Summer Solstice, 2013

Dear Friends,

OK, I know it is a little past the actual solstice, but I had the best intentions of getting the blog finished last week.  Anyway, as the heat climbs, I realize that the days are already getting shorter.  Come on, Summer, slow down!  (and perhaps cool down as well.)  Our annual trip to the Salt Lake Art Festival took place over this past weekend and we had a great time.  Bob and Christian met Teri and me there and we spent a perfect evening of sharing homemade fries, chicken and bacon wraps, and Pad Thai.  Then as we were poking around through the art booths we looked up to see this most incredible

performance.  A group called Bandaloop ( I think) was rapelling down the enormous glass wall of the city library.  Then they danced sideways and perfectly perpendicular to the glass panels--ballet, ballroom, modern--spinning out from the glass and then flying back in.  It was totally amazing! So....as your summer progresses, my one word of advice is:  Look Up.

Our summer also started out with a wonderful pot luck needlework guild party at Robin's house in Tremonton. We had the best time and the most delicious food you can imagine.  OK, so this group can stitch and cook.  Teri took a picture of the salad that Sue brought:  tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil on skewers and poked into a half watermelon.  Very clever and super yummy.  We all wanted recipes for everything.   

Now, you might think that we have been too busy attending potlucks and street fairs to be working, but actually we have been doing a lot at the shop.  And here is our most exciting news for the upcoming month:  

The all new and super fantastic Shepherd's Bush Website is almost ready to be launched! 

Teri has spent millions of hours working on our new website and I think it is very wonderful.  It is extremely user friendly, easy to navigate, and has quite lovely pictures.  And we can change and update it any time we need to, so everything should remain very current and exciting.  I really think that you will love it.  We are hoping to launch it the first of July, so baring any major glitches it will be up and running the first of next week.  It is the same address as our current one:  www.shepherdsbush.net 

Check it out and let us know how you like it.  As a thank you, we are also giving a launch gift to anyone who orders $50.00 or more from our site during the month of July.  It is a darling little kit which I designed just for the occasion, so I hope you love it.  Remember-- you still get to call us to place your order.  We like the chance to talk to you in person rather than subjecting you to the impersonal shopping cart, so give us a call and we will be glad to help you sort out your order and choose everything that you will need. That is just part of our commitment to friendly, personal service. So mark your calendars, put an alert on your phone, and join us on the computer for our special event.  

In the meantime--here are some fun things that we have going at the shop this summer.  Enjoy... 

Song of the Seasons

New Little House Mystery

kit:  $80.00

Well, Nancy has already stitched the first of the three parts to this new mystery sampler.  Isn't it darling?    Sorry, Teri, but the photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful rich color of the hand-dyed linen which she has chosen for this piece.  It is really lovely and the threads look beautiful on it.  If you are interested in joining us, just give us a call.

Think Deeply 

 pattern by Lizzie Kate

We just picked this piece up from Jill after work and Teri has been out photographing it.  Very sweet filled with reminders of those simple things that we sometimes forget in our busy lives.  

All Hallows Eve

Pattern by Prairie Schooler: $9.00

I know it is still June, but Halloween is coming quickly, and we are already in the midst of getting new pieces ready.  This is such a darling piece and the colors and fabric that Teri has chosen is amazing.  You will love it!  It is not too big, so it will be easy to complete and have ready by October.  It is stitched on a gorgeous shade of purple, and the mat is purple as well- maybe my camera is having an off day.

New Sheep stitching bags

$29.00 large

$27.00 Medium

These are the most darling stitching bags ever.  They have just arrived and I am having a hard time keeping any on the shelf since everyone who works at the shop wants one of each style and size.  They have this sweet fabric sewn onto the mesh for breathability and a zipper at the top for convenience.  Good luck choosing--but don't wait too long.  

Russian Doll sewing kits 

$6.00

OK--I have to admit I was a little surprised by these when we got them in.  Maybe because they seemed so cheerful, but everyone has loved them.  They are quite a great little sewing kit and truly the perfect thing to keep tucked on your drawer for those small emergencies that with my boys come along often.  They are also perfect for a little token gift to a friend or daughter moving off to college. And..we just received the matching scissors to go with them and they are only $5.00.  Beware:  boys might not be quite so pleased with them.  Maybe the company will come up with some Russian soldier ones for them.

Well, enjoy the unfolding of your summer.  Eat a fruity popsicle to cool off--but do not let it drip on your stitching.  Watch for Bandaloop coming to a glass wall in your city, and don't forget to link into our fantastic web site next week.  fondly, Tina

PS: Baby Lewis 8 lbs 3 oz.

born just 12 hours ago.  Welcome to the world, little one.

