Summer 2014

Beginning of Summer, 2014

Dear Friends,

Ahhh, blessed Summer. Those perfect, long evenings of reading and stitching in the sunset, watching Bob garden and taking Lindbergh for walks.  Everything just seems to slow down with the heat and our senses become almost overwhelmed with the gifts of color and fragrance and taste.  I yearn to capture it and bottle it up in my heart for the long, dark days of Winter.  Instead of canning tomatoes, and grapes and beans, we should carefully fill our jars with sun, and the smell of honeysuckle and lavender, and the chirp of crickets.  That would surely be a feast for our souls in the middle of January.  My boys aren't home this summer, so everything to me seems odd and lazy and sort of empty.  I tell myself that my time should be busy with a great cleaning and sorting project, but instead I seem to be drawn to my stitching or my book, or I watch the weather on my phone for the places where they are.  moms....and boys.

Sue, who works with us at the shop, is also a neighbor, and she and her husband have just acquired 2 beehives.  It has been fun to hear of the progress of this new venture and to visit the quite wonderful box/hives.  In the past couple of weeks as the weather has warmed up, our yard, which has quite a plethora of bright flowers, has suddenly become a-buzz with a huge influx of bees.  In the mid to late afternoons, they are in veritable swarms around the lavender beds.  Bob spent Sunday afternoon trying to plant and putter about in the garden, and kept shouting in to me to text Sue to come and get her bees.  When I went out to see what he was talking about, I saw that the flowers were just covered by bees, bees, and more bees.  He claims that they are out to get him, but they seem completely impervious to him and absorbed only with their own pollen-gathering busy-ness.  It did provide many excuses for his brief retreat to the house.  Ahhh...Summer. 

Americana Trifles 

by Shepherd's Bush

Leaflet $8.00

Complete kit: $

Finishing kit: $

We have been enjoying this darling little salute to America as June speeds right past us.  Teri's sweet  pin cushions work up quickly and are just darling sitting in a little basket.  You still have plenty of time to get them done for July...so Get Stitching!

Busy as a Bee 

by Lizzie Kate

Chart: $11.50

Complete Kit with backing fabric: $57.00

Teri found this adorable fabric covered with bees and has been watching for the perfect piece to stitch for a little pillow.  Well this one is certainly a good choice.  It is cheerful and fun and just makes you want to smile. Besides, you know it is a theme here. 

New needle Threaders: $8.00

Aren't these new needle threaders just darling?  Teri had Cecile from Jabco make the buttons and then  Deb from My Big Toe work them into needle threaders and they are wonderful.  The thing that is so nice about these threaders is that they are super strong and they don't snap with the threading of each needle.  Perfect for your sewing box.  

Lizzie Kate Trunk Show

We are delighted to have an inspirational trunk show by Lizzie Kate,  They (Linda and Alan) have sent us some of their favorites. Most of them come packaged in cd cases and are called Boxers. These sayings come with the chart for at least 2 sweet sayings, the linen and sometimes a button or charm--I think that you just have to provide the threads. They also sent us a few of their "A  Little Sampler" series.  These kits come with fabric and a button.  Teri has taken close-ups further on..  enjoy this trunk show right in your own house.  Yippee!!!

I Know God: $17.00

This one is Sue's favorite.  She says she is stitching it for sure.

What We Are: $17.00

If We Pray:  $17.00

Don't Cry Because It Is Over:  $17.00

Faith Is Being Sure: $17.00

I think that Teri should stitch this one for sure.  She is definitely a faith sort of girl.  Which means I need to find out which ones Reeta and Nancy want to stitch.  I think I will pick one out myself for Lynnette, she loves surprises. 

A Little Christmas:  $14.00

A Little Easter: $14.00

A Little Love:  $14.00

I think this would make a great wedding sampler--and kind of quick.  

A Little Beach: $14.00

A Little Snow: $14.00

Teri wants me to match up each little kit with the perfect stitcher, so I am just going to have to think further on that.  Perhaps that stitcher is you...

Last but not least,  a new Halloween Mystery sampler is coming out in August.  So how fun is that going to be?  We do not have many details yet--just that Patti from SamSarah is designing it, and it will be Halloween.  Here is what we know so far....

 "We all love a good summer mystery, and know your customers will love stitching "Something Wicked".  SamSarah has designed a Halloween sampler that will be revealed in 3 wicked parts.  Our favorite themes are all in this design...pumpkins, owl, blackbird, sunflowers, moon, stars, and more......"

Give us a call if you are interested in stitching along.  I don't know what we will be doing--but it is bound to be spooky, good fun.  

 Well, it is late, and I am going to bid you a fond farewell.  This summer seems to have us going in so many directions that it is keeping us more than busy.  If you are coming to the Retreat in October, watch for a letter soon in your e-mail, and for those of you doing the Shepherd's Fold, I have just finished stitching Part 3.  I know you are going to love it.  Plus we have some special things coming to go with it so watch the Fold Marketplace in the next couple of weeks.  Part 3 will be ready mid-to-late July.  Plus we are also very busy getting ready for the market in August--lots of super fun new things.  Much to look forward to.  I will write again in a week or two. Until then, be safe and no sunburns.  Hugs, Tina

June

First of June, 2014

Dear Friends,

Oh my gosh...my baby just turned 21.  How on earth did that happen?  And when?....

