end of February, 2011

Dear Friends,

Here I am home from the market and finally getting back to some sort of normal. We had such a great time in Nashville that I can hardly believe it is all over and we are back in Ogden again. There were many times in the frantic rush to get ready for the market, that I had to stop and really wonder if it was all worth it. Teri and I were stressed, and we seemed to pass that frenzy and fatigue onto all the girls at the shop who were also desperately doing their best to help us finish up and get rid of us for a few days. In my nighttime wakefulness and worry, I thought how much easier it would be to simply post our fun new designs on the website, click a button and call it good. I hate to fly and seem to dread it even more the nearer it comes. But then I sat in the window of the plane on Thursday evening and watched the lights of Nashville growing closer as we descended towards them, and I found myself surprisingly eager and excited, as though I were a child getting ready to land in Anaheim. We got our rental car, had a lengthy fight with Ms. Garmin, who insisted on speaking to us exclusively in German thanks to a whim of Christian's from last summer's road trip, and slowly made our way to Cool Springs snatching a much needed dinner and cache of Diet Coke on our way. By the time we finally made it to the hotel, cranky and tired from our long day of airborn metal captivity and dragging our 4 large suitcases wearily behind us, I just wanted to be back home. We rounded the corner and headed for the elevators, when I heard our names called out. Looking up, I saw a line-up of friends on the 6th floor balcony waving and shouting--and I almost cried. But a part of me laughed inside and thought--silly--you are home. And thus began a few short days of visiting and laughing and enjoying each other. Of course our floor of the hotel was filled with friends whom we love and see so rarely. We went to breakfast on Friday morning and sat at the bakery and talked forever until someone finally said that we really had to go and set up our room for the market. And even then, it was hard to just stay put and get it all done instead of looking outside the door for each new arrival and then starting the hugging and visiting all over again. In the end, we spent the long weekend seeing the many darling shop owners who leave their own shops and come to the market, and we had a chance to catch up with the other designers who set up their own booth-like rooms with their lovely treasures. We were slammed busy the first day and sold out of everything that we brought with us to show. But in the midst of our own craziness, Teri just kept hankering to get out there and start her own gathering frenzy for the shop. And what a blast she had! She and Ann from R & R spent both days sneaking out and flying around the hotel buying fabulous things for us to bring back home. (I have to admit that there were a few times when I was a bit worried.) But each time they would sail past dropping off more bags and chattering about their wonderful finds, the more I would catch their excitement. And at the end of a day of visiting with shops from all over the country and some overseas, we would head off to dinner where we would talk for hours, and then come back to the hotel and travel from room to room visiting and laughing until the not-so-wee hours of the morning. I know that I needed my sleep, but how can you waste much time doing that when the weekend goes by so quickly. This week I am making up for it in a zombie-like manner, and Teri has spent every evening calling Sydney and Pat and Ann to chat and compare notes on the market. Now that it is all over--the flight and the frenzy, the stress and the sweetness--the one thing that I have decided is that the best computer in the world could never begin to substitute for the laughter and joy and excitement of this brief time at market. So come with me for a minute or two and let me share with you some of the delights of the weekend.

On Tuesday, we all worked like crazy unpacking our suitcases and getting everything out and ready for our own Nashville afternoon. We had punch and cupcakes and the most darling friends and customers dropped by to catch the excitement. I had as much fun as anyone else looking over the tables which were brimming with fabulous new things that Teri had gathered up. I wish you could have all been here all week to share some of them with us. Oh well...I will try to tell you about some of them anyway. We had our own darling new things if I do say so myself. You can see the pictures of them on our website by going into the New from Shepherd's Bush link. Teri's new books--Irish Heart and Love is--are sweet and perfect for early spring stitching. Both have great button packs to go with. Pink Snowman is a new addition to our coloured snowman series, and I think it is quite cute. Stitched on Red Pear linen which Weeks dyed especially for us, she is just happy not to have melted yet. Teri's Tiny Garden Fob is going to be the first of a new series of implements. It is just as cheerful as Teri is, and quick and easy to finish up. PLus we have 2 new kits for the boxes: Hold Hope--the perfect spring scene--and Keep Love--a sweet heart great for any loved one. And finally, my favorite kit is Little Eggs Pin Cushion--a dear little piece finished with hand-dyed silk ribbon. Good luck choosing what to do first.

