May 17, 2009

Cupcakes

Last week was my sister's birthday, but because of finals last Saturday, and the difficulty of getting a reservation on Mother's Day, we postponed the celebration to this week. So yesterday morning I headed out to Fairfax County, making a couple of stops along the way, since I don't get up there nearly enough.

First stop. You NOVA stitchers will recognize this window as belonging to In Stitches.


Eye Candy. That's just the NPI rack. What I purchased there comes later in the post. Aside from the shopping, I got a chance to visit with the wonderful women who staff the shop, including Patricia, who filled me in on some of the details about the Janet Gibson Scottish sampler. Patricia is from Scotland, and her mom lives about 10 miles from Auchterarder, which is where the sampler comes from.


Next stop: Hollywood & Vines, a fabulous plant nursery just north of In Stitches on Route 1. The giant flowerpot and watering can and big metal palm trees are the landmarks. My sister had been wishing for hostas and ferns for her shady back yard, so I bought some, and then wandered around, considering plants for our garden, onto which I have spread composted manure, but which has not seen a single plant. I can't describe the headiness of this nursery; the acres of plants, the sweet smell of the flowers, the piped-in classical music. We'll return next week for that.


I picked up my sister and we headed into DC for lunch. We had weighed various restaurants all week, and in the end she decided she wanted a New England seafood meal, so she chose the Tackle Box, which provides a Maine coast-type dining experience. The restaurant has picnic tables and buoys hanging from the ceiling and they specialize in fried clams, lobster rolls and fish platters.
After lunch we headed over to Georgetown Cupcake. We'd been having a lively discussion about what kinds of business are folding in this recession, and what kinds are thriving, so we were amused to see that this is what's thriving, recession or not. See the line in front of the door? We got in line and waited 20 minutes.

Their cupcakes are delicious, and you can get them packed in a clever little six pack box. They were well worth the wait, although since we hit them late-ish on a Saturday, they were out of the more exotic flavors. You'll note we're big coconut fans.


Here are some of the things I bought at In Stitches, aside from a yard of Legacy linen (34 ct in Oaten Scone) and some NPI, AVAS and CC fibers that I needed to finish kitting up, or restock projects that I'm doing. You'll recognize "Wizard of Oz" by Midsummer Night Designs. So fun I had to start it, using the called-for Crescent Colours and DMC on a piece of linen I cut from the yard I bought.


I also got two charts from a new-to-me designer, Heartstring Samplery Primitives. You may already have read her blog, the Twist Family. The first design is "With One Accord," and the second is "1763 Band Sampler." They're charted for 32 count linen using DMC, and there are instructions for staining the samplers after they're stitched. I predict we'll be seeing more samplers from this designer. And they have everything on my chart wishlist: clear, well-done graphs, and a nice large, clear photo of the finished design.

I particularly like the little jumping-jack men in their polka-dotted pants.


Here's my progress on Janet Gibson. Patricia mentioned that the house shown on the sampler, with all the windows, is a style common to that area. I've encountered some difficulties and challenges with this sampler. While Lakeside is one of my favorite linens, and I think the color is perfect, I wish I had chosen a higher count; 34 might have been a little better for coverage. And this particular piece seems a little too soft and loosely woven. Or NPI has gotten skimpier, which it sort of feels like. The white NPI in particular, seems not to cover as well as I'd like. I could start over, but I've already done a ton of work it feels like, so I don't really want to do that. I could double the NPI, but that crowds things a bit. Maybe on the swan. Have I mentioned the zillion different stitches on the swan? Then there's the over-one. See the little green "v" next to the potted plant? Took forever. Man, I hate over-one, and there's more of it than I anticipated. But there's no going back now! Because when all is said and done, I think it will be stunning when it's finished.



Here's a three-pack of cupcakes.

"I would like a three-pack of cupcakes, please!" This is Gracie, my sister's elderly dog. We don't allow her near the bunnies--she was way too interested in my last bunny, so she was permanently banished from the bunny room.

Thanks for sticking with this long, long post. Back to normal soon, as school starts in just a little more than a week!

If you can, find a cupcake and eat it this week!

22 comments:

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Those are some tasty-looking cupcakes! The non-furry ones, of course. The furry ones look like they should be cuddled instead.

Margaret said...

