Shorttakes
For Me???
You're so Sweet!
Tell me you didn't just yank that flower out of my garden!
Isn't this adorable? Catherine stitched this little snippet from the Wordplay: February design, Molly painted a primitive little box for it & then we finished it with some twisted cording! Catherine said, "wouldn't this be so sweet for a guy to stitch? Especially if he were getting ready to propose? Or to put some chocolates in for Valentine's Day?" Obviously, she has VERY ROMANTIC notions. I don't disagree with her, & we have some guys that stitch (usually better than most of us), but in my PERSONAL experience, I was always impressed if my boyfriend made the effort on Valentine's Day to buy me a beer in a bottle, not just whatever's on tap that night.....
Alphabet Noir - from A Mon Ami Pierre. I loved stitching this! My favorite part is the flower meandering thru the alphabets. This design was stitched originally in black (or noir), but I'm more of a blue girl so I used Blackboard from Sampler Threads. I stitched it on 40ct linen, over 2 threads, using 1 strand of floss. The frame is approx. 9x9. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I never even considered needing more than 1 skein of floss; I mean, it's not THAT big, & I'm only using 1 strand, right? WRONG! I used 3 skeins of Sampler Threads & I'm here to tell ya, I rarely rip things out (I "adjust"), or use more than I need. Nor do I don't cross each stitch as I go, as many people say you MUST with an overdyed (what....the cross stitch police are gonna come get me?), which uses much more thread. So, be aware of this. If you are stitching something where your color "must" match (I'm not real big on that either - shake it up if you have to - but I know some stitchers are), get more than you think you'll need. And another note: the stitch count is 156 x 156. Square, no? Uh, no. Don't ever assume that just because it SHOULD be square, that it IS square. Obviously, I must pull my stitches a bit - either up & down or left & right, I'm not sure which. Just be sure to MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE for your frame.
Oh, one other thing I did ~ the alphabet on the left conveniently had my initials (BED) charted in a loose row. So I stitched them in a different color (ST Otter Creek). Not a huge color change, just a subtle little twist.
Really Nancy, I STITCHED IT!!
Framing sale ends on Tuesday!
You've got a few more days to take advantage of our January edition of the framing sale, so finish up that stitching! Any framing brought in thru Tuesday January 31, and paid in full, will be discounted 20% (including the mounting fee!). Perhaps this is just the push you need to finish off that piece that's "so close" (eh, Patty?).
In the meantime, the rest of us just keep starting new projects (or adding to our stash).
The new goodies we got in last week from Pineberry Lane were so popular we ordered more this week & expanded our selection (because we can't make a decision...so we need even more).
Treasured Blossoms Pinkeeps - I thought this was a cute when I first saw it. THEN I actually LOOKED at it: the top one spells out MOTHER, the bottom one says FRIEND. Treasured blossoms indeed!
Little Dog Marking Sampler - Two of my favorite things: samplers & dogs!
Spring - from Widgets & Wool. The promise of spring!!
Spring in Bloom - from Widgets & Wool. I like this design, but I think I'd have to go with cheerier, springtime colors!!
American Woolen Mill - from Widgets & Wool Primitives. Ewe're so cute.
Shearing Shop - from Widgets & Wool. Love the little sheep at the bottom. Just a little (useless) knowledge for you: if you're the fastest shearer in NZ each year, you win the "Golden Shears". That is actually a cool thing to watch ~ & according to Ruthie, they're trying to make it an Olympic sport (really? We can't keep baseball, but you're gonna try for sheep shearing? Can you say, curling?).
American Wool - from Widgets & Wool. Love his little blanket!
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Willow Berries - from Ink Circles. Gorgeous!!!!!
Attractive Opposites - from Ink Circles. Holy cow, we'll never get that name right! Fortunately, the designs are great!
Great is Thy Faithfulness - from My Big Toe Designs. What a lovely design! I like the colors she's used ~ but I also like the 2nd one below it: all stitched in 1 color!
