Thursday, June 16, 2022

Happy Summer


Early Summer,  2022

Dear Friends,
I have decided that this will be my Season of Gratitude!  
I think of myself as a pretty happy person--low key, peaceful, and quiet.  But after these past 2 years, I have noticed a weed sprouting up in my psyche--Crankiness.  No, really, I am not kidding...The world is making me crabby! The tragic part of that is that it is full blown Summer and the heat always raises my irritability index.  Bob is trying to save the environment, so we are not going to fix our air conditioning.  Yay!  But then, technically it isn't even summer yet. Last month, I decided that the news was not helping my naturally chill personality, so I just gave it up.  I used to be an avid news reader first thing in the morning, but that started the day on such a depressing note, that I switched to evening.  Well...that might have been worse.  So I am done with it.  Somehow during the day, I seem to find out about the big things, and everything else just has to avoid me.  Sadly, there are a few other things which gnaw at me such as constant road construction,  green motorized scooters, bad drivers, and ranunculi thiefs--to name just a few.  Even though I am not dwelling on them, I remind myself. 
Which brings me to my Season of gratefulness.  I am focussing on little blessings and simple pleasures, which should be so easy since there is an abundance around me to make my soul joyful.  We have had a beautiful Spring filled with cool air and plenty of rain, and the mountains behind my home are a color pallet of greens.  I have spent many hours stitching and even working on an embroidery project trying to catch up with my friends.  I'm not...but it doesn't matter because I am having a great time. And...I have read a plethora of lovely books which have lured me to the 1960s, to a posh hotel in NYC, to Shakespeare's England, and a re-visit to the Isle of Guernsey. I'm not keeping a gratitude journal since that would most likely make me crazy, but I am cataloguing them in my brain to return to as needed.  Sadly, there are those in my life who--even as I am writing this--have cast aspersions on my pleasantness. 
 But I am able to ignore them because of my joy in writing to you. 
So please read on and I hope your hearts are filled with gladness.  T 

Hector's  Stocking 
by Shepherd's Bush
pattern:  $10
Kits also available


This has been the longest birth of a stocking ever.  I had it designed and stitched late last summer and early fall, and...
But finally, if all the stars in the evening sky are aligned, we will have it in hand next week.  I wanted to do a quintessential Christmas Santa, so here he is bringing home the Yule tree on his little sled amidst a lovely snowstorm.  We have the linen, the backing fabric, the charm set, and all of the threads, so we are ready if you are.  

This is how we set our pictures up for the stockings.  We decided to photograph in the front hall at the shop as it was still cold, rainy and sometimes snowy when we photographed this.  
So here is the process.  


This the front hall as it always is.  


We are trying to decide just the perfect place to set everything up, the drawer was an option....


Then we decided to bring in a chair, packages, and a few pictures.


We start stacking fun props that might work, books, blocks, puzzles, a cricket ball.  


Teri starts the slow process of creating the right mood, everything has to be just right.  She tweaks tiny details up until the last second.  I fill the stocking with sweets and toys and tie on ribbons to hang it.  


Robert, the photographer takes many pictures, and Teri checks them. Then she moves the blocks, then the greens, then the tops.  I just have to go to the back room and hope for the best.


Finally it is ready for the stocking.  This is the completed shot and we both loved the look.  YAY!!!!! 
Now to tweak color and crop.


This is the finished shot that will be on the front of the pattern.  

Quilt Bag 
by Shepherd's Bush
chart:  $8 
Bluebell bag: $15
Kit includes pattern, #5 perl cotton, buttons, a needle $34.10  (bag not included)
Spool zipper pull $8.00


Here is Teri's newest pattern for the darling vinyl bags.  Bluebell is one of 3 new colors.  I think that Quilt turned out so sweet.  It is very clever and fun and perfect for all those lovely quilters in our lives.

Quilt Bag Littles  
fob and pincushion
Complete kit with floss threads, linen, backing, chenille edging.


The small pieces are so much fun to stitch, The pincushion is stitched just like the bag, and the fob design is also included on the chart. 

