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.