SALE

Hi! Hope everyone had a happy holiday. Don't forget we are in our week long We Don't Want To Count It Sale! We are open regular hours, Tues thru Sat 10-4 and Thursday 10-7. The only concession is we will be closing at 3PM on Saturday. The entire shoppe is 20% off. Buttons and beads are 25% off, premade frames are 25% off and overdyed fabrics are 30% off. We have a good selection of overdyed fabric. Some are odd shaped pieces which occur because we cut to size. So check out your chart stash and come SAVE on your fabric and lay out your stitching plans for the new year.

Speaking of New Year, we will have a free stitch in on Sunday January 1, 2012 from 11-5. Come stitch and have some fun. Bring a goodie to share. I don't know how many are coming, so if you have a chair you could throw in your car, please do so. I have seats for 14 so we may not need the extra chairs but I don't want you trying to stitch standing up.

New charts are still coming out weekly and we have a tentative order for some of the new ones. In 2012 I am going to try and stock more of the new charts which means less room for the older ones. We can usually get you any chart you want as long as it is still in publication. So don't fret if I don't have a particular chart in stock. We'll just order it for you.

To everyone and their families, have a Happy New Year and may it be healthy and prosperous to us all!

Merry Christmas

Here's a cute poem for the season. Can't you just see yourself in this poem?

Here's a Glimpse

of the February Word Play from Country Stitches, Brenda Gervais. I've got my wagon done on January and a couple of words. Now just starting the snowman. Gotta keep stitching.

Holiday Events and SALE---Please Read

The Holidays are upon us whether we want them now or not. I'm working hard to get all my framing done and my finishers are sewing their fingers off to get finished. Somehow, we will.

Christmas Eve hours will be 10-2. New Year's Eve we'll be open at least 10-3. Customers in the shop at 3 PM will not be pushed out the door. We will stay till you are done shopping. We will be closed New Year's Day. We will have normal Sunday hours the next Sunday, January 8, 11-2.

So, MARK your calendars!

Our annual WE DON'T WANT TO COUNT IT SALE will be Tuesday Dec. 27 thru Saturday Dec. 31. The entire store will be 20 % off with additional savings on selected items. The discount applies to in-store product only, no special orders or previously ordered merchandise. Frequent Buyer Cards will NOT be redeemed or punched.

Overdyed fabrics will be 30% off. A lot of the overdyes have odd shaped cuts left, so take advantage of the sale. Also keep in mind, base fabric prices are continually on the rise, affecting the price of overdyed fabrics. These pieces would be great for your smaller designs and ornaments and not large samplers.

NEW YEAR'S DAY FREE STITCH-IN! Come join us for a couple of hours on New Year's Day!We will be stitching from 11-5. An old wives's tale says whatever you do on the first day of the year, you will do all year long. SO! come and stitch!!!!! No charge for the stitch-in but PLEASE bring something for all to snack on.

May I thank everyone for their patronage this year. And I would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and whatever you may celebrate at this wonderful time of the year. Happy New Year to everyone and may it be a safe, healthy and prosperous new year.

In Stitches, Unraveling Their Stories

Opening Friday, December 2 - Friday, September 7, 2012

English and German Sampler Lovers----Don’t miss this rare opportunity! Westtown School and Chester County Historical Society are providing a unique opportunity to see large portions of their needlework collections in one exhibition. Learn how commonplace pieces become heirloom treasures. Enjoy select samplers and other embroidery made by girls from Chester County and the surrounding area 200 years ago.

Here's...........

Christmas Garden, Crowning the Tree and January Word Play. They all just arrived!!! Fabric should be shipping next week for the Blackbird Designs. Crescent flosses should also ship next week. Christmas Garden takes Crescent Colours: 5 skeins Calico Kitty and 3 skeins Fool's Gold; and Gentle Art: 5 skeins Endive and 3 skeins Heirloom Gold.

January Word Play takes 1 skein each of GA: Cinnamon, Shaker White, Walnut, Apple Cider, Pumpkin Pie, Wood Trail, Toffee, Heirloom Gold, Endive and Otter Creek.

