Elegant Stitch 
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Elegant Stitch
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WHAT'S NEW 1st quarter
2011
friday, february 3, 2012 kinda a whirlwind these last couple of days around here...outcomes all good but a constant reminder as to how much we need to pay attention to what is happening in our lives and how much we really do need to step up and make a statement...we are heard. now, let's just hope that SGK understands how transparent they have become and how SO non-political this should all remain. we are three weeks away from market as of yesterday - annie and i had better start thinking about things like suitcases, shipping boxes and other fun things because we are meeting a dear friend in nashville and we are going to spend friday ripping up the town....and i believe there might be some serious mischief happening before we settle into market on friday night, saturday and sunday. we are very excited about going and very excited about bringing back wonderful things and so looking forward to it...car rented, tickets purchased (long ago) and hotel booked (long ago)...so i need to print off all the confirmations, tickets, etc. and away we shall go...that and firing up the ipad because i've installed a word processing program on it...and i can e-mail documents to myself...love, love, love it. couple of new things this week...very wonderful...and there will be more over the next few weeks prior to market... prairie schooler - she never fails...they are always
wonderful and annie already has one of the bunnies almost stitched on 22 count
over 1 thread and yes, she's filling in the background so it's black...the ducky
pulling the cart...it's going to be an easter gift for a dear little girl. -
annie is terminally insane too - did she catch that dreaded disease from me??? by the bay needleart: we are doing well with our new organization of hours - i've actually made it home before 7:00 a couple of nights this week - it's amazing what can be accomplished. we are still shoveling and boxing and tagging and lifting and shoving but it's all getting done...and annie and i seem to be finding our way to a little bit more time. like i said - it's been an emotional roller coaster of a week and i'm going to do a very long, long walk on sunday and try and clear out some of this brain - my head hurts from thinking so much over the last couple of days and i still have some serious decisions to make about where i want to walk to and for which organization - we shall see.... have a wonderful weekend...we need more rain...we need more snow...we need, need, need.... poof - i'm gone again ;) friday, january 27, 2012 wow...some major busy-bee'ness going on this week...i've packed and moved so many boxes that my legs are screaming but it's all good...i'm a tough hen...not a chicken...but a rather old hen...almost ready for the stew pot i fear ;) yes, we were sad at the outcome of the football game on sunday...and i know baltimore fans were sad too - we were just 1 game away from another harbaugh bowl but we are moving on - bruce is already scouting for wide receivers and ms. daisy buchanan is soooooooo looking forward to the new costumes for the gold rush girls...she's trying out for the squad this year...it has nothing to do with the pom poms and all to do with the spangled pants... i got a wonderful picture this morning from the mama who
adopted two of scruff's half siblings...this wonderful woman lives up in the
foothills and came into the shop while we were running our kitten care center
and fell in love with the little black & white boy...when she came that
friday to pick up "cocoa" - he was romping out and about the back room
with the others...and she took "elsa" too and kept the name...the
female so reminded me of the story about the lioness elsa and her cubs...and
now, like scruff - they are all grown up and quite beautiful and incredibly
lucky meow meows thanks to their mama ardyth... and so...nashville looms ever closer - we are very excited to go...don't have the bags packed quite yet...but the lists are being made and as soon as i get the rest of this "stuff" shoveled...we can start preparations for that (and a million other things). thank you also for all your best wishes as far as last week's announcement is concerned. your response and support was beautifully overwhelming...for those out and about around here - we will see you soon and for all of you "on the airwaves" - absolutely nothing has changed...just as we haven't changed much either...just a few small tweeks to the operations policies. and so...here we go with more to come next week too and some website clean up and maybe (be still my heart) some blogging too...it's just an amazing thing and knowing that i can blog from the ipad...life is really all too good. drawn thread yes, these arrived tuesday morning
with the mail - so beautiful...so very beautiful raise the roof shepherd's bush we have been awaiting this package too
and were not disappointed in the slightest bit. my favorite is poor
robin...but i love pincushions - ask anybody who knows me - i have a million of
them... lizzie kate here is the darling little kit i talked