Pat and Ann from R & R had the most wonderful new chenille trim which they have dyed in scrumptious colours perfect for the Blackbird pin cushions. You just have to see it and you will want to get started on the perfect project. We have sold tons of it already and are looking forward to using it ourselves. Speaking of Blackbird--Barb and Alma had a wonderful booth brimming with fun new designs. I just love their Rewards of Merit and since Teri let me price all of their things before we came home, I had lots of time to just sit and look through them. Each little project is sweeter than the last and I would like to do them all. I have the materials pulled together to stitch Dear Friend while I watch the Oscars--if I finish my own homework first. I will let you know how it is coming. And if you haven't seen their big book--A Stitcher's Journey--you must! It is beautiful and filled with lovely photographs and projects that will make you yearn to do them all.

Our friend Jeanette, from Jeanette Douglas Designs, was in the room right next to ours so I had a few brief chances to dash in and see her lovely new things. Her Quaker Stitches is just beautiful and I am sure you will love stitching it up. Good luck deciding whether to work in in just one color or several. It is quite wonderful both ways. Her long Royalty ABC Sampler is also exquisite with its soft colours and pretty old stitches. There were so many fun new books, that I can never tell you all of them. Rosewood Manor had 2 new ones that our customers fell in love with. Past and Present is a great sampler filled with different stitches that I think would be a blast to stitch. And Emily Munroe Quilt is lovely and sort of Amish in nature--perfect for a new, big project. Then on a different note, Little House's Fresh From the Garden is simply adorable. The sampler itself is quite wonderful worked with great garden colours of Crescent Colours floss. And then, if you are lucky, you will also pick up her Exculsive Set which goes along with the sampler and includes the quilted needle book and tomato which are all finished and ready to go. Honestly, it is darling. Oh...and we also have Heirloom Sewing Tomatoes which are also already made in soft Blackbird fabrics. You will love them for sure. Then you have to try out Plum Street's newest offerings. Her brand new The Flood is fantastic. It is a rendition of Noah's Ark and it is just very fun. In our shop, we just love her Hare series. Her two newest ones--Hares Autumn and Hares Winter are very sweet. There is just something about them that makes me happy. I guess it just reminds me of those days of doing everything with 2 little boys in tow. Super sweet! And I forgot to mention the Ann Grant Sampler from Shakespeare's Peddler. We have had a few customers waiting for this to come in and everyone has been very happy about it. Teri has had fun this week laying out threads and helping everyone choose just the perfect linen for this project. Sorry, but you just need to come in and see everything.
We are also very happy to carrying something new for our shop. Namaste Boxes seem to be popular all over the country since our friends who own shops couldn't wait to go on and pick up their orders. They are beautiful little leather boxes lined with matching suede and magnetized to keep all our sewing implements safely in place. I can't wait to choose one for my stitching table so that everything will be right where I need them. My problem will be to choose the colour I want. They come in such heavenly hues--pinks, lime greens, eggplant, and red to name a few. You just have to come in and take a peek.

Oh...I could just go on forever. But, I promise to write again next week with new ideas for you. I think that Teri is going to post a picture or two of our Nashville displays, but if you want help--just call us, and Teri will give you a personal, over-the-phone tour. We are in a snow globe here, so I hope your weather is just a bit more spring-like. Nashville spoiled me since I got to pull out my shorts and flip-flops. Anyway, have a wonderful, and safe week.

fondly, Tina

ps: Our hearts and prayers go out to all of our friends in Australia and New Zealand as they try to deal with their own nature catastrophes. I just want you all to know that we are devastated for you and are sending our very best thoughts and wishes for your health and safety as you try to pick up the pieces of your lives. a million healing hugs, T

