Part II - A Visit to Needle in a Haystack

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends since this was a three day weekend I made plans for a visit to NiaH on Friday.  NiaH opens at 11 am so we coupled this visit with a stop off at IKEA first - they open at 10.  Making our morning a great adventure of getting onto the highway and zooming across the Bay Bridge to Emeryville.  Check yesterdays post for the report about our first stop at IKEA.

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After leaving IKEA loaded down with some cool stuff we headed into downtown Oakland - Rico knew a short cut through town instead of getting back onto the Highway.  Driving on the highways is something I hate to do.  I think my biggest gripe about highway driving is that most drivers treat it like some sort of speedway. Going in excess of 80 or 90+ mph, cutting in and out of traffic and just reckless driving typify the highways here in California.  Saving 3 seconds getting someplace and disregarding everyone else on the road is not safe driving and it makes me just insane.  Getting off my soapbox....

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Getting onto Alameda and finding Niah was so very easy and the parking was plentiful.  We walked in and as usual the store is a dream and just packed with all sorts of goodies.  Here are some snaps.......

There was so much to see and look through.  When ever I make a trip over I go with a list in my head or for specific things.  If I didn't I would go wild and just spend way too much.  This time was no different - I had and idea of what I wanted to get - some linen, some buttons and any chart on my list.  Of course I picked up a couple of other things ...  here is a snap of my little stash acquisition...

As you can see I didn't go crazy - but found some things I really wanted.  Starting in the top left - this is my main WIP basket in which I keep my most current projects  - inside you can see that each project has its own zippered pouch - I needed a few more pouches for the secondary WIP basket - I also picked up a PS chart I didn't have, "May," and a couple of other charts - "Mighty Oak Sampler" from Chessie and Me and "Jenny Bean and Friends" from Shakespeare's Peddler.  Moving to the lower middle you can see my completed "Christmas Rules" by Lizzie Kate.  I stitched mine on 36 ct linen instead of the recommended 28 ct.  That meant that the buttons included with the charts never really fit right IMHO - so I took the piece with me to find smaller buttons.  Talking to Cathe I found out that these where the smallest buttons out there and then she suggested using beads - well, I never even thought about beads - so we looked through the huge number of choices and found some sparkly opaque ones that will work just great.  Now I need to clip off the buttons and attach the beads a-  I think then I will be much happier with the results.  Moving towards the top you can see a great needle minder from Klemscott - it is the sheep one that released last year - I wanted it then but never got it - I just couldn't pass on it when I saw it this time.  Next to the needle minder is a great Blacksheep, scissor holder, pin cushion and thimble holder - there were both Black and White sheep - was there any choice??  I picked it up when I first walked in and just loved this little darling!!  I stood there and thought and thought about it  - remembering that I did have a list - and then passed.  When we got into the car to leave Rico handed it to me and said "Happy Easter!!" - wasn't that a sweet thing to do!!!  All of these wonderful things are sitting on the reason I wanted to go over in the first place - for some linen.  I actually wanted a piece of linen to make a new start.... this lovely piece is by Lakeside Linens, 36 ct "Vintage Sand Dune" and a special cut for Autumn at HRH.  It also happens to be the exact size I need to make my start on "And They Sinned."  I really want to start on ATS but didn't have anything near long enough in my stash pile.  I also like to see linen in person since I enjoy over dyed and hand dyed linen - the dye lots between pieces can be really dramatic.  Cathe and Debi were a super help and they hauled out many pieces of linen that would work before I finally decided on this piece. There you go a smallish stash pile, but things  I "needed" or is that wanted.

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I have been stitching on LHN Monthlies and here is a progress snap.....

..... as you can see I have finished up April and May and am now working on June. I am making slight changes to colour placement from the charted placement - just because I think it looks better and for no other reason.   I should be able to finish up June and be able to start on ATS  this weekend - woohoo!!!

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There you go sports fans - a visual visit to a lovely shop with wonderful people and great stuff!!!  Let me know if there is anything specific you wanted to know.  Thanks for stopping by and for your super comments!!  Do stop by again!

Take care,

edgar