Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Early Spring


Early Spring, 2015

pansy baskets
 outside the front door of the shop


I truly think that Spring may finally be here--at least in Utah.  Clear skies, brilliant sunshine, and the promise of spring flowers soon to come:  plenty of pansies in pots, dozens of dazzling daffodils, and tulips trying to tease us in taking their time.  Still a bit chilly, however.  Teri invited me to stitch outside this afternoon and it felt so good--in a freezing sort of way.  Could the winter have gone by already and we, back at our outdoor stitching spot?  Unfortunately, after this past week of glorious weather, I have found myself waging a private war with nature.  And I don't just mean allergies.  I seem to have an explosion of box elder bugs somewhere outside in my yard, and their only purpose in life is to get inside my house and torment me.  I hate them!  It's not that I'm scared of them like I am of spiders.  I just find them so irritating the way they slowly walk around my windows and walls and ceilings.  Just annoyingly ambling along asking me to attack.  They appear to enjoy the ivy outside my bathroom window and outside Christian's room.  How they work their way in is not exactly clear to me, but they are quite adept at it.  I have spent 2 days stalking them and hunting them down with a vengeance, and finally I have resorted to the vacuum which I am just leaving in Christian's room at the ready.  (He was so thrilled--until he went back to school.) Do you think that they suffocate inside the vacuum?  Oh well, their previous fate was the toilet.  Bob tried spraying them with either soapy water or windex outside this afternoon, so here's hoping.  I am also wondering what their collective life span could possibly be.  And...are they the creatures that eventually turn into little green worms?  Surely not!!!
Life is busy at the Bush this week.  The hotel across the street tore half of itself down a couple of days ago and that has been both surprising and entertaining.  I just kept wishing that one of my boys was still three so I would have an excuse to site out on the front step and watch.  Plus, I promised myself--and everyone else at work--that after market I would clean up my first desk/table.  I have to say first because a few years ago I had to move across the room to my second desk/table when the first one got a bit crowded.  I imagined it was a good goal to work on straightening it up a bit--well actually excavating it--so I thought I would do it after market.  Well, here we are.  Hmm...I wonder if I could hire someone who is working on that hotel across the street. Good thought.  Seriously, I can't battle desks/tables and box elder bugs at the same time.  Actually, I think I will finish this letter and then just stitch. Isn't that the best cure for everything?  Well, read on Macduff and I shall guide you through some very fun things we have going on at the shop...

Beeswax sheep 
$10.00
by Lady Dot


Aren't these little sheep the most adorable things you can imagine?  Our great friend, Lois, has been working on these for a while, and we just received a lovely little flock.  The fresh beeswax has the most glorious smell of earth and honey and the beautiful richness of something very special.  The great thing is that you not only have a lovely treasure for your sewing box, but you can also run a length of thread carefully through the wool to strengthen it for beading.  They come to you in a sweet little box and bow.



Ever since we came back from Nashville, everyone at the shop has been busy stitching on a new market project.  Nobody really planned it that way, but everyone started on something different, and we have had such a great time comparing our progress and cheering each other on.  So...I thought it would be fun to show you what we have all been working on through this letter.  Yay!  Lucky you. Anyway it might inspire you to share what you are working on with someone.  So enjoy...

A Year in Chalk 
by Hands On Designs
$5.00 each design
Chalkboard frames:  $30.00
Nancy's choice


This new series is so much fun!  Everyone at the shop is having a great time with them, and this is the one that Nancy has been working on.  Teri came up with a brilliant idea for framing, and she has had a great time getting it organized.  Jill has made an assortment of sweet--mostly white-- frames of all different moldings, and we have a basket brimming full of them here at the shop.  So...choose your frame and then stitch your monthly chalkboard designs and just swap them out with each month. Just give us a quick call and we will let you know what type of frames we have ready for you.  Each frame comes with a piece of foam core for mounting, and each month's design will look fabulous in it.  We even have the pieces of 30 count specially dyed R & R linen cut and ready to be stitched with Sampler Thread: Chalk.  


Here are two of the designs, March and April, and one of the little boards that is shown on the pattern.  We have 1 of them left if you would prefer finishing it that way.  The first 4 designs are available now, and we are looking forward to May and June soon.  This will give you a chance to stitch the first few months.   

Spring Greetings Bouquet 
by Brenda Gervais
leaflet:  $9.00
Teri's choice


This darling little piece was the one that Teri chose to stitch on first.  She is always so speedy that it took her almost no time at all to get it finished up and isn't it just perfect for Easter week?  I think she was going to finish it as a pin cushion, but she couldn't resist one of Jill's new little frames.  

Lady Rachel Ruth 
by Scattered Seeds
leaflet:  $13.00
Reeta's choice


You can just see how happy she is to have it all framed and ready to hang up in her home.  It has been a joy to watch her progress on this piece and didn't it turn out so beautiful.  

