Shepherd's Retreat

2014

Dear Friends,

Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself whisked away from the stresses and demands of your everyday life.  Picture yourself waking up under clear blue mountain skies, in a resort so comfy and welcoming that you just want to settle into the nearest chair and look out over the muted golds, oranges and purples of the autumn mountains around you.  Then imagine that you are surrounded by kind and fabulous teachers ready to share beautiful projects and delightful stories with you as well as a group of the sweetest, friendliest, and most wonderful women--and men--that you could ever dream of.  Well...if you can even begin to conjure up such an idyllic scene, then you will know what it is like to spend a long weekend at the Shepherd's Retreat.  I know that I might be a bit biased, but we did have the best time imaginable.  The night before our open house started in Ogden, Teri said to me, "Well, here it begins."  And I thought to myself, yes, and how quickly it will slip by.  Just indulge me for a few minutes, and share a few memories of the great time we had in Ogden and Park City this past week.  Come on...

Shepherd's Bush Open House

Tuesday and Wednesday

We all gathered at the shop during the first two days to share sweet treats, friendships and lots of stitching treasures.  

Jeannette was kind and helped me at the counter.

Ann, Paulette, and Pat...just arriving.  

 Linda, Jeannette and Teri pose for a quick pic.

The Retreat Shop in Park City

We set up a little store up at the Canyons for the retreat.  We have tables for each of the teachers where women can browse around and see all of their new and favorite pieces.  Plus a table heaping with R & R's hand dyed linens.  It was very fun.  

Teri's street market turkey greets you at the door.

Here we are getting ready for the opening day on Thursday.  How exciting!

We are very lucky to have talented women who bring some of their designs to sell in our boutique  Sharon Verbos of The Purple Thread set up a darling display of her beautiful work.  

Sharon and Mary were first in line the next morning to come shopping in the store. ( I think they might have slept there...)

Everyone is excited to see what we have waiting for them in the Park City shop.

The shop is always a busy and exited gathering place for everyone.  It is filled with lots of fun things that we have gathered from all over for this weekend as well as tables brimming with wares from each of the teachers.  Hand dyed linens, new patterns, wonderful accessories, Yay...what fun.

Our brand new stocking--Lula

pattern--$8.00

charms--$20.00

linen and threads also available

We were able to debut our new stocking for this year at the retreat.  The printer delivered it on Wednesday and we were very happy to finally have it ready to go. 

We are also very lucky to be able to debut new designs from some of the teachers.  Paulette brought with her several brand new pieces and everyone had a great time perusing and gathering them up.   

They are so darling, and Teri is already busy at work on some of them.  We kept a few of each of these designs if you are interested.  Just give the shop a call.

Mood Pin Keep

pattern available

complete kit available

This piece is fabulous!  It is a pillow with a blessing on one side in a light linen and a pox on the other side stitched on a dark linen.  We had a great time pairing 2 beautiful linens together to make this very fun piece.  

Birthday Wishes

pattern available

complete kit available

This is a sweet pincushions that Paulette has put in a tart tin.  So fun for autumn, but beautiful sitting out all year long.  

Autumn Fraktur

This lovely framed piece was truly a joyful piece.  The colors are muted and Fall-ish, and I know you will just love it.  

Love One Another

pattern available

complete kit available

I really love this piece.  It is clever and whimsical and just makes me smile.  And...what reminder does our world need more than this.

Jack's Bash

pattern available

complete kit available

Now, how can you resist this totally delightful piece.  Part sampler--part Halloween piece and completely charming! 

New Halloween Kit

by Chessie & Me

$28.00

This is a new kit that Linda brought with her to the retreat.  How fun is that?  Her pieces are always so charming and whimsical that it just makes me want to grab my scissors and needles.  Happy stitching.

Pincushion Exchange/ Heifer Project

Anyone who wanted could participate in a pincushion exchange with the proceeds going towards the Heifer Project.  Here are the tables with many of the fantastic pincushions on display.  Shepherd's Bush matched all the money that was donated, and in the end, we raised $2000 dollars--enough to buy 16 sheep for needy families around the world.  

Thanks so much everyone!

The Welcome project

Everyone got to make a darling stitched necklace, finish it and wear it all weekend.  

Shannon and Timsey are wearing their finished necklaces after an afternoon of stitching and visiting with old friends and new.  

Project Reveal

Late in the afternoon of the first day, the teachers gather to reveal their beautiful class projects to everyone.  Then we really know that the fun is just beginning.  Teri and I are standing behind my autumn sampler--Thankful Be.

Three generations of button makers--Cecile, Rachel and baby Amelia--show off the darling pumpkin pin cushions that they taught in their class.  Most people finished this during the class and took home another completed project. 

