May

Mother's Day, 2012

 Dear Friends,

Happy Mother's Day, Happy Spring, Happy Blooms...

How can we not love this fabulous weather?  I am always so so happy to get my blue flip flops out of the closet, that I somehow feel free and liberated.  Of course it is nice and warm downtown where the shop is, and then I get home and change clothes and freeze.  But I don't even care.  Our home seems to be caught in a cold zone--perhaps because of the river or the trees.  I have no idea why, but I will take the chilly toes and flannel sheets as long as possible.  

I don't know what it is about Mother's Day, but I always think more about my own mom than about myself on that weekend.  Don't get me wrong, I always get plenty of attention and have certainly had my own treasured abundance of plaster handprints, hand-made cards, and--later--bottles of diet coke.  But it never seems like it should be a day about my own motherhood as much as it should be about my Mom's. 

I always hit this day with a little twinge of sadness and nostalgia as I see lilacs quietly blooming by the driveway.  So this day's for you, Mom--thanks for your smile, your love, and for always reminding me how to be a better mother.   

This has been a funny week here at the shop.  As the Retreat approaches, Teri and I begin to think and start preparing for many things.  The most regretful of which has to do with cleaning.  We have just had a few not-so-little places that we have needed to address before September.  And then our county Heritage Society--whose board I took my mother's place on--decided that we would do a downtown walking tour of historic buildings that had been reclaimed and put back to use.  I had to miss a meeting in March, and when I returned I found that our building was slated to be on it.  Oh, joy!  Teri was beyond thrilled and I was amenable, but it sort of got us started on our cleaning endeavor.  The front hall had gotten quite frightening, so we had to pretty much gut it out, both of us wondering to ourselves how that happens.  Then Teri, Sue and Lynnette took on another lovely project that I think was inspired by the recent airing of Dickens' Great Expectations on PBS.  They have systematically been removing many Miss-Havisham-like bouquets from our old beamed ceiling and hurrying them to the dumpster.  Well, our tour was on Thursday evening and was a grand success.  Over a hundred people came through and thank heavens Teri insisted on lots of treats to serve.  Now if we can just keep that front hall clean until September.

Here is a great early photo of the shop taken about 1930, when it was a blacksmith shop (top). 

 Our shop on Thursday with an antique truck parked in front (bottom).

We have so many new and wonderful projects that we are finishing here at the shop.  Luckily, our friend, Marilyn, has been in a super stitching mood because she has worked on such fabulous models for us.  Sorry, now I have a ton of fun things to show you and talk about...so go get your own mother's day diet coke and settle back with me for a lot of minutes and see what is going on in our world.

Vintage Stars 

leaflet by Jeannette Douglas--$14.00

                                   

Isn't this a beautiful piece?  I just love it--but then I love all Quaker patterns.  This one is comprised of  alphabets and star variations and makes a fabulous sampler.  We have stitched it on a hand-dyed linen that is our very own--32 count Old Earth, and Teri changed the colors to go perfectly with it.  I think it would be a wonderful summer project because it reminds me of a starry, summer sky.  

The Flock

12-leaflet series by Sam Sarah

When we saw the beginnings of this project at Nashville, we both fell in love with it.  It has taken us a while to get it going because we wanted to try it on a more neutral over dyed fabric instead of the Red Pear linen which it shows in the book.  (which is also very darling as well.)  I know, the patterns get a bit pricey, and I kind of wish that she had done the whole project in 6 instead of 12 leaflets, but it is just adorable and summery, and makes me smile.  What you can see above is the first 3 installments and the saying that goes across the whole thing is:  Faith is the bird that feels the light when dawn is still dark.

How can you not love that.  This is a very happy piece that will certainly bring a song to your soul.

Less and More

4 part series by Lizzie Kate

Marilyn just sent this piece back to us completed and everyone at the shop is in love with it.  Aren't these little sayings just the things we say to our kids, our parents, and mostly ourselves?  The colors are sweet and lovely, and we have chosen a beautiful linen to work it on,  The 4 leaflets run $8.00 a piece and come with a sweet hand-dyed button in each one.  Sometimes we have sets of the four together for a great deal--$28.00.  Teri and Nancy have made darling complete sets of the whole project that will make you want to get started today.  I even think that we have added some other fun buttons to complete, but I am probably dreaming about that one.- we have added some great additional buttons  

Super fun new accessories

this is imaginative isn't it?

