Shorttakes

 

I can't believe that Diane is celebrating 15 years of designing!  It seems like she's been around forever, and at the same time it seems like she was just at her very first Market wondering if anyone would come in her booth (silly girl ~ she was crazy busy the whole time!).  Diane's style, which she describes it as "folksical" ~ a blend of whimsical folk art ~ is fantastic & unique.  Some designs are heartwarming & reach deep into your soul, while others make you laugh out loud ~ usually at yourself!  There aren't many in this newest group that you'll be able to resist...we sure can't!

 

Prolific PUNcushions - STOP!!  This is just classic Diane!  And I love every one of them.  I will be stitching Chris P Bacon for my bacon-loving Christopher.  And you know I love that Paige Turner!

 

   

Memory Error - SERIOUSLY!  Is this not all of us?  In fact, I think I still have that sweater! Also, appropos of nothing, I have become my grandmother, as I now say to my nephews, "That's not music...it's just noise!  They're not even singing!"  Yeah, they love hearing me say that. 

IndepenANTS Day - Bwahaha!  First of all, I love this because it's funny.  But secondly, I love it because my boys have always called me "Antie" ~ as distinguished in spelling AND pronunciation from "Auntie" (which is what they call Jay's sister...she's from Boston, so the different pronunciation).  When they were MUCH younger they actually got me a welcome mat that was red & white checked & had ants all around it..."because you're Antie!". 

 

   

Hand in Hand - What a glorious design.  I would love to see this stitched and hanging in every school & any place where people gather as a reminder that we are all here to extend a hand to others ~ no matter where they're from, what they look like, what language they speak or anything else. 

Wings of Change - Another lovely design & a reminder that each of us, at some point (or points) in our life could use.

 

   

Camper Sampler - This reminds me of all the times my grandparents took us camping!  In hindsight, I am amazed how brave (or crazy) they were to take first 2, then 3, then 4, then 5 little girls off to the woods, where there were no bathrooms ("just go squat in the woods" ~ eeewwww!!!) & always at least twice a night SOMEONE had to "go"!  But we always had fun!

Seize the Needle - I love this!  Except I don't save my needles ~ I tarnish my needles so quickly that each project uses at least 2 or 3 needles.  However, I can put my scissors & other assorted doodads I need for stitching in this little case.

 

Rainbow Crossing - This is lovely & for all of us who have loved & been loved by pets, it's all too real.  But I truly believe they are there waiting for us & that is one of the most comforting things about it all.  This version speaks to our loss, but also to the hope that sustains us to see our best furry friends again.

 

Linda's designs are always a delight for the eyes (& the hands that stitch them) ~ from her iconic berries to her samplers & more.  Tracy & Sherri have stitched basketsful of her berries & Therese has finished even more of them (so if you're intimidated by the finishing, we can help with that!).

 

      

Berry Patch - I love these 3 delicate berries with their French names!  Just makes them seem more elegant, right??

Bloom Wildly - This might be my favorite of these releases ~ I love those sweet spring colors & also the verse!! Go on...BLOOM WILDLY!

 

   

Louisa Denman - A clever verse & a charming schoolgirl sampler in shades of blue & gold!

Emma Badman Wadford - A much more elegant sampler...stitched by an 8-year-old!!!  Love the way she put the alphabet & numbers in the border ~ just a fun little twist!

 

    

Cheerful Heart - A chartpak full of stitching necessities, with a needlebook, a berry & a small trayliner.  I love the red she used.

Moms - First of all, yes there is a "Dads" in the works!  And I love that there is something sweet & something funny!!  Of course, somehow my GRANDMOTHER comes out of my mouth instead of my mother: "You're such a pretty girl...why did you feel the need to do that ("that" being anything from "too much" makeup to an "unattractive" haircut to wearing an "unladylike" outfit...go ahead, fill in your own additions!!).

 

Favoured Feline - This sweet kitty was so loved that some little girl made sure to add her to her sampler.  And Linda has taken her & given her her very own perch on this sweet pin drum!

 

 

Liz's things ALWAYS appeal to me!  She does a wonderful job of blending traditional sampler styles with more contemporary flair ~ whether it's her choice of colors or motifs.  There are several here that I already NEED! 

