Hallowe'en Concert

On Sunday, the Pickering Community Concert Band played a Hallowe'en Concert at the Pickering Museum Village's Hallowe'en Event.

We were instructed to either wear black or orange or Hallowe'en costumes.

I had snagged these kitty cat ears at music camp in the summer, thinking they'd be great for a Hallowe'en costume. I just wore black, donned the ears and drew a kitty cat nose and whiskers on my face with eye liner.

It was Ernest's turn to get in on the action. 

Our conductor, Giancarlo Binetti, dressed as Sorcerer Mickey - in keeping with the theme of the day and since we played selections from 'Fantasia'.

For 'The Addams Family' , Giancarlo distributed noise makers to the children (mostly) in the audience. During our performance, my Apple watch often informed me that the noise level was harmful to my hearing.

Dunc was strongly discouraged by his family not to dress as a blind referee (something about not being politically correct) so instead, ordered the skeleton costume from Amazon - into which he sweated profusely. Sorry if that's TMI but that's what he announced.

Again, it was a beautiful fall day - perfect for folks to wander around the Museum Village and listen to scary music. 

It was a fun program to play and I was thrilled I got to wear my understated kitty cat costume. The woman at Subway (where I had a pre-concert lunch) even said I looked cute.

Sadly I'll be out of town for our town's Christmas event and later the band's Christmas concert. I will, however, be able to make it to the spring concert but will again, have to leave a stitching retreat (Elim) on the Sunday morning to get there.

Stitch North Fall 2026

On Friday morning, MaryK and I carpooled to the Delta Marriott in Markham for this fall's Stitch North retreat. Barb and Poppy had arrived before us and grabbed a table for the four of us, Clare Burns (whom I had met at the Spring Stitch North). We were joined by our two new stitcherly friends from out west, Taylor from Vancouver and her mother, Jeanine from Calgary. 

The featured designer was Theresa Venette 'Kitten Stitcher' of Shakespeare's Peddler. Stitchers were in two ballrooms, one above the other. Evertote had a large vending area at the end of our upstairs ballroom. 

Many of Theresa's patterns were available for sale as well as lots of Roxy floss packs - the colours converted from Theresa's designs. There were other vendors in a room down the hall and in the downstairs ballroom.

Theresa gave a talk on Friday afternoon about how she selects heirloom samplers to chart. 

This was the original of one she purchased.

and her charted and stitched model.

This was the Stitch North Fall 2026 exclusive.

We also got to see the stitched samples she designed for this year's Jingle Ball - 'Christmas Postcards'. The 'stamps' on perforated paper/vinyl were very cute.

MaryK worked diligently on her Santa ornament, put in the finishing stitches, and got to honk the horn.

I had admired this Shakespeare's Peddler design for over a year (this model was someone's on the Brag Table)

and decided to purchase the pattern and some hand-dyed Roxy fabric - 40ct 'Dusk'.

After a day of stitching, we got comfortable in our room upstairs.

Of course Poppy's 'Daphne', Barb's 'Charlotte and Roger', my 'Thomas, Veronica, and Ernest', and MaryK's 'Violet' were featured prominently on our table.

MaryK overheard Jeannette Douglas speaking to someone about her 'Alphabet Garden' sampler. MaryK mentioned she had stitched it over one on 36ct. This shot is of Jeannette asking MaryK to send her a photo of the finished piece. I'm not sure which was the fan girl.

These were some of the items in our swag bag.

We also received an 8m skein of hand-dyed floss by Rolanda. Mine was 'Candy Apple' which I deemed perfect for my Hobby House Press 'Merry Christmas' sampler. I also purchased a 25m skein of 'Candy Apple' for future stitching. 

After the smalls exchange (in which I didn't participate) folks dropped off items they wanted to destash. I snagged this complete (yet unopened) kit. It would make a sweet wee sampler or cover of a needlework folio.

JBW chart and little star charms,

an Erica Michaels folder of Berry finish templates and instructions, 

and a couple of blackwork designs which would work for some triangular scissor cases.

We posed for our table's group shot. Back row: Barb, MaryK, Geri, Taylor, Jeanine. Front row: Clare and Poppy. 

I had to leave on Sunday morning to get to Pickering Museum Village for the band's Hallowe'en Concert. 

Stay tuned for that.

Northumberland Hills Stitchery Guild Stitch Day and October Trillium Meeting

Last Wednesday, MaryK and I headed to the Elmhirst Resort on the NE shore of Rice Lake to attend the stitch day sponsored by the Northumberland Hills Stitchery Guild. 

It was yet another beautiful fall day. Upon arrival we located ourselves at a table near the windows overlooking the lake.

I'm guessing a lot of summer weddings take place down on that deck under the pergola.

There was a Show and Share table.

These Altoid tin critters were adorable in their little beds with a pillow, quilt, and scenery. Both are designs from past CrossStitcher magazines.

The woman beside me painted this beautiful watercolour

then was rendering it in silk appliqué.