We ordered many of these in Nashville, but it has taken us a couple of months to get them in and then they sold out so quickly that we had to re-order them.  

Old sampler micro fiber cloths--$6.00

We kind of ordered these selfishly for ourselves, and have sold a ton of them.  I had to wait for the 2nd re-order to pick one up and now I guard it carefully.  It is perfect for all of your favorite devices--ipods, iPads, iPhones,  computer screens, and my personal fave--my glasses.  It is very small and soft and tucks easily into even my tiny purse so I have it whenever I need it.  Plus, she also makes little notebooks--tiny--with various old sampler pictures on the front.  They are very neat and sturdy, but still small and

 tuck-able.   I promise--you'll love them!
  

Wooden counting Accessories

These very fun wooden accessories are simply great and extremely useful.  They are all quite small and pretty and will fit easily in a small stitching bag or case.  And of course they all come with Shepherd's Bush them with our little leaping lamb.  Yay!!  

Rulers and thread holders--$8.20

18-hole palettes--$14.00

Corner gauges--$7.20

And...my personal favorite which Teri didn't photograph for some unknown reason--

Little sheep thread holders--sorry, not sure of the price, but very cute.  I think we need to re-order them.

Bringing Home Baby

Hemstitched blankets--$24.00

Hemstitched bibs--$5.80

Edging leaflets

Teri and Nancy love to crochet around baby things and give them as gifts.  I loved having little receiving blankets with my boys and took them everywhere.  Of course they didn't crochet edgings around them for me--this must be a more recent endeavor.  Teri has found a wonderful Utah company who hemstitches around these flannel items getting them ready for the edgings.  They are all made out of the absolutely most darling, thick and cozy flannels with coordinating patterns on the front and back.  We have different ones all the time, so just call us and we will let you know which sweet fabrics we have in stock.  We will also hand pick the perfect perle cotton to go with it for the edging. 

These darling bibs are also made out of the beautiful flannel with coordinating front and back prints.  They can coordinate with the blankets or just stand alone.  Each bib comes with a darling matching perle cotton for the edge and a little pattern for completing your edge.  Teri says that she will post the fabrics this week, but otherwise just give us a call and we will describe them to you.

These are the leaflets that you can get which are filled with sweet and clever edging patterns.  Each one is different and will make want to get started on the perfect gift for a new little one.  Who knows, maybe it will make you want to have a new little one yourself.  Or not....

Lizzie Kate Summer Mystery Sampler Club

Well here we go again with something very fun for the long summer nights of stitching.  This will be a 3-part mystery project, and best of all--it's Halloween!!!!  Can you even believe it?  I don't have a picture and I don't have any details on fabric or threads, because it is a mystery.  So we all get to have the fun of anticipation and the surprise of seeing it come and grow throughout the summer.  The first part will be released the end of June and the other 2 parts to follow in July and August.  The sampler will be worked with Weeks Dye Works floss on WDW hand-dyed linen.  Each part will include a bonus pattern to be worked with 1 color of floss on a different and fun color of 30 count linen as well.   

So...if you want to be included in the spooky, silly fun, just give us a call.  Here's how it will work:

If you sign up ahead, we will include you in our initial order which will include a new and exclusive thread color just for this project.  We know Linda's (Lizzie Kate) choices of threads for Halloween will be spooky and wonderful, but who knows, we may choose to tweak one or two.  We always send your project put together in a fun a creative way and will send it to you as soon as we receive it.  

Here are your choices--good luck deciding.