Dear Friends,

Remember me? I hope so, but then again, maybe not. I know that it has been quite a long time--as all of my friends are happy to remind me. Actually I think around Thanksgiving. Well that sort of says it all doesn't it? I really couldn't tell you what has happened with the last 3 months, except that things have been busy and crazy. We were very busy preparing for our shop Christmas open house the weekend after Thanksgiving, and from there it seemed like we were just in a continual whirlwind spinning through Christmas and January in no time flat. I think that is good. The shop has been extremely busy and we have had a blast making and shipping all of our Christmas designs. And now, we are on the brink of the Nashville Market having spent the past month diligently designing and preparing fun new kits and patterns. I think that we might almost be ready--at least I hope so. Of course, yesterday, we all worked hard finishing up everything as Ray,our printer, would deliver the patterns. We just turned the music up and tried to keep up with it. And surprisingly enough, by the end of the day, we seemed to be pretty much finished. We left work at 5:00--still on our winter hours--and I went home to fix dinner and finish helping Christian with some college app stuff. As we left work, I said to Teri--Yippee!!! we don't have any "homework" to do tonight--since we have spent the past 6 weeks either stitching or preparing kits. Honestly, I was very happy. Teri looked sort of sad and answered--what are we going to do? I knew she was off to a youth church activity, and then stopping back at work to finish packing a suitcase. That should have been my danger signal, so I was only mildly surprised when she called at 9:30 to tell me that she was just a tiny bit bored and had thought up 1 more project for us to work on. Oh, yay! I, of course, had happily put myself into slug mode and was zoned out on top of my bed staring at a wall. Her 3-hour project was fun, though, and now I think we are ready to go to market.

She is armed with her lists of things to gather for the shop, so if you are looking for something, be sure to call the shop and we will pick it up while we are there. Next Tuesday--February, 22nd--we will be having Market Day. We will be closed until noon, and then open from 12 to 5 for a super fun afternoon of Nashville treasures. Teri has ordered tiny, fabulous cupcakes from Vintage Cupcake and she will be making her friend, Ruth's world famous punch, so how can you not want to come by. We will hopefully have our own new things out as well as all of the wonderful finds that Teri scoops up at the market. I know that all of our friends are very excited about the new Blackbird books--as are we--and I can't wait to see the new books from Plum Street--Hare's Winter, Hare's Fall and The Flood. I don't know what else she is looking for, but I do know that she has been making a list, and she will be most impatient to get out and go shopping on Saturday. So...mark your calendars and try to stop by if you are close. We will leave the market things up all week if you can't come on Tuesday, but I fear that the punch and cupcakes will be long gone. I might try to post a blog at market, so watch for it. But don't be too surprised if I am confounded by technology. I will write again as soon as I get back.

I know that there will be a lot coming up on our website in the next week or so. Maybe a blog from market, and Kristin is going to try to post our new things on the main page of our web site on Saturday, so be watching for it. Then, next week, we will post some of the fun things we have found at market on the blog, so that should be fun. In the meantime--here are 2 new things which we have gotten back from Jill:

Bent Creek's St Patrick's Row is very darling. I love what Teri did with it. Good Luck!

Everyone here is enchanted with this little sampler--Clara Ellen--from Blackbird. Teri had it stitched for our mom, and honestly, it is just beautiful. Don't you just love what Jill did with the mat and frame?

Are you now a little bit excited. Well we certainly are. I am just hoping that the good weather lasts for the market. In the meantime, stay safe and stay tuned...hugs, Tina

