May Blessings, 2016
Dear Friends,
It's May--well soon to be June--and I have to show you my two graduates. What a great month for us. Two boys graduating on the very same day within 1 hour of each other--one in Indiana and one in Utah. What are the chances of that? Bob and I did a split and each went with one child, and we had a great time in spite of missing 1 of the graduations. As I sat at Peter's ceremony, waiting for the graduates to process in, I felt a bit teary in the end. Where did the time go? Honestly, they were just little boys yesterday playing pirates, hanging out at the shop, sneaking into the creek. Peter was happily riding his lopsided trike to the bank with Teri, and Christian was busy painting brand new Pottery Barn chairs to look like trains. I remember crying once to Bob that it was just too hard to have them at the shop...and now they are off and busy with lives of their own. If I know nothing else at all--this I know to be true: it all goes by so quickly.
Here in Ogden, Winter just doesn't seem to want to let go. Our garden is coming along quite nicely except for our frequent freak storms which insist on visiting us. First it was 100 mph winds which took out our power for days, then biblical rain storms and now 2" of hail stones. What fun! But the temperature is still cool and the moisture is heavenly, so our plants are just going to have to hang in there. Teri has been nurturing tomato plants for a month inside on her kitchen fireplace and they are amazing. Once she dares to put them in the box gardens, they are going to grow like crazy. But for now, we are enjoying watching the pea plants grow and blossom, and we look forward to having peas soon. Hopefully...
Lots of things are happening at the shop. We are busy getting ready for the Retreat as well as changing displays for the summer. Gosh, before long we will be putting up Halloween. Can that be true? But in the meantime, we have such darling Americana displays and projects to prepare for the Summer ahead.
Plus....we have a couple of fun new designs almost ready to come out. Maybe a sneak peak coming soon.
Teri's Americana Display
We have so many wonderful Americana pieces. It is always such fun to bring them out in the late spring--a bit like visiting friends that we haven't seen for a while. Plus there have been some beautiful new patterns that have arrived, and we are having such a great time helping customers choose the perfect linen and threads to start stitching. Just look how fun this is:
John and Abigail
by Plum Street Samplers
Here is a project chosen and ready to be stitched. Doesn't it look delicious?
Last weekend Teri and I went to Quilt Market which was in Salt Lake City. We had a fantastic day looking at all of the hundreds of booths, meeting up with friends, and selecting the perfect items to bring back home to the shop. Here are a few of our finds.
Antique Needles
$20.00 a set
This was a great find from the Quilt Market. Each little pack of needles contain 4 packets of antique needles and historical descriptions for each set. The needles are simply charming, and they are packed really interesting. You will totally need a set or two to put into your sewing box.
Wool bundles
$12.00
by Primitive Gatherings
We found so many great wool packs at the Market. Here is just a sampling. They are 5 inch squares and contain multiple pieces of various colors and prints. Stop by to see some of the other colors and types.
Wool embroidery kits
Teri also picked up a few fun kits that would be perfect for the beginner and experienced alike.
Advent Calendar
pattern $15.00 (includes buttons)
by Jardan Prive'
Nancy has been busy stitching this darling piece. We were delighted with the wooden buttons, that are included with the patten. We have stitched it on a pretty 32 count fabric with silk floss. Our color changes include cotton floss as well. This is more of a nod to the Advent calendar, than an actual countdown, as you do not take the buttons on and off. I can't wait to see how Jill will finish it.
Overdyed Cotton Floss
by Ship's Manor
Cotton: $2.00 per skein
Silk: $5.30 per skein
Our friends from Ship's Manor were in this past week to show off their fledgeling line of overdyed threads--cotton and silk. Everyone here was very impressed and we have been stitching with them. The colors are a lot of fun and the variegation is pretty. Next time you are in, just take a look at them and see what you think. We are sure that you will love them.
Ships' Manor is offering this free pattern with the purchase of these 5 threads
Ship's Manor Silk Floss
Little House House Ornament Series
Diane, from Little House is getting ready to launch a new series in the spirit of Little Sheep Virtues.
The ABC House series looks like it will be a lot of fun and absolutely darling as well. We have quite a few people signed up to receive the 9 patterns automatically, so just give us a call if you would like to join this exciting venture. We will be offering 32 or 36 count fabrics--but if you want a larger count we can help you with that as well. We will choose the perfect linen to work this piece on and you may choose to work all 9 houses on 1 piece of fabric or separately to make into ornaments. Just let us know which you would like. If you want 1 piece, it will be the right size to stitch the houses
3 x 3, and if you are doing them as ornaments you will receive a wonderful bundle of pieces cut just the right size. We will definitely tweak the colors for overdyed threads and probably add some little buttons as well. Just let us know.
Lizzie Kate new Halloween Mystery
Patterns only- $ 27.00
Complete Kit 32 or 28 count: $ 95.00
16 or 14 count: $90.00
plus shipping
Here we go again--another great Halloween mystery sampler from Lizzie Kate. It is the same size as her Christmas Sampler - Hearts and Holly. It looks very spooky and a blast to stitch. So here is how it works. You can sign up for just the patterns, or a complete kit. The kit includes patterns, fabric, threads and embellishments. You may choose linen in 32 or 28 count or aida in 16 or 14 count. We charge you the total price up front, and then you will receive in the mail, a wonderful package with the first pattern and all the supplies you will need to complete the main sampler. Then for the next 2 months you will receive pattern 2 and then pattern 3. As always you will get a special little something if you sign up for the entire kit.
Doesn't it look very intriguing? Come join the fun.
Needle Trays $8.00
by The Threadgatherer
Threadgatherer Girl
We love these magnetic trays from the Threadgatherer I have a penny on the left side (barely) so you can get a sense of the size.
Homemade frozen burritos
We just made one of our favorite recipes over the weekend. It is actually a recipe of Sue's and we love to make them and store them in the freezer for lunches or quick dinners. Just assemble and freeze on a cookie sheet, and then pack them away in large zip lock bags for future munching. Christian usually takes a bag home with him.
Cook a pound of hamburger, ground turkey (we use ground turkey), or use shredded rotisserie chicken.
Add any or all of the following as you like:
1 onion sautéed with a small can of green chilies
1 pkg frozen corn
1 bottle of salsa
1 can pinto beans--or black beans if you prefer
as much shredded cheese as you like
definitely add some ground cumin and your favorite hot sauce and any fresh herbs that you would like.
Pack the meat mixture into your favorite flour tortillas and roll up burrito style. and freeze. We place them on a cookie sheet and then when they are frozen, we put them in ziplock bags and keep in the freezer until needed. When you are ready to eat one of these frozen delights--just microwave for 3-4 minutes and once it cools a bit, your lunch is ready. I hope you try them.
Well check back with us next week and we should have our new things ready to show you. They are going to be such fun. Until then, be safe. fondly, Tina