His Eye is on the Sparrow
by Heartstring Samplery
leaflet:  $15.00
Reeta's other (ongoing) choice


This sampler that Reeta is working on is very inspiring for me.  It is just beautiful since her stitching is perfect and it seems that each week she has 1 or 2 new motifs finished up  I love each one and I love seeing the border gradually come to life.  I have no idea how long it will take, but we are all enjoying sharing Reeta's progress.

The Potting Shed 
by Brenda Gervais (With Thy Needle)
leaflet:  $12.00
Lynnette's choice

in progress...


Lynnette has stitched this new piece so quickly!  Isn't it just darling?  The colors are sweet, and each little area comes to life as she works on it.  

Fracture Girls 
by Shakespeare's Peddler
leaflet:  $15.00
Tina's choice


I just loved these odd girls when I saw them at Market.  I have stitched quite constantly since then, and they have been so much fun to do.  I didn't want to stitch on gauze like the original picture--too small for me--so I chose a dark 36 count linen, and I like it a lot.  They are a lot of stitching, but they are coming along quite well.  Now, however, I have had to put them down for a bit while I finish up the next Fold piece and work on a couple of other things for work.  But  I will return to them as soon as I can.  I love doing the dresses most of all.  I'll share my progress as I go along.  

Garden Blooms 
by Chessie and Me
leaflet:  $12.00  
Nancy's next choice


I'm not sure if this was Nancy's choice or Teri's choice for her.  Either way, it is quite darling.  Nancy has been on a stitching marathon.  She just finished this sweet piece for us.  Flowers, a beehive, a house and a kitty... what else could you want? (well maybe sheep...a button perhaps)

Things Unseen
by Lizzie Kate
 $ 27.00- set of 3 leaflets


Nancy finished this great sampler a couple of weeks ago.  It was a 3-part mystery sampler by Lizzie Kate.  The colors are very soft and beautiful, and there are even handmade buttons designed to match. The quote by Helen Keller is certainly heartfelt.  I think it would be just beautiful in a bedroom--perhaps because it is very restful.  You can purchase this as just the patterns, or as a complete kit.  I think the kit is $97.00.  I will post another photo when we get it back from Jill, our wonderful framer.

Rabbit Hill
by Little House Needleworks
pattern and threads:  $15.00


This is a brand new pattern from Little House Needleworks.  It is such a sweet spring pattern.  This pattern is comes with the  5 threads Classic Colorworks threads.  I have cut up some soft gray fabric in 28 count ..... we haven't coerced Nancy into stitching it yet.  Geez...she is so slow.  Maybe for next year.  


Bird's Eye View 
by Kathy Barrick
Leaflet:  $9.00


Our darling friend, Debbie has been avidly stitching on this fun market piece. We have all been excited to see it come to life.  We changed it into cotton overdyed threads, and isn't it fabulous. 

Needle Bottles
by The Purple Needle/ Sharon Verbos
kit: $5.00 



Sue has taken a break from stitching stockings for her family, to stitch one of these sweet needle bottles.  She said it was fun and easy.  I think it is darling. 


Photo courtesy of Sharon Verbos- thanks Sharon

We just received a new shipment of these adorable needle bottles, and they are so dear.  We sold out of the group we brought back from Nashville, and our friend, Sharon, was kind enough to make us another emergency group.  Everything comes packed in the tiny bottles to stitch the band, but you will have to choose which of the 3 patterns to stitch for your bottle.  


Well I have to get back to my stitching, and Teri is making us watch a marathon of the Gilmore Girls. Somehow we both missed this series, and at market Alma mentioned she was watching and enjoying it.  We are up to season 2, and we are both getting lots of stitching done.  So... have a perfect spring week.  fondly, Tina

PS  follow us on instagram as shepherdsbush  We will be posting fun photos of the things we see at the shop, and other crazy things.  


Friday, March 6, 2015

Market Time


Nashville Market:  Part the fourth--I think


Going home after work last night the moon was so enormous and beautiful that it just took my breath away.  It was just coming up over the mountain and it looked absolutely huge.  Teri wanted to take a picture--well, fifty pictures--so she made me go around the block 3 times while she leaned out the window snapping pics and shouting: stop! go! slow down! veer left! veer right!  Finally I had to remind her about traffic rules, so she got out and stood in the middle of 24th Street.  All for a moon.
This might be our last market post, because Teri has a table full of projects that she is working on and I want to stitch.....
So--have fun.  There are some fabulous things to look at.  