The whole kit:  (including 3 bonus fabrics and 3 bonus threads)  

30 count linen:  $101.00

35 count linen:  $102.00

+ $10.00 s/h

The almost whole kit:  (without the bonus fabrics and threads)

30 count linen:  $82.00

35 count linen:  $83.00

+ $10.00 s/h

Patterns and Fabrics only:  (no threads)

30 count linen:  (including bonus fabrics)  $52.00

30 count linen:  (without bonus fabrics)  $40.00

35 count linen:  (including bonus fabrics)  $53.00

35 count linen:  (without bonus fabrics)  $41.00

Note:  the 3 bonus fabrics are only available in 30 count

+ $10.00 s/h

Patterns only:  $24.00 + $6.00 s/h

Fabrics only:  

30 count:  $16.00

35 count:  $17.00

+ $6.00 s/h

3--30 count Bonus fabrics:  $12.00

+ $6.00 s/h

Well, it is time to go and let you get back to your own life again.  Next week I will give you a sneak peek at the new designs that we are working on.  We are busy and excited with new summer things that will be ready the first of June.  They are not too big, but sweet and fun for summer stitching.  So watch for us next weekend.  In the meantime, don't hesitate to give us a call if we can help you.  Sue and I are having fun working on projects for the retreat, but we are always happy for the division of talking to all of you when you call.  So have a great week and be safe and well.  

hugs, Tina

Easter Weekend, 2012

Easter Weekend, 2012

Dear Friends,

It's Easter weekend and what a perfect spring weekend it is here in Utah. If Easter is a symbol of re-birth, our corner of the universe has truly taken it to heart. Only a few days ago, we woke up to a blizzard. I thought Bob was joking when he looked out the window, but-- not so much. I practically had to carry Lindbergh to the door and push him out. He needs tiny boots for his delicate paws. My sister had to shovel her deck to get ready for the annual Richards family Easter cookout, and then overnight the temperature rose almost 40 degrees. Happy Spring--at least until Wednesday. Teri was busy making her white chocolate popcorn to take to all her friends and neighbors, so she took some pictures to share with you. (She might be gunning for a show on the Food Network--Teri's Treats)

Popcorn Delight

(catchy name?--she may have to work on that)

In a very, very, very large bowl mix 3 bags of popped (hard kernels sorted out) microwave popcorn. We like Orville Redenbacher's Natural Butter flavor--3.3 oz bags. Now you must whip around your kitchen adding hundreds of kinds of candy. Seasonal candy corn, shaped marshmallows, jelly beans or anything that you like. Chocolate candies like M & Ms might melt and hard candies like runts might cause a few dental issues. Be creative and see what is around, or don't add candy at all. My kids like it that way the best.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt 2 12 oz bags of white chocolate chips. Stir every 30 seconds until the mixture is soft and creamy--not necessarily super hot. Pour over the popcorn mixture and gently stir until everything is well coated.

Let it sit for an hour or so until it has cooled and hardened. It won't be sticky at this point. Serve in a bowl or put in fun containers and give away to your dear friends. Yum!!!

Besides being a holiday week these past few days, we have been busy at the shop with our Shepherd's Retreat registration. After many long hours, and much cleverness on Teri's part, we posted the brochure this past Monday--April 2nd. We are all terribly excited and already hot into our preparations. We have been happy to see so many friends who are going to join us as well a a lot of new people who will be coming for the first time. I promise that we will all have a great time. Actually we have been overwhelmed by the quick response and have filled our B track already. We still have a little room in the A track, so if you are just thinking about having the best weekend of your year--get your registration form filled out and send it in. No matter which track you are in, we will have so much together time filled with laughter and stitching that you won't want to miss out. Come on...you know you want to join us.

Tweet

Tweet is a darling new pattern for Just Another Button Co. Teri stitched it on hand-dyed purple check fabric and it is very sweet. The really fun part is that the pattern is free with the purchase of the little set of buttons.

The Proper Stitch

by Darlene O'Steen

Well, finally after years of being out of print and many rumors about its possible return to the market, The Proper Stitch is back for a limited time. This is just one of those books that every stitcher has to have in her library whether she makes one of the samplers or not. It is filled with wonderful illustrations and explanations of tons of 17 century stitches and also includes several gorgeous samplers. Her instructions a very good and the finished samplers would make the most lovely heirlooms. In fact, I started one of her samplers after I got back from Nashville and I have stitched on it like a maniac for a solid month. It really is very beautiful. So...if you are a fan, don't wait until this wonderful book is gone for good.

Purple/White and Green/White

by Bent Creek

These two sweet pieces are the beginning of a fun new series by Bent Creek. We have stitched them with Gentle Art's Simply Wool and have left the white portion blank. These are March and April, and January--Snowman and February--heart, are equally as darling. We have framed them in these sweet bubble frames from Crescent Colours and I think they are quite adorable. Can't wait to see May and June. Teri is hoping for a bee!

