March 3,2010

Let the wild rumpus begin and then suddenly it will be spring in the shop.  It has begun and I thought you might enjoy a preview.  The view on the left shows of Gentle Grace a great quilt designed by Suzanne and it used the Worn & Loved II fabric line.  It was bright today so I will work on more pictures later but you can at least get an idea and see our new geraniums, wire cloches, chocolate mold rabbits, there are several even a big chick. 

The tulip bouquets, and Bethany Lowe Boy Rabbit really make you feel a little giddy too.  We have great new spring napkins in and

how about the crazy primitive hare that looks like a big old carrot, I think he would be good on a cupboard door and very fun to make up.  Isn't spring fun? 

I have a great new punch needle designer Jan Goos to tell you about. Feather your spring nests with "Goos Nest" designs.   Jan's designs have previously been seen in the Need'l Love Thread books.  These designs are great, if you love to do punch needle I'm pretty sure these will become favorites they are very unique.  The first design on the left is called Garden Urn, the cost is $16.00, next we have Gatherings from the Garden it is $14.00 and then we have Bunny Wishes also $14.00.  There is another great rabbit we are still waiting to get in.

 I'm back!  What a great market.  I am going to start out with Blackbird Designs new book "Honeysuckle Manor" which is a book designed and inspired by an antique sampler Barb found on E-bay.  Louisa Bell her age has not been completely determined but the sampler and all of the pin keep accessories and Alma's interpretation  of the sampler just make this another  must have book.  The book is priced at $25.00 and we will have thread packs and linen for your convenience.  Louisa's sampler was re-named in honor of Barbs great, great, great, grandmother Hannah Lovina Joslin.  This is the Margaret Harris sampler and it is done in all Crescent Colours Belle Soie silks.  I have thread packs and linen coming in and it only requires 5 silks so that gives you an affordable taste of stitching with these yummy threads.  I am picturing some of the smalls, on the right we have "Pin and Needle Cupcakes" and we do have the bases all ready to ship so let me know if you would like us to include any of these with your order.   The "Honeysuckle Pin Box" is also shown with a tape measure and pinball.  Trust me this is a beautiful book to own, you will not be disappointed.

 News' Flash!!!!  This is going to be a New Club it will not be Loose Feathers anymore but that is not to say there will not be a Loose Feathers sometime in the future this is a club for all of you out there that love houses.  I can't hardly resist a house when it comes to choosing a new pattern.    It is called "Anniversaries of the Heart"    you will get a new house pattern each month that will be stitched on one piece of linen 30 count Olde Town Blend.  We will send you the linen and threads and the first two patterns when you sign up and then send the pattern and additional threads needed to complete each design that comes out.  Here are the first two designs.  January is called "Snow Garden" and February is called "Valentine Rose".  You will need to call us so we can get you all signed up or if you would prefer just the charts  they sell for $9.00 a piece.  The last 4 houses will come out in a book form in September and will include additional finishing details.  I saw the sampler started in the show room and it will be done in two rows, I thought it was just the best.

More Pictures will be coming!

"Autumn at Hawk Hollow Run" is the NEW Carriage House Samplings design.  I tell you Cathy has to stop doing this to us.  I really love the designs altogether but the Witch and the Turkey really stand out, as much as I love turkeys I think this is the best stitched one I've seen.  The design on 32 count is 11 1/2 x 38 3/8.  It is a long and inviting sampler to stitch but you will love stitching it.  The cost of the chart is $36.00.  This was her only new offering for this market and it was a huge hit. 

I don't know if any of you started the Jenny Bean Sampler series last fall but she has added the Jenny Bean Christmas Sampler and now Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler this market.  I think they are fun and certainly worth a notice.  The newest pattern and threads sell for $42.00.  The original Jenny with it Limited Edition Gentle Arts Threads sells for $29.00 and the Christmas is $44.00.

The Primitive Needle was another one of my favorite designers.  The designs are very primitive and focus on Halloween, we like that.  I know you are going to be excited over these designs, the colors and linens are also very well chosen.  This is the Wicked Alphabet on the left.  The Crescent Angel is a quick little primitive you would enjoy.  Near Halloween when witches go riding would also be fun.  I know there are several of my Halloween lovers that will need to stitch the Tombstone Spots, and Her Wicked Best is all I can ask of myself so I'm sure we can all identify with this one.  The charts range from $10.00 to $20.00. Live Simply is another choice not every chart is Halloween I think this a great choice for Spring.  In fact our primitive sampler club members will be very excited to know there first shipment will be a new sampler from this designer. It will be considered 2 shipments but you should have it ready to display for fall.  This club is supposed to be shipping 6 times a year but this year I will be sending one less.  When you get your sampler you will understand it uses silks and some very special linens so this equalizes the price point.

We just got in some more of our neat jewelry.  I'm loving Giddy up doesn't that just say it all for us.  This adorable little necklace says on the opposite side "When I grow up I want to be cowgirl".  You get it all with the chain for $26.00.  The little farm girl charm with the chain comes to $23.75 it is pink on one side and a soft teal blue on the other, very cute, the circle monograms are $26.00 and have a sweet old wall paper back that also looks sweet and the cool hearts that you can wear alone or add to other charm are $8.50.  It is just fun jewelry and they make great gifts for good buds.