Early Summer 2

Early Summer, 2013

Last week seemed to be church week for both Teri and me.  She was totally busy with a youth conference for teenagers, and I ended up helping with vacation bible school every night from 5:00 to 10:00--you know the drill:  singing, dancing, running, playing, hugging.  I seemed to leave for work on the run every morning with Lindbergh eyeing me like a traitor, and returning home just in time for bed.  So yesterday as I was finally checking out the garden, I was amazed to see that the roses had bloomed. Seriously--they were not there last week and this week they were in full, gorgeous blossoms.  Why is life so like that?  Things just seem to happen almost without our notice.  Seasons change...flowers bloom...birthdays return...and children grow up.  I have either got to get new glasses, or pay attention! 

And with the coming of Summer, we have finally finished a new group of great designs.  Teri and I have had a great time getting the stitched and ready, and I hope that you will enjoy them as well.  Any and all are just perfect for the lazy days of the season.  Treat yourself to a quiet evening in your Adirondack chair with my Bee Blessings or Teri's Hive and Home.  Or pack up one of our quick little kits and take them to the cabin or the beach.  But most of all, just enjoy a few stolen moments of stitching for yourself.  Who knows--while you aren't looking someone might take your dog for a walk.  

Bee Blessings

 kit:  $50.00

(design size:  8" x 8")

Our newest sampler is a beautiful tribute to the glorious season of summer.  It is worked on a vintage 32 count Belfast linen--Bee's Wax-- that was dyed just for this kit, and is stitched in softly hued silk threads.   Complete with little hand-dyed buttons and instruction booklet, this sampler is brimming with bees, sheep, flowers and summer joy.  And if you can even begin to resist Jill's mat and frame, then you are a stronger soul than I.

Earth's Delight

kit:  $20.00

This is such a happy pin cushion.  It matches “Bee Blessings,” and is stitched on  32 count linen, using overdyed threads, Teri's hand- dyed ribbon, and darling  buttons.  
(For those of you from another country--the flag is easily left off or stitched in any color for a banner.)

Busy World

kit:  $16.00

I love the name of this little kit--isn't that just synonymous with Summer?  This busy piece is stitched on 32 count Belfast linen with a variety of over dyed threads and fits perfectly in the little black box shown above.  Add a little sweet treat and you have a super gift for yourself of a friend.

Sweet Liberty

kit:  $12.00

Insert this fun design in this box (sold separately for $27.00) 

or make into a sweet little pincushion. This kit will stitch up in almost no time at all.

Hive and Home

leaflet:  $8.00

Ok--don't you just love this new leaflet of Teri's?  I think it is absolutely darling!  It includes the designs for the 3 little pieces shown, each of which would work up very quickly. The framed piece is worked on 32 count Belfast linen with overdyed cotton threads, and the pillows are worked on 10 count Tula with the same threads.  The darling mat set is available from Jill Rensel, and we have the sets of bee backing fabrics for completing the pillows.  There is also a wonderful packet of buttons available for the pillows.   

Song of the Seasons

Mystery sampler by Little House

Here is the newest mystery sampler by Little House.  As you can see from the picture, it seems to be sort of a garden theme, and we are excited to receive the first installment any day.  It will probably be between $75.00 - $80.00 plus $12.00 shipping and will include 3 patterns, Weeks hand-dyed fabric in your choice of 30 or 35 count, and a bundle of beautiful overdyed cotton threads.  Teri is tweaking the threads and changing the fabric color--and we will probably add a few darling buttons in the end.  And of course we include a little treat sometime during the project.  Just let us know if you would like to join in.  

Little Sheep Virtues

I just thought that we would show you how darling our Sheep Virtues project is coming along.  Faith is the newest installment in this 12-part series.  If you are interesting in joining in with us--it isn't too late. 

Beeswax Buttons

These new little balls of beeswax are so sweet.  They fit perfectly in your little sewing box and are always at the ready for keeping your threads under control..

Scissor fobs by Lady Dot 

I just love this new group of scissor fobs that we have received from Lady Dot.  Each one is a little different but equally clever hanging from your favorite pair of scissors.

Buzzy String

Leaflet by Lizzie Kate

$4.00

Here is a new offering in the String series and obviously perfect for the Summer.  A beehive, a flag, and a watermelon,  what could be better than that.  We did add a few buttons...  

A few months ago we came out with the BeAttitude Sampler.  Our friends at Tomorrow Heirlooms- a fabulous shop in Glen Ellyn IL, just sent me a photo of it stitched on a new honeycomb fabric.  It is so darling.  Thanks for sharing.  

So begin this summer by being inspired.  Soak up the heat and save it in your soul for next winter.  Walk barefoot through the grass, and perhaps take a clandestine dash through the sprinklers.  Eat a popsicle and spend some time with your needle and thread.  

hugs, Tina

PS  For the past few months we have been franticly working on a new web site,  we are so excited it is almost ready to launch,  be watching for it sometime in the next couple of weeks.  Teri keeps insisting she needs to add more stuff,  I thinks it is looking just great.  The web address will remain the same, we will let you know when it is ready.