Purple Thread Designs

These are a series of new designs by a friend of ours--Sharon Verbos. She has been working very hard on her launch, and we are thrilled to have them in the shop. They are lovely and sweet and each one echoes of nostalgia and remembrance of days gone by. They all come as kits complete with threads and fabric as well as patterns. Above are two of the kits: a little strawberry pin cushion and a matching needle case. They are so sweet would be a perfect and quick gift for a mom or a friend.

Here is a charming little black and white tile scissor fob which has been designed to match the stork scissors. How fun is that?

And below is a little paper, cigar type box with a kit to make a group of very dear sewing implements. They are just beautiful and would make the perfect project for your spring and summer stitching.

Hey--have a great week and enjoy the rain or the shine--whichever comes your way.

Ever fondly, Tina

Dear Friends,

Yay, Hurray!!!! The Retreat brochure is almost ready to post. I think Team Tina is the winner because we will be posting in April, but Teri thinks her team has won because we finished it in March. Oh well, she can think that if she wants. Anyway...

The brochure will be up on Monday, April 2nd at noon

(with luck and computer cooperation)

We think we have all our ducks in a row, so keep your fingers crossed. We know that we have the best retreat ever in the works, so come join in the fun. Don't worry if you are at work, just look for it when you get home. Then get it filled out and faxed back in so that all you have left is the delicious anticipation. Can't wait to hear from you...Tina

(ps--I'll be putting up a regular blog early next week. We have fun stuff to show you.)

Mid-March 2012

Happy St Patrick's Day

Dear Friends,

Take a moment and humor me. Close your eyes and imagine with me. Pretend that it is late September and you are sitting on a balcony nestled in the Rocky Mountains. The leaves are just turning their vibrant colors of reds and golds and oranges, and they rustle gently providing a quiet breeze that whispers through your hair. The air is warm but crisp and clean, and all of your stresses and cares have disappeared. You are surrounded by wonderful, sweet women, and you know that you have a whole weekend of relaxation and joy ahead of you. Are you there? Are you with me? Have you already started packing? If so, then you simply must come and join us at our upcoming Shepherd's Retreat this coming September. It truly is the bomb, and we would be most thrilled to welcome each and every one of you to Utah in the fall. Here are just a few things that you need to know and plan for:

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012--Open House at Shepherd's Bush in Ogden, Utah

Thursday, September 27th--Saturday, September 29th, 2012--Shepherd's Retreat, The Canyons in Park City, Utah

Start watching the blog for details about when we will be posting the Retreat Brochure and Registration Form. We will give you plenty of notice about the exact day on which we will post it--sometime around the end of March and the first part of April, depending on when we get it ready. Sue and Lynnette have been laughing and saying it depends on whether you believe Team Teri (March) or Team Tina (April). Isn't that typical. However, believe me, both teams are very excited and ready for a wonderful time ahead!

Bunnies

by Prairie Schooler

Aren't these about the most adorable spring pillows you've seen this year? We have stitched 3 of the many patterns that are included in this little leaflet and they are fabulous. They are each stitched on 10 count fabric and Teri has added a sweet button on each pillow. Backing fabric--quite fantastic--is available until it is gone. Of course she changed the colors for over dyed threads and you will love how they look. Hip Hop for Spring

And now...for a continuation of market items. We have finally gotten some of our ducks in a row such as pictures taken, fabrics chosen, and everything downloaded onto the computer. Have fun perusing.

Quaker Pincushions

by Jeannette Douglas

Jeannette had wonderful things at market and Teri spent a lot of time enjoying them in her room. This darling book of pincushions is very clever and so easy to finish. Especially when she could whine Pat from R & R into doing the cross stitching for her. (Actually she did finish a tiny part of it on the way home.) Then she spent this past Saturday at work making it into the pin cushion, and I have to say that it is quite stellar! We have the wonderful buttons that you need to finish them as well as the darling pins to go on top. Just let us help you choose the perfect piece of fabric and skein of heavenly wool thread with which to create your own.

Bee Stitches

Bee Stitches was another fantastic new book by Jeannette. Of course you know how much we love bees and how could we not fall in love with this darling sampler. Our friend, Don, from Salt Lake is stitching it for us so now we will have to decide whether to have Jill work her magic with it or whether to put it in a wonderful box from Old Colonial. You will just have to keep tuned and find out what we do. You'll see it here first.