Also just in are the new Littlehouse Needleworks ornament Winter Forest and the 2nd installment in the LaDDa Margaret Cottam aged 9 Sampler.

Still needing some Christmas Gifts? Stop in and check out our selection or give your Santa a list . We've got a nice selection for stitchers all under $20.00. We just got in these Stitch Happy 3 exterior pocket totes. They are just the right size at 12.5x14x4. They are here in green, red and navy. We've got stitching gadgets like Boo-Boo Sticks (clean away that left over floss when you rip out), scissors, Thread-Heaven (helps floss to lay flat and not twist), highlighters that enable you to follow charts easier, Floss Bags to hold all those pieces of floss, Pick-up Wands (magnetic wands to pick up those needles from the floor without bending over), Q-snaps to use instead of hoops as they don't mark your fabric and lots of other goodies including needles.

Of course, we have lots of charts and flosses and fabric to select a new project. And if you are not sure about any of the above, we have Gift Certificates!

On the Way and Just In

Just received notice that January Word Play and the two new Blackbird Design charts are on their way. They were shipped Tuesday and should be here by next Tuesday, the 13th. Can't wait cause I wanna start January Word Play. December's done, October is almost done - I just need to finish the stitching using G.A. Toffee. November will have to get pushed in there somewhere as I definitely want to start January!

Stop in and check us out. We've got ideas for Christmas and new charts coming in - some should be in Thursday or Friday - and old charts coming back in stock. Don't forget we also have GIFT CERTIFICATES in any dollar value if you're looking for another gift.

JUST IN - an assortment of unfinished frames. They are 3/4 wide and 1 1/4 wide and waiting for some staining or painting. We have more of the narrower and they come in 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 5x7, 6x8 and 7x9. The wider frames are very limited and come 5x7, 6x8, 7x9, 6x6 and 8x8. Come check them out. Quick to finish and frame that extra Christmas gift or a picture for yourself.

New Items

Picked up some new items related to cross stitching and wanted to tell you about them.

This pic shows some 'homespun' fabrics I picked up. They'll be great for backing some of the small pillows, ornaments and pincushions you are stitching. Word Play is a good example and you could use this fabric on some of the Blackbird small pillows and pincushions.

The fabric is prepackaged in fat quarter pieces approximately 18x20 and retailing at $2.50. Check them out today- solids, mini checks, stripes, plaid and prints. One fat quarter piece will back 2 Word Play pillows done on 30ct. And speaking of Word Play, we have rusted bells if you want to add them to the pillow. They are available in packs of 5 and 10 bells.

New to the shop are 'wrought iron easels. They come in 3 sizes: 12 inch, 11 inch and 7.5 inch. Reasonably priced at $5.00 for the small and $8.00 for the large.

Also in, and I have to apologize for the pic, as it was very difficult to scan, is an Amish pincushion, complete with fabric tape measure, a pack of buttons and a rusty safety pin for decor. It's black fabric and attractive with it's odd shape. A great gift for the stitcher who has almost everything.

Just Ordered

Isn't this cool?!!!!! I can't wait to get it in and start it. Really like it - it's so wintery!

No Longer a Rumor....

Here's pictures of the two new Blackbird Designs Christmas projects. Christmas Garden is a beautiful sampler. I'm really attracted to this style sampler, full of motifs. You can do lots of extra projects by just pulling out a motif and working with it. Just like they created this small box, you can make small pillows to gather together in a bowl or basket or hang on knobs around your house. Take smaller motifs and create a candle band for the large candles we have today. Just think about all you can do.

Crowning the Tree gives us a new stocking to add to our collection. This one is about 6 inches long so it is larger than the others you may have done from Blackbird. If you want to use it strictly as a home decor item and not just as a tree ornament, think about enlarging it by stitching on a 10 count fabric. You would get a stocking over 8 inches high which you could fill with greens and hang at your fireplace or on the interior side of a door or just anywhere you need a touch of the holiday.


Just think about all the ways you could use these designs. Let your imagination run wild.

It's going to be a few weeks before we get these charts in. Give us a call and pre-order your chart. Distributors should get them the beginning of next week and then start shipping to local needlework stores.

JUST IN!!!!

