Happy week after Easter. Yes, we still had our neighborhood Easter egg hunt on Saturday in the freezing cold, with most of the flower beds still encased in snow. But it is always fun--maybe more fun for Teri than for me. The Kids are always darling and excited, and a part of me misses my own boys as toddlers happily gathering candy and treasures. They all tell you that kids grow up fast, but it never seems possible until it happens. There is something to be said for seeing each new generation come and join the throng--except for the fact that it makes you feel old. You can probably tell by my untimely writing of this, that I am having one of those weeks. Oh, well. At least you can enjoy the pics at the end. Be sure to watch for Lynnette's darling granddaughter, Amber, and Charity's adorable little boy, Peter. Whenever I see him, he reminds me so much of my own little boys.

My sister, Sheree, came by today and brought us a delightful treat. Teri thinks that she is trying to get her recipe on the website. So--I'll tell you the recipe since we have been munching on them all day long. She will be upset, because she said it isn't really her recipe. I am giving her credit anyway, because I hadn't had them before. Sheree's Turtles: You know me and recipes, I am just telling you how she told me. If this doesn't make sense--improvise and then you can put your own name on the recipe. She says that you can make 5 or 100 of these. Your choice. Take 24--we are now making 24--whole pecans and put them in a 250 degree oven to toast. Spread out 24 little square pretzels--they look sort of like little checkerboards--on a cookie sheet. Unwrap 1 Rollo candy and place on each pretzel. When pecans are toasty, remove from oven and place the tray of pretzels in it. Leave them in the oven--still at 250 degrees--for about 5 minutes. Remove and place 1 pecan on top of each melty Rollo. Let cool, and Eat. I hope you enjoy these as much as all of us have enjoyed them today.

Here it is, still March and Easter has come and gone. Now, Teri has her work cut out for her putting away the Easter things and replacing them with just spring things. Believe it or not, she has been grumbling about this. I know it is hard to imagine her grumbling. She says that now she is putting up Mother's Day and family things. That should be fun. More info on that next week.

Oh--something else that is fun. For those of you who have bought some of the new Thread Spinners, she is bringing in new fabulous designs later this week. We will take pictures and put them on the web. So far, I have seen a cross and a butterfly and they are so lovely. Just watch for them.

Enjoy the pictures and the turtle candy and have a wonderful and safe week.

fondly, Tina

The kids are gathered ready to race through the yards to find treasures.

Amber with little Sophie and Brett enjoying treats after the hunt.

Amber is the grandchild of Lynnette who works for us.

Sophie and Ellie are always ready for the hunt!

Peter is Charity's little boy. Charity worked for us for many years before she left to teach and get married.

Christian with his friends Nick and Gus. They hide the candy, then go hunting. It is amazing how those peanut butter eggs got clear up in the top of the tree.....

Hi friends,
For our birthdays, Bob gave us tickets to go see Garrison Keillor in Salt Lake City. Last night was the night, so we made our trek down to meet him and Peter. I didn't really know what to expect, though I knew it wasn't the whole Lake Woebegone thing. It turned out to be just him on the stage for the whole time, and he was funny, sweet, contemplative. He just walked out on stage unannounced in a dark suit--rumpled just as you thought it would be--a red tie, red socks, and red sneakers. He started out by singing--no accompaniment--about Holy Week and it just rambled on from there--stories, songs, reminiscences. Well needless to say, we loved him, and the time went by in a literal blink. If you listen to his radio show, you will know how sort of universal his stories can be. He talked a lot about his childhood, then rambling on through winter snow, boys living in basements, to crock-pot suppers. It so took me back to my youth and made me really a bit nostalgic about the past and families and growing up. Afterwards, as we walked through the city to get back to our car, Christian asked me if I thought the stories were true. I said I thought they were based on true things that had happened to him and his family and friends. He looked unconvinced and thoughtful, his 14-year old mind sifting through its black and white parameters. I just smiled and thought to myself that perhaps we all re-shape our pasts over the years--gently softening the edges, intensifying the dramas--becoming the people we want to be. I just whispered to him--remember it all--your own life-- and keep it in your heart. Garrison Keillor finished the evening by having the audience sing a simple, spiritual-type song together with a few verses. I was pretty much into the singing--quietly, of course, but Teri said she stopped for a minute and listened to how beautiful it sounded--all these disparate voices and harmonies. I was inspired and awed and for a moment felt connected to the world of strangers around me and beyond. I sort of hummed all the way home and tried to remember the words. Then I woke in the middle of the night thinking about it and I couldn't remember the tune. It made me sad. Isn't that just the way with life and connections. Keep hold of them when they come. I'm pretty sure I will remember it, sometime.

Well, talk about rambling. Here we are at Spring break and I am back to balancing work and a child at home and getting everything done. It hardly seems like Easter, since it is only mid-March, and the weather is not very nice. But a break is a break and what is not to enjoy. I finished my Mom-Day piece after I got home, so now I am jazzed to get it graphed and finished up. Tonight I will have that displaced feeling of having finished a project without one in the wings. Not that I don't have a zillion unfinished things, but not really one ready and waiting. I'll tell you one that I would love to do. It's not of my own design, but is by the same folks who do the new Quaker Christmas, and it is called Quaker Virtues. It is such a lovely sampler--lots of beautiful Quaker motifs and virtuous words spread throughout it. If you are in the mood for a large, heart-felt project--this might be the one. We finally have the rest of the Red Thread motifs in and one of the girls has been finishing it up. I would like to say that Teri could put a pic of it at the end of this letter, but you would have to have your computer hooked up to the screen at your local theater to see it all. Ok, it isn't quite that long, but it is very darling. Now she gets to pick special buttons and give it to poor Jill to frame. Oh, I almost forgot--have you seen the May Bauble? Maybe she can put a picture of that one up. It is darling. Sweet May flowers and hand-picked buttons on each one. Of course she changed the colours and used the most adorable backing fabric. If you aren't doing this wonderful little series, you are definitely missing out.

