BBD - 2012 LOOSE FEATHERS

It's finally released!  Mary Ann Blackburn is the first of the 2012 Loose Feathers program and will ship to distributors on Friday, who will then ship it to retail shops, probably the end of next week.  That means we should have the chart by mid April.  Give a call and reserve your copy.    Front and back covers are shown, showing most of the sampler and possible projects.  I want to check out that cute wood box.

MORE NEW ARRIVALS

From Plum Street Samplers, an old English carol, Christmas is Coming,  is split to create 3 pillow ornaments.  There is no reason that you couldn't create one design, with a little adaptation.  

 


                                                                                                                                                                          A primitive designer, Pineberry Lane is new to
the shoppe.
Mehitable Wright's Redwork Sampler sounds like the original stitcher was from Salem, MA. with that first name.  A beautiful pinkeep, this design can have tabs attached to hang.  Either way, it would be quite an asset to a primitive setting.  I can even see these motifs on a show towel.




Cherished Stitches is putting out a design for each month featuring birds.  Feathered Friends is the overall series title.  Shown below are Feathered Friends January, February and March.  Each design features a cute little verse with ALL verses stitched over 1 thread and the rest of the piece over 2.  I think they are really cute.  Use several to create one piece and finish as you like.

Another design from Pineberry Lane, is A Faithful Friend.  This design combines stitches over 1 and 2 threads, hence, not a project for the inexperienced stitcher and cannot be done using Aida fabric.

Reprinted, the Serenity Prayer from Homespun Elegance is back.

A reproduction sampler, The Louisa B. Snow Sampler, from Little House Needleworks was stitched after the Civil War, probably in New York state.  Originally stitched, and shown, on Penelope canvas, LHN recommends a 28 or 32 linen.  She offers 3 color palettes, so each stitched piece will be different.  The original palette is Belle Soie silk and the 2nd is Crescent Colour overdyed cottons.   The 3rd is called Diane's palette done, once again, in Belle Soie Silk.  Diane Williams states that this 3rd choice is how she would stitch the design as an adaptation of the original and not a reproduction.  This palette will give the old vintage shades of red and yellow-greens.

All of the above are available now.  Designers never stop designing and we'll bring them in as they come out.

Just a hint about the coming months, July will be special.  CHRISTMAS IN JULY will run from July 17 thru July 31.  We will offer more info on this later. But.....

The first two weeks of July we will hold a STITCHING CONTEST.  Bring your favorite piece of cross stitch - framed or finished as a pillow or banner - and have your fellow stitchers review them and vote for their favorite.

The design with the most votes will receive a $25.00 gift certificate.  Second and third place winners will receive a $15.00 and $10.00 gift certificate.   All entries must be dropped off by June 23 and picked up by July 21.  We did this for a couple of years in Limerick and we had a lot of fun.   Start thinking of the piece you want to enter or hurry up and finish it.  

Don't forget we are accepting stash for the Memorial Day Stash to Treasure Sale.  This crazy winter we've had has messed up the flowers and me.  Time is moving on and will move faster the nicer the weather becomes.  So start cleaning out your stitching stash - any needlecraft stash -  and donate it to us so we can have a really good sale on Memorial Day.  Don't forget, all monetary donations received will be donated to St. Jude's Childrens's Hospital.

NEW LHN ARRIVALS

Don't forget PIZZA NIGHT next Friday, March 30.  Seats still available.  $15.00.

Here are pics of two new LittleHouse Needleworks charts.  The top one is the next ornament in the 2012 series and is Quaker Birds.  It also could be used to celebrate the wedding or anniversary of a very special couple.  Four Corners  is a muti-part project.  The first part, The Weathervane, is here and includes charts for the entire middle section, vertically and horizontally.  Done on 30 count WDW Cocoa, the light colors should 'pop' off the fabric.  Crescent threads are included in this kit.  Parts 2 and 3 will follow over the next two months.

LOOSE FEATHERS 2012

Blackbird is back with a new Loose Feathers series for 2012.  This year will have 4 booklets released quarterly.  The first is due out soon.  They have chosen to create designs that have been inspired by antique samplers.  Each booklet will include one main cross stitch piece and 2 small bonus pieces.

Rumor has it the first chart will be titled MaryAnn Blackburn and will be stitched on 30ct Sheep's Straw from R&R.

Give me a call or email to hold your copy.  Will post a picture as soon as I can.

MORE NEW....

Handblessings always comes out with some cute, simple designs.  This year, Beatrix Bunny lives in a magic garden and you get to stitch her and her friends.  Shown are 2 of the 3 in the shop.  She asks the chick Who Are You? and   stops to smell the 'roses' in Bunny and Flowers.  In the third she meets a friend in Bunny Love.  Stitch them separately and sit on easels or how about creating a spring bellpull.  They are stitched on navy in the spring color of your choice...imagine a bright cheery yellow, a pastel pink or green and an eastery lavender.  I was thinking they would look real cute in a bellpull on an overdyed springy fabric with darker floss colors.  What do you think?

Also by Handblessings, this Spring Cardinal looks like he's had a winter full of sunflower seeds.  He's nice and chubby in his spring wreath and would look really cute in a little pillow hung on a doorknob or drawer pull and would certainly add color.

Handblessings has another free quilt pattern arriving soon called Diamond Quilt.  Similar to the others but this one has independent squares and is described as more romantic, by the designer.

Don't forget the PIZZA NIGHT on Friday March 30.  Reserve your seat NOW as seating is limited.

JUST ARRIVED....

 3 new charts from The Cross Eyed Cricket - Easter, Love & Carrots and Beach-y Mood.

Lizzie Kate has A Little Easter, similar in size to her Little Love.  The kit includes 32ct white fabric and the buttons and beads.  Overdyed floss is called for and really enhances the design.  DMC alternatives are given, but don't forget, DMC will not make it look like the picture as the threads are all solids and don't give the depth that overdyed threads do.

Birdz and Bugz Limited Edition Stitch Kit includes a cute little fold-up with 2 stitching bands, 1 inside and 1 outside, and 2 small pockets to stash floss, scissors and other accessories to stitch.  If you travel a lot, use it for your jewelry.  You just need to stitch it and you are ready to use it.  Assorted fabrics are used in the kits to construct the fold-ups.

PIZZA NIGHT AND MEMORIAL DAY SALE

Weather has been great, hasn't it?  Sometimes I think too great and that Mother Nature is going to get us one of these days.  But, I've decided to schedule a PIZZA NIGHT on Friday, March 30.  Cost is $15.00 and must be paid when you reserve your seat.  A credit card number will reserve your seat  or hold your seat if you would want to pay cash when you arrive.

We will be stitching and having fun from 2PM to 9PM on Friday.  So if you are lucky enough to work shorter hours, come early.  If not, come when you can get here.  We will have pizzas delivered around 6PM.  We will provide beverages.

Also, don't forget, it's that time of the year for Spring cleaning and organizing.  When you go through your stash, don't throw any away.  Save it and donate it to our Stash to Treasure Sale, held on Saturday  of  Memorial Day weekend.  Donations are coming in already, so just add yours to the others and hope this will be a Sale of Sales this year.  All donations are given to St Jude Children's Hospital.