New Plaid bag colors
Bluebell- blue ( Quilt Bag)
Misty (teal )- the design for this is coming and it is fantastic!
Peony - Pink ( still dreaming of something fabulous))

We also have the original colors, red, gray, and green.   They are a so much fun to stitch, and they work up so quickly.  

Look for the Beauty 
by Bent Creek 
Chart:  $12.00
our button set : $9.20

This is a new pattern from Bent Creek.  We just love the sweet saying and the darling design.  We have added a great set of buttons


4th Block Party
by Hands On
chart:  $12


Kathy from Hands On shows this as a wonderful pincushion, but we wanted to try it as a long framed piece.  We used a neutral linen, added buttons,  and it is a favorite new patriotic piece.  

Fall on the Farm
 by Little House Needleworks
each chart (or square ): $7.00


We just love Diane's series like this.  We have stitched so many--Little Sheep Virtues, ABC houses, Farmhouse Christmas, Jack Frost's Tree Farm, Early Americans. ( you can see all of these on our website.)
 Her latest series is Fall on the Farm  It is adorable and is looking more fun each month.  Every month we get a new block, and there will be 9 squares in all.  We are adding buttons to each block, wait until you see the great button for this month.  It is new and different.  Give us a call if you would like to join our automatic, or if you would like to get a whole set when it is finished in August.   


New Patriotic things from Thread Milk 

Liberty Lodge chart $15.00


Patriotic Thread Drops 
assortment 1 and assortment 2
$20.00 





New wooden thread minders from Under the Garden Moon 
$8.00


These wooden minders are just adorable. 



Wool needle cases 
by Under the Garden Moon
Pattern $10 - for all 4  designs
wool supply sets:
beehive:$10
Bunny: $10
Sheep: $10
Bird: $10


For those of you who are waiting for Halloween...It is coming...

Happy Halloween 
 by Primrose Cottage
chart:  $6.50


We just love this new pillow from Primrose Cottage.  It is stitched on 10 count fabric and we added buttons and a great spooky fabric to finish it off.  

Acorns 
by Prairie Schooler 
chart:  $12

Another great Autumn pillow.  Stitched on 7 count fabric with #3 perl cotton.  We even have the finishing fabrics to make this charming harvest pillow.  


Garden is growing and since our water is severely rationed, we will see how it grows this year.  Cucumbers are up and the tomatoes are growing.  Broccoli is just starting, but peas are coming on a treat.  
This year will put drought gardening to the test.  


Flowers to bring the bees



This "fun" friend visits Teri's bird feeders every night.  He does not even look up when she tells him to go away.  She rubs the bird feeder pole with crisco to keep him from climbing up to the feeders.  He is very determined, or very hungry.  



Happy Summer!

 




 



Thursday, February 24, 2022

Market previews




Dear Friends,
I am writing this on a quiet, late Wednesday evening.  Utah is on the edge of a Polar Plunge and it is very cold here with a bone chilling wind.  I, for one, am happy to be inside near the heat vent writing to you.  
The Nashville Market is just a week away, and Teri and I are excited to show you our new designs for this market.  This is going to be a blog that goes on and on....filled with lots of wonderful new things to keep you going all through the year.  Tonight we are starting with new things from Shepherd's Bush and then every day we will add peeks at the other great new designs that are coming.  So be sure to check back and see what we have added.  If you want us to save anything for you--to be picked up at the shop or mailed to your mailbox--give us a call and we will do that for you. We will be having our market days here at the shop on March 23rd-26th.  It will be a lot of fun.  Treats and treasures and surprises.  It will be fun to see you here.  So read on...and enjoy shopping the Nashville Market with us.


Nashville Market Offerings
2022

You may order anytime, and we will be happy to save anything for you.  If you would like us to ship them to you--we will be happy to do that beginning the 2nd week of March.


Shepherd's Bush
(You might see a theme)

To Be Free
kit:  $44


This sweet sampler is a gentle reminder of all that is kind and caring in our country.  It is stitched on a lovely hand-dyed 32 count linen--American Twill--and uses a subtle blend of Weeks overdyued cotton threads.  The finished piece measures about 5" x 8" and comes complete with graph, instructions, linen, threads and embellishments.  

