Thanksgiving Week
2016
November has been an extraordinary month in Utah this year. October is usually lovely, dependable, an all around good sport, but seriously November is fickle, moody and can be downright tempestuous. So the mild past couple of weeks has been a gift. We have had tomatoes flourishing in our gardens and have still been picking everyday for lunch and dinner. Then in the midst of a warm afternoon, Winter came creeping in with wind and snow. Ugh! So Teri tore around like a mad person harvesting the garden and hanging boughs of--well not holly--but tomatoes from every place she could find. Our front window at work, with its natural solar warmth, is now the happy home of our ripening harvest. People are a bit surprised to see it when they come shopping, especially when one of us saunters out to the window to pick something fresh for lunch. It is working out quite nicely. Whoever said that an abundance of tomatoes can't flourish amongst fine needlework.
Well, indeed November is here along with Thanksgiving, and we are busy trying to get ready for our Christmas Open house on Saturday. If you are nearby, we invite you to stop by on the 26th between 11 and 4 for some Holiday Cheer. We have yummy treats in store and I know that I am going to be making my fudge and Teri will be making her date balls--hint, hint as well as a bunch of other fun delights to try. Plus--my sister in law's famous egg nog. Yum. We have some fun new Christmas things to show you just in case you are ready for a new December project. For some reason this always seems the time that I love to stitch on Christmas things, even though I probably won't get them finished before the big holiday. Plus...remember it is American Express Shop Small Saturday, so get your card ready or give us a call to order and you will get double points.
I hope to see you here.
Up On the Housetop
Shepherd's Bush 2016 Christmas Ornament
Card: $5.00
Complete kit: $24.00
I finally have this year's ornament finished and ready. It was a lot of fun to do and goes right along with the past few ornaments which celebrate favorite Christmas Carols. Besides it is something that you could easily get finished in time to hang on your tree or garland.
Old Saint Nick Tag/Sled
Kit: $8.00
Teri's new tag/sled is ready for this year. It is a darling old St Nick with his pack and is a blast to do. The kit comes with all the supplies to complete including the holly printed paper tag and ribbon. It will also fit perfectly on the little sled ornaments, but you will need to purchase those separately.
All Is Calm
sneak peak
A new little kit that I am frantically working on. I will post the info as soon as I finish, and I am hurrying...
Teri has been busy rearranging the shop from Halloween into Christmas, and all the front displays are very festive. Here is one of our great Christmas walls. If you look carefully you can see some of our favorite pieces--new and old. In the middle is out wonderful French Advent Countdown and next to it is Plum Street's Kringle and Woolard along with Key to Christmas, Jingle, and Ewe Better Not Pout. Take a closer look and see what else you can find...
She loves to transform our spooky tree into an ornament tree, and I just love it. I might take it home with me on Christmas Eve and use it as our family tree. Great idea, Tina! Sue and Teri might be making origami lights....really? But please go forth you two, and then I don't have to worry about lighting it either. Yay, better and better.
Petite Christmas Sampler
by Nikyscreations
Chart $14.00
Niky is our darling Italian friend and this is one of her new pieces for the holiday. Isn't it quite sweet. I like everything about it and especially the checkered linen that we stitched it on. Very old-fashioned. I hope we get some kits made for the Christmas Party. I would love to work on it.
Wise Men Still Seek Him
By Lizzie Kate
Card $5.00
Here is a new pattern from Lizzie Kate that we have just had stitched. It is very cute and a perfect design to get us into the spirit of the season.
Heart Holly Bears the Crown
by Heartstrings Samplery
Chart $10.00
Christmas Portrait
by Madame Chantilly
chart $11.50
We just unpacked some adorable new holiday pieces from Madame Chantilly. Teri pulled this one out to send to Dez to stitch for the shop. It is going to be fabulous.
Thanksgiving Display
I know, Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away, but we have so many darling pictures for this somewhat forgotten holiday, that I hate to see it come and go quite so quickly. It has been fun and so many people have had a great time working on Thanksgiving projects this year that is has been exciting to watch.
This new little one by Chessie n Me is very sweet.
Autumn Blessings $12.00
And, of course Paulette's (Plum Street Samplers) little Scary 2 is still perfect for this November holiday. $20.00
Here is another little collection of fun autumn projects. I just love Turkey Bay by Plumstreet which is just chock full of turkeys, pilgrims, boats, flowers and humor. Definitely on my list for next year. $12.00
The small sampler on the left is another favorite fall piece. It is Pumpkin House by Chessie and Me. It is a kit complete with threads and fabric: $30.00
Thanksgiving Trifles Autumn Trifles
Leaflet $8.00 Leaflet $8.00
by Shepherd's Bush by Shepherd's Bush
Teri has so much fun designing her Trifles. Thanksgiving Trifles was new this year. I think she is working on a new one.
Teri is always a bit sad on November 1, when she has to move Halloween back to its own corner. She loves Halloween!!! There are so many fabulous Halloween designs, we wanted to share a few of our new stitched pieces from this year. So for those of you who love spooky stitchings...this section is for you.
Spell of the Moon
by Blackbird
chart $8.00
32 count fabric $7.50
This is such an amazing fabric, and just perfect for this piece.
We have added a few colors and love how it turned out.
The new Lizzie Kate Spooked Mystery
Top is the Lizzie Kate Spooked Mystery stitched on a great purple 32 count linen.
Center is Almost Halloween by Drawn Thread $11.00
Bottom is Jolly Jack by All Through the Night: $8.00
Top Left- October Snapshot by pine Mountain, stitched on a great green fabric.
Bottom Left- Witch Inn by With Thy Needle and Thread
Right- Which Witch $10.00 chart
Old Black Cat and Friends
Pattern $12.00
2 fabric set: $7.15
Are these sooooooo darling we stitched two of the three patterns on 2 different fabrics. Love them
Witch's Night Out
by With Thy Needle
Chart $10.00
Little House Alphabet Houses
A sampler in 9 parts
each pattern: $6.00
This is shaping up to be a wonderful little sampler. Each month you receive and new little house and button with just enough tine to complete it before the next one arrives. If you would like to join in on this darling adventure, just give us a call.
Well, we have been having a philosophical discussion at work on what is the best way to spend Thanksgiving. Oddly, its hasn't really been about each person championing her own celebration. Instead it has been a little bit of remembered nostalgia for childhood Thanksgivings viewed through the memories of our child-selves' eyes. And a bittersweet longing for the Thanksgiving some of us weren't having this year. The one who was celebrating with the family cast of thousands longed for a quiet, more intimate dinner, and the one who was cooking for a small group, longed for a bit more chaos and company. The one who missed her early celebration altogether, and the one whose boys won't be home to stir up the quiet and solitude with debates on the state of the world. But in the end, perhaps it doesn't matter what we think Thanksgiving should be, but how it is for this year...the people you are with now, the joy of the moment, and the blessings it brings.
So, however you are spending Thanksgiving, have a wonderful time and try to squeeze in a few moments of stitching to give you calm and joy.
Be safe and happy...
fondly, Tina