Rumor has it that Blackbird Designs will shortly be releasing 2 new charts for the holiday season!
Will let you in on more as additional information is released.

November Word Play

Lisa, an avid stitcher and customer, just emailed me this photo of her November Word Play. Doesn't it look great? I think the bittersweet is really great as it shares the same color with the stitching. She used an old piece of wool for the backing. I've just finished stitching December Word Play (I cheated and jumped ahead so it would be done in time) and I will create a pillow this weekend.

Thought this was great and if any of you have a photo of a piece you want to share, email it to me at the blog address. All stitchers are always interested in what each other is stitching and how it was finished and displayed.

Hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving. Of course, we will be closed that day. We will be open Friday and Saturday normal hours.

The deadline for Christmas finishing is here and gone. So if you are bringing anything in to be framed, I won't be able to promise it for Christmas. Also be aware, we don't do any framing the last week of the year or the first week of the new year.

Speaking of the New Year, we have quite a few interested in the Free stitching on New Year's Day so it looks like it's a go. If you are interested, give a call.

NEW CHARTS

Cricket Collection has released 2 new seasonal charts Christmas and Sugar Cookies. The charts finish between 21 and 26 inches long and are between 4 & 5 inches high.

Brenda Gervais of Country Stitches is a very talented lady. Working in a variety of mediums, her primitive designs in cross stitch are released under the design name of With thy Needle and Thread. Here are 4 new designs: Sampler of the Season - Winter, Boughs of Holly, Merry Christmas to Ewe and December Word Play. They all are now available in the shoppe. For those of you who are working on the Word Play series (a design for every month), we have the fabric available in 30, 35 and 40 count.

Is this FALL or what?

I can't believe the weather today! SNOW!!!! Ugh!!!

We were talking in the shop and the old wives' tale is if it snows and a chicken can make tracks in it, the date on which it snowed, indicates the number of snows for the season. So look out - 29 snows for the winter. Oh boy, how I do hope it doesn't come true this year. But it has been so rainy that it just may continue over into snow.

So, if the weather is bad, PLEASE call ahead and make sure I'm here. I will be leaving early today. I get so stressed out about walking in this stuff- I don't want to slip and take a chance of damaging my 'new' knees. I imagine anyone out, today, is buying milk and bread and not really interested in a hobby.

I will be pricing some new charts to the shop from Hinzeit today and tonight I will be twisting Gentle Art threads that arrived today. So take care and stay safe and don't forget to call.

One day off...

AND I AM INUNDATED WITH BOXES!!







My Big Toe has a new chart called A Very Faint Line that I thought was quite appropriate for some of us stitchers.








Lizzie Kate auto arrived with this new limited edition kit Be Jolly and a new quick , HoHoHo In A Row, that I think would look great finished as a flat hanger and hung on a door or in a green wreath with a big fluffy bow.

The final 3 in the 6 Fat Men series are in. The final Inspirational Boxer is here along with the Winter Alphabet.


Blackbird Autumn, part 2 of Loose Feathers, has arrived along with LHN new Snow in Love ornament and fabric.

Next to be opened is the box from R&R Reproductions containing the Abecedarian Blend for the Word Play charts. Counts for this fabric include 30, 35 and 40 so decide which count you want to use to do your Word Play charts.

Well, I better get back to work as I have some pricing to do.

Word Play from Country Stitches/New Years?

The October and November charts from the Word Play series are here. Hopefully the fabric will arrive next week in 30, 35 and 40 counts. I messed up and don't have email or phone numbers for a couple of you who signed up for the series. If you did, and I didn't contact you, give me a call or shoot me an email.

Blackbird Designs Autumn has been shipped by my disbributor and I'm looking to have it next week along with LHN's next ornament.

The La D Da Mystery sampler should ship 10/31 for those who have signed up for that series.

The other day I sent an email to all my customers about the 11/6 stitching. While typing the email, I wrote that this would be the last Stitch Night of the Year, and it hit me just how really close we are to the end of the year. 2012 is just about 70 days away! When I was working in the financial world, 2012 used to be my retirement year; now, it's just another year. My Mother always told be to be careful what I do on the first day of the New Year, as I would continue to do it all year long. And that got me to thinking about a possible Sitch Session on New Year's Day. (What could be better than knowing you would be stitching all year!) Anyone interested????
I thought it could be free in exchange for a healthy or non-healthy snack. Hours? Open to suggestion. Please let me know your pleasure so we can make plans.

