September 2016

September, 2016

Dear Friends,

Celebrate Buttons!

Here at the Bush we are frantically busy getting ready for the Harvest Market Hop.

This fantastic virtual market is opening on Thursday, and we are very excited about it.  There will be lots of new things for Fall from lots of great designers.  Watch our blog on Thursday/Friday to see a selection of these fun new designs and treasures.  If you fall in love with something, just give us a call and let us know.  We are always happy to mail you a wonderful Market package.  In the meantime, take a look at some sneak peeks of our newest offerings for the market: On Thursday we will show all of our new things in their entirety, so come back to our blog for all the Market fun.

Frightful Be

Kit:  $60.00

October Pin Cushion

Kit:  $20.00

Frightful Halloween Needle Roll

Kit:  $20.00

Ghosts Gather Scissor Fob

Kit: $16.00

Thanksgiving Trifles 

Pattern $8.00

Complete kit:  totally worth it

Ewe Better Not Pout

Button and Pattern:  $8.00

Complete kit:  $30.00

 Hand dyed ribbon

4 yards $6.00

Shepherd's Bush Birthday Party and Market Week

We will be celebrating the shop's birthday party on Wednesday, September 21st 12:00-5:00.  This will be our kickoff for Market Week which will continue all day Thursday through Saturday the 24th. 

Drop by and take a look at all of our new designs plus all of the wonderful things that we will have received from the Market.  It will be a week of laughter and friendship, inspiration and fun, so be sure to mark your calendars and drop by for a visit.  

Sneak Peak of our 2016 Stocking  

This year's stocking is almost ready.  I think that she has turned out darling and I can't wait to share her with you.  I tried to get her finished in time for the Harvest Hop, but she won't be back from the printer by then.  However...very soon.  

Roma's Stocking

Besides getting ready for this Market, Teri has spent days completely rearranging the shop from Patriotic Summer to Halloween Autumn.  This always involves lots of tall ladders, masses of pictures, and a few crashes and shrieks.  But now Halloween--in all its glory-- has taken over the whole front of the shop and all of us have had a great time revisiting old favorites and new darlings.  I just wish that you could be here to take a look at all of the fantastic projects that are just waiting to be stitched.  This is a very hard time of year to work here since everything that Teri puts up is so tempting.  This is our busiest time of year, and yet there are so many things that I would love to take home and begin.  Ah...woe is me.

So if I can't stitch all that I would like, I will have to satisfy myself by showing some of them to you. So come with me for a moment or two and let me show you some fabulous things to stitch this early Autumn season.

Jack in the Hat 

by Threadworks Primitive

Pattern:  $10.00

complete kit also available

Des stitched this for us on a large Jute fabric.  We changed the colors and we will add a fun set of buttons... Our finisher sent me this photo so we could post it on the blog.  so I have not chosen the buttons yet. 

October Snapshot

by Pine Mountain 

Pattern:  $9.00

This series is from a Utah designer, Sandra Workman.  Each month is darling, but we fell in love with October.  It is stitched on a fun odd green linen, and I love Jill's big frame.  It just suits it.  

New patterns from Brenda Gervais

Here are some darling new patterns that we are busy organizing and stitching.  We have the wonderful hand-dyed linens and threads to go with them, and you will love getting them ready for Fall.

Scary Mouse 

Pattern:  $12.00

One For the Crow

Pattern:  $12.00

Autumn's Fruitful Labor

Pattern:  $14.00

I Rest Thy Needle

Pattern:  $

We also carry the lovely wooden sewing box hand crafted by Stephanie from Lone Elm Lane

Christmas Ornament Issue 

$9.99

Yet, the new Ornament Issue has just arrived.  It is--as always--filled with great new ornament patterns also with fun stories and delicious recipes.  Don't wait too long to get yours.

New Patterns by Plum Street Samplers

Here are some wonderful new designs from Paulette.  We have threads and beautiful linens to go with each one.  The hard part for you is trying which to begin first.  