Almost Thanksgiving, 2010

Dear Friends,

Teri took a picture of pumpkins on the front wall. I love how it looks--so Autumnal. Of course we have to set them back up every day because Lindbergh seems to have a need to nudge them off and roll them around the yard every day. They make me happy because that means that we are still languishing in a beautiful Indian Summer here in Utah with only a slight nip in the air to remind us that Snow is on its way. We have actually had a few little blizzards already, but always followed by plenty of sunshine. I am still wearing flip-flops and am counting on the snow staying well up into the mountains where it rightfully belongs. Teri, on the other hand, has happily embraced the coming season by making a great and important purchase. She always peruses the little cookbooks that reside next to the cash registers at the grocery store, and generally purchases many of them as Christmas approaches. This year however, she made an emergency trip to Rite Aid where she found an excellent full size magazine of holiday cooking. She has made many of the recipes to serve at work, and I have to say that they are very yummy. We have had a good time picking things to try, and luckily enough for us, they have all worked out so far. The truly magical thing about this magazine is that when you go to the back cover and turn it upside down--you know, Martha Steward-like--there is an entire section of recipes to use with the pouches of sugar cookie mix. How lovely! So...if you are up our way on a Saturday, just stop by and see what the recipe choice for this week is. Yumm!

I know that Thanksgiving is only a week away, but I always feel a little bad that stitching for that holiday gets a little lost in the enthusiasm for Halloween. But we have some absolutely darling pieces and everyone has been excited with them. Here are a few to share with you. This is one of my favorite tiny pieces. Waiting For the Harvest is a wonderful pin cushion from the Blackbird girls. I just love how Teri has it stitched on the hand-dyed grey check with the dark thread. Isn't it quite cool? And of course it is finished perfectly.

And here is a fabulous little piece that Naomi-- a sweet customer of ours--brought in to show us and ended up leaving for a couple of weeks for us to display. It is Uber Turkey by Bent Creek. She worked it on a 14 count instead of the really big fabric and I think it is adorable. Just makes you smile.

But then so does the Lizzie Kate Thanksgiving Quick It. We have it stitched on a 10-count and made into a sweet pillow just perfect for the coming holiday. Plus, the added bonus is that you could do it before Thanksgiving. How fun!

And finally here is a picture of one of Teri's Autumn displays. I think we have some really lovely pictures even if it is for next year. Have fun looking through them.

I know that we all have a busy week ahead of us getting ready for next Thursday. I am hoping to write sometime next weekend, so keep your eye on the computer. We might be putting up some recipes for the holidays--if we ever stop cooking out of the new magazine. Oh and don't forget that our Christmas Open House will be on November 27--the Saturday after Thanksgiving--from 11:00-4:00. Teri and I just planned the treat menu this morning on our way to Salt Lake and it sounds quite delicious. Plus we have many fun holiday things ready for the day. Plus, plus we will have several new things that we have designed. Maybe a new book from Teri and I will have hopefully 4 new little kits--if all goes well. I have been having so much fun stitching this past month. So here is your personal invitation to drop by and enjoy our festive table and look at all our new Christmas offerings. Fa la la--see you there.
fondly, Tina

October, 2010

Hi Friends,

Autumn Grace

Somewhere in the busy craziness of our last month, Autumn has crept upon us. I woke up earlier this week and noticed that the ivy which clings to my bedroom windows has turned completely and beautifully yellow. It's dark when we get up in the morning and the bite of Fall is suddenly in the pre-dawn air. Our massive crop of tomatoes has finally come into its own unaware of the first frost quietly lurking around the corner, and our Japanese lanterns--in their brilliant orange hues--are boldly peeking out from the foliage along my driveway. Sometimes in the early evenings I can smell that sweet, musky smoke of a woodburning stove somewhere in the neighborhood, and gone are the lazy strolls of summer as our walks with Lyndbergh have become brisker and more purposeful. Our conversations at work now revolve around stuffed peppers, cobblers, and meat loaves as we embrace the final vestiges of a late summer harvest. Only, this morning I left Teri happily wrangling a large, blue squash, and I happily anticipate the joys of baking up that sweet, golden meat. I love Fall in all its loveliness, and always look forward to the holidays that come right on its heels, but I must say that there is a bittersweet aftertaste in its splendour. Once it is here, there is no pausing its progression, for just as surely as the leaves change their colours, Winter snows will follow and one more year will have quickly spent itself before our very eyes.