The Way, Truth, Life - from My Big Toe Designs. Wonderful words, lovely design.
Little Cuties, Vol. I - from Val's Stuff. And they are little cuties! What fun these will be to stitch. I like that way she's finished these - just a bit of wool or chenille & cute little bits & buttons.
Snowflake Welcome - from MarNic. This is really pretty - just right for your entry thru the Winter months.
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Strawberry Plant - from Filigram. An instant favorite here (wonder why?). Each time is look at this, I see something new - love all the garden creatures. And of course, I love the border. And look closely, the little flowers are done in silk ribbon (EASY, EASY, EASY). There is a pack of silk threads & ribbon available for this design.
Sweet Sheep - from Filigram. This is adorable! Look how the wool comes right of the sheep, over to the spinning wheel, then off to the scarf! Her little heart bloomers are sweet too!
Seasonal Wreaths - from The Vickery Collection. These are simply stunning. Stitch one, 0r stitch them all.
Wild Animal Bookmarks - from Imaginating. Wow! These are way too pretty to be bookmarks!!
Lots of "smalls" from Homespun Elegance!
Heart Posies - Oh so sweet!
Needles & Pins - need I say more?
Star Bright Pincushion - just the right size.
Anne Lancaster's Needle Book - from PineBerry Lane. A primitive little needlebook!
Autumn on Marigold Lane - from PineBerry Lane. This is even prettier stitched (we're talkin' about you, Marie)! And yes, we were confused at first which way was up - I know, you're not surprised.
NEWSFLASH!!
Ruthie seems to be master of her blog-domain again - with not just a little encouragement from the blog-sperts here at the shop (that would be....NOT ME.....Molly & Catherine), & the gals on the floor (particularly Mary Anne - who refuses to accept Ruthie's tales of woe about her disagreements with her computer). Click on over & check it out....but don't get started if you're in a hurry ~ it's a long & winding (or windy) road & usually by the end you'll forget where (or why) you started. But it is fun to read & promises to be more & more informative as she figures out more & more tricks. You've been warned.
Valentine Welcome - from MarNic. Isn't this lovely?
Love - from Imaginating. Gorgeous!!!!
Weeks Dye Works Floss
Great new colors - bright choices or lovely, soft sampler colors.
Weeks Dye Works linens
Sanguine ~ we think this is gonna be a fabulous color!
Purple Rain ~ could there be a better color for fun Halloween designs?
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Chincoteague - from Carriage House Samplings. Oh my goodness! I love this nautical sampler. And even though I haven't been there, I read all the "Misty of Chincoteague" books, so I feel like a local (riiiiiiiight!!).
Counting Sheep - from Carriage House. So sweet! Wouldn't this be cute for a baby's room? Maybe stitched on blue fabric? And my moon would be .... not orange.
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Shaw, A Quaker Reproduction Sampler - from Carriage House. Not only is this a cool sampler, we love the fact that they found it in New Oxford, PA! Why is it that I never "discover" things like this?
Hands & Hearts - from Cross Point Designs. So sweet!
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Stitch an Inch - Winter - from By the Bay. What a gorgeous color of blue! I really like this design ~ even with the white stuff! Because that's where it belongs: in pictures!!
Winter Joy - from Homespun Elegance. Oxymoron, from Beth. He's cute though!!
Midwest Snowmen - from Widgets & Wool. Okay, we don't know what makes them "Midwest", but they're cute!!
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Lil St Patty's - from Sunflower Seed. Totally cute, quick to stitch & fits in a ready-made frame! What could be better? Okay, well maybe a pot o' gold, but hey.....
A Little Irish - from Cross Point Designs. I love the border on this!!
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NOTE!!
We got these little kits in this week & discovered that Linda left a symbol out of the key. She's already corrected it & posted it on her site, but we wanted to put a little note out. The "/" symbol (which is the the letter "L" on the chart) is WDW Purple Haze (or DMC 3740. Any questions, give us a call!