   

Abuzz at Midnight - My favorite part of this is the beehive ~ I love the different patterns within the hive itself. 

Cottontail - how fun is this?  I love love love the vines at the bottom & the little heart buried with it.

 

   

Remember Me Tree & Sampler - this awesome design was created originally for our friends at the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild, so lots of the critters are familiar to everypone in our area!  As always, my difficulty is figuring out if I wanna stitch the sampler or the tree....

Tenth Day of Christmas Tree & Sampler - If you, like me, are wondering exactly HOW this is the tenth day (10 Lords a-leaping), never fear!!  Liz says that she was stumped as to how to depict this!  So she decided to have Santa leaping from rooftop to rooftop!  Fun!!!

 

   

Spring House - This is a fantastic design & yes it is shown stitched on 2 different pieces of fabric & then attached to each other.  But if you find that a little too intimidating, you can stitch it all on one piece of fabric.  I can't decide yet how I wanna do it...

You've Got the Love - I really like that this is stitched in 1 color ~ choose your favorite fabric & floss & go! 

 

Kathy always intrigues with her designs.  Many of her designs are inspired by things in & around our part of Southeastern PA, and as such they always strike a chord with me.

 

   

Caught in the Swirl - You often see some kind of swirl design around here ~ either painted on the side of a barn or in Fraktur art.  So as always, will you stitch the big one or the pinpillow first???

 

Peace and Plenty Farm - This one makes me smile!  From the cute piggies to the horses & cows...and even the deer (must be a New Zealand farm ~ yes they actually RAISE DEER domestically in NZ!!), I love them all.  Did you see the critters sticking their heads out of the yellow barn? 

 

   

Animals...at Home, on the Farm, in the Wild... - Kathy is truly an animal lover & she has such fun designing all different kinds of critters in her pieces.  This one is all about the animals! 

Animal Pincushions - A perfect example of doing one little thing...and it explodes!  She was going to do 1 or 2 of these & include them with the "Animals..." chart...but then more animals kept coming & the next thing ya know...it's like Noah's Ark!  These are perfect for using up some of your fabric scraps!

 

   

Vibrant Flowers - 2 charts in 1 pack!  You know I love the house design!  And what cool flowers are growing on that vine?  But maybe you wanna stitch the gardener pinpillow! 

 

   

Cookie Cutters! - Ohmygosh, you're speaking my language!  I have TONS of cookie cutters!  And aren't these designs fun?  Which set will you do? 

Cookie Cutters 1 - I love the Quaker kitty in this one

Cookie Cutters 2 - My favorite one here is the whale with all the sea creatures.

 

Well, as usual, this one took me a little longer than I anticipated.  There are so many things going on each day (& night at home) that time is not my friend.  But that's okay!  I know many of y'all are seeing all the goodies popping up on social media & on designers' sites & yes you can order them before I get them posted on our site ~ just add them in the comments section! 

 

In addition to all the things happening at the shop, there are birthdays galore taking place.  Friday was Molly's birthday & the first thing that popped up on my "memories" page on FaceBook was one of our many Nashville birthday celebrations!  And we didn't know this, but one of our stitchers is in big trouble because she was in the shop on Friday & didn't let us know it was her birthday (shame on you Beth B!!  We promise we wouldn't have sung to you!).  Saturday is Jimmy B's 23rd birthday!!  For all y'all that came to the retreats WAY back then, who believes that little guy is 23??  Not me!  He is spending the weekend in Cary, NC with the West Chester University baseball team (they're playing in a tournament down there ~ so far they've won their first game, leading the second game 10-8 in the 7th).  I sent him a Happy Birthday text Saturday morning & told him I'd talk to him later on.  He called me at 9am ~ "just wanted to get it over with"!  Sheesh.  And Sunday my "little girl" ~ her family lived across from me in Charlotte & Sarah Kate turned 1 the day I moved in ~ will be 34 & has a sweet little girl of her own (who will be 3 in a few months!).  YIKES!  Lots of birthdays!

 

Well, I'm gonna wrap this up & send it on its way.  Remember, you can always browse thru the Nashville "stuff" without having to track down a newsletter (less yipyap that way!) by just clicking here: Nashville.

 

Hugs & stitches (& birthday wishes) ~

Beth & all the cake lovers at TSS