Well, our Retreat is over, and what a great time we had. It is hard to believe how quickly the week goes by. We have prepared for a year, and spent the better part of the past 4 months doing just retreat projects, so when it is over Teri feels sad and at loose ends, and I just try to pick up my house and do the wash. Christian claims that I haven't cooked real food in a month, and he knows his food. But...what a time we had. I just wish that you all could have been with us. Perfect weather, perfect hotel, perfect teachers, and perfect participants. Wow--onto planning for 2012. Here are a few pictures that Teri put together of our time:

Tina, Charland, and Teri at the Birthday party

Mindy Brunner, Jeannette Douglas and Charland help Sue  assemble our new leaflets.
They were so great to help!!!

The welcome project at the Retreat was a stitched button to add to their bags.
Everyone finished their buttons.

Charland's Project was a beautiful stitching purse with lots of different parts and
pockets.

Alma is showing the blackbird project was a wonderful stitching tray. What a great idea.

Jeannette Douglas shows her amazing piece My Story. It is fabulous!


Pat and Anne of R & R stitched a darling sampler on a bag. It is very neat!

Tina and I show our project... well Tina's project. A sampler within a sampler.

Our other teacher was Cece Stricklin of the Threadgatherer, She showed us how to make the most amazing books out of needlework. Why don't I have a picture of her books???? They are fantastic!

All the classes were so much fun!

Some of the teachers poise by the autumn displays at the Canyons Resort.

We relaxed on Sunday at the Park Silly Market. I think Charland is getting a set of stilts for herself!

It was odd not going to the St. Charles market, but no matter how much pleading and begging we did a year ago could tempt them not to schedule it on the very same weekend as our retreat. Having booked our hotel almost 2 years ago, we didn't have any way of doing both. We did do a lot of shopping the market over the telephone, and loved having so many wonderful new things for the weekend as well as into October. Gosh there were so many new patterns for Halloween that we have been totally busy getting them stitched. Our stitchers have been working like little angels to get everything done quickly. A million thanks to all of them. I am sure you have seen our new books on our main page. First of all the new stocking is Sadie's Stocking. She is sweet and ready for Christmas stitching. She uses a mixture of DMC Perle cotton and overdyed perle cotton, and I hope you love the colours as much as I do. Sharon Crescent dyed Nutmeggie specially for us to use on her dress. Then you must see Teri's 2 new nine-pane pillows: Hallow's Eve and Autumn Gives. I think that they are such quick and darling projects and Teri always chooses the greatest colours and backing fabrics. She and Cecile--at Just Another Button Co.--worked back and forth on designing the most adorable buttons for them. You will just love the little smiling moon and autumn garden buttons. And finally, we have a new shop exclusive kit Halloween is Creeping which comes with a darling hand-done mat by Jill. If I have a picture of it, I will put it up right here for you to see.

We also have some wonderful new designs out in the shop as well. Our friend Marilyn stitched Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow for us and as you can see below, it is unbelieveable. Teri went through and changed all the silk colours to overdyed floss and it is amazing. The overdyed colours give it such a dimension and joy it truly takes your breath away.

Another darling picture that we have framed and ready for this year is Shakespeare's Peddler's Jenny Bean Halloween sampler. Isn't is gorgeoous? I love this piece which is definitely on my to-do list.

New for the St. Charles market were the various patterns from the friends of Jenny Bean. A number of designers have created pieces as friends of Jenny Bean and they are very darling. Some of them include: Bell Pepper--a darling Christmas sampler done by Little House. I think my friend, Judy, just stitched it for us, so I will put up a picture when it is ready. Winnifred Gardner is a truly beautiful sampler designed by Pat and Ann at R & R. This is a sweet reproduction-like sampler that comes with a little story about the children. I would also love to stitch this piece. I know you will love it.

Here's another sweet piece by Plum Tree: Hare's Halloween. It is new for us this year and it is quite darling.

Oh, and I can't forget Candy Corn: isn't this just the cleverest little piece. We made it into a stand-up with black ric-rac along the edge. Fabulous!