Liberty Ewe 
kit:  $30
button and free pattern:  $10



I always love Teri's Ewe kits and this is one of my favorites.  Whether you make a pin cushion or frame it, it will be very fun to stitch.  Kit comes complete with everything to make the pin cushion and includes the most adorable backing fabric--sheep with flags.

Flag Day
kit in limited tin--$25


This was such a fun piece to design and stitch.  It just made me happy to do it.  The little kit includes the 32 count linens, muted patriotic overdyed cotton threads, buttons, backing fabric, and hand dyed chenille for finishing,  I hope you like it as well.  For a very limited time it will come packed inside a sweet tin.  

Liberty Needle Case
kit:  $30




I love Teri's little needle cases.  They are sweet and detailed and thoughtful.  This one is just darling as well,.  The kit comes with linen, flag finishing fabric, felt needle keeper and star, overdyed threads and embellishments.  Lady Dot handed the perfect color of baby ric rat to finish the outside with and Teri sewed it on with muted red, white and blue beads.  This will be fun to stitch and very fun to tuck into your sewing basket. 

Flag Bag
This is a work in progress and we will post the picture as soon as it is ready.  This will be a new pattern to stitch on the stitching bags. It's ready!!



New Blackbird Designs

My Heart Remembers
book $ 30.00





Humming of the Bees
leaflet $18.00


What Remains is Love
leaflet $15.00
photo to follow




New Thread Milk

Bunny Bungalow
pattern $


Spring Thread Drops 



New Plum Street Samplers

Adorn Your Herat
Chart $16.00



God Bless America
chart $14.00


Corgi Caboodle
chart $10.00



My Garden House
chart $10.00



Thistle House
chart $12.00



This Is The Day
chart $14.00



New Hands On

Season 2   
A year of Celebrations
chart $24.00



4th ( block Party
chart $12.00
pin pack $15.00


Teri really wants to stitch the side panel and frame it, It is so great.  


Red She Said
chart $12.00




New from Autumn Lane

Serena Sprout
chart $12.00


Easter Bunny
chart $7.00
stitch count 39 x 67


Mr. Finnigan
chart $7.00
stitch count 37 x 67




Valentine's Gnomies
Chart $11.00


Happy Owl-oween
chart $11.00


Current Mood
Chart $11.00



New Buddy Cases
$40



These lovely needlework cases are on their 4th or 5th? iteration and we have dearly loved each of them.  They went away completely during the past 2 years, and have just returned with a fabulous and fun new look.  These little magnetic cases are the perfect place to secure all of your stitching necessaries:  scissors, minders, needles, threads, and the new 2-tone colors are very fun.  The only hard part is choosing your favorite.

Brenda Gervais

Keeper of the Pins
Booklet:  $20



Rejoice Evermore
booklet:  $18



Seasons of the Heart
booklet:  $18




The Rabbit and the Rose
pattern:  $12



Elizabeth Hunt, 1845
booklet $18



Regina Haible
booklet:  $18




 Jeannette Douglas

Vintage Flowers 2
chart:  $16


Quaker Star Delight
chart:  $16


Flowers for You
chart:  $14


Vintage Acorns
chart:  $16


Matter in Hand
chart:  $16


Acorn Tray Set
chart:  $22



Chessie & Me

American Stitch House
chartL  $14


To Have a Friend
chart:  $14


Strawberry Liberty
kit:  $32


Bird & Bee
chart:  $14


Martha's Pillow
chart:  $14


Martha Jefferson 1841 Sampler
chart:  $22



Stacy Nash

To My Friend Pinkeep Stack
A tribute to Barb Adams
chart:  $12




Merry, Merry Pinkeep
chart:  $12



Strawberry Pinkeep and Scissor Fob
chart:  $13




Scarlett House

Needfuls
chart:  $24



Colonial Blooms
chart:  $12



Harriot Passey 1838
chartr:  $20



Janet Barr Slater 1853
chart:  $22



More to come....