Today is the day! The Blackbird Tis Halloween has arrived. We have the charts, the fabric and the floss and I'm going to stitch - or at least start- a stocking tonight!!! I will be pricing and cutting and sorting flosses on Wednesday and calling all you special people who pre-ordered the chart.

I'm expecting an auto from Lizzie Kate tomorrow and an order from Hoffmman Distributors should arrive so I will be a busy beaver. Talk again, soon! Maybe I'll even have a 'stocking' to scan tomorrow and share with you.

Carolyn

Hi Stitchers! Blackbird Designs is 'teasing' us on the Tis Halloween book. Here's another picture. Supposedly, this is all 13 of them. It's really hard to tell. There will be 13 stocking patterns and a couple of other projects in the book. Hear tell, they are to be delivered, from the printer, to Blackbird on Monday and she will start packing and shipping them to distributors.

Wouldn't these stockings look great on a grapevine wreath decorated with bittersweet or colorful fall leaves? Or better yet, how about a garland to decorate your mantel?

The Picture is Finally Here! Reserve your copy now if you haven't done so.

It's going to be great. We will have fabric and flosses to complete any of the stockings you may want to stitch. All will be coming in, hopefully, about 2 weeks. I can't wait till it gets here.

It's Here!!!! Hot off the press! The 2009 Prairie Schooler!

More to come.

Hey, Stitchers! Thanks for participating in our Christmas in July week. Now it's back to the regular day in day out stuff. I've been stitching up several of Blackbird's monthly stockings - I've done the July house and the star quilt pattern stockings and the stork. I got creative and stitched the start quilt pattern stocking on a 12 count Jute in a wheat color. I used red and green perle cotton and it stitched up really nice. It's about 12 inches long and it will make a nice Christmas decoration or even a really nice stocking for a family member. I stitched their Loose Feathers It's Berry Time without the alphabet across the top and I love it. It's waiting to be framed. And I just can't wait till the Halloween stocking book comes out.

We've ordered in some new publications and they should be in on Wednesday. Soon as they arrive, I'll try and get some pictures up so you know what's new. Check us out later in the week. Until then, keep stitching.

Carolyn

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hey, Stitchers! Long time no talk. Been busy doing a little of this and a little of that and stitching. Time once again has gotten away from me.

We are having CHRISTMAS IN JULY in the shoppe. It starts TODAY and runs through SATURDAY AUGUST 1. You do realize how fast this holiday is approaching, don't you? I always heard how time passes faster when you get older, but I'm beginning to think it's utterly ridiculous how fast time is passing.


CHRISTMAS IN JULY offers good savings -- you'll get 25% off all Christmas charts in stock and 15% off fabric purchased to do any of the Christmas charts you buy. You'll receive a 15% discount on all Fall and Halloween charts as that season is also fast approaching.

Blackbird Designs has their monthly stocking charts out up to July. The August chart should be arriving in a couple of weeks along with a newly announced release - a Halloween Stocking Book with 13 Halloween stocking charts. They use 3 R&R fabrics and Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Art Sampler Threads and Crescent Colours to stitch the designs. We've contacted our distributors to get automatic delivery of the chart and supplies so we don't miss out on anything that's needed.
We are accepting pre-orders for the chart and any or all of the supplies. I have a feeling that once my initial order is gone, it may take time to get restocks that may be needed. Their last Halloween book was a big success and I think this one will be, too.

JBW has new ornament charts out and we have them. She also has a hat shopping chart to accompany her previously released shoe shopping chart. This would also work for anyone who's a Red Hat member, just change some colors.

Well, gotta go. Some charts need pricing and threads need twisting . There's always something to do in the shop and unfortunately it's not stitching. Don't forget to check out www.hoffmandis.com and www.nordencrafts.com for new releases. (We can order anything you see on these websites.)

Carolyn

Hi, Stitchers! Just want to wish you a happy and safe 4th of July holiday! The shop will be closed on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th. We will honor Sunday hours on Sunday July 12 from 11-2 this month, so mark your calendar. Don't forget Tuesday July 14th - the yearly special day honoring our 14th year in business. There will be a special that day.

New charts have arrived, including the Loose Feathers It's A Berry Time. Two new stocking charts are due out this coming week for June and July, also from Blackbird. Lizzie Kate's new charts have arrived and new ones from JBW Designs are due soon.

Give us a call and reserve a copy of the annual Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue for 2009. Tried to give you a peek at the cover, but my picture would not load, so, for now, you'll have to stop in and check out my 'photo' of the cover. That's all for now. Keep stitching and enjoy your holiday.