about last week with thy needle and thread country cottage needleworks little house needleworks first ornament of 2012 i popped over 100 miles total training last weekend and with the rain and the humidity managed to acquire a very ugly, nasty blood blister on my right foot...humidity causes the socks to rub - i've been assured that the body glide i purchased on monday will stop this issue in the future. am waiting for the blister to go down a little bit...it started out about 2" x 1" and is getting smaller but not fast enough for me...am holding off on training until it heals a little bit more...but i was so jazzed to go over 100 miles training and your donations have humbled me...i am so grateful for your support. betsy morgan information for october's workshop: i have a couple more tweeks to take care of and i will have information for you - watch the web site please. this workshop requires about 3 hours of pre-stitching so the pre-stitching kits will be sent out to you prior to the workshop. annie and i have taken her toy chest class which required pre-stitching...it is not time consuming at all and is very "do-able" and it is so fun to leave class with something finished. betsy is a truly amazing teacher and i am so excited about this workshop...i truly am... out of here i go...more to shovel...dumpsters to fill...donations to hospice shop to make...cupcake boxes to make for this year's breast cancer piece, charting out the designs i'm going to use, continue to put more stuff away...i haven't slowed down one little bit...did i honestly expect that i would...silly me!!! it was a good thought though ;) have a wonderful weekend. we have snow on the mountains (finally!!!) and hopefully some more rain next week - but it's very scary - they are pruning those peach trees already - that does not bode well for crops i fear. poof...i'm gone ;) friday, january 20, 2012 lots of changes - lots of things going on - some new things...and it's all good. first off - if you missed the announcement on the front page - here it is again. and with that out there...here we go to the fun stuff... lizzie kate - has the cutest little valentine kit coming...hopefully there will be a picture on her blogspot soon - ours are being shipped on monday and we are very excited. drawn thread - the new things are absolutely GORGEOUS and we are so excited that they will be here very soon - they are probably stuck in reno in a snow drift - and i will have pics up asap...i promise... blackbird designs: just nan: samsarah design studio: jabc (just another button company) and so...we are busy, busy, busy getting ready for nashville and very excited at the prospect too...haven't climbed on a plane in a long time - and we are seeing friends and it's been too long. we are also planning a play day on friday and plan on tormenting everybody we can find in downtown franklin, tennessee...we will pick up our chariot at the nashville airport and head out for some fun, some shopping, and packing up those suitcases to bring them all back home with us... that's happing the last weekend in february...but first - we need to wander thru a very important football game on sunday afternoon...and that is going to take much attention and many fingers crossed...it's nice to have a winning season...so very nice indeed. huge weather system almost on top of us - coming in from the north - we have had no rain in 2 months - and there is little to no snow up in the sierras. the irrigation canals are full right now - two months earlier than normal...california desperately needs this water...but much more importantly...we need that sierra snow pack...tons and tons and tons of good, wet snow!!! have a wonderful weekend, thanks for visiting, and the updates will come regularly now - most everything is in place...and the website will get some long needed and required updates. we are so looking forward to the changes... annie and lois and didnot and eulalie... saturday, january 7, 2012 and of course i forget to mention - absolutely we will be doing the new little house needlework monthly ornaments - as we have done the last two years. we are taking signups right now - options are 1) chart only; 2) chart & fabric or 3) chart/fabric/threads. let us know - they are shipping to us about the middle of january. friday, january 6, 2012 we are all well and good here in the valley - certainly i am the dirtest i think i have ever been in my life...wait, except the time in 1975 when we poured a 25'x25' patio pad in the middle of july in sacramento in 105 degree heat...i was pretty stinking dirty then too...but i was much younger then ;) anyway - the holidays wouldn't be the holidays without some major changes to help celebrate the new year and we have been doing that for the last three weeks and i'm almost ready to roll out the drum and bang loudly...but not quite yet. there are a couple of things that i will update - but i need to find them out front first - i actually know that annie knows where they are...and i promise - i will get to that early next week...but everybody is gearing up for post holidays and pre markets - there is one the end of january in phoenix and nashville is the end of february...so a lot of focus on "what's coming" and not so much on "right now". it's 6:00 pm evening here right now...i am beyond ugly dirty because i have been at it since 7 this morning and i have at least 2 more full days of grinding, disgusting work to finish before i can even start to feel good about this but the end is in sight...and i'll be back....but, no, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth...i promise...we just got close to the edge and we never threw ourselves off into the deep abyss!!! i'll be back in a little bit with changes and news and all kinds of good stuff...and the best part of the last two weeks was that the wonderful fabric arrived from moda and it's sitting on the cutting table waiting for my rotary cutter...and i think i need some "creative time" and a little less dirt in my life ;) have a lovely weekend - the air quality here is just disgusting - we are in "no burn" air quality status and have been for weeks...and it's in the 60's temp wise with no rain in sight and no snow in the mountains and that is our water for this coming summer and it's getting a little scary out there. if the temps keep up all the blossoms will pop way ahead of time and no water to irrigate our farm land...very scary... baby scruff is no longer a baby but a full grown, beautiful cat who is sitting on my desk right now...wondering how come mama is so dirty...if she only knew... chat
soon!!!!