My Desk - from Imaginating. Hey, this looks really neat & organized ~ well, maybe not the May calendar...
Not One Thing - from My Big Toe Designs. Yeah! But around here it's more like 10 others!!!! No worries, though....
.It's All Good - from My Big Toe Designs. This one is FOR ME! A reminder that I need almost EVERY DAY & a blue flower that I love (is it a hydrangea? An allum plant?) I spend just enough time at Longwood Gardens to sound like I know what I'm talking about...but all I really know is I LIKE IT!
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Super Bowl Sunday is February 5th!
And you know what that means....
That's right! It's Baseball season!!!!
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Oh, yeah, and the Super Bowl Sale!
Kick off is at 12 Noon. The 2 pitiful Packers fans will be here (we told them they must learn to work thru their pain). Feel free to arrive a wee bit early for the Pre-Game, where you can purchase your Girl Scout Cookies right outside our front door (Woohoo! This is by far my favorite part of Super Bowl). Cookies are not discounted & worth EVERY PENNY (believe me, I've already motored thru 4 boxes so far & they're better than ever). We've already had the coin flip, so we know who will be where on Sunday. Uniforms are not required (you can always spot a fellow stitcher).
Here are the ground rules:
*Game time is 12 noon to 4PM ~ no overtime (or you WILL see some sudden death).
*All items are 20% off (only exclusions are DMC & large Dazor lamps).
*There will be no framing or finishing taken in on Sunday.
*If we are out of something, you can order it; as long as you pay for it on Sunday, you'll get your discount.
*Looking for something we don't normally carry? If it's available from one of our regular suppliers, we can get it for you & it will be eligible for your discount.
*What if you couldn't get tickets for the big game (er, sale)? No worries, you can order online - just be sure to get your order in on Sunday (NO PHONE ORDERS).
*We won't be answering the phone on Sunday (our headsets seem to malfunction & we don't want to miss a call).
I believe this just about covers it, but if there are updates, we'll let you know!
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? * # ?? @ % !!
Earlier this week, on the way to baseball practice with Chris, I asked him if he thought Peyton (Manning, star quarterback for the Colts - not playing on Super Bowl Sunday) would be at the game cheering for Eli (his brother, the star quarterback for the Giants - who WILL be playing on Super Bowl Sunday). Chris' answer: "......nah". Really?? Dude, the game's in Indianapolis (home of the Colts), & it's his BROTHER. Don't you think he'll go? Chris: "Why? He's not playing." So I said to him: what if Jimmy was playing in the World Series? Wouldn't you go to his games? Chris: "Would I be playing?" Anybody feeling my pain here? sigh. So I said, what if your team didn't make it? WOULDN'T YOU GO WATCH YOUR BROTHER?? Chris: "What if I didn't like his team?" I tried another tack: do you think Jim would come see you if you were playing in the World Series? Chris: "What if I don't make the MLB? Although I will, so that's no big...." Yep. I gave up. I TOLD him he WOULD go & watch his brother play in the World Series & I was pretty positive that Peyton (remember how this all started??) would be watching his brother & cheering for him (whether he likes his brother's team or not!!).
So then we moved on to a (theoretically) safer & (theoretically) easier subject. I asked him who he thought was gonna win the Super Bowl (safer & easier as his dad was born & raised in Boston & lives & dies with the Pats, Red Sox, Celtics & Bruins - not necessarily in that order). Chris (very diplomatically) said, "Well.........I think the Giants. But REALLY I'm rooting for the Patriots!" SERIOUSLY? You're gonna go there??
"STOP TALKING TO ME! I'M READING!!!"
Actually, that? I love!
JOIN US FOR the SUPER BOWL - WHERE WE'RE THE WINNERS!!!
Hugs & Stitches ~
Beth & all the cheerleaders at TSS (where you always like the team)
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