New from Blackbird Designs

Sweet Thoughts of You

This fun new leaflet is retro in both technique and feel. The picture is stitched on perforated paper and certainly has the feel and sentiment of Barb and Alma's gentle natures.

For My Friend

This wonderful big book is simply filled with great heart designs. As with all of the books that Barb and Alma create, this one is truly a joy for all the senses. It has fabulous projects both large and small as well as beautiful photographs, tiny heart pin cushions, and even a sugar cookie recipe that we have made and enjoyed greatly. If you are a collector--or even if you are not--you will not want to miss out on this lovely book.

Wild Garden

limited edition kit--$50.00

This super sweet kit was an exclusive design for the Nashville market. I just love it, and since I also love baskets, it is definitely on my list to do. The kit comes with fabric, pattern, and threads as well as a great antique button and all are carefully packed in a sweet little tin box. Unfortunately, I think we only have 2 of these left, so hurry, hurry.

Yellow Birdie Pin Cushion

kit by JABCO

This little pin cushion is Teri's current pride and joy. She made him last night and then stored him in the car for fear that dogs and cats might enjoy a good chew. This kit comes complete with almost everything you need to complete it--just add a needle and thread and you are set. The instructions were perfect and she thought it was very easy to make. Can you just picture this on your sewing table for the spring?

Bird and Bugs Sewing Roll

partial kit by Lizzie Kate

The really cool thing about this kit is that the sewing roll is already made for you. It comes in either bugs--orange, or birds--yellow/green and is ready for you to stitch. Cleverly constructed of cheerful cottons and linen bands, it will be fun and easy to finish up. Just add your own threads and you are ready to go. Patterns and embellishments come in the kit.

A Stitcher's Heart

kit by Little House plus bonus pattern by Shakespeare's Peddler

This was a special kit designed by these 2 fun designers for the Nashville Market. The fun part about this little kit is that it includes the designs and threads to make 2 sweet little pin cushions. Little House has done the darling heart cushion that you see on the front of the package, and Theresa's pin cushion is a darling little rectangular piece that is also very sweet. I know that you will love them both.

Market Bracelets

by Charland Designs--$14.00

OK...these were such a hit at the market. We all spent a lot of time choosing which ones we wanted. They were also a hit when we got home, and we have had to re-order them. They are really quite fun for such a good price and are filled with tons of little trinkets and charms as well as great chunky beads and stones. Every one is a little bit different, so if you call, we can tell you which colors we have on hand. I actually mean that quite literally because Nancy has a different one on her hand every day...perhaps that is why we have had to reorder.

We still have so many things to talk about, but I am going to write again next week. We are having several of Chessie's fabulous things stitched and have had to reorder a couple of them. So I will show them to you next week. Plus, Teri has chosen unbelievable fabric for Lulu's Flock.

More to come...plus a retreat brochure-(go Team Tina)

fondly, Tina

Nashville 2012

Nashville, 2012

Dear Friends,

Well here are a few pictures from our time in Nashville. Here is the door to our room with all of Teri's decorations. Pretty cute, right? She also had the window decorated as well with a garden of flowers as well as the branch from the apple tree with apples. (Our theme was Adam and Eve since that was our sampler.) I am not sure that many people got it, but we had fun doing it.

Gosh, I can't believe that we are back home again. We had such a fine time and found so many wonderful things to bring back. Teri is busy cooking for our little Nashville open house, so I decided that I would write to you and put up the pictures of the things we took to market. Then tomorrow or Wednesday we will update with the things we brought back with us. I don't know if any of you took a look on Facebook, as Teri tried to update it each night. She had the best of intentions, but it turned out to be a bit sketchy. I think she updated her page the first and maybe the second day, but then on the third day she was sitting on the floor of our room with books and kits and all sorts of other things spread out around her trying to get them all checked and priced before packing them away. So I---mostly out of guilt--offered to write her post for her. So she sort of dictated what she wanted to say, and I typed it in the little box on my iPad. The problem was that after writing a very long paragraph and with Teri still chattering on, I fell asleep and my finger seemed to touch the box on the screen and deleted it. So I had to start over and try to remember what she had told me. And...I did that 3 times in a row. She was shouting at me, but honestly I was tired. I don't seem to have been blessed with her 24/7 stamina--but who would be? So we'll be back in the shop tomorrow and busily preparing for our open house in the afternoon. We will open at noon, so drop by any time after that for all the fun.