lgm friday, december 16, 2011 yep...it's still cold here...but we are doing better...or so we'd like to convince ourselves...this morning was very foggy...and 30 degrees...and that combination sucks no matter how you paint the picture. today's question is as follows: when you are cleaning up and you have a tub of quarter inch mother of pearl buttons (and i mean thousands of them) how long does it take to pick up 1/4 of the container that spilled when i moved it and the lid wasn't on tight? can't "sweep" them up - you'll have a dustpan full of everything along with your buttons so they have to be picked up individually. answer: A VERY LONG TIME!!! other than that...we are almost ready for the holidays and looking forward to three day weekends since the shop will be closed both christmas eve and new year's eve... we are cleaning up around here, throwing out, getting ready for business next year and just generally chasing our tails...which is a good thing because that means we can still find them ;) so...here are a few goodies that we found this week...love 'em all... with thy needle and thread: just another button company: lizzie kate: so, i'm going to wander out front, draw up a plan for the day, jump up and down about twelve times to get warm and hopefully the sun will come out today and warm the windows so i can back into them...but it just doesn't look good for that prospect happening today. and, heard from moda yesterday - our 2012 breast cancer project fabric has been shipped from dallas...am just too excited to see what the colors are and how we're going to do this!!! and, to my dear friend in visalia...thank you for undertaking yesterday's mission...you have no idea...one thing off the micro-manage pile ;) have a good one, don't get stressed, it will all get done and if it doesn't...nobody will know if you don't tell!!! lgm, annie, kayla, scruff lala and the didnot wednesday, december 7, 2011 question: how cold can it get in here overnight when the low for the evening is 30 degrees? answer: COLD!!! annie and i have come in to 47 degree mornings for the last 4 days...and the ceilings are so high in this place it takes forever to even become reasonable and then it's time to go home... we look like little snow people in layers...and this is disgustingly cold for so early in the season...but the sun is out and bright and there is no fog so i guess that's a good thing. the sun hits all the front windows in the morning and on any given day - you can find us with our backs up against the windows and doors warming up. annie has even gone so far as to call me a "heat hog"...nice thing to say... so...both cats have figured out where is the warmest spot in the place and have taken up residence there...and i've got some sewing to do before i take my dear machine in over the holidays for a tune-up and we are having guests this saturday so...better get this done while i can because who knows what emergencies will happen over the next three days - and they will certainly happen if this is sitting in the "get 'er done" column... blackbird designs: these are
on the way to us - all the threads are already here and fabric/charts are
enroute...we are very, very excited. shepherd's bush: they
all came in - they are all wonderful - i don't think anybody does christmas and
the holidays better than SB...truly i don't. olde willow stitchery
threads, inc.: jabc buttons - last but
certainly not least: so...there you go. annie's jeff went without power due to the winds from wednesday evening until sunday evening...yes, everything in the frig/freezer ended up in the garbage cans...it left us and went to ogden, utah and they had amazing winds too. holiday is in full swing here in modesto - everybody running and racing and not giving themselves enough time to do what is needed and then getting incredibly cranky and nasty - and oh lordie lordie...the driving - stay off the roads - they will run you over without a moment's thought...and happy holidays...it makes me insane. the fireplace hummmmmmmmmssssss at home every night that we can burn...and we really miss it on the "no burn" days...as do the doggers and the kitties at home...daisy buchanan positions herself so that her little butt is pointed at the fire and she just lays there and sleeps...the boys are up on the couch on their blankies with mr. bear...and are always in full attendance during the football games on sunday - cheering on the 49ers... going to go crank up the sewing machine then take it home tonight so that bruce can take it down to the doctor for a checkup tomorrow...and i have some things to get done and cleaned up around here...and so we just chug along...wondering what tomorrow will bring... enjoy the rest of your week...have fun, bake cookies, decorate trees, enjoy...this is a great time of the year...something to be treasured... lgm, annie, kayla, didnot and scruff...