La D Da Mystery Sampler and More

La D Da is starting a 3 part mystery sampler. Here is a preview. Margaret Cottam Aged 9 is from an antique sampler she discovered. She's adapted it in her "la d da" style. Just got word today, that it will be shipped at the end of the month. Sign up now to make sure you get your copy as soon as it is released.





Also being shipped this month are the next Little House Needleworks ornament #10, Snow in Love, and Autumn from Blackbird Designs, part 2 of the 2011 Loose Feathers project.

New Releases

Second posting today. Been surfing the web and found pictures of 3 new Little House Needlework charts due out shortly.

One Last Fling and Holiday Finishing & Framing

Hey, how about one last fling before the 2011 holiday season hits us! We're holding a STITCH NIGHT, during the day, on Sunday November 6. We'll start at 12:00 noon and stitch thru the afternoon enjoying the company of fellow stitchers and enjoying drinks and snacks. Cost is $10.00.

For those who want to stay thru into the evening, we can talk about ordering some dinner in or bring a sandwich. Stitching will end at 8:00 P.M., or earlier, depending on what you want to do.

Email me at justcrossstitch@rcn.com or call 215-513-9373 for reservations. Seating is limited.
Please be prepared to hold your reservation with a non-refundable $5.00 deposit. A credit card number will hold the reservation.

Don't forget for those who live in the area, we have a free stitching on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30. This is a small group and if 2 don't come, sometimes we cancel. So, if you are new to the group, please call first and make sure we are still stitching that evening. Everyone is invited; new and experienced stitchers welcomed!


HOLIDAY FINISHING: Our finisher has determined that all projects must be in by November 1 to guarantee return of finished items by December 15th.

HOLIDAY FRAMING: Any framing accepted before November 19th will be available before Christmas.

Here's the long awaited pattern from Blackbird Designs - number 2 of 3 in the 2011 Loose Feathers series. According to Alma, it's currently at the printers and should be in the hands of the distributors in about 2 weeks, who will then send it to the shoppes. So it is on it's way.




Here are some new charts that should be arriving in the shop by early next week. Of course, since I'm a great lover of Quaker, I love the Christmas design. I also like this tea design, since I'm a tea drinker, but I'd get rid of the fringes and maybe just frame it.

WORD PLAY

Another tempting picture featuring the November WORD PLAY from With THY NEEDLE AND THREAD

LHN Ornaments

Here is #8 - Hallelujah and the new one coming next month.
Hallelujah is available at the shop.

Mystery Sampler Coming in October

Lori of LaDDa owns an antique sampler created by Margaret Cottam, aged 9, in 1807. Using this sampler and Lori's unique stype of design, the results are an incredible sampler. This preview pictue shows the bonus piece, included on the first release, and the color palette. There will be 3 patterns in the series. The first will detail the bottom of the sampler and yes, it will be worked from the bottom up! The second release features the middle and the third will complete the piece with the top of the design. The sampler size is 170w x 200h and is stitched on WDW Cocoa linen, your choice of 30, 35 or 40ct. It uses a total of 8 Weeds Dye Works fibers. The first release will be mid October, followed by part 2 and 3 in November and December.

Sign up now for your next sampler project.

Announcing the arrival of a new montly cross stitch series!

Here is info on a new series, WORD PLAY, from Brenda Gervais, straight from an announcement on my email this morning. It looks to be an interesting series. Will be getting the charts and fabric in soon. Charts are $9.25 each.

Call and preorder the entire series and save! Order all 12 and get the last one free. Must sign up by September 30 to get this special offer.

New Arrivals
at
Country Stitches...
for your Autumn-time
stitching pleasure!

October's Word Play
Announcing the arrival of a new montly cross stitch series! The series is beginning with October and will run through September of 2012. Each pattern will release on the 1st of the prior month. These little door hangers are a quick stitch, something to pick up in the morning and stitch as you sip that morning cup of tea.

