Greetings Stitchers,
Happy New Year! Granted....I might be a bit late on the greetings...but the sentiment is as strong as ever!!! Our best wishes to you and yours for a 2007 full of health, happiness, love, laughter and stitching!!
As I wrote this to you, I was quite literally under attack, wondering HOW life changed SO DRASTICALLY!!! 6 years ago....my house would be clean....most things in their place...and I would be settling into a project of stitching. Tonight, I sit in our home office, dodging little nerf ball things whizzing by my head (a Christmas present that I now have questions about....not delivered from Santa or Mom and Dad!!), while sipping a Capri Sun Fruit Punch juice box, trying to maneuver the straw just right so I can get the last bit of juice out of the bottom, and I can't move my chair around too much because there's a field of green army men saving the world behind me. Ch-ch-ch-changes.
Here's a picture of the boys at Christmas, upon receiving this gift from Nana and Pa.
Now...I can't lay the blame on Nana.....after watching it...she said these should be "lost", quickly....but we thought...oh, no...they'll have fun with these...once it's a little calmer.
Well, they're having fun all right!
Us in Boston....that's Nana...she's ready to trash these things already.
January is here....and just like September...our minds return to some sense of normalcy, a routine, and stitching projects for US! No more stress of stitching for gifts, deadlines for finishing....and though we might have the best of intentions for next year....I think it's safe to take January off. (Who are we kidding......at least until July).
This is what I'm presently working on; Forest Snowfall from Country Cottage Needleworks.
I'm working it on 28ct Monet Blue...I'll update you on my progress. It's a fun project. It's about the extent of snow I might be interested in. (I probably wouldn't mind snow....but I'm TELLING you there is a magnetic force field that comes through snow and rain that sends children bouncing off the walls....so 'nuff said). I'm enjoying the return of some of my favorite shows (24, American Idol), and the warmth of a needle gliding through my fabric, and bedtime for two little boys.
There are SO MANY wonderful new things. Incredible new samplers from Ackworth School Samplers. They are just incredible. Great gadgets and accessories....wonderful projects for a cold winter's day and evening. Find something for YOU...enjoy and let's start stitching.
A few things that you might notice. Under our 2007 Stitching Section - under New Goodies on the front page - is where you'll find all of the new things that come in through the year. As other new things come in.....the older things will get transferred to their "proper" sections in Featured Designs. (holiday, season, samplers etc) In our newsletters....what I am trying to do is to link each photo with its detailed information. So, you can click on the photo and have it take you to the specifics in our online catalog. Hopefully this makes sense....and it's easy! That's what we're aiming for.
Now...let's go find some stitching projects!!!
Hugs and Stitches...
Abby and the girls
If you don't receive the photos in this email...just pop over to our shorttakes link.
Ackworth School Quaker Samplers
These samplers have been, hands down, all the talk around the shop this last week. I thought we were going to have to wrap them in a protective coating...for the drool coming out of these girls. Then, of course, upon seeing them...I had to flop my own chin back into place. They are just stunning...and such a wonderful glimpse into the history of stitching. We have all taken turns reading through the incredible stories that come with each sampler. Some stories are specific to that sampler..others generally relating to the time in which these were stitched.
  
These are three of the 4. There's also a wonderful reference book.
To read specifics on each of these samplers, you can pop over to our New News Section.
Whatever you do....if you are interested in these treasures...don't delay.
They are printed in limited quantities. The supply that we have of Sarah Moon's Quaker Sampler is all that we will receive.
The snowflakes fall.....
it's time to snuggle in one and all.
A new project we will need....
while those pretty flakes fall on last year's seeds.
With our stitches of snow ...
there's no back breaking shoveling, chills or red nose.
So, off with our needles....keep them aglow
throw a log on the fire...and let's go sew.
  
Here are a few of the projects you'll find in Snow Fun Times under New Goodies. Just click on the picture above to go directly to its page and specifics on this project. (something new I've learned)
Discontinued Stitched Models
As you know..January means inventory. Taking count of exactly what has sold...and exactly how much of it. Some of them turn out to be our favorite things....but apparently only ours!! Also....we try to start cleaning off the walls a bit to make room for new models....which means LOTS of new Discontinued Models. Here are just a few...be sure to check them out frequently...or stop in the shop..there will be different ones in the shop, that we don't have on-line (and vice versa)....They're in excellent condition.
Here are a few of the ones currently looking for a new home....
  
Just a few of the wonderful goodies you'll find. Nantucket Rose, Daisy Pink Punchneedle Pillow and Back Gate.
Click on each picture to take you right to their details.
new goodies new goodies
NEW GOODIES
Wowie Zowie...there are so many new things coming in. Can you tell that we're excited? Doesn't matter how long we've been around it (and our "new girl", Mary Ann has been here over 5 years..so we've all been around here a long time) we all still get soooooo excited about the new things that flow in. We are all stash junkies...but it could be so much worse. We have two new sections under our New Goodies that you'll want to check out. As new books, kits, graphs and accessories arrive in...we'll place them in that month's section (right now January 2007 new designs etc) . Then...as we have new MODELS that are finished...we'll be adding them into the New Stitched Models section. We will aim to "clean" these sections up frequently....so don't be alarmed when things go their "permanent" home!!
 
Flowers and Hummingbird just looks so delightful. I'd like to be behind that window watching that hummingbird buzz around.
Golden Puppy just makes you melt, doesn't it???? Our family is anxiously awaiting the birth of our latest family member....a new Golden Retriever. Sadly, we lost two of our dogs last summer..Frannee, our 15 year old Yorkie (more expected) and Hallee, our 8 year old Golden Retriever (more unexpected). So, we are .... not really so patiently....awaiting Lillee...our new puppy!! I think this picture will definitely be in my to do pile.
Bienvenue is a treasure of a birth sampler. For anyone who has ever longed for a birth sampler that doesn't contain a single teddy bear, elephant or duck....this is for you. This one has my younger son's name on it...so, I'm hoping.....HA!
We've found 2 "gadgets" of sorts that we love. The first is a way to organize your floss....called Thread Tux. I know...sounds nutty, huh? Ruthie has been using these in her And a Forest Grew sampler. Now...if there ever was a project to test thread organization on...this would be it....103 different DMC colors.
To see the work in progress...and also to get her "Two Cents" be sure to check out
Ruth Ellen's Two Cents.
Here are her "tuxedoes". Just make sure you don't forget the ring.
 
The other thing we LOVE is the new Stitcher's Lotion. We are a bit germaphobic around here....constantly washing hands and purelling. As a result...our hands are sooooooooooo dry...and then you start to catch on everything. The Stitcher's Lotion is a non greasy, hydrating lotion. It comes in 2 different scents as well as unscented.
Ruth Ellen's Two Cents.......
If you haven't been reading Ruth Ellen's Two Cents....you've been missing it!!! Not only can you see the progress she is making on .... And A Forest Grew...but all kinds of other fun stuff. Some in relation to stitching...some in relation to life....and some...well, you just never know?
Be sure to take some time and hear her "two cents".
Hopefully, I haven't bombarded you with too much information...look forward to more consistent, frequent updates, fun and savings!
Hugs and Stitches
Abby and the girls |