A picture with friends at breakfast this morning before everyone went their separate ways across the country. From left to right: Alma from Blackbird, Vickie Jennet from Needlework Press, Charland, Teri and I, Sydney, and Cecile from Jabco. We are all surrounding Dave from Norden.

Char and I chose to visit albeit from our cars while everyone else went shopping at Hobby Lobby. Here are some of the fun things that we brought to Nashville. Hope you like them.

Eve's Garden

kit: $70.00

Adam and Eve samplers are such a quintessential form of sampler making, and I have wanted to design one for a long time. So I have been working on this one for almost a year. It is worked with fabulous silk threads on a 32 count linen that Zweigart dyed especially for us. And I think that Jill's frame and mat are simply wonderful. While I was working on the final pattern, I had it sitting home on my mantel and I truly loved looking at it. It is filled with exuberant flowers surrounding the guilty couple, and comes complete with bare feet, fig leaves, a little verse, and a snake. And...for a little while, your kit will come with one of our very fun A & E tags which we have been working on all month.

design size: 6" x 12"

Adam and Eve in their garden sweet

of many delightsome fruits did eat

But when the serpent offered one

then came their gentle world undone

Eden's Lament Pin Cushion

kit: $20.00

This is a little pin cushion that I designed to go with the big sampler. Worked on the same linen as the sampler, it is filled with garden motifs and surrounded by a fun border and verse. It is very fun and I hope you will enjoy doing it. It comes with everything to stitch it as well as a great ribbon which Teri hand-tinted and curled for this kit.

A girl a snake a rosy bite

A boy a leaf a hasty flight

All Season s Scissor Fob

kit: $16.00

Teri designed this sweet scissor fob which shows a sheep for all seasons. You will love the seasonal themes and colors as well as the little verse about friendship. A perfect quick thing to stitch for yourself or for a friend.

Friends Bloom

Kit: $20.00

This adorable companion piece to the fob above is stitched on hand-dyed 28 count Jobelan. Also a piece about friendship, it is the perfect quick project for a gift for a good friend. It includes a combination of beautiful over dyed and cotton threads and features a little strip of hand dyed ric rac.

Sheep in the Garden

leaflet:: $6.00

Isn't this such a sweet pillow? I just love everything about it. It is worked on the Window Pane fabric with over dyed floss and features one of Just Another Button Co's sheep button. It would be such a fun this to work on. And don't forget to order the backing fabric while we still have it in stock.

Flower Power Picture

Pattern: free with purchase of $8.00 flower button

This little Flower Power piece will take almost no time at all to complete, and whether you choose to make a pillow with this wonderful fabric, or to have Jill frame it with her amazing mat and cut out flowers, you will have a true treasure. And don't forget the fantastic button that our friend Diane made for us.

OK, I am once again drifting away. Luckily I am just typing nonsense rather than deleting what I have written. I hope you will be able to come to our little party tomorrow, but if you can't, just give us a quick call, and we will sent it right out.

For now, good night, and I will try to send you another letter in the next day or two with new things from the market. Until then, hugs--Tina

February 2012

February 14, 2012

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentine's Day.

Teri is the nicest person know. I actually know a lot of very nice people, and I admit that she is my sister, but then that should make the complement even more real. But truly, she spends her life doing nice, sweet things for other people. So it was no surprise to me when said that she left church on Sunday to find a plethora of hearts were sprinkled from the door and down the sidewalk to to her car. Plus her car completely covered in valentines. Happy Heart Day, Teri

Now, that gives one something to think about doesn't it? The only down side to the whole thing was that it happened to snow in the afternoon and as she drove down the street, little hearts detached themselves from her car and flew through the air. I drove with her down to the shop to pick something up and as we would pass other cars--especially guys--they sort of stared at her car in surprise. And then off would fly a little heart and sail right onto their cars causing even more surprise I am sure.