And then there are so many new books that we received from market, that we might not even get stitched for this year. But I will mention them and maybe Teri will take a picture--or maybe not. Primitive needle's Halloween Garden and Hoodoo Voodoo are charming and hilarious--respectively. If you have older boys, you will love the voodoo piece. Prairie Moon's Thine is the Trick and the Treat is a fabulous little Quaker Halloween piece that I know we will stitch for next year. And there are a zillion more. Oh well, Halloween comes again every year. Finally, don't forget to take a look at Lizzie Kate's Halloween fob. The thing I love most about this little kit is the pair of scissors you get--half green and half purple. Darling!

OK, I have to go--you know I am still working on my wash and Christian will be starving.

Hopefully I will write next week, so until then be safe and well.

fondly, Tina

Mid-July, 2010

Hi Friends,

My summer has reached a low point. I know that sounds like a drastic thing to say, but it's true--my emotions are shattered. And it all happened because of a movie. I love to go to the movies--especially when it is hot outside with a long, lazy evening stretching out before us. I am not even super picky about what we go to. I love sci-fi, chick flicks, period pieces and even sometimes a shoot-em-up for Bob. My only thing is that I hate cry-er movies. I like sweet or touching, but I just don't do out and out crying. I would never go to a Nicholas Sparks movie, and I am completely over films like Terms of Endearment. So...when I mentioned Toy Story 3 and both boys were enthusiastic to go, I was very excited! Wow--a family activity. That just doesn't happen very often for us anymore. Well it was a wonderful movie, and we all laughed throughout the whole thing. I especially loved Barbie and Ken, and of course those films are written as much for adults as they are for kids. But I knew I was in trouble from the very beginning when Andy was getting ready to leave for college. Somehow it just hit too close to home for me. Andy and my Christian are both 17--although Chris is still in high school. I remember when the first Toy Story movie came out in the late fall, and all he wanted for Christmas was Woody and Buzz Lightyear. We spent 2 months on a frantic quest for the impossible-to-get toys, and Teri finally found them by accident on Christmas Eve. Peter and Christian played with them like crazy, and I had to remove Buzz from Christian's bed every night because he was so hard and pokey. At some point Buster joined the crew, and all the toys and trains in our house galloped about on him necessitating many little mends and patches. So, anyway, by the end of this absolutely darling movie, even my boys were discreetly wiping a tear or two away, and I was just out and out sobbing. You would think that I was watching Steel Magnolias. I kept thinking--come on, get a grip, you have to leave this theater. But it is true. So---even if everyone tells you it is the best movie of the summer--beware! If you have a 17 year old boy receiving a plethora of college advertisements, and if that same child still has a much-the-worse-for-wear Buzz, Woody and Buster sitting at the very top of his book shelf, may I suggest you just go and see the rodeo.

Gosh, where is the summer going? I sort of hate to see July wind down because I know that school and fall is lurking behind the corner. Ugh! However, I do love the thoughts of Fall holidays and getting ready for them here at the shop. Teri has already put up a little teaser Halloween display, and it is darling. I love her little sign: Halloween is creeping up. Clever, Teri.

I just love how she has pulled out some of our favorite pieces and so look forward to the new ones that will be coming. Jack is Back is such a fun piece, and the new Pumpkin Kat from Mosey and Me is fabulous. Don't you think that it will be a fun one to stitch and have ready from the holiday? Also, Jolly Jack is a very fun new piece that just makes you happy with its merry pumpkin and crows. I also love Charland's darling Halloween stocking. And this is just the beginning...

July in Utah is patriotic through and through. We seem to start our celebrating for the 4th and continue on until the 24th when we celebrate Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley. I guess summer is somewhat patriotic everywhere in the United States. So...it isn't too late to stitch this darling new piece which we just got back from Jill. Flag Day is such a sweet, sweet picture. (Of course I have quite a soft spot for peasant women and sheep anyway.) The colours are very soft and muted, and I love what Teri chose to stitch it on. If you are still in a flag-y mood, here's your piece.