Oh lucky girl to go to In Stitches! Love the NPI rack! And Heartstring Primitives -- yes! I love her stuff! I have to get that band sampler. Those cupcakes look luscious -- I love coconut too. Happy belated birthday to your sister!

Jan said...

Don't you just love Hollywood and Vines?! I want to go there next weekend and get some plants.
I've been good and staying away from InStitches. Great stash!

DebbieSFL said...

I just watched Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa make Chocolate Ganache cupcakes this morning----man, do I wanna bake!!! You are so lucky that you have an LNS---the closest one to me is 3 hours east or west. Wonderful eye candy.

Colleen said...

YUM! I need to make cupcakes now!!

Theresa said...

Yummy~~~~~ I would love to have some cupcake, please~~

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Wow! Look at the line for cupcakes! LOL. I would be right in there if I had a local one. Where I live is pretty rural and our newest excitement is a new Walmart in July!
Your bunnies are so cute!
I went in In Stitches once, back in March when my husband and I went to DC. Its very nice there. Hard not to spend a bunch there.
Jennifer D
http://www.feathersinthenest.blogspot.com

Marly said...

I really enjoyed your post today. You've got it all..... Stitching,shopping,goodies,and cuties.

Daffycat said...

Lovely stash and great stitching! Nice start on the Wizard of Oz design!

Love the three-pack of cupcakes best!

Melissa said...

Thanks for all the great photos! I still think that should I (or WHEN I) ever get to a real LNS in the States I may just have to sit down first. I wonder if they have a little wheelchair (like shopping carts) for newbies?!!!

Great charts! I bought the big sampler too from Beth and it's in the long line of things to stitch.

I have heard about that cupcake place. What great fun and it's nice to hear it's doing well. Your three-pack is cute too but the other kind is edible!

d. moll, l.ac. said...

I have an urge to bury my face in both kinds of cupcakes shown.......

Jan said...

Had to laugh when I saw your cupcakes, we served those at my daughter's baby shower this weekend...and ahmmm let me say, I ate my share of them!

Sounds like you had a lovely day and what a special time at the LNS...love your new acquisitions!

Fez and the Gang said...

Pass on the cupcakes... unless there are carrot ones?

MyLifesAStitch said...

Ooooh... cuuup-caaakes! Leah & I will def. need to make a stop there sometime! Those look dee-lish! I just bought the Janet Gibson sampler - yours is looking awesome! I also got the With One Accord Sampler a few weeks ago - I really like the Heartstrings designs I've seen so far. Glad you are done with your exams, and can relax a bit! Oh, and I love the pics of your "babies". They are SO cute!

RG said...

Like kids in a candy store!!!

Kinda liked the bunny-flavored cupcakes my self.

I'll keep watch for a cup cake to eat this week.

Siobhán said...

Great progress on Janet Gibson! Love your stash haul, too. I love those Heartstrings designs & need to start stitching them instead of just stashing them.

Tammy said...

Glenna, I just love your photos here! You sure had a dream day of shopping and eating out---I'm envious (in a good way!) of your fun and so glad you had such a nice time. I SO need to go to that restaurant!

The Scarlett House said...

I just love your posts. The way you describe everything makes me feel like I'm right there, too. I don't know what looks yummier, the cupcakes or the NPI display.
I didn't realize that you hated over one stitching. I'll do your over one if you do my borders, okay?

Tanya said...

Such eye candy of In Stitches NPI and your samplers. Your Janet Gibson is looking so pretty. I am going to have to get the pattern.

Brigitte said...

Those Heartstring Primitives look gorgeous. And In Stitches is just the kind of store to die for. At least for me who lives far far away from anything that ressembles some of your LNSs.

Beth Twist said...

This may sound silly, but the most exciting part of your whole post is that you were shopping in DC and found MY CHARTS in a shop! This little Oregon girl is a bit in awe.

Thanks for sharing my designs on your blog. :)

quiltcat said...

what a wonderful post, it's got it all...plants, yummy food, stitchery, and bunnies! I can't believe i've never been to Hollywood and Vines, nor the seafood restaurant you mentioned (is it in Georgetown?), nor the cupcake place (that's o.k., they don't fit too well in my WeightWatchers plan *lol*). I can see how a cupcake place could thrive in a recession...people still want a special treat, and what better indulgence than something small like a decadent cupcake?! The picture of the 3 cupcake bunnies is adorable...i think i made a faux pas (faux paw *g*) in my previous comment and called Peaches Pinkie...sorry!