So then she spent Sunday and Monday dipping strawberries in scrumptious white and dark chocolate and making heart shaped sugar cookies and chocolate shortbread. As usual I just stitched while she cooked--and then enjoyed the result of her labors. Now she has taken plates full of her sweet treats to neighbors and friends and my family and the postman and the UPS guy and the printer and the customers at work and the gas station where she buys her cokes.

I tell you....

These chocolate shortbread hearts were very very yummy!

And who could resist a plate full of freshly dipped strawberries?

Well it is barely over 1 week until the Nashville market, and we are just this side of frantic at the shop. All I am doing after work is stitching and Teri is working like a maniac doing hundreds of other projects for the market. Lynnette is cutting fabric by the bolt and Sue is packaging things as fast as we get them out. Which leaves the girls out in the front of the shop wondering why no one ever emerges from the back. It will be a relief to one and all when we are done and back. In the meantime, I think we have a lot of fun things to take to market with us. Teri has been busy planning our minute by minute itinerary. She has the decorations for the outside of the room planned as well as a new and lovely layout for the inside of our room. She has her many and various events scheduled as well as dinners and brief excursions throughout the market. It has all sounded great to me except her recent announcement that she is going to be hanging a grouping of pictures over the television. Really????? I am wondering what I am going to be doing while she is out visiting and make it and take it--ing. Watching movies through images of colored snowmen, I guess.

No--we are very excited and can't wait to share our new designs with you as well as the new things we will be bringing back with us. We will be having our Nashville Afternoon on Tuesday, February 28th from noon to five. We will have delicious treats and tables full of our new finds from market. We have already previewed a lot of darling things, so don't be late. Just take the afternoon off and plan to come spend the day with us. I promise you won't be disappointed. There are going to be so many amazing things. Teri has been talking to Barb and Alma at Blackbird designs and she said they are bringing fabulous things. Can't wait.

Remember---if there is something specific that you have seen that you want us to pick up for you, just give Teri a call. She loves to be a personal shopper. In fact, there is nothing she likes more than a grabbing a friend and setting off on a little mission.

For those of you on Facebook, keep your eye on the Shepherd's Bush page as she is planning on writing a little market scoop every night. It might be late, but I will remind her to do it while I am busy sleeping.

In the meantime, here are a few fun new things we have at the shop.

Valentine's and Heart Display

Center Display

As winter wanes, here in Utah, spring is making its way to the front of the shop. Here are some of our favorite spring and Easter pieces reminding us that sun may visit us again in the future. In the next picture you will see Cricket's Spring picture which Jill just brought back to us. Isn't it most fabulous? We are slowly making our way through the year, and I think that this one is just adorable. I thought it would be hard to top Autumn and Winter, but this one gives them a run. Teri has tweaked the colors and Jill has painted a fantastic mat. Don't you just love it?

Love Spoken Here

This sweet piece by La D Dah is quite wonderful. Its gentle simplicity and soothing colors make me want to stitch it myself. And with a house full of boys/men this is the perfect reminder. OK, I should probably just stitch my mantra in big block letters in some garish hue--BE NICE-- but I would enjoy the subtlety of this piece much better.

Token of Love

This new sampler by Pineberry Lane is wonderful and old fashioned and contemporary at the same time. I love the rose fabric that she chose and the silk thread. She sort of wants to make it into a wedding sampler and I think that it would be quite lovely. Can you imagine getting that for a wedding present or anniversary present?

One Hundred Years Ago

We just picked this piece up from Jill, and are enjoying its simple message. Another great Lizzie Kate design.

My super stitcher, Nancy, has already finished her La D Dah Mystery Sampler and has brought it into the shop for a while. Isn't it beautiful? She has totally been keeping up with the new, fun things since Teri and I have had to focus on the market.

And this is Nancy's completed 2011 Blackbird Loose Feather piece. I think it is so pretty. I will be sad when she finally decides she wants it at her own home.

I hope this gives you a window into our world these past few weeks. I was going to include a sneak peak at one of the pieces we are taking with us to Nashville, but I forgot and took it to Jill last night. Oh well.

I am going back to my stitching and will send this on to you. Watch our blog next week when we will post our new things and if you are in our neck of the woods, plan to come by on the 29th and have a fun afternoon with us. In the meantime, we will see you on Facebook.

fondly, Tina