Chessie and Me has some great new designs my favorite is her new reproduction sampler, the Sarah Talbot 1787.  Kits are available.  Strawberry Banke  is another new sampler and a really fun new stitch I like the house off set it is just a neat bonus. For all of us cat lovers  Chessies Fern kit at $22.00 is just perfect.  For helping Linda stitched one for me.  Yeah!!!   I have a model to show you.  You will also enjoy the Botanical Sewing Pocket and Fob and the Rabbit Run pin Cushion.  everyone loved this little 8 sided piece.  Linda assures me it is very easy to put together.  I love Linda's designs because they are personal, challenging and the charts and instructions are always clear.  Remember we are still signing up for her new club I think she may be ready by May.  You can get more details if you look at the Girl Club information.

This is our new quilt kit, it is so new we are waiting for bags to put the pattern in but the kits are all ready to go and the quilt is ready to debut for your approval.  It is pretty swell!  This is "My Little Valentine" it is 28 x 28 just the right size you can get it done and the kit is only $32.50.  Our pattern will sell for $6.50 and be a first in series of little quilts we like to do from time to time, the pattern is a courthouse step block.  I really love the colors and can see it as a table topper or just hanging it looks festive and fun for the holiday.

 I think you will find these new paper napkins quite perfect for the occasion, the dinner napkins are $6.00 and the cocktails are $5.00 they make great hostess gifts and a mighty fine Valentine.

We have a few new items in for Valentines Day.  I think you are going to love these our candles.  They are scented with cranberry and the color is also a rich cranberry red with a cut out heart.  They come packaged with rose hips and are in two sizes $9.95, and $14.95. We also have a hurricane that comes with a glass voltive and candle inside this one sells for $24.95.

You will also notice a definite farmhouse look and accents from a French farmhouse seem to be popping up in the decor.  We have some great new tin organizers and that certainly fits the time of year I think we all need to organize after the holidays.  I love this tray it has four compartments and I think for anyone that sews it is a really great idea. The trays sell for $15.50.  I also found some really great drawers for organizing.  They are red and you can get either a 2 drawer unit for $75.00 or one with 3 drawers for $95.00.  Ok now I'm going to tell you about the best candle it is called Perfect Morning and it is a coffee scent but a great coffee scent the scent your kitchen or any room just right.  The best thing is it burns CLEAN there is absolutely no soot and it burns straight down to the bottom, they are soy.  It is the best $19.95 you can spend and of course there are other great scents I think you will also enjoy like winterberries and old dough bowl.  These would make a great little Valentine gifts too.  If you scroll down to Carley pics you will see I have added a couple new ones.  I also wanted to give you a look at our Joyeoux Noel stitchery from Blackbird Designs.  I am never content and I had to make it our so I used the distress it on it and does it ever look old.  Alma Allen was here over the holidays and she approved. ***Our pear linen for "Tis the Season" just arrived today!!!  If you have been waiting for the kit with the silk threads it runs $70.30 complete.   I have to say the linen is perfect and worth waiting for and we will be working on our model right away. That cardinal would be so perfect for this time of year my feeders have been full of them this winter.  Spring Hyacinths are are so fresh looking and these look very real.  They even come under a great glass dome and on an old cement looking plate for $57.00.  What a great way to welcome spring and help us through the remaining days of winter.  We also have some great new fabric covered boxes in just the perfect colors, they go with our quilts and in the spring decor just perfectly. The set of three are only $20.95.  I love this aged reproduction French mirror.  It has beautiful detail and if you have a place for this it will become a treasured favorite.  It really can go in any room, a foyer, living, over a buffet or even in a bedroom.  We just remade more kits of the square in a square table runners.  It is made out of flannels and the colors and plaids are really pleasing.  Here is another great quilt designed by Vickie called Homestead Lane.  How cool is this and although we brought it out for the holidays It really couldn't be a better project for this time of year.  It makes up 52" x 52", a perfect table topper size, and the colors are so right for right now.  The kit is$79.95.   I have another quilt up my sleeve, that would be our Tumbler.  This quilt has the perfect colors, old pinks, reds, and browns for Valentines Day and because it is a panel it is quite doable.  You can't miss on this quilt for $57.50.  It is made out of my Worn & Loved II fabric line which I'm going to be so sad when it is gone but the new Simpler Tymes is going to be just as good.  Another great quilt we have loved is the Amalies Many Blessings quilt I have hanging on our cupboard door, it is 72 x 82 and the kits sell for $150.00. We love to give our quilts unusual borders and setting squares this quilt is a great example of that concept.  More new items for the home, we are all loving the tin calendar it is a great size and features a pic of Paris the La Rue de Lyon it is pretty neat for $21.25.  There is a magnetic open square to keep you on the right day of each month and it is good for any year. You probably are noticing our great twig easels are they fun to display with and we have several sizes.  Another thing I like to use in a display is an aged mirror and we have several, some are on pedestals and others hang.  I like the way they show off lighting, images etc you will notice I even put them in our cupboards.  This is just another view of Fannies Favorite, the kit, and our wool kits for Maggie's Winter Bed Quilt another great project found in her last book.  The cost for the wool kit runs $112.00.  You will also notice we have some great new chalkware sheep and another view of our spring fleurs.  The shop has definitely made a great transformation this past week.