All 12 months will be worked on the 35 count Abecedarian linen over 2 threads. They will also all be very similar in the finished size of 4 1/2" x 7 1/2".

Here is a little insight in what is to follow:
November - Thanksgiving
December - Christmas
January - Winter/Snowmen
February - Cupids/Love
March - Strong Words/Everyday theme
April - Easter
May - Spring/Gardening
June - Strong Words/Everyday theme
July - Patriotic
August - Back to School
September - Strong Words/Everyday themeAnnouncing the arrival of a new montly cross stitch series!

IT'S HERE

JUST CROSS STITCH 2011 SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ISSUE IS HERE. JUST ARRIVED TODAY. COPIES HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PREORDERED YOUR COPY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO AND WOULD LIKE A COPY, CALL OR EMAIL TODAY AND HAVE YOUR COPY SET ASIDE. THE NUMBERS ARE LIMITED.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I CAN'T. WE WILL BE OPEN OUR USUAL HOURS: SATURDAY 10-4 AND SUNDAY 11-2. STOP BY AND PICK UP YOUR ORNAMENT ISSUE AND CHECK OUT OUR NEW CHARTS.

PIZZA NIGHT

We still have a few seats available for Friday August 26 Pizza Night. Hours are 4-10PM.
Cost is $15.00. Come and have fun talking with other stitchers and get some stitching done on that work in progress. Call and reserve. A $5.oo deposit reserves your seat.

MORE GOODIES....

Lizzie Kate has sent out new charts. Tiny Tidings XVI has 5 designs. Santa Claus is Coming to Town is Santa 2011. The second in the Inspirational Boxer series is out.

6 Fat Men have finally arrived. She's been blogging about them for quite a while and the first 3 are finally here.

Stitch them individually and frame them or make hanging pillows from them and use as ornaments or hang from doorknobs or any knob in the house. OR, you can stitch them all together in one piece with the addition of a special border stating 'Snowmen melt my heart'.

MORE.......

Diamonds Delight

from Stickideen von der Wiehenburg

ByGone Stitches does it again with Quaker Christmas II, featuring Songs of the Season

Jackie O Lantern from Amy Bruecken Designs. We also have a small one of hers called EEk with a witches hat and shoes. Sue Hillis has 2 charts Candy Corn Crazy 1 & 2. Really cute ornaments. Notice the candy corn fabric! It was ordered at market and should be here by Labor Day.

Chart number 3 will be out shortly and you can stitch a type of banner stating B O O using the candy corn shape and halloweeny ribbons.

Check out this cat coming out of the pumpkin for the holiday!

NeedleWork Press has their Book of Days - a beautiful calendar for 2012 with a couple of charts.

Blackbird Designs have done it again. 4 great charts.

Morning Star works up quickly and can be framed or put on top of a paper mache spice box, with 6 2" high round boxes inside to hold goodies. We hope to have those boxes in the shoppe shortly.

Casting a Spell is just beautiful. Placed in a glass covered wood box it is quite impressive. We should have these boxes shortly, too. Halloween Eve can become two pictures. Just stitch the top alone or even the pumpkin and crow can be done alone. Make two instead of just one. Or how about making 2 pillows for the holiday. The Raven Bewitched is cool. Think I may need to do this one.

NEW CHARTS

Dames of the Needle has two new Nantucket charts out, one of the beaches and a previous teaching piece, Nantucket Strawberries, showing the coast and a lighthouse and of course the strawberries.

Rosewood Manor, Barnwood Buttons, above and Baltimore Quilt.

La D Da has The Child's Guardian and Count Your Blessings.




JBW is back with more Christmas ornaments, another

stocking and a premade needle roll and chart.

By The Bay has come out with Stitch an Inch charts. Stitched 1 over 1 is a great idea, but why not stitch them over 2 and get slightly larger pictures. They can still be mounted using her ideas. She's planning them for every season and holiday. Halloween is in process and, of course, I can't wait till it's out. Each chart also contains a bonus chart. In these 2 they are a mermaid and lobster.

We will be back with more from market.