September-ish, 2014
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the very best blog ever. Yay!!! The reason it is so great is that Teri is writing it for me. You know, sort of a ghost writer. Isn't that just brilliant. Well, I think it is. This seems to be my season of being a hermit. (Of course the season is now approaching its 3rd month.) In July/August, I did nothing after work but stitch on market things. In August/ September, I did nothing but stitch on my new stocking. And in September/October I am doing nothing but stitching on my sampler for the Retreat. I am having quite a lovely time, but I feel that I have become a complete hermit--stitching, stitching, stitching. I am kind of looking forward to October/November. It has been a fun end of summer beginning of fall here at the shop, busy getting ready for Halloween stitching and transforming the shop for Autumn. And...of course Retreat is just around the corner. We are having such a great time getting things finished up and ready.
30th Anniversary Party
You are all invited to Shepherd's Bush 30th Birthday Party. Stop by on Tuesday the 30th (perfect date- right!!!) for wonderful home- made ice cream, and delicious cupcakes, and of course a birthday surprise when you check out. We will be open from 10:00-5:00. Come see all our new fall stitchings and help us celebrate 30 "baatiful" years
My new stocking is very exciting. I have had a blast designing and stitching it and I can't wait for you all to see it. You probably know that it is a girl this year and she is quite charming. We are just getting ready to send her off to the printer and then we will put her up on our website, so take a look in a couple of weeks. Here is a sneak peak:
Well, I am back to my stitching and have fun with Teri. I'm sure she has lots of great ideas to share with you. Be safe out there...fondly, Tina
We made 9 jars of pickles, and it took us weeks!!!! Ahh...she lies!
Our tiny garden around a light post. You have to know that my yard is very shady, perfect for sitting outside stitching or reading (or inTina's case sleeping), so I talked my neighbor into using a tiny spot around his light post. He does not use it and is kind to let me plant it. I planted 1 cucumber plant and 2 tomatoes and basil and sage. It has gone bananas.... the cucumber I just keep tying up taller and taller, the tomatoes are massive, and the basil is huge. I have already frozen a batch. I chop up the basil and fill empty ice cube trays with the chopped basil, then fill them with chicken stock, and freeze. When they are frozen, I pop them out into a ziplock bag and keep them in the freezer. All winter, when I am making spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce or soups or stews, I throw in a couple of basil cubes and the basil tastes as fresh as a light post garden in the summer.
Hearts Bloomed
chart by Sam Sarah
fabulous complete kit available with our colors
This is just back from Jill, It turned out so adorable. Some one mentioned it would be a great wedding sampler as well, just change born to wed... why didn't I think of that. We used a polka dot creamy linen and changed the colors and I love it. My niece Erin stitched it for us, so her daughter's name is on it, fun!
Prairie Schooler Santa card $4.00
complete kit with Teri's hand-dyed fabric and colors also available
Here is the 2014 Santa. He is so great. We have stitched him on a hand-dyed klostern--7 count fabric with DMC and Weeks over dyed threads. We have a great set of JABCO buttons and an unbelievable backing fabric. We are happy to sell you parts and pieces--or the complete set.
Foxwood Crossings sleds
patterns $6.00
sleds $
or you can buy 12 and we will throw 1 in for free
I looked at these at market, and this year just could not resist. They are so adorable!!!!!!! I stitched this one on the plane ride home. It was a bit tight, because I did have totally full flights, but the man next to me fell asleep and I just started stitching. I sort of wanted him to manage my scissors and thread, but oh well. They are stitched on perforated paper and so when you are done stitching, you just cut it out and glue it onto the sled. We have the sleds and a variety of patterns--you just have to give these a try. Perfect for package tie ons.
This was a special kit for the market, sled, paper, and pattern, you provide the floss.
Retreat 2014
Park City is turning all colors just for you. For those of you who are preparing to travel to Ogden and Park City, be sure to come safely and we will see you soon. You should have received 2 letters from us by email--one in June and one just last week. If you did not, then we might have a bad email address for you. Be sure to give us a call. Otherwise we will be waiting to welcome you here to a fabulous weekend.
Lizzie Kate Mystery
Yes we are very excited about Linda's new Mystery. I have been told it is the best thing she has done. It is in sweet colors, and Weeks is dying a new color for her ( I think.) The saying is by Helen Keller, so that sounds interesting. There will be embellishments and fun fabrics. We will be doing this sampler just as she is doing it, as the sets come from Lizzie Kate. You can order it with 28 count or 32 count linen. It will begin the first part of November and will run for 3 months. Please let us know soon, if you are interested, we would love to have you join us. As always you will get a fun surprise from us sometime during the mystery sampler. Sorry--not sure about prices, I left that folder at work. As always we charge you for the whole thing in November and then you just have to wait for a fun box in the mail...
Peasant Salad
This is our summer stand-by salad--all fresh from the garden ( ours or the farmer's market)
It is soooooooo delish!
Tina likes everything cut into small pieces, not diced but not big chunks somewhere in-between
2 cucumbers
1 med onion- I use a sweet or red onion
1 bell pepper
3-4 medium tomatoes- (we love this with a fresh crop of cherry tomatoes- just throw in what you like, My favorite is to mix red and yellow cherries, but we did not get any yellow cherry tomatoes this year.)
Fresh Basil- about 1/4 cup- this I do cut up pretty fine.
put everything in a bowl.
Dressing make in a pint jar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teasp. salt
1/4 teasp. ground fresh pepper
1 clove of garlic smashed
2 TLB. of capers- I chop them up and a squish them with the edge of a knife.
Put all dressing ingredients into the jar, and shake well. Pour over the veggies and let sit for about 15 minutes--or longer.
We like to make big croutons out of crusty bread and serve with this yummy salad. Ahhhh...one bite of this and you will want summer to last forever.
Well see you soon... maybe Tuesday, happy stitching. Teri