Hurt Not the Earth 

Pattern: $12.00

A Merry Heart 

Pattern: $12.00

Caroline Broomhead 

Pattern: $16.00

Wonderful new patterns by The Drawn Thread

Trick or Treat 

by the Drawn Thread

Pattern:  $11.00

Simply Scary 

Pattern:  $9.00

Welcome Autumn 

Pattern:  $10.00

Pumpkin Cottage 

By Victoria Sampler

Pattern: 16.00

Now that Teri has brought the Halloween out to the front of the shop, she has a new wall of fabulous sheep, a wall of inspirational sayings, and a bit of bees and beehives for good measure.   

Spooky Countdown

by Primitive Hare

Pattern: $16.00

Des is holding this darling piece that she just picked up from Jill.  Isn't it just amazing?  She is a fast stitcher, but she said that it worked up super quickly and that it was such a lot of fun to do. 

August has been very busy especially for Teri.  She has faithfully tended gardens, frozen peaches and a few tomatoes, rearranged the entire shop, stayed up all night working on the Retreat. and spent every other moment getting ready for the Harvest Market.  But in her abundance of spare time, she decided to design a new little line of kids kits.  You go girl!!! This summer has been such a popular time for children's stitching kits, Kari can hardly keep us supplied.  It has been such fun seeing young mothers and busy grandmothers bringing their flocks of children in to the shop to choose kits to work on during the vacation.  Many have been back within the week to choose a second project, because the first one was so much fun.  So..Teri has been designing darling new kits and Jill has been making an assortment of adorable bright little frames to go with them.

Pre-marked kits:  $10.00

Buzz

Love

Bloom

Shine

New kids kits frames: $32.00

I guess I need to go and continue working on our kit making.  Thanks for sharing a bit of our September with us here at Shepherd's Bush.  Remember to check back on Thursday or Friday for a great market update.  Until then stitch and be safe.  

fondly, Tina

Patriotic Summer 2016

Patriotic Summer, 2016

Summer seems to be the perfect time to be patriotic.  With the 4th of July, who can resist a flag, a parade, or even a barbecue.  In Utah, our founder's day comes on the 24th of July, so we have an entire month of flag waving celebrations, buntings under windows, and many parades:  horse parades, children's parades, floats parades, tractor parades, vintage car parades, and motorcycle parades,...you name it and we have a parade for it.  Teri put a flag in each of the flower pots outside our front door and it has been 2 weeks and no one has taken them.  That's amazing.  We spent a week in June driving with my two boys from Indiana to Washington DC, and in spite of being in the car with no air conditioning, Teri and I had a great time meandering (quite quickly) through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and finally DC.  There is just something about a road trip through part of our great country that makes you proud and awed by the beauty of each unique area--and all of it very different from the west where we live.  

And then, tonight, I heard about the tragedy in France and my heart is just heavy with sorrow.  Christian worked in Nice last summer for 4 months, and we spent a week with him in that beautiful and splendid city.  We spent several nights strolling down the Promenade and breathing in the beauty of this joyous little corner of the earth.  The news we heard tonight hit me hard on many levels, and it made me think--once again--that we are all a part of the global community which is just so much larger than my country or anyone else's one country.  My heart goes out to the people of France, and indeed to those all over our little world who have to experience such devastation.  I know that there must be a solution to this unrest and anger, and I am counting on my boys and their generation to navigate their way to its accomplishment.  I truly do hope and yearn for peace in our world. 

And on that note, I just have to spend an hour or two with my stitching--a true solace for the anxious soul.  I am happily working on my new stocking, and perhaps I can share a little sneak peak with you in my next letter.  Hopefully....

Everyone at the shop is busy, busy.  Teri is working on things for the Retreat, Reeta has been stitching on the Little House ABC sampler, Sue is stitching a stocking for her new granddaughter, Nancy is busy with hundreds of projects including Blackbird's Garden Club, and Lynnette is working on a sweet summer piece from Brenda Gervais.  (There I feel a bit better already just talking about projects.)  So read on...and I hope to share some very fun things with you that we have going on this summer.  

Our young nieces have been stitching this summer--well at least one of them is.  Ellie chose our little Bless Ewe kit last week and brought it in this morning to show us her progress...finished and very beautifully as well.  Now she is off to stitch Long May Ewe Wave, and I hope that she has just as much fun with that one.  Maybe Sophie and Jill will catch her fever and get theirs done as well.  

Nicely done, Elisabeth.  

French Woolens 

by Plum Street Samplers

Pattern $10

Don't you think that this little sampler of Paulette's is just adorable.  For sheep lovers like us, it is the perfect summer stitching.  Everything about this piece just makes me smile.  