Our day wasn't over yet. After returning to our respective homes, we had supper then attended our guild's October meeting that evening.

There was lots of Show and Share as well.

Siobhain's 'Joy' by AuryTM Designs

Cathy's wool felt appliqué 'Midnight Garden' designed by Karen Yaffe. 

Cathy also displayed a wool felt appliqué scene of Port Perry by Crane Designs.

Bev's spool stitchery (original designs) on Ribband perfectly fit the spools purchased from Richard Pikul at our October stitch day; and a biscornu designed by Embroidery by Olga.

MaryK's Mill Hill 'Floral Blue 1' - a Buttons and Beads kit designed by Debbie Mumm.

And her 'Christmas Folk' by Hands On Design from Jingle Ball 2024.

Jeanette's embroidered winter sheep scene from 'After the Snow', part of the 'Postcards from England' series by The Stitchery. 

Mary K's iconic 'Canada Sampler' designed by Stitchrovia.

And also from MaryK: little pillow with Jeannette Douglas' 'Autumn Bouquet' design; 'Float' by Plum Street Samplers; 'Sevillian Tiles' biscornu designed by SunStitchStudioShop; 'Sting Like a Bee' by Heartstring Samplery; and Tiny Modernist's 'Mouse's Pumpkin Pie'.

A Family Wedding

The weekend after Thanksgiving I attended the wedding of my grand-niece, Andrea and her beau, Chris. It took place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a very intimate and elegant affair.

I drove there on the Saturday via Hwy 7 so I could drop into Paisleys Quilt Shop. Then I made my way to the Lord Elgin Hotel where there was a block of rooms reserved for the wedding attendees - right across the street from the NAC.

I made my way on foot to the Prohibition Public House for canapés and drinks after the rehearsal.  Chris' parents and a couple of his cousins joined my family and myself in the Dominican Republic for a week at Christmas in 2024. It was nice seeing them all again. After mingling with the families and enjoying some snacks and a beverage, I toddled back to the hotel for the night. The next morning I Uber-ed to Working Title Kitchen for brunch with my cousin, Jeannie. I hadn't seen her since her mother's (my Aunt Margaret's) funeral in 2015. We had a lovely time catching up on the major events in the last 11 years of our lives. Jeannie then drove me back to the hotel so I could rest up a bit before the 4pm wedding.

I made my way to the NAC at about 3:15. In the lobby, I spotted the sign showing where the wedding and reception were going to take place - upstairs in the Rossy Pavilion and O'Born Room.

Once up there, final preparations were being made for the ceremony.

The string duo played while we milled around and visited.

The weather was spectacular that day and the view northward from the second floor was stunning. Parliament Hill is beyond the distant crane. The Canadian War Memorial is more in the foreground and to the right.

Chateau Laurier Hotel just across the street to the north of the NAC.

Darryl, the father of the bride and husband of my niece, Rosa (aka Tay), was very excited and posed with me for a quick photo.

Rosa and the brother of the bride, Derek, emerged and also posed for photos.

Rosa and Ana are my sister's two daughters. 

My other grand-niece, Melisa, chatted with her husband, Will, and her cousin, Derek. Facing the other way is the groom's father, Paul.

After the ceremony (during which there were not many dry eyes) I got a lovely shot of the bride's train.

Chris and Andrea, the new husband and wife.

Down the hall, final preparations were being made for the reception dinner. The seating chart was on display. On the table in front, were pottery bowls hand-crafted by Jane, the mother of the groom, a skilled potter. They were our souvenirs of the wedding. On the bottom read 'A & C 10.18.26' The colour scheme matched the bridesmaid's dresses and even the theme of the wedding shower which we had attended the month before.

I was honoured to sit at Table 1 with the family. There were so many lovely touches - personalized menus with the meals listed that we had selected ahead of time. All the flowers and decorative pieces of fruit were fresh.

This is a better shot of the floral display that the couple stood in front of at the ceremony. It had been moved into the O'Born Room for the dinner. Being at Table 1, I was able to get some great shots of the bride and groom as we waited for dinner to be served.

I only managed to get this shot of dessert.

After the speeches, the music began. The bride had the first dance with her father.

Oh yes, and Veronica also attended the wedding!

The proud parents then took the floor and invited the rest of the attendees to join them. The music appealed to a multi-generational audience.

I even got a selfie with Ana and her husband, Shawn.

The whole event was so tasteful, meaningful, elegant and enjoyable. Formal, yet not stuffy. Everyone was so happy - both for the happy couple and for the opportunity for the friends and families to celebrate together.

It was an easy stroll back to the hotel for some quiet time after a very busy couple of days. 

The next morning, I started for home, arriving mid-afternoon. I baffed out for the rest of the day and had absolutely nothing on the schedule for the next day. Tuesday ended up being a pyjama day.

On Tuesday, Andrea and Chris flew to Japan for their 3 week honeymoon. 

And just like that the long-awaited event was over.