1801 House Limited Kit 
by Chessie & Me
$32.00

                                     


Cherry Hollow Limited Kit 
by Stacy Nash
$44.00


Hollandse  Merklap (Holland Sampler)
by Jeannette Douglas
 Pattern and thread pack:  $104.00
  Pattern only:  $26.00 


English Rose Sampler
by Jeannette Douglas
Pattern and thread pack: $112.00
 Pattern only: $26.00


Pins and Needles 
by Jeannette Douglas 
 Pattern and thread: $32.00
 Pattern only: $12.00


ABC Pyn Roll and Crown Tulip Thread Keep
by Jeannette Douglas 
Pattern and threads: $34.00
 Pattern, threads, and wool packs: $45.50
 Pattern only: $10.00


Spring Bird
by Jeannette Douglas 
Pattern and threads: $26.00
Pattern only: $10.00


Key To Home
by Jeannette Douglas 
Pattern only: $10.00


Jeannette suggested we put our street number on this piece. What a great idea.  
We also have a few of the keys with a crown for $16.00.

New magnets
So many darling magnets see below for more info...


Dragonfly Lotus Magnets
$5.00- $6.00


Ann (Dyeing to Stitch) and Teri were out shopping together and found this darling magnet company.  Both of them were made piles of these adorable magnets.  I was charmed with the sweet pictures.  
Fun on your magnet board or your stitching to hold a needle.  

JABCO Magnets
$3.00


These are fun and flat magnets--maybe more for your magnetic board or a fridge. They are happy and sweet.  


 Shakespeare's Peddler Magnets


I loved these magnets too!!  The Jane Austin girls would be perfect on my stitching and Tina adored the flowers.  I have ordered more, don't you love them!!  They are made of wood and very cool.

 Bohin Thread cutters
18.50


These were pretty and clever: a new take on the thread cutter.  It looks like a great necklace but is really a cutter for threads.  They are kind of enameled and are very pretty.  

Stitch Lollies
by Just Another Button Company
$16.00


These are a new thing for a treasured pincushion, and they are darling 

Spring Sliders
by JABCO
Kits: $19.50
Just Pins: $15.50


I just love these happy pincushions.  Teri is stitching one of these for a model.   It is so fun.  


Just pins for Be Still Pincushion 
$15.50


I forgot to mention these before, Cecile let us create our own set of pins to go with our new pincushion- Be Still.  The colors are perfect, and they look great with the pincushion.  


Springology
$5,00


These are a new series from JABCO that can be stitched into a square, so you would stitch each pattern 4 times to make a square, they were fun, and cheery.  Teri whipped up the "Bloom" after we got home, and it is darling.  Not sure how she is finishing it.  Every couple of months there will be a new set, and each pattern has its own embellishments.  O course we love the bee ones.  

Autumn on Lazy Bear Mountain
by Kathy Barrick
$30.00


It was such fun visiting with Kathy, and she had darling new charts.  

Good Intentions
by Kathy Barrick
$10.00


Bee Study 
by Kathy Barrick
$10.00



Little Lamb
by Kathy Barrick
$9.00

Bird's Eye View
by Kathy Barrick
$9.00

Three Snakes in Paradise
by Kathy Barrick 
$9.00


Giving Thanks
by Little House Needleworks
 Chart and threads: $19.00


This limited (partial) kit is sweet.  It comes with the pattern and the threads--the fabric is your choice.


Nikyscreations

House of Gardening
 Chart: $14.00


I always look forward to visiting with Niky.  She is so sweet and fun to chat with.  Her charts are just like Niky--darling and gentle.

Seasonal Band Sampler
$14.00- chart


Stitching Sampler
$14.00 chart


January -February 
$14.00- chart

Here is her darling new series: little girls doing things- see what I mean -sweet!

March- April
$14.00- chart


Purple Needle

Needle bottles
by Purple Needle/ Sharon Verbos
$5.00






These were very adorable.  Thanks Sharon, for the photo of the finished pieces- they are so sweet.   You stitch a small band to go around the bottle and then put your needles inside. It was ingenious.  

Eleanor's Hat Pins
$ 25.50

Sharon is just great with finishing pincushions.  Everything you need comes in the kit, including a hat pin make from antique pins

Just Nan
Strawberry Bunny
kit:


We have known Nan for many years.  She was always so kind to the boys when they were small and coming with us to markets.  I had to get a photo to send to them, and thought I would share it with you.  



Heirloom Scissor Pendent 
by Sullivan
$41.00


Heirloom Embroidery Accessories set
by Sullivan
$75.50


This beautiful set includes scissors, needle case, thimble, laying tool/awl, and a bodkin ( ribbon threader)  It is in a lovely wooden box.  

Red Gate
Floss organizers $18.00


Teri stitched the bee last year... and this year Red Gate had fun new designs.  Each package contains 1 wooden thread organizer and the pattern.  You can use any colors you like.  The owl makes me chuckle.  Teri picked up more bees as well as the new ones.  


Lizzie Kate Limited Kits
Buzz 
$


Farm Fob 
$


Hip Hop 



Well, be inspired as we all are here at the shop.  As everyone left work tonight, we each were clutching our treasures to go home and stitch.  And that is where I am heading right now.  If you have any questions, or would like some of these fantastic projects for yourself--just give us a quick call and we can send them right off to you.  
hugs,  Tina and Teri