May Baubles

OK, I have to go. Kari needs the computer to do the shipping, and everyone else thinks I need to go back to work. Have a fabulous week and a blessed Easter. Hug life, and cherish it in your soul.

Until next week--
fondly, Tina

Hi Friends,
It all started with the Jane Austen celebration on PBS starting after Christmas. Every Sunday night for over 2 months, we have been watching Jane Austen movies--some old favorites and some brand new. I have had to endure the derision of the male members of my family for watching some of the programs for the 50th time. But Teri and I were undaunted and have enjoyed every minute of it. PLUS--we still have 2 more to go. A new Sense and Sensibility and a not-so-new Emma. Yay!!! From there we went on to the Other Boelyn Girl for our birthday celebrations. All women who went loved it a lot. Bob hated it and George is keeping silent. What's new? Then that same weekend we discovered last year's Season 1 of The Tudors which was On Demand for 5 days, so we had a virtual marathon of watching it. Now we are so hooked. I may have to subscribe to Showtime just to get Season 2. I know that you weren't particularly interested on my television and movie habits, but the moral of it is that I should also have accomplished tons of stitching during this decadent time of doing nothing in front of the TV. Well yes and no. I did finish some things and have been quickly working on another piece, but sadly much too much time was spent just staring at the movie. It was a bit of a relief to have the Tudor series finished and be forced to break with my addiction for the time being. This week I have been better about stitching with the TV off.

My new heart for this year--Quaker Heart--is finally finished. I just love it. I had a wonderful time stitching on it and I love the colours so much. I think that Teri--or Kristin--is putting the photo on with this blog or else on the front of the Web site, so you can see it. It is worked on R&R's Irish Creme linen which just feels rich and lovely to stitch on. Then it has a combination of Cresent's Soie Belle, Gloriana and Threadgatherer silks. We have been on the search for the right bead for it and found some antique French glass beads which look fabulous along with a darling mother-of-pearl shell button. I love how Jill framed it besides--very sweet. If you are in the mood for a heart--I think you will love it.

This is our new kit, "Quaker Heart." It is $28.00 and includes hand-dyed linen, overdyed silk threads, a mother of pearl button, and antique French glass beads. It is so fun to stitch.

Teri has a new kit as well. You should be able to see it in the same place. Hers is an adorable Easter kit. I know--Easter is the earliest it has been for hundreds of years and it won't be this early for hundreds more, but there you have it. Anyway it is called Walking on Eggs and it is very charming. Besides it is worked on the 10 count fabric, so it will go very fast--easily done by Egg Day. The clear, spring colours will just make you happy after this long, dreary winter. So---be sure to check them out. And looking ahead--new Mother's Day projects coming right along.

This new kit, "Walking on Eggs," is $14.00.
It includes tulip pink tula, cotton floss, and a special egg button.

I know this is a dangerous suggestion, but if you need a lift, a new vice, something to completely possess you--try a DVD trip back to the early 19th century and then keep on going back to the 16th century, and I'm sure you will be completely addicted. But---don't forget to have a compelling project by your side, so that you can alleviate the guilt of being glued to the TV.

Have a great week as we wend our way to spring.

ever fondly, Tina

This is Tina's Happy Birthday cake! Doesn't it look yummy? I was actually supposed to put this up with last week's post, but since I didn't, we can all wish Tina another happy birthday!!!

Birthdays!

Happy birthday, Teri. I just love birthdays--mostly when they are not my own. Teri and I were born 3 days apart, so March always comes in full of festivities. I was thinking the other night how our lives often come around full circle. When we were young, we usually celebrated our b-days together. We almost always shared a cake, and very, very often received matching outfits and matching gifts. I feel so selfish looking back on it, because--being older-- I wasn't always so gracious about it. I remember on my 12th birthday telling my mother that if we received similar clothes, I was not ever putting them on. Teri of course looked completely crestfallen and said that she loved it best when we had twin outfits. Oh well--growing pains. That same birthday, I also asked for the bunny and lamb decals in our room to be purged, and that made Teri cry. I don't think that I was normally so heartless, but birthdays can sometimes do that to you. Now I just love having almost matching birthdays. I am more than happy to have someone else to share the attention with, and we always get to plan almost a week's worth of celebrations. We are both perfectly happy to share a cake, and have often been known to give each other matching gifts. Round and round goes that circle. Since Saturday, we have been to a movie, eaten at the Temari--my favourite Japanese restaurant--feasted on salads and cakes--1 for each-- which the girls at work brought, and tonight we are going out to a great local restaurant with the most fabulous deserts--killer Bananas Foster. So--happy B-day, Teri. Party on!!!

At the shop we have been very busy. Teri has been working on several new things which we are getting ready to bring out. I have been trying to get something done, but I seem to have succumbed to a cold, and I don't seem be shaking it very quickly. Next week I will have lots of details for you. I think Teri is putting up some of the new photos after this blog, so take a quick look. Christian will be calling me any minute for a ride home. He is staying late with the tennis team shoveling snow off the tennis courts at school so they can start practice. March hasn't been very spring-like so far.

Have a great week. How can you not since it is March, you know. Stay well and happy stitching.

fondly, Tina

Spring/Easter Displays

Peter's cotton knits is a great addition to
Raise the Roof's clothesline series.
We have stitched it on a fabulous dyed fabric
and added darling buttons.

Easter Snapperland
We stitched it on a fun green linen and added buttons.