Thanks for our friend Cathy, we are now carrying a line of wonderful oil cloth bags. We have a variety of Zipper bags as well as totes in many different fabrics. There is something just fun about the oil cloth rage that makes me want to have some of each style. Whether you are into cherries or polka dots, or more into retro florals or chic black and white prints, there is something for everyone. Just try and make a choice.

Teri discovered the Stitch Happy series at a recent market, and we have had so much fun with them. My favorites are the clear shopping bags which are perfect for a big project--or, indeed shopping. Teri likes them because she can see at a glance which project is hiding within. The mugs are fun and cheerful, and everyone at your house or office will definitely know whose mug it is. We also love the journals which are perfect for keeping track of stitching or threads. They are a bargain at $6.50 and I can think of so many fun uses. They even have neat sticky notes which would be handy at all times.

Well, we are on the brink of my favorite holiday here in Utah--not. We celebrate our founder's day on July 24th complete with rodeos, painted horses, parades and fireworks. We will be parading tomorrow, so don't come shopping as we will be closed for the day. The rest of the day we will be enduring the heat, avoiding cooking and I will be thinking of a good reason to come back to work where it is cool. Happy Summer! I think we are planning a nice, cool movie for the evening. But, guess what, it won't be Toy Story. Have a fun rest of July and I will write again shortly. Be safe and cool.

ever fondly, Tina
PS--eat ice cream.

July 4th weekend, 2010

Dear friends,

My Mom often told me--be careful what you wish for.... Well, of course she was right, and it all started with a sweater that Teri insisted on buying. You know, she is quite crazy about bees anyway, so when Pat and Ann told her to go to the mall and buy this shockingly vibrant bee sweater, she couldn't wait to get there. With June well underway, she arranged an entire bee/beehive display here at the shop and took great joy in pointing out some of her favorite pieces to enthusiastic customers. The pictures did look very appealing both inside the shop and through the front window. The next morning--I think in celebration of her excellent work at the shop--she donned the yellow sweater, and we set off for work. Upon arriving, we were greeted by Lynnette and Sue who reported that we seemed to have a number of bees in the front window. Hmmm...how odd. They were right--there were a number of bees and their numbers were growing by the hour. Upon investigation, we discovered that we actually had a small swarm of honey bees who had flown in through a tiny, tiny hole in the brick near the front windows. I can only think that they were searching for their queen amongst our plethora of stitched hives. We then spent most of the day carefully transporting bees from the front window to a box in the backyard. We talked ever so quietly to them as we were moving them--so that they would stay calm--and stopped just short of singing to them in case our customers would think we had completely and collectively lost it. But, you know Queenie sings to her bees and they love her. All day long, we instinctively brushed embroidered bees off of the famous sweater. We were sure that we had saved hundreds of our little friends, but when the beekeeper came to fetch them, he just snorted. It was a bit of an adventure after all, and we had a laugh remembering a number of extremely odd adventures that we have had at our shop over the years. In the end, I think that some good things come from strange circumstances: I no longer feel a need to procure a beehive for my back yard, and Teri hasn't worn the cheerful sweater since.
Besides beekeeping, our June has been busy. We have several new designs ready. I think that the pictures might be on the homepage now, but I am going to put them up here as well. Our Summer Offerings are gentle and sweet--filled with our own love and gratitude for the many, many friends who are part of our lives. For truly, what would life be like without them...