New Sheep and Bee display

July in Utah brings our Founders Day:  Pioneer Day--the 24th of July, so we like to celebrate with flags and bees all month.  We have to throw in some sheep as well, so here is the center display ready for summer stitching.  We are happy to make anything up into kits if you would like.  

New Halloween Display

The one true bonus of Summer sliding by so quickly is that it is time to bring out Halloween.  Truly is there any time of year more fun to anticipate with stitching?  Teri has been having such a good time getting this first display all set up and tweaked.  Plus she gets to decorate our Halloween tree--well really a branch--and it looks quite darling with all its little pincushions and ornaments hanging over all.  

Witching Hour 

by Prairie Schooler

Leaflet $ 9.00

Jill our framer, just delivered this fabulous Halloween piece.  We always love the Prairie Schooler Halloween samplers.  This one is from last year, and we stitched it on the most wonderful 30 count grayish-purple hand dyed linen.  It is spooky and fun, and sadly won't be around for long.   

Babushka's Blossoms 

by Plum Street Samplers

Leaflet $12.00

This new piece is so darling. 

A Bowl Full Of Scaries 1

Leaflet with thread $22.00

Our Linen $9.00

Here is a spooky new series from Paulette.  It is darling, and we are stitching it on a fabulous 36 count fabric that has a hint of green making all the colors just pop on it.  As always this is a limited pattern, so don't wait too long to add it to your collections.  

Serial Bowl Collection Lesson 1

by Plum Street Samplers

Chart $10.00

If you missed out on Lesson 1 last year, it is now available in chart form--with no threads.  It is such a cutie!!

Lizzie Kate Spooky Mystery

3 charts $27.00

Complete kit varies--please call

Here is another great mystery sampler from Lizzie Kate.  It comes in  three parts, and this is the first one. Our friend, Maryanne Keegan in Massachusetts, stitched this one and sent us a photo.  She and a whole group of darling stitchers back east wanted to stitch it on purple, and this is what we came up with for them.  It really does look special. 

Thanks Maryanne for sharing your beautiful stitching!!!  

If you are getting this mystery from us, and want to show off the Ale (a spooky deep golden brown and the color called for in the pattern)  please send me a photo and I will post it here.  

This photo is of the extra patterns that come with the mystery sampler.    

Here's how it works, you just give us a call and we will sign you up for this darling mystery sampler.

The first month you will receive in your mailbox, or you can come visit us and pick it up in person,  the first pattern, the fabric, the threads, and the embellishments.  Then in July and August, you will receive the next parts to the mystery pattern.  Sounds like fun!!!  give us a call and we can go over the fabric options and supply options. How fun to open your mail box and find a wonderful surprise inside. 

Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue

$9.99

This is always a fun start to the Halloween season.  Just Cross Stitch's Halloween issue is filled with amazing projects.  I just love the Primitive Hare's piece, and everyone at the shop has picked their favorites.  Below is a photo of all the designs in the magazine.  What a bargain!

Little House ABC Samplers

Charts $6.00 each

Beginning kit 32 or 36 count stitched all together: $41.40

Beginning kit 32 or 36 count stitched separately: $64.90

 Your beginning kit comes with the fabric, threads, the first pattern, and a button.  Each month you will receive the next pattern, any new threads you might need, and a button.  These will be charged each month as we send them to you.  This is a nine part series, and Reeta has already stitched the first one.  The fabric we have chosen is a gorgeous hand dyed-linen and our colors look so wonderful.   We are stitching our blocks as one big sampler.  It will be about 12' x 12" when complement to the Little Sheep Virtues.  

Come Sit Down 

by La D Dah

Leaflet $ 10.00

We just had this beautiful piece framed. I love the saying.  

We have stitched it on a 32 count linen and tweaked the colors, and everyone who comes into the shop has fallen in love with it.    

Mom's Roses

Every year I have to post a photo of Mom's Roses.  She lovingly tended them and pruned them and cared for them.  I am sorry to say, we didn't ever seem to take the interest to learn her rose nurturing skills.  Teri is attempting to become a great rose gardner, and you can see that she does pretty well.   She does faithfully trim them....and then hopefully they grow back.  Most of the time they do, but every year she seems to lose a bush to January's arctic freeze.  Of course she has also planted tomatoes, tomitillas, oregano, rosemary, and basil in with them... and frankly I don't think that they love sharing their garden bed.  