friday, december 2, 2011 adden"dumb": of course we will be having the newest blackbird designs - they have been ordered as has the fabric and all the threads. you can see them at blackbird's blogspot by clicking right here - amazing and i'm thinking sometime the week of the 12th or 19th... we have had some winds here the last couple of days - it has finally stopped now and we are supposed to be seeing 73 degrees today - and i think fat chance - but what do i know!!! then it is really supposed to get cold here for the next week - nothing over 57 (and i know, i know...that's balmy compared to some places) but it's cold for us the first part of december. annie's jeff (middle child) lives in pasadena where the 100 mph winds have been for two days - he's without power and the electric company has absolutely NO idea when they will all be restored...ugh! and so...we were hoping for our new shepherd's bush kits to arrive today - they didn't and i'm sad - have been holding off for 2 days hoping they would arrive...boo hoo...sadly, sadly...but they are on the way and you can check them out at the SB blog spot which is a pretty sweet little place too. they are coming...i can hear the wells fargo wagon jingling the reins...sadly not today however. so...the best i can say is that i have some preliminary pictures for the workshop in april - pretty cute - and my brain is already ticking as far as "treasures" are concerned... sneaky peeks are here...we are so very excited about this workshop... so...sad as it is...we're waiting and hoping for deliveries...and as soon as that happens - we will return. in the meantime - kelly just walked thru the door - she is taking her LSATS tomorrow in stockton...and then the law school admissions process begins. get your shopping done early...i'm trying for more cookies this weekend, painting bruce's office and walking and a couple of meetings and some shopping...and waiting for the truck. we're out of here - have a great weekend!!!! wednesday, november 23, 2011 rained out in santa barbara - poor beyer band - thunder/lightening storms predicted last saturday afternoon - too much metal and kids and electrical on the field to proceed to finals...so they were cancelled and after semi-finals - beyer came home 5th overall in the state championships...which is amazing for a young band...and so the season ends and annie will pick up the drill again next summer and in the meantime - we are waiting for a large bolt of fabric to arrive so i can help her make bench covers - they seem to disappear from year to year out of the band trailers and since the uniforms are white wool pants...those banders can not be putting their behinds on dirty benches...thus the bench covers... we are heading out early today to start our holiday...we will be back on friday to clean up messes and get things out the door and then we are indulging ourselves in a really, truly three day weekend...and our lists are very long...or very short depending... we are excited...i don't think we've done this before...and so it's long overdue... we will be back in with the birdies on tuesday morning. so...because it's already 9:40 and there are quite a few hoops to jump thru before noon...we have two delightful pieces that came in this week... drawn thread: chessie & me: little house needleworks/cresent colors island cottage needlearts - 2012 monthly project and finally, our la d da workshop information will have pictures with the next update. lori was waiting for supplies to come in for the project and we all know how that works these days...lord love us - stuff has to be ordered 3 years out...that's how short on supplies some of our distributors are...but...she is working like a wild fool and we should have pics very soon...it can't be anything but wonderful... so...with that - i'm out of here...i have 2.5 hours to do 8 hours worth of work...we shall see how successful i am. have a wonderful thanksgiving week/end - if you are driving - be safe - if you are staying home - that's all good too!!! we have a major football game tomorrow nite...my husband will be glued to the couch and i will be finishing up our turkey feast and putting it in front of him...and then annie and i will have a sandwich on friday - actually the sandwich is the best part of the entire drill as far as i'm concerned... happy gobble...and thanks for visiting...
