Happy 4th ...almost

July, 2019

Dear Friends,

It is the very eve of July.  June is gone and the summer seems to be rushing down the creek behind our home.  I love Summer, but it is a fickle season filled with long, lazy days, fresh treats from the garden or the Farmer's Market, and every lovely flower in constant flux and bloom.  But mixed with all of that is the heat and humidity and busy-ness of these numbered days.  I watch Kari trying to keep her 2 active boys busy for this time and struggling to keep them off their "screens," and I want to tell her how fast it all goes by.  How quickly 1 summer turns into 18 summers.  To be sure to hold tight to all the laughter, and missed bedtimes, and grass-lying and star-watching.  I guess in a way, I want to remind myself of that same thing every day.  Every year, the days fade too fast leaving behind the list of things we did--as well as those we never got to.  So here is what I want to do this summer:

I always want to read. 

 I want to pull my adirondack chair into the shade and lose myself in a book.  For this summer--something light and cheerful.  Or I could definitely do a good mystery.  If you haven't read Where'd you go Bernadette, be sure to do so before the movie comes out.  Another book I just finished--from Teri-- is Longborne (Jo Baker).  If you love Pride and Prejudice, you will just adore this one.

Teri just finished Delicious (Ruth Reichl) and she didn't want it to ever end. I totally agree with her.  Such a delightful read.

I love to make homemade ice cream.

Teri and Bob were just complaining that I haven't done it once this summer.  I think I might be on for fresh buttermilk strawberry for the 4th.  But I also want to try malted milk chocolate, fresh peach--when they are finally in season in Utah--and maybe a salted caramel, but maybe not that one.  I will have to see.  

I want to take walks.

We got a great start in the late spring, but now that it is hot and a bit muggy, we need to get going again.  Just in that moment between sun and dusk.  Unwind from the day and briskly avoid mosquitos.

And always...I want to stitch.  

This is the best part of the evening.  A tonic for my soul in a weary world.  The best of all remedies for the things that worry us. Something to remind us to just be happy.  I am ready to start my new stocking and I can't wait.  I also have an antique sampler that I want to stitch that was stitched by Bob's great, great (maybe more greats) grandmother in the mid-1800s. 

So...Whatever is on your own Summer list, I hope you accomplish at least some of it.  Otherwise, go buy a popsicle, sit out in the shade, and call it a good evening.   

  

                                 

Shop News

Here at the shop we have been busy.  We have 3 new things for Summer stitching, and they were very fun to stitch and get ready.  Perfect to work on during these long, hot evenings.

My Home Sweet Home

kit:  $30.00

This sweet little kit measures about 5" x 6" and is stitched on 32 count French Country Cafe Mocha.  (I might have the order of those words mixed up--sorry)  It comes complete with Weeks over-dyed threads and tiny buttons for embellishing.  Sweet and patriotic, it will stitch up quickly during this coming red, white, and blue month.  

Let Freedom Bloom

Pin Cushion

kit:  $20.00

This small pincushion was such fun to work on.  It comes complete with 32 count Natural linen, Weeks threads, star button and Lady Dot chenille dyed just for this piece.  We used her Blue Corn hand dyed velveteen for a backing, but you could choose anything appropriate to the season.  It will be done before you know it. 

Teri picked the first harvest of cherries off of her tree to put in the photo.  She said they were only a bit sour.  Oh well, Bob is hoping for a pie! 

Americana Mini Pin Set

$12.00

Bee Trifles 

Chart- $8.00

Complete kit-$70.00

Teri just loves bees!  Of course, Utah is the Beehive State and Teri is a Utah girl.  So here is her newest Trifles.  The complete kit comes with everything you need to complete these sweet  pillows.  It includes linens-(a cool honeycomb printed linen for Queen bee, and a new gold Belfast linen called Fall leaf), overdyed threads, buttons, beads, hand dyed ribbon, and bee backing fabric.  I think they are adorable!

We have always done kids kits ever since we first opened the shop and taught weekly children's classes.  This summer, we have so many moms and grandmas in with their kids to pick out summer stitching projects.  It has kept Teri and Kari very busy trying to keep them stocked and new ones designed and ready.  We get little ones in all the time to show us what they have accomplished.  Very fun!  My Peter loved to stitch when he was growing up here at the shop and by 7 was designing his own pieces.  He once drew and stitched Teri's cat for her.  So sweet. 