Ann holds up the lovely sampler that she and Pat taught in their class which celebrated family and generations of women.  It was so sweet.  

Linda holds up her sampler which is fantastic.  It is Over the River and Through the Woods and is worked on two different pieces of linen which are sewn together.  So darling.

Paulette shows off her wonderful class piece which celebrates the blessings of Thanksgiving time.  Everyone happily anticipated their time in this fabulous class.

Jeannette holds up two versions of her lovely sampler which embraced rivers and woods and a house and grandma.  It is just charming and filled with Jeannette's gentle heart and spirit.  A treasure of the season.

Thankful Stitches

Everyone gathered Thursday night to meet the teachers and hear a little something about each one of them.  Then we stitched on the retreat bag creating a tiny sampler for it with borders by each of the teachers.  

Classes begin on Friday morning.

Here is a picture of one of the classes already busy with the stitching of their first project.  

Just as each class began, we would hand out a small surprise.  The gift for the first class was the pair of scissors.  In the second class, everyone was given the floral scissor sheath, an acorn fob was our final class gift.   It made such a fun Fall set.  

Bountiful Buttons

On Friday night we all gathered to learn about making buttons from the Rachel and Cecile at Just Another Button Company.  

Everyone got an assortment of clay, a booklet of instructions and the tools to try their hands at creating their very own buttons.  After a few minutes of not knowing exactly where to start, everyone was soon busy and excited at working with the clay and creating their own tiny masterpieces.  People lingered for a long time cutting and shaping their darling buttons.

And we lingered through most of the night baking the buttons, cooling them and labeling them for each person to receive her own creations.  

We didn't even burn one batch.  

Getting ready for the banquet!

No matter how much preparation we did leading up to the retreat, Saturday afternoon is a bit of a frantic rush to get everything ready for the banquet that night.  It took many hands to assemble the turkey nut cups that Teri and Sue had worked on for days as well as assembling the button jars that we had worked on all summer.

But in the end, the tables were set and ready for our guests.  How sweet they all looked!

A delicious Thanksgiving dinner was served and shared by all.  Yum.

And then we embarked on a rousing game of Thanksgiving Bingo.  

And then, as quickly as this letter has gone by, the retreat that we have dreamed of, planned about and prepared for is over, and it is time to say goodbye and bid safe travels.  That is the worst part of the weekend...knowing that it will be another two years before we gather again here under the Autumn skies to visit and share a small piece of our lives with each other.  Be safe everyone, and I shall hope to see you all again in 2 years.  hugs, Tina...and Teri

September-ish, 2014

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the very best blog ever.  Yay!!!  The reason it is so great is that Teri is writing it for me.  You know, sort of a ghost writer.  Isn't that just brilliant.  Well, I think it is.  This seems to be my season of being a hermit.  (Of course the season is now approaching its 3rd month.)  In July/August, I did nothing after work  but stitch on market things.  In August/ September, I did nothing but stitch on my new stocking.  And in September/October I am doing nothing but stitching on my sampler for the Retreat.  I am having quite a lovely time, but I feel that I have become a complete hermit--stitching, stitching, stitching.  I am kind of looking forward to October/November. It has been a fun end of summer beginning of fall here at the shop, busy getting ready for Halloween stitching and transforming the shop for Autumn.  And...of course Retreat is just around the corner.  We are having such a great time getting things finished up and ready.  

30th Anniversary Party

You are all invited to Shepherd's Bush 30th  Birthday Party.  Stop by on Tuesday the 30th (perfect date- right!!!) for wonderful home- made ice cream, and delicious cupcakes,  and of course a birthday surprise when you check out.  We will be open from 10:00-5:00.  Come see all our new fall stitchings and help us celebrate 30 "baatiful" years

My new stocking is very exciting.  I have had a blast designing and stitching it and I can't wait for you all to see it.  You probably know that it is a girl this year and she is quite charming.  We are just getting ready to send her off to the printer and then we will put her up on our website, so take a look in a couple of weeks.  Here is a sneak peak:  

Well, I am back to my stitching and have fun with Teri.  I'm sure she has lots of great ideas to share with you.  Be safe out there...fondly, Tina  

  We made 9 jars of pickles, and it took us weeks!!!!  Ahh...she lies!

Our tiny garden around a light post.  You have to know that my yard is very shady, perfect for sitting outside stitching or reading (or inTina's case sleeping),  so I talked my neighbor into using a tiny spot around his light post.  He does not use it and is kind to let me plant it.  I planted 1 cucumber plant and 2 tomatoes and basil and sage.  It has gone bananas.... the cucumber I just keep tying up taller and taller, the tomatoes are massive, and the basil is huge.  I have already frozen a batch.  I chop up the basil and fill empty ice cube trays with the chopped basil, then fill them with chicken stock, and freeze.  When they are frozen, I pop them out into a ziplock bag and keep them in the freezer.  All winter, when I am making spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce or soups or stews, I throw in a couple of basil cubes and the basil tastes as fresh as a light post garden in the summer.  