friday, november 18, 2011 so, we went and "marching banded" in madera last saturday nite...i made it thru in one piece and remained warm and then drove the 90 minutes home. tad's band took first place and annie leaves as soon as i'm finished this to head south for state finals this weekend in thousand oaks and santa barbara...and we are just hoping that the rain holds off...as is the band. the entire trumpet section is shaving their heads today at noon - tradition for state championships - and traditions are a good good thing - so we wish beyer high school marching band the very best this weekend...we are so proud of them, they work so very hard...and so do the parents. had a wonderful time last night with the santa clara ega guild - thank you all for your kind hospitality - i had the best time and made it home in good time - despite the rain and 90 miles ;) so...because i'm shoved to the wall and kayla won't be in until 1:30 and because i'm doing this "live" right now...i'm going to perform jet maneuvers of the highest degree...so hang on tight...here we go!!! jabc buttons: blackbird designs: with thy needle and thread: shakespeare's peddler: homespun elegance: cat's cradle needleworks: it's so nice to see juliet
jones back designing!!! all of these charts have wonderful finishing
instructions. kelmscott releases as of today - there are so many pretty,
pretty things in today's release...and some killer holiday pressies ;) all
available now!!! carolina house designs: island cottage needlearts: there is also a new monthly project coming and i will share that with you next week...but it is hand-dyed wool converted into "woolie pages" and will make into a book...it is very, very cute...more on that next week because the clock is TICKING in my head and on the computer in front of me ;) nikyscreations: plum street samplers wendy kc designs: okay...it is 11:51 - i'm on a 9 minute clock...so i have to finish this off, run to the front page of the web site, make some corrections there...and then wave goodbye to annie as she heads for southern california, wait for kayla to arrive at 1:30 after school, start on the piles out in the front...and then jet home after to do some waiting for the storm to arrive here in the valley... we are taking a three day weekend over thanksgiving...we will be open on friday but we are closing saturday so it gives annie and me an extra day to collect ourselves and start our holiday chores...or maybe just sit and stare blankly at a wall - i haven't decided yet ;) will do an update next week - have the details on the new gorgeous woolie book and maybe a few other things too...one just never knows. good weekend to you all...stay safe...start the shopping...it's coming faster than any of us ever want to admit!!! lgm, annie, kayla and the four foots!!!
friday, november 11, 2011 today is a day of honor and i do that right now...i am a grateful american born of foreign born parents who became citizens...my father fought with general macArthur in the pacific theater and i was married to a viet nam vet and i have the utmost of respect for all those who have served and who are serving today - i thank you!! i love days like today - it's going to rain sometime this afternoon - and the skies are dark and gray and smell wet and damp in anticipation of wet to come...it has warmed up a little bit because the rain is coming. when i left this morning the doggers were still "under blankie" and it didn't look like they were moving any time soon...being a dogger is a good life. i finished up their dogger stocking last nite - have to send a pic off to samsarah designs...patti was really interested in what it looked like and i'll post a pic on the lady dot blogspot this afternoon - have made a vow that i'm going to start posting there on a regular basis... and so...because i have babbled a little bit too long and because i have a lot to do in the next 2 days and because i'm leaving at 4:00 tomorrow with annie because we are driving to madera (south of us) for her son's marching band competition and because i have two more socks to finish up and some patches to sew on my neighbor's letterman jacket...and huge boxes to pack up for fed ex off to the east coast...and two baby quilts to make or the childrens will be off to college with their raggy quilts...off we go here... jabc buttons lizzie kate - i missed this one last week drawn thread - i also missed this one last week samsarah design studio - love 'em cricket collection - love 'em by the bay needlearts can you believe two weeks from yesterday was thanksgiving and 6 weeks is christmas - everybody is saying it - where did this year go??? it's been quite an interesting one actually - don't want to repeat much of it - but we made it thru the tunnel to the other end (at least i think so) and i have big plans for 2012...big, big plans... and last, but not least - i am waiting on the pictures for the april workshop...and because i have waited until now to do the update - you can just bet that when i'm finished - they will show up in the mailbox...murphy's law. so because that is going to happen...i will post the pics immediately and give you all some information because we only have 11 spots left after our