I think I'm going to start a blog, I have drug my feet because of the time factor but can see its value so you have something new to watch for this year.  As I was sitting by my Christmas tree this past week I thought about the fact I get asked about how I decorate my home, and does it look like the shop so I thought I might share with you my tree and few things I like to do for the holidays.  The neat thing was as I was sitting by the tree and I happened to look up and see the beautiful Blue Moon shining through the window so I got out the camera and decided to snap a few pictures.  We only see this moon once every 19 years so I thought it was something rare enough I wanted to save it and who knows if I will ever see 19 more years to see it again. I have many different ornaments, some the girls have made me  some I have made, lots of mercury glass and I collect antique ornaments I like to use too.  A couple of my favorites that are handmade are patterns from Maggie B. The paper bird on the right Suzanne made for me this year from Maggie's new book Natures Offerings she used a favorite Aunts Bean Soup recipe.  Now how great is that?  The other bird ornament which we still have a few kits left of@ $20.00 was great fun to make we girls all made one last year after our Christmas party.  Here are just a few more views of different things around the house.  I love to use our cedar garlands from the shop, they drape so well in old boxes , on tables and mantels and cupboards and look so real and I also love using lots of natural greens.   This is our little stray cat Maddy on the right do we love this cat and she is just about the most affectionate cat you have ever met she likes her picture taken too..  I also like trees and you can find them all over the  house, some natural and some decked with ornaments.  I do like to put out my Santa collection too they tend to get grouped in many places so I get to enjoy them. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without my quilts they tend to be stacked and out everywhere.  This basket quilt was reproduced a few years ago in the shop and is a favorite.

January 29th, 2010

I have a couple of new pictures this week.   I just got home from a little Nana time with Sara and Carley.  She is growing up so quick.  Here are some new pictures I took of her at 6 weeks with mama, and this is another new picture dressed in what else but pink.

I have new pictures of our little "pudden"!  My how she has grown, would you believe she is 4 weeks old and has grown a whole inch and weighs in at 8 lbs.   Her little face has filled out and she notices things, what a little honey.  I miss her, I told Sara it is so nice to feel no stress and just enjoy taking care of baby when I get to come to give mama a break.  We are all always kissing her so Sara thought she needed some lips to prove it I know she is my little precious Valentine.  What a good little girl, we are hoping for brown eyes but too soon to tell. 

I know you are all anxious to see the newest arrival, drum roll please.   Our whole family welcomes Miss Carley Jean Scott. The photo on the left was taken New Years Eve before I came back home.   Carley loves her mama and pink and she is growing right in front of our eyes.  She is a very content baby and definitely Nana's good girl we even took her on her first shopping trip to the grocery store. She passed that test, but we knew she would.

I can hardly wait to see and hold her again this week.  The shop girls, that would be all of the in house grandmas, are anxious for a little cuddle too.

We also have a few new patterns you might want to think about.  I always find at the end of the year I'm longing to work on some new holiday patterns for some reason I'm not quite tired of Christmas yet or maybe haven't had time to stitch by the Christmas tree and of course we just happened to get a couple in just before Christmas.  From Pineberry Lane you could have two completed projects pretty quickly and have them ready for next year.  One is called Merry Christmas Hanging Sampler it is 9 x 5.  We have it kitted with the old rusty bells, linen and threads for $24.65 and then there is December 25th  which is a great primitive cupboard hanger it is 4 x 4 also kitted with chenille, linen, threads, and rusty bells for $17.25.  Maggie just sent in her new Sewing Pouch I will give you a front and inside view.  We like this one a whole bunch she happened to show us at Boxwood and of course everyone needed one right now.  They have arrived and the pattern is $9.00.

We just got in another new pattern that we plan to kit.  The pattern is called "Windy Sister"  I love that name.  It is a Country Threads pattern and it really is two patterns for only $8.00 and that's a good value.  The quilts are smaller but we will make one of them larger and make the kit so you can do up both of the patterns.  That is always a good thing.  The quilt is 31 x 39 this is what we will enlarge and the table topper is 30 x 30.  I have also ordered a new Liberty Star pattern you are going to enjoy too.  I have 2 of the new Maggie patterns cut out that we will be kitting so watch for pictures of them.  One is her first heart mat and I'm totally doing it up for Valentines Day I think you will like it and the other 2 are from a pattern called Let it Snow!  I am really doing these different too.  They look more primitive not quite so white and I'm thinking of making both designs and putting them on the front or back so you can reverse the pillow.  I am doing the snowman on tobacco Matka.  I can never do anything without just a little change.

133 East Jefferson St.
Spring Green, WI 53588
608-588-2510
stchgirl@yahoo.com