country.
New friendships were made!
We ended with a count of 97 for dinner
on Saturday Evening,
the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Thanks to Ann and Pat
of
Dyeing to Stitch
for a wonderful experience!
One I know I will not forget.
I am sure I speak for all the attendees!

There were over a hundred attendees
to this wonderful weekend.
I heard so often throughout the day
 how lucky we were to have
such an amazing Needlework Store so close by.
I have taken that for granted over the years,
not any more!
Ann and Pat work hard to keep their shop
well stocked with the latest in materials, fibers,
tools and patterns from amazing designers.
They have an open door "You are welcome here ...
pull up a seat and stitch with us for awhile" 
feeling to their establishment.
Apparently that isn't found much in
needlework stores these days.
It was good for me to reminded of that.

I know the saying
"What goes around comes around"
is used an awful lot.
This statement couldn't be more true for me
and my stitching life!
It was always there,
it went away
and now I have returned to it,
I have come full circle.

My stitching treasures

I continue to pursue the Arts that soothe my soul,
Knitting, Stitching, Tapestry Weaving
and my Zentangle® process.
I am always finding moments to calm my heart,
feed my soul
and find joy in the quiet still moments!
I am just so happy to have found
those individuals that share the same passions as I do,
the fellowship makes it all so worth it!



Donna Lee