event here on halloween weeked. for those who have a long weekend...i hope you enjoy that extra free day - the kids are all out of school - kayla has gone to visit her sis at san diego state...annie's tad has a football game tonight to play for and then competition tomorrow...and then we have a football game on sunday afternoon and my husband is now wearing "the red" out in public again...we have never waivered from 49er faithful...but the last few years have been very tough but it seems we are starting a new page and we are thankful for that too!!! so...because pre-game starts about noon in our household...there will be lots of scampering around on sunday morning so we can settle in...might even paint the bathroom before game and let it dry during...who knows...we shall see what transpires... thanks for visiting with us this week...i'm out of here to start crossing things off my lists ;) lgm..... thursday, november 3, 2011 snuck up on you didn't i :) wanted to share something quite wonderful that walked thru the door after yesterday's update...very swell indeed la d da's margaret cottam - this is in three parts - part I just came thru the door and i've scanned the original on the chart cover as well as lori's adaptation. the story on this dear little sampler is that the only part that remains in tact is the bottom third that is pictured. lori reproduced that 1/3 of the sampler exactly...and she is keeping true to the original sampler and working the other two thirds of the sampler in the same tradition but it will now be a "new" original reproduction. i've scanned the original "what's left" and also the new version of the bottom of the sampler...and i can hardly wait for the next two parts. it also comes with a darling little "key chart" that can be made into a pincushion. for those who have ordered from us - look careful in your package ;)
lov'in what we do!!! wednesday, november 2, 2011 yes, we've been away for two weeks - good reasons...i promise. in the first week there was absolutely nothing new or wonderful...so we held off and then last thursday i picked up our wonderful teacher, belinda karls-nace of blue ribbon design for the workshop held here in the shop last weekend and then it was just a whirlwind until i got everybody headed home and that included belinda - but only after we traveled every corner of san francisco - north/south/east/west and all parts in between those four boundaries. i think there might be 2 square inches of san francisco that she didn't see...and i had ordered up a postcard day and that is EXACTLY what we got on sunday and monday (why of course we had to go back and do monday at the quilt shops and lacis in berkeley) and then some chocolates for her husband and our little treaters on monday night and a football game on t.v. daisy was so very sad when her new friend left...but tucked safely in belinda's bag was a new squeeker for her pup simba...and daisy was more than happy to gift simba a special pressie...we miss belinda - delightful guest and wonderful teacher and...if you get the opportunity to take a class with her...DO IT!!!! so...now the cleanup begins and the shoveling...and so here we go!!! drawn thread - all just beautiful and yes, we can special
order the appropriate boxes if you would like. with thy needle and thread lizzie kate just another button company so...that's it for right now and we have no more grand adventures out of town planned until nashville market in february. we are moving things around and changing things and working on some new and different moves and shakes...the end of the year will be interesting and 2012 will be here before we know it. we hope everybody had a good halloween - i have to go scamper because annie has an appointment with her son this afternoon and she's leaving at 2:00 so i'm heading out the office door and over to the bright side and lots of things to do... daylight savings time ends this weekend...dark and darker...i love the fall but it's so dark and black outside and we are expecting two storms later on this week and weekend. from summer to winter in just a few short days with nothing inbetween... thanks for visiting...off i go... wednesday, october 12, 2011 and good afternoon to you all - i hope you had a lovely columbus weekend, whether it included a holiday on monday or not, we are having 85 degrees here again this week - and yet, cloudy and overcast most of monday and yesterday - weather is very weird this year...and it's not just here but all over. the newest pincushion from jabc
buttons has arrived...i finished the model last nite...and i even found a hob
nail tiny glass cake plate for it to sit on over on the bright side of this
place (this side being referred to as the "dark side"). kelmscott designs has released
their on-line show goodies and their represented designer releases - these are
for pre-order right now - they ship from here to you on 10/20. some very
very clever things...and very spooky indeed and so...with the exception of the witch hat pincushion - these will all be available next thursday the 20th for shipment...and we hope you like our offerings this week...and thanks for visiting...and i'm off to shovel more stuff into more garbage bags and try to