Hearts Bloomed 

chart by Sam Sarah

fabulous complete kit available with our colors

This is just back from Jill,  It turned out so adorable.  Some one mentioned it would be a great wedding sampler as well, just change born to wed... why didn't I think of that.  We used a polka dot creamy linen and changed the colors and I love it.  My niece Erin stitched it for us, so her daughter's name is on it, fun!  

Prairie Schooler Santa card $4.00

complete kit with Teri's hand-dyed fabric and colors also available

Here is the 2014 Santa.  He is so great.  We have stitched him on a hand-dyed klostern--7 count fabric with DMC and Weeks over dyed threads. We have a great set of JABCO buttons and an unbelievable  backing fabric.  We are happy to sell you parts and pieces--or the complete set.  

Foxwood Crossings sleds 

patterns $6.00

sleds $ 

or you can buy 12 and we will throw 1 in for free

I looked at these at market, and this year just could not resist.  They are so adorable!!!!!!! I stitched this one on the plane ride home. It was a bit tight, because I did have totally full flights, but the man next to me fell asleep and I just started stitching.  I sort of wanted him to manage my scissors and thread, but oh well. They are stitched on perforated paper and so when you are done stitching, you just cut it out and glue it onto the sled.  We have the sleds and a variety of patterns--you just have to give these a try.  Perfect for package tie ons.  

This was a special kit for the market, sled, paper, and pattern, you provide the floss. 

Retreat 2014

Park City is turning all colors just for you.  For those of you who are preparing to travel to Ogden and Park City, be sure to come safely and we will see you soon.  You should have received 2 letters from us by email--one in June and one just last week.  If you did not, then we might have a bad email address for you.  Be sure to give us a call.  Otherwise we will be waiting to welcome you here to a fabulous weekend.   

 Lizzie Kate Mystery

Yes we are very excited about Linda's new Mystery.  I have been told it is the best thing she has done.  It is in sweet colors, and Weeks is dying a new color for her ( I think.)  The saying is by Helen Keller, so that sounds interesting.  There will be embellishments and fun fabrics.  We will be doing this sampler just as she is doing it, as the sets come from Lizzie Kate.  You can order it with 28 count or 32 count linen.  It will begin the first part of November and will run for 3 months.  Please let us know  soon, if you are interested, we would love to have you join us.  As always you will get a fun surprise from us sometime during the mystery sampler.  Sorry--not sure about prices, I left that folder at work.   As always we charge you for the whole thing in November and then you just have to wait for a fun box in the mail...

Peasant Salad 

This is our summer stand-by salad--all fresh from the garden ( ours or the farmer's market)

It is soooooooo delish!  

Tina likes everything cut into small pieces, not diced but not big chunks somewhere in-between 

2 cucumbers 

1 med onion-  I use a sweet or red onion

1 bell pepper

3-4 medium tomatoes- (we love this with a fresh crop of cherry tomatoes- just throw in what you like,  My favorite is to mix red and yellow cherries, but we did not get any yellow cherry tomatoes this year.)  

Fresh Basil- about 1/4 cup- this I do cut up pretty fine. 

put everything in a bowl.

Dressing make in a pint  jar 

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar 

1  1/2 teasp. salt

1/4 teasp. ground fresh pepper

1 clove of garlic smashed

2 TLB. of capers- I chop them up and a squish them with the edge of a knife.

Put all dressing ingredients into the jar, and shake well.  Pour over the veggies and let sit for about 15 minutes--or longer.

We like to make big croutons out of crusty bread and serve with this yummy salad.  Ahhhh...one bite of this and you will want summer to last forever.  

Well  see you soon... maybe Tuesday, happy stitching.  Teri

Market Offerings

Hi Friends,

Here are our offerings for Market.  Enjoy!!!

Harvest Of Plenty Kit:  retail $54.00

Here is a sweet and gentle sampler to welcome in the Fall season.  The kit includes hand-dyed 32 count linen, silk threads and a packet of buttons.  

Autumn Sheep Kit:  retail $20.00

A sheep stands on top of a harvest hill almost hidden amongst the bounty of Autumn’s offerings.  This little kit comes with the 32 count stitching fabric, overdyed threads, and button. (a darling companion to Garden Sheep)

Safely Gathered Pin Cushion Kit:  retail $22.00

                                                 

This whimsical little pin cushion features overdyed threads, 32 count linen, hand-dyed buttons, ric-rac, and beads.  The perfect little Fall piece to tuck into your sewing box.   