There are the best kits for kids to begin with.  Kari marks them all so it is a bit easier for young ones to get going, and each kit comes marked and started, and complete with threads and any embellishments.  We have a variety of them on our website, but Teri has been having a great time thinking up new designs for this summer.  We will put them up on the site as soon as they are ready.  If you are local, stop by with your little ones.  They are the perfect summer project to keep hands busy and screens off.   

True 

Kid's Kit by Shepherd's Bush

$10.00

Faith 

Kids Kit by Shepherd's Bush

$10.00

Kari's 7 year old, Oliver, stopped by to show us the piece he had just finished.  He was very proud of it, but mostly because he had added his own stitched embellishment to the grass "to make it look better."

More exciting things at the shop:

Prairie Schooler Santa 2019

Card:  $5.00

Kit:  $55.00

Backing fabric-$14.25

We just received our pillow back from the finisher, and it is so sweet!!!

We have the perfect backing fabric for it, and Teri has chosen the best set of buttons to go with.  We always have stitched these yearly Santas on 7 count Klostern and they are such fun to do.  

Tiny Quilt Needle Minders

 $22.00

These are sooooo amazing.  They are tiny, tiny quilts made out of fabric.  They are magnetic and sit on your stitching to catch your needles.  We have only a few and get them now and then.  If you see one you like, don't delay.    

Nameste Train Boxes 

$65.00

                                       

Here are all the boxes stacked together- small buddy box (with scissors inside), bigger box and the train box in the back.  

       

 These great boxes remind me of a make-up case our older sister packed and carried with her on any trip. I  always thought she was so chic and sophisticated, but I never seemed to have anything to carry in such a thing, so I was always given a back pack. (Ok, Mom--now I know what to put in these.) These are beautifully made and come in all the regular colors:  Gray, Teal, Cranberry, Blush, Eggplant.  So perfect for projects and supplies to see you through a small journey.  Quite Jane Austinian.  There is a small hole in the side for yarn if you are a knitter--but also great for your ear buds.  We are special ordering these, so just let us know a color and we will get one for you.  You might need the matching smaller 2 boxes as well.

October 
by Cross Eyed Cricket

chart $8.00

We have loved the 4 seasons that we have stitched at the shop by Cricket.  October is one of their month series charts, and it is unbelievably fun.  We have stitched it on a crazy color of 32 count hand dyed linen, tweaked the colors and added buttons.  Erin our niece just sent it back from stitching it, and we love it.  Believe it or not--Halloween is coming.

Urban Garden update.

I love parking behind the shop during the summer and seeing our small garden burst into life before our eyes.  There is something quite sweet and tender seeing this little colorful oasis amidst the brick and concrete and noise of busy downtown.  It is a placed of astonishing peace during a busy, stressful day.  We lose Teri quite often to the solace of its space. 

We have been harvesting peas like crazy.  Our carrots are so tender and delish.  The grapevines are spreading all over our back area, and they are bursting with tiny grapes.  

                   

Peas galore... we are all in heaven (left)                               Grape trellis (right)

                 

 Tomatoes are growing quickly-- these are paste tomatoes for sauces.  On the right are our cucumbers, We had to replant a couple of times as they did not like our rainy cold spring, but they are finally taking hold.  Teri thinks we need more... she loves the pickles we make.

I hope your summer is perfect.  Try to stay cool, cook something fresh and delicious, read something to transport your soul, and stitch  something to bring joy to your heart.'

Be happy...Tina

May showers...June flowers

Early Summer, 2019...

Summer in Utah is finally limping its way here.  Our garden is planted and most things seem to have weathered our past 3 weeks of high winds, biblical rains, and even sleet and snow.  This week, we seem to be on a bit calmer track and I think the garden is breathing a sigh of relief.  As you probably know, we are right in the middle of downtown Ogden and we (Teri) have turned the back yard of the shop into a little urban pocket garden.  It is truly the joy of our summer.  For some reason, the Clematis--above--is loving this cold, late Spring and has been blooming like crazy.  Our lilacs have already bloomed and our 2 hydrangea bushes have weathered our very cold, snowy winter and will soon bloom.  The tomatoes are thriving--I can't wait--and the cucumbers are doing their very best to hang on.  Ok, we had to replant them since the first batch objected to our inhospitable micro climate.  but these are going to make it--we have bread and butter pickles to make. We already have lettuce, and Teri is watching avidly for the first peas to arrive.  Unfortunately, our very first crop of the season has already arrived in the form of baseballs.  I think that our backyard is where the foul balls from the stadium end up.  Yay--the season hasn't really even begun.