Honestly, it was just a blink ago that he was sitting buckled into his little bouncy chair which was strapping taped to the front counter at the shop, or riding his little wooden push bike around the rooms, or strolling to the bank with Teri every afternoon. And there is a part of me that simply misses it all--barefoot brothers trawling through the creek, playing in the lake, flying kites, snuggling up for a bedtime story.  Always someone eager to go and try and do. Violins, pianos, clarinets, saxophones, and guitars, guitars, guitars.  Noisy and messy, laughter and tears.  Trikes and bikes and scooters and cars.  It's funny how every age in my boys' lives was bursting with its own particular joys and stresses and nerve wracks, yet I loved them all. And 26 years later, I can only say... that it went by so, so fast.

 Well...Happy Birthday, little one.  You'll always be my baby.

Here it is the first of June and Summer is pretty much upon us.  I know that the heat is going to come crashing in any day, but I treasure our still cool evenings and early mornings. The road construction on the street in front of the shop returned with a full vengeance this morning, and I begin to despair of it every being finished.  Now that the pipes in the street have been replaced, they seem to be replacing fire hydrants and water meters which meant re-cutting 6 x 6 x 6 foot holes in the street and in the sidewalk.  Oh Yay!  And then at the very end of the day they brought around a little paper for us to sign telling us that we must now hire a plumber to come in and retro-fit our hot water heater for back wash or back splash or something else completely disgusting and unintelligible.  Really????  What fun!  And yet customers still seemed to make it in to us.  I have no idea how they managed it.  Perhaps they floated down from the sky with umbrellas.  I am taking a treat tomorrow for those hearty souls who have bravely made it through.  The workmen promised that by Wednesday we would be re-paved on our block, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.  Which might make for difficult stitching.  But in spite of everything, we are cheerful, and we have great new things going on in the shop, so I am excited to share some of them with you.

Shepherd's Fold:  Part 2

My Home scissor fob

Hopefully you should all have the second installment of the Fold by now.  This little scissor fob will look darling tucked into your sewing box.  I hope that you are coming along nicely on Part 1, and I know that a lot of you have finished it up.  I hope that our instructions for putting it on the box have helped.  I think that they are pretty good at guiding you through.  I know that you are wondering when we are going to post the video of finishing the box, but I'm sorry to say that Teri has run into a few glitches and is still working on it.  Her video editing Guru told her that a typical movie should last about 3 minutes and hers is almost 20.  Oh well.  It is very detailed which I think is good if you are trying to complete a project.  He told her that most people have a very short attention span--hence the 3 minute video.  And she said--well not so much with stitchers.  I mean...really. Any husband will marvel at the number of hours we can stitch without moving. So one of these days, you can pop yourself some popcorn and get a coke and settle in for her epic movie.  But not quite yet, she is off to church girl's camp for the week. 

I thought that part 2 should be sort of little after all your hard work on the Full Heart, so enjoy getting this project stitched and finished in plenty of time for Part 3.  I am having a great time working on it, and I think that you are going to love it.  A bit more stitching, however, so try to get caught up on the first 2 parts during these long summer nights.  

Purple Polka Dot Scissor Sheath

$5.00

We had these made especially for us, since the Fold has that definite purple theme.  However, they fit most scissors and look great on all of them.  Now we have sheaths in red, black, pink, and green dots, rose flowers, and purple dot.... maybe one of each?  Hey, don't forget to check out the Fold Marketplace on our website to see all the new things we are posting to go with the Fold.  Just keep your eye on it since we put up new things quite frequently.

Little Loves scissors

$11.50

Aren't these Little Loves scissors just adorable.  They come in a big variety of colors and are not only fun but great to use as well.  If you are a heart girl, you are going to be in love with these.

Americana Trifles:  by Shepherd's Bush

Leaflet:  $8.00

Teri has had this new little Trifles book in the works for a little while and it is now ready.  Isn't it just sweet?  I just love each of these tiny pin cushions, and I think that most people could get them down rather quickly.  Easily in time for the 4th of July.  You can purchase just the leaflet or you can get the kit which comes complete with the supplies to make all three.  A perfect beginning of summer project.  Don't you just love the polka dot fabric on Liberty???

In Full Glory:   by Blackbird

Leaflet:  $8.00

Kit:  $

Here is a wonderful new Reward of Merit from Blackbird Designs.  I just love it.  

Teri's colors are sweet and subtle making it truly the perfect June project.  

Hearts Blossomed:  by SamSarah

Leaflet:  $16.20 ( includes a pack of buttons)

My niece, Erin, stitched this piece for us and I think it turned out so sweet.  Really a darling baby sampler that Emma will always want in her bedroom.  I think that Teri chose really girly colors and had her stitch it on the new polka dot linen.  Isn't is just adorable?

True Friendship:  by Plum Street Samplers

Leaflet:  $10.00

Our super nice customer, Tracy Mitchell, has finished so many projects.  Here are her two latest--both by Paulette of Plumstreet Samplers 

Aren't they are amazing!   

A Friend Loveth: by Plum Street Samplers

Leaflet:  $10.00

Told in a Garden quilt

Sheron Hoggan just stopped by to show us the quilt she has ben working on for a few years.  There are five large Told in a Garden pieces which she has stitched as well as tons of tiny quilt blocks stitched and appliquéd around the edge.  Wow! It is really amazing.   Great job, Sheron!  Thanks so much for sharing your masterpiece.  

Oh dear, my little beagle is barking his head off and soon to waken the entire neighborhood.  I guess I need to go and escort him into the house.  We seem to have lots going on this summer with the Fold and the Retreat.  It makes it fun to go to the shop each day.  Plus, we have a market in August that we are starting to stitch and get ready for.  I will try to write a little sooner--maybe next week and keep you up on the adventures of Shepherd's Bush and our street friend, Digger Dan   In the meantime...keep stitching, give us a call if you need help, and be safe out there this summer. 

 hugs, Tina