Another Happy Patient

Dianna emailed me this picture of Micaela (an older-young patient at Cottage Hospital) with one of the flannel quilts we made at our February Stix Retreat. I could look at a hundred of these pictures and the emotional impact wouldn't lessen...they wrench at my heart. Thank you, Dianna, for sharing this picture and thank you for your compassion in caring for these children. 


I'll be making more kits from my stash this month, so just let me know if you're up for making another donation quilt. Also, if you have odds and ends of flannel or other fabric appropriate for children and have no other use, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. Just this past weekend Sally brought me a large grocery sack of flannel scraps...all perfect for mixing and matching with mine.  Thanks, Sally!

Upcoming Stix Retreat

I'm counting the days to our June Retreat (just five remaining) and already beginning to plan the next one in October when Maria returns from four months at sea and Lauren will be past her bar exam and (if not working) able to attend. We've used the June Retreat as an excuse to do several big jobs around here that are easy to put off if not given an excuse, like "company's coming!"...Verne sanded and refinished the cabin porch floor while I sorted my bins of fabric and labeled each. Yikes! I've got So! Much! Fabric! Verne cleaned the cabin (even vacuumed the beams...three years of dust and cobwebs) and cleaned the cabin roof of pine and cedar needles while I made a curtain for the bedroom slider (that will make all of those concerned about Peeping Toms rest easier). After our February Retreat Sally donated an antique cabinet/mirror to be hung (very low for all of the very short Stix members) in the cabin bedroom. Before it was hung, Verne completely repaired and refinished it. Kudos to Verne!!! I hope we hung it low enough for all of you shorties! Now, all of our attention will go towards the weekend menu and Verne's Good Eats! See you soon...

The Lake House

I just received this picture this morning taken two weeks ago at the "Lake House" on Lake Nacimiento where the Santa Barbara Stix Annex met for the day. I heard about this trip the day of the event and have waited anxiously for the picture (was it sent via Pony Express?). Now that I've received it all I can say is: I'm jealous! And, Sally, it's time to get some new props...I saw those in the last picture you shared! What a gorgeous view! I'm not sure how conducive it is to stitching, but it looks like a perfect place to just sit back, soak up the sun, and let the creative juices flow!