Inside the shop, we have had a very busy Spring.  We had so many visitors who were in Ogden for the Railroad Festival celebrating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad.  That was so much fun and so many people in our downtown area.  It is always great to have visitors from away.  So come with me for a moment and take a look at some of the great new things that are going on at Shepherd's Bush

Garden House 

New Shepherd's Bush Exclusive

Kit: $20.00 

(retail only) 

 Frame:  $36.00

Spring is finally in the air, and to celebrate, Teri designed this sweet piece.  It comes with a handpainted mat, (thanks to our friend Jill), threads, fabric and tiny buttons

We will also have a few new Summer Treats in the works, so watch the blog in a week or two and see what else we have ready for your summer stitching.  

Breaking news:   Namaste boxes are back.!!!

 Reeta discovered these wonderful boxes, and Teri tracked them down.  We used to carry them a few years ago, when the company suddenly disappeared... but a new group is producing them, and they are better than ever.  They are empty--except a small, sweet stitching journal.  We love to fill them with wonderful needle work tools, scissors, needle threaders, needle minders... all those things that get lost in your stitching bag.  Now they can stay in one convenient box.  Buy an empty box and fill it with your own bits and bobs, or let us fill it for you or your favorite stitcher.  

Small Nameste Boxes

$30.00

                               

Both large and small boxes come in- Eggplant (purple), Blush (light rose), Cranberry, Teal, and dark Gray.  Gorgeous colors!!!   The top of the box is magnetic, and they snap closed.  

Bigger size: $40.00 (below)

same beautiful colors, 

Eggplant, Teal, Blush, Cranberry, Dark Gray

On the left is a small box stacked onto of a large box so you can see the difference.  On the right is a dark gray filled with bee inspired implements

The larger box comes with a divider with loops, perfect for holding scissors.  It also has a little journal inside the bottom section.  

Flamingo Toes needle minders

$12.50 each

I know we showed this adorable minders last blog, but they are perfect to put into your nameste boxes...

Cloth Covered Tape Measures 

$4.00 each and a new retro pin tray $ 12.00

2019 Santa Card

by Prairie Schooler:  $5.00

Oh my, Christmas has come early this year... not only is the Prairie Schooler card out, but he has sheep!!!!  We are so so excited.   Teri has already picked the colors and Lynnette is cutting the fabric.  We have a super great backing fabric all picked out.  We will post a photo as soon as Santa gets it stitched.  We sell the Santa card, or a complete kit with all your supplies.  If you want just parts and pieces, we are happy to do that too. Just give us a call and we will send it right off to you.  

New Plum Street Samplings

                                                            Summer Saltboxes: $10.00                                                                              

Come see these darling pieces in person.  

 Summer Delivery: $12.00                  Peace, Love and Purpose: $12.00

We have the charts and a limited amount of the fabrics, cut and ready.  Just wait until you see what we do with Summer Delivery.  So, so sweet.  

Bittersweet and Broomsticks 

by Brenda Gervais

Chart:  $12.00

Such a darling piece, we stitched it on a great piece of plumy- purple hand-dyed linen by Picture this Plus, and added buttons.  Halloween will be coming before we know it...Yippee

Queen Bee 

by Blackberry Rabbit

Chart:  $11.00

We stitched this on a beautiful piece of 37 count Legacy Linen in wild honey

Open Road Abode

Our friend, Linda, has stitched 6 of these darling camping pieces by Open Road Abode.  She is stitching them for her cabin.  Aren't they so great?

4th of July Hoopla:

by Brenda Gervais

Chart $12.00

This is such a fun series, and so easy to finish.  We are stitching it on 32 count fabric and it fits perfectly in a 4" hoop.  Brenda calls for 40 count fabric  (which we have) and it will fit in a 3" hoop ( which we also have).  It makes for a darling, inexpensive finish--$4.25 hoop.  

Plus they are really nice hoops for framing.  

Quaker Sewing Tray 

by Brenda Gervais

Chart: $12.00

We finally finished this sweet piece in a wooden tray.  Teri painted the tray and it looks great. I think it would make such a lovely wedding present.   

Jack Frost Tree Farm by Little House Needleworks

patterns: $6.50- 9.50

This is an ongoing series, stitched by our friend Jacklyn.  There are still three more parts, so there is plenty of time to join into the series.  Jacklyn is using 32 count, but we have 30, 32, or 35 count available.  We are adding a sweet button each month.  Give us a call if you would like to join and catch up.   

Our Garden loves this rainy cold weather!   Peas- are coming up a treat.  

                    

I hope your Summer has started off well for you, and will be filled with gardens and stitches.  If you need an adventure...come see us.  We always have something fun in the works.

hugs, Tina