The Journey is a new kit which I hope you will love as much as I do. It is a gentle reminder of the joy of dear friends. It is worked on 32 count French Vanilla overdyed linen with soft and beautiful overdyed silk threads. Tiny charms and buttons complete this sampler. $50.00--kit

Our Hearts Pin Cushion and the Safe Keeping Fob were designed to go with the Journey piece. Both of these kits come with everything you need to complete them except the batting to stuff them. Both are cross stitched with silk threads on French Vanilla 32 count linen. The fronts and the backs are stitched and the edges are adorned with beautiful hand-dyed silk ribbons. Pin Cushion--$20.00 Fob--$16.00

This sweet piece--Friends-- is worked in soft silks on a hand-dyed linen fabric. It works up quickly and would be a perfect gift for your very own soul mate. kit--$20.00

And at last, Summer Flies pillow. Worked on the 9 pane fabric, this summer piece goes with the rest of the series which Teri has been working on. It is darling and shows off a beeskep button in the center square. Worked with overdyed cotton threads, it is quick and easy to get stitched and put together for your warm summer days. book--$5.00 button--$6.00

I guess I am going to try to get this off and hopefully up to you before the firecrackers have fizzled. Enjoy a wonderful July and try to keep cool. Aren't these the perfect stitching evenings. I think so. I am planning to write again next week, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Until then--hug a friend and be careful what you wish for.
fondly, Tina

Early June, 2010

Dear Friends

Gosh--how did it become June? Is it just my age, or is time truly spinning faster with each year? All I know is that if it is June, then summer must be right around the corner. Here in Utah, we still seem to be stuck halfway between winter and summer. I am not sure what happened to spring. It doesn't seem to be a Utah occurrence anymore. I just keep telling myself--don't complain, soon it will be creeping on to 100 degrees. But I have to admit that I am imminently going to be able to hire Teri in her gypsy garb and open a poisonous apothecary shop next door when I harvest the plethora of ominous mushrooms which seem to be covering my front lawn. Just beware at my house if you find Chicken Marsala on the menu. My weekend was full of crazy emotions for me. My oldest child graduated summe cum laude from college, and my baby left for a month in Germany on a student exchange. Talk about wanting to cry. Where did my little sword wielding pirates go? Christian spent the weekend spiraling between excitement and terror, so we have imparted many little tricks to ward off homesickness as well as lots of reminders of how much fun it will be. I suggested that when he was worried or lonely, he should just text and tell me all he has been doing. Well...it's 4 days later and except for a blurred photo of a sign reading Welcome to Frankfurt (I guess to let me know he was there safely,) I have heard nothing. Finally, after my own somewhat threatening text with a list of at least 25 extremely important questions that every mom needs to know, I got an answer on my phone. I grabbed a coke and went outside at the shop so that I could enjoy his reply with no interruptions. I clicked the text open and read--I'm great! Oh....this will be a very long month.

We are very busy here. We are just finishing a group of wonderful new kits and patterns just perfect for summer stitching. I hope we will have them on the website in the next week or two and I will definitely put them on my next blog. Yay!!! We are also crazy getting ready for our Retreat in the fall. I hope you are coming, because it's going to be the best one ever. We are almost completely full, so if you are still considering it--now is the time to act.

We have the most darling new pieces which Jill has framed and sent back to us. Just wait until you see them. Lizzie Kate's Green

is fabulous! Of course Teri has tweaked the colours and chosen a wonderful fabric-- and it is perfect. This pattern is actually a series of 6 little patterns and when you buy them, you get the free border pattern. We also added buttons to the ones that come with the booklets. Then, when you see the little cut-outs that Jill has added to the frame, you will just weep. Truly darling.

Another new picture which we have just gotten back from Jill is With Thy Needle. I love to look at this piece. It is very rustic and sweet. I love the colours Teri chose for it, and would really like to stitch it myself. You just have to look at all the detail like the circles and swirls. The over-dyed linen and the weathered thread make it appear like a piece that your great-grandmother might have stitched. Perfect for summer stitching?

And don't you just love this whimsical new little piece called: Dandy Dreams? It is sweet and nostalgic, and the colours we've used are so soft and comforting. It is such a darling. And the added bonus to it is that I have become more tolerant of the dandelions in my own yard. Every time I see one popping up, I just think about this piece and decide that I don't really mind them so much after all. You could argue, however, that stitched ones are significantly better than live ones.

Well--I have been working on this tiny blog for several days now, so I am just going to send it off and hopefully write again next week. I hope that your week is filled with flowers, and sunshine, and happy stitches.

ever fondly, Tina