Almost May, 2016
Hi Friends,
Here it is well into the wonderful season of Spring and if you are like me, your allergies are raging. My whole world must be in bloom, because I am just going nuts. Even my little dog, Lindbergh, is itching like crazy. When we drive around, Teri always points out the most glorious trees full on in bloom with white and pink blossoms. She truly covets them and always asks me if I wouldn't just love some of those same trees. Honestly, I don't even like to look at them, because, inspite of their beauty, they just make me sneeze, itch and cry. That's a great testimonial. Oh well, I am hoping that summer will bring a bit of relief. On the other hand, I am not sure that there is any more beautiful time of the year. Perhaps because Spring follow s bleak Winter, it seems all the more beautiful when it arrives. Our garden at home is full of the most glorious tulips, daffodils, and violets--with iris soon on their way. Bob so patiently plants his bags of bulbs all through the fall when it is cold and windy, and I just want to watch him through the window where it is warm. He thoughtfully plans it all out with such a vision for those months far in the future, and then I am amazed when they come up in such innocence and splendor. We have one large pot that is filled with these tall red tulips, and it surprises me each time I walk past it. Another pot is just brimming with the palest butter yellow tulips and 3 shades of light blue grape hyacinths. I must be more appreciative. And luckily, I am pretty sure that they are not giving me hay fever. Yay!
As you can see above, Teri has been hard at work in the box gardens at work. She has a good crop of peas already going strong, and she broke down and planted her tomato plants even though we had a fair bit of snow last week. She reminds me of the little boy in our favorite baby book--The Carrot Seed. "They won't grow." Yet she is determined to have fresh tomatoes before July. The only things that weathered our particularly cold and snowy winter were the herbs which are growing very well. We have been using them for a while now, and Sue's start of Oregano has spread like crazy. Teri had to move it out of the box and into a pot so that it wouldn't keep spreading. I think that some spaghetti sauce is going to be in order shortly. I wonder if I can just add it to my jarred sauce from the store and pretend that it was made from scratch.
This spring as been the season of eaglets for us here at the shop. We have a good friend who lives in DC and comes out to visit her sister and mom. They made a trip up in March and she told us about the bald eagles in Washington who had just hatched 2 eggs in a nest at the Arboretum there. There are 2 cameras on the nest all the time and you can go online and watch them live anytime. It has been so much fun. We have learned a lot about bald eagles and have loved watching these little babies grow. And grow they have. I will try to post the link so that you can watch them as well if you haven't already done so. The parents are Mr. President and The First Lady, and the babies were just named yesterday: Freedom and Liberty. Honestly, you wouldn't believe how compelling it is to just watch them in their nest. I don't think they will start to branch and fledge until June or July, so take a look...
The First Lady and her babies above,
The eaglets are starting to grow feathers and flap their wings.
© American Eagle Foundation. DCEAGLECAM.ORG
If you want to follow them, click on the link above and scroll down to the cam views.
Beware--you will want to watch them all the time.
Our great friend, Cece, from the Threadgatherer dropped by for a visit this past week, and we had such a good time catching up. She brought with her these adorable little needle trays that she has just started making, and we loved them. They are very small and sweet, and there is a magnet on the back so that your needles will just sit inside and stay there. I have the Telling of the Bees on the table where I stitch and I really like it so much. Unfortunately, I want several of them because they are all so darling. They actually come with 2 magnets so that you could put them on your stitching if you would rather. Very fun. If you want one, just give us a call.
Magnetic Needle Trays
by The Threadgatherer
$8.00
Telling the Bees Red Girl with Sheep
The Lacemaker Stitching Girl
Climbing the Terrace
Garden Club #7
by Blackbird Designs
$9.00
We just received the latest in the Garden Club series--Climbing the Terrace. As usual, this will be a darling complement to the the rest of the pieces that we are busily working on. Teri spent the other night sewing together all of the parts that Nancy has stitched and, as you can see, they are fantastic. If you are getting these from us, they will be winging their way to you shortly, and if you would like to receive any or all of them, just let us know.
Sweet Land of Liberty
by Blackbird Designs
$20.00
Here is a brand new booklet also by Barb and Alma. There are 5 wonderful projects in this gorgeous book. The patriotic theme makes it the perfect thing to just settle in and start stitching.
NEW from Plum Street Samplers
Paulette has 3 wonderful new pieces which will be available mid-May. Teri will be having a great time until then getting together all of the fun threads and linens to get these projects started.
American Sampler
pattern: $14.00
Linen, threads or entire kit will be available.
Paulette has 3 wonderful new pieces which will be available mid-May. Teri will be having a great time until then getting together all of the fun threads and linens to get these projects started.
American Sampler
pattern: $14.00
Linen, threads or entire kit will be available.
John & Abigail
pattern: $10.00
linen, threads or entire kit available
Cereal Bowl Lesson Five
Sampler Lessons
pattern and threads: $20.00
linen also available
Mesh Stitching Bags
$29.00-$31.00
We just received a new order of our mesh zipper bags and they are such fun. Of course there are lots of sheep, but kind of different colors. They are always fun to receive and look through, and even more fun to choose for a project. It is that time of year.
Lynnette and Reeta have been busy stitching this past little while. Each of them brought in the pieces that they are working on and we all found it fun and inspiring. The piece on the left is Sunflower House and the one on the right is Blackberry House. Both beautiful pieces are by Plumstreet Samplers.
Finger Pin Pillows
by Jeannette Douglas
pattern: $5.00
Teri fell in love with these tiny pin cushions at Market and came right home to stitch them up. She now has a little basket of them nestled in buttons at the shop and everyone has loved them. They work up quickly since they are quite small, and there is just something so sweet about them. The great thing is that you get a free pattern for a fourth one when you buy the pattern.
Peace Rose
by Blackbird designs
pattern: $8.00
Teri just finished putting this little darling together and it is very special. But you know how much I love pin cushions. I love her choice of the polka dot linen for this and then she finished it with little pom pom edging and it is quite yummy, don't you think?
Live Simply
by With Thy Needle and Thread
pattern: $12.00
Here is another piece that Lynnette has been working on It is so lovely and the colors she is using are wonderful. She is a fast stitcher, but I am amazed at how quickly she moves along. I think this is just a perfect piece for our lives right now. Can't wait for her to finish it.
Alphabet Art
by Just Another Button Company
Pattern and Buttons: $12.00
This is another fun series that the girls from JABCo had at the Market. Each letter comes with a little set of adorable buttons as well as the custom printed perforated paper for that particular kit--some have stripes and some have polka dots. They are super special and pretty and would be cherished by anyone. The letter itself is already printed on the paper, so all you have to do is the border and the floral embellishments. We have quite a few letters in stock and are happy to order any letter that you would like if we are out of it. I think that these would make sweet birthday gifts or even graduation presents and they just wouldn't take that long.
Spooked!
A new Halloween Mystery
by Lizzie Kate
Doesn't this look fun and enticing? What can be more fun than a good Lizzie Kate summer mystery. We will certainly be joining in on the fun and if you want to come along--just let us know. There will be 3 parts to this series coming out the middle of each month: June, July, and August.
Here is how it will work:
3 patterns: $27.00
Weeks Thread pack: $32.50
28 count or 32 count hand dyed linen: $16.70
14 count or 16 count aida: $12.40
Embellishment pack: $17.00
Complete linen kit: $93.20
Complete aida kit: $88.90
Plus shipping
You can order it from us in any combination you would like. Just let us know so we can plan on it. It looks spooky and fun.
Well, it is now very late, and we just got back from Salt Lake City taking Christian to dinner for his birthday. My baby....how did he grow up so quickly???? We had a great time, but now I am very full and soooo ready for bed. But first I am sending this off and I hope you have fun catching up with Shepherd's Bush. Have a safe, stitchy, and non-sneezy Spring.
hugs, Tina