But these pink roses are truly spectacular. 

Hey, have a great middle of July with whatever your family loves to do in this warm and wonderful month.  Take joy in the little moments of this summer, and when your heart is heavy with the news, just go outside with something to stitch and breath.  As always,  if we can help you with anything--just give us a call. 

ever fondly, Tina   

June Stitching

Early Summer, 2016

Hi Friends,

I know, my boys would be happy to tell me that it isn't technically Summer for a couple of more weeks, but for me, when the temp jumps overnight from the 60s to the 90s, when the garden out back starts to explode, and when Vacation Bible School arrives, Summer has also arrived.  I am looking forward to this warm season with long evening hours and perhaps more time to stitch, or walk my dog, or just read my book.  Yay!  Now I just have to find my perfect reading book for the summer.  I have a new book by Kate Atkinson that I think I will start, but I also have a whole series of books about a midwestern family that Bob gave me which might be fun.  (I am not always so good with series, but we'll see.)  No need to look for a stitching project since I have many!!!!  I am just getting started drawing my new stocking for this year, and I am getting excited.  That is always a fun prospect.  Oh well, a whole 3 months ahead of me--and I know it will go by so quickly.  

Sophie's Roses

My mom's fabulous rose garden still shines inspire of our recent hard winters and our not so expert tending.  I think Teri does very well, but I worry for some of the bushes.  When I saw these pictures, I secretly thought that they looked better than the real thing, but Teri was insulted.  I guess I need to stop and take a better look.  

We do have a few new things ready for lazy, summer stitching.  This Land is a very fun little kit that I had a great time stitching.  It is worked on this quite fabulous linen that I ordered 3 months ago, and am finally receiving tomorrow.  Finally!  You will totally love working on it, though as it is soft and very luxurious in hand.  The threads are a soft and subtle palette of overdyed cottons and silks.  I hope you like it.  

This Land

kit retail $36.00

Celebrate Summer with this sweet sampler.  It is stitched on a beautiful hand-dyed 32 count linen with a combination of over dyed silk and cotton threads.  A fun set of buttons is included in this kit.  

True Heart

kit: retail $20.00 

This darling pin cushion is stitched on  32 count linen. Over dyed threads, ribbon, beads, and buttons complete this sweet pincushion 

Sweet Honey Bee

Leaflet retail $8.00 

Complete Kit $46.00

Such a sweet piece to stitch this summer,  it is stitched on 22 count Ariosa with over dyed cotton floss.  We have added a darling set of buttons from The Bee Company 

(available through Norden Crafts)

Buttons $5.80

Long May She Wave by Little House

Pattern with floss retail $15.00 

 Here is a fun new project from Little House and Classic Colorworks.  You buy 5 threads and then the pattern is free.  We are stitching it on a fun 30 count.  It looks darling.



Teri's Favorite Baby Gifts

At quilt market last month, we ordered a bunch of new baby blankets, bibs, and burps.  The fabrics are so darling and all hemstitched and ready to be crocheted around, and she has matched the perfect perle cotton for each pattern.  So if you have a special little baby coming your way, you might just need one of these adorable little receiving gifts.

One last thing that I wanted to let you know about is the Harvest Market Hop coming this September.  We did this with a fun group of designers last year and it was such a lot of fun.  Your favorite shops will be shopping this market for you, and there will be lots of fun new things for Autumn stitching. I think that the Facebook page will be coming up any time and you can watch now and then for designer posts.  

Oh...one more last thing.  As the primaries approach and we are sending in our mail-in ballots, I just want to give a shout-out to a great friend who is running for Weber County Commissioner:  

Caitlin Gochnour.  If you already know her, you would definitely be voting for her.  And if you don't, I would love to recommend her.  She is a wonderful woman who has a lot of experience in public service.  I know that she would be a fantastic member of the Commission, and I hope you will check out her credentials at: caitlingochnour.com. 

  

In the meantime, have a wonderful and safe start to Summer.  Find a comfy chair outside, a great new book, and of course a fabulous new stitching project.  

fondly, Tina

May Flowers

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