Eastertide…2014
Dear Friends,
Happy Spring! At least I think it is finally here for most of us. There's just nothing quite like tulips and daffodils and cheerful grape hyacinths to remind us that winter is gone for another 6 months. Here we are almost 7 weeks since Fat Tuesday and now just finishing 6 weeks of Lent which is supposed to be a quiet time of contemplation and deprivation. So I gave up something for Lent this year, and I stuck to it as well. Then this last week both Teri and I have been on separate binges. Seriously. With the 4th season of Game of Thrones already started and everyone asking me…Did you watch it?…after each new episode, I finally took a leap and caught up on Seasons 2 and 3 and the beginning of 4. Ok, I am embarrassed to admit it, but I went on a total binge and finished it all. Now I am caught up and no one can blurt out all the startling things that have been happening in Westeros. At lease my obsessive watching also led to obsessive stitching. That's a good rationalization. Teri's bingeing has not been nearly so pitiful. She was getting ready for our annual Easter family picnic and she quizzed everyone who came to--or called--the shop what they enjoyed making for Easter. Then she set out to make all of it. I mean really all of it. She cooked all Saturday night--into the wee hours--and all Sunday after church until it was time to leave. Admittedly everything she made was fantastic as shown by the photo below, but I believe that she used every available pot, pan, dish, fork, spoon, knife, and cutting board. (As well as some that weren't actually available.) In the end, I was ready for a good sleep binge by the end of the day. But then, I am always ready for one of those. So here are her million hour offerings: peanut butter/chocolate bird nests, egg and lamb sugar cookies, and the most fantastic key lime cupcakes. Yum!!!! Happy Spring--Happy bingeing.
This past week was Restaurant Week in downtown Ogden, and we had such a great time. Teri and her friends tried to make it to every restaurant, (I'm not mentioning bingeing) and Bob and I tagged along here and there. Here was my entree from our favorite Japanese place. Isn't it just beautiful? A little avocado filled with spicy tuna and crab salad and covered with green and red fish eggs. Yikes! I was trying to be brave, but a part of me secretly wanted Christian's bowl of white rice. He joyfully gobbled up the little eggs on top saying: Don't you just love the way they pop? Hmmmm…not so much. My avocado was just great, but it was a little tricky finding a place to hide the raw elements. Of course Teri and Bob had fully cooked local trout smoked under a glass with a sprig of rosemary. Ahhhh…for a bowl of simple white rice.
Shepherd's Fold
We are now well into the first part of the Shepherd's Fold--A Full Heart-- and aside from the continual wrangling with linen, it is going along just great. I am amazed by how many people have already finished the first part and are now ready for Part 2. Maybe there are some other closet Game of Thrones watchers out there. So Teri and I will be putting up our box finishing instructions shortly on the Fold link on the website, so if you are getting ready, just take a look. I want to make a little video of it as well, but we'll see. Also keep watching for the Fold Marketplace where we will be posting great things to go with your stitching box. We have lots of super fun stuff coming. Our friends Anne and Lynn came in from Wyoming last week and brought us these cookies from Starbucks. Anne said they reminded her of the flowers she was stitching on the hills of A Full Heart. Don't they just :)
Keep on stitching because your next piece will be coming out to you before you know it. Oh…check out the mat and frame that Jill made on our website under the Fold. It is awesome.
Plus…if you are running low--or out--of Olive Branch, just hang on. We are sending everyone an extra strand in the 2nd kit. Sorry. I was so careful in keeping track of threads, but some of you may run out.
Shepherd's Retreat
April has been a crazy month for us with the Fold and the Retreat at almost the same time. We are so excited for all of you who have signed up for the Retreat this coming October. It is going to be such a lot of fun. We are busy with our plans and are so looking forward to seeing all of you. Teri spent the weekend chatting with some of the teachers, and several of them have their pieces already designed and/or stitched. Wow. I am not one of those. But I have been thinking about it. We will be sending out information as October approaches, but if you have any questions, just give us a call. We are trying to send you letters by email, so if you have not received your confirmation letter by now, give us a quick call and let us check out your email address.
(As you probably know, the registration is full now with a waiting list for both tracks.)
Bohin Enamel Scissors
Aren't these new scissors from Bohin darling? There is just something so enchanting about the bright, shiny enamel finish on them that makes me want to have one in every color. The perfect spring scissor for the perfect spring project.
Four Seasons
by Lizzie Kate
Patterns: $20.00
Nancy just finished this great piece from Lizzie Kate, and it is sweet. We have fun new designs coming from them shortly.
Land of the Free
by La D Da
Pattern: $10.00
Complete Kit:
Just in time for summer, Here is a new darling piece from La D Da.
Yuletide Welcome
by Plumstreet Samplers
Pattern: $18.00
April just finished stitching this gorgeous sampler for us, and we love it. Now is the perfect time to get started in this beautiful Christmas piece. Give us a call if we can pick out just the right threads and linen for you.
I know that there was still something that I wanted to tell you, but I can't remember. Oh well, there is always next week. The city and state are re-paving and replacing pipes starting next week out in front of the shop. Do not despair. We are still open, and I'm sure that we will have plenty of time to to give you the very best help ever. So stop on by. Otherwise, give us a quick call. You won't have to worry about pipes or road construction. Ugh. So, have a great week. Find something great to binge out on and stitch, stitch, stitch. hugs always, Tina