Autumn Box Kit:  Retail $12.00

This fun Fall piece can be framed or finished in a sweet wooden box.     The kit comes with the 32 count linen, there

                                            Forget Me Not Bag Kit retail $24.00 

This adorable bag comes pre-made, all you get to do is the cross stitching--a sweet, old-fashioned sentiment in a meadow of sheep.  All the supplies are included to complete this wonderful bag.

Halloween Trifles Leaflet retail $8.00: 

Three spooky pincushions peek out to scare you.  Introducing Cobweb fabric from Fabric Flair.  We have complete kits available with all the supplies needed to finish all three pincushions.  These kits include the three stitching fabrics, spooky backing fabric, hand dyed ribbon, beads, buttons and the leaflet.  Complete kit $ 69.00

Pumpkin Harvest- Leaflet retail $8.00

This fun Fall design can be stitched on 20 count linen to be framed, or 30 count for the sweet pincushion.  You need a great set of buttons from our friends at JABCO for the framed piece and a wonderful set of pins for the pincushion.  We are happy to make you complete kits for the framed piece or the pincushion of both, just give us a call

 Pumpkin Harvest- Just Pins retail $15.50

Fall Ewe All:  Free pattern with purchase of button

Complete Kit $30.00

This is our complimentary pattern for this fall.  It is free with the purchase of the Polka Dot Pumpkin button.  

Enjoy  I will post a photo of more things later... thanks

st charles

St Charles Summer Market

Hi friends,

Teri can never miss an opportunity to get her camera up and going.  A bunch of us got together for dinner after we arrived at the Market, and we had a wonderful time catching up on life with each other.  It seems that we have spent the summer designing and kitting getting the Fold ready and the things ready to bring to market.  What fun!  There were many days when it was hard to differentiate whether we were making kits at work or making them at home.  I think that somewhere in my subconscious the scenery seemed to have changed and the light outside.  The good thing is that Sue and I at work, and Teri and I at home have come close to solving the world's problems. (If only new crises wouldn't happen out there while we sleep. )  We have some darling new designs that we are showing tomorrow, so watch our website and our blog to get a great look at what is new for early Fall.  I hope you love them as much as we do.  

Ok--now on to the Fold.  First of all, we are having so much fun with this project.  I hope that you are enjoying it as well.  AND I hope that you are keeping up and trying to get them stitched before the next one comes out.  We are obviously trying to make sure that you have PLENTY of time between each installment.  I always love a project that gets completed as I go along.  

I know...I know...you are wondering where Part 3 is.  We are beginning to wonder that ourselves.  No, not really.  Our back room in the shop is filled to overflowing with the kits just waiting to go out to you.  As usual we are wrangling linen so that we can post them all at the same time.  We are now just waiting for one last shipment, and we will be ready to go.  I have begged and pleaded with my linen friends to get it to me, and it is beginning to feel like the proverbial blood out of a turnip.  But they have promised (hmmmmmm) that I will have it when I get home from market, and then we will finish up the kits and get them off to you.  On an up note...I think you are going to love it!!!  Besides, just think of this delay as a great chance to get your first 2 parts finished up and ready.  How is your box finishing going?  I have heard from lots of you that you have successfully completed it.  Yay! 

Thank you so so so so much for your patience and kindness in your calls and thoughts.  We have not dropped off the face of the earth, and Part 3 is coming to you soon.  You might have noticed on the Fold Marketplace that we have a wonderful set of pins which we have had Cecile--at Jabco--design and make for us to match the Shepherd's Fold.  If you would like us to include it with your kit--just give us a quick call.  You can also check with your local shop to see if they would like to order them in for you.  They are very fun.

Fall Ewe All

Exclusive market kit:  $30.00

Here is your very own sneak peak at our market exclusive kit.  It is very darling and the perfect jump off for Fall.  This kit comes complete with 18 count natural linen, Weeks over-dyed cotton threads, Gentle Art Simply wool, and a fabulous polka dot pumpkin button which was hand-made for us by our great friend Dinah.  This is a limited kit so be sure to put it on your market wish list.  

Ok, sorry, Teri is wingeing at me to finish up and help her set up our room.  She stayed up most of the night decorating the outside of our room while I went to bed.  Sorry, Ter.  Now it is payback time and I have got to get my skates on and get moving.  (Well, maybe just a brief rest to get me started.)  Oh my gosh...the room looks so darling where she has set our new things up.  I seem to have kind of forgotten what we brought with us and it all looks quite sweet.  How fun!  Be sure to watch out blog tomorrow afternoon to see all of our new things.  And in the meantime, be safe and be cool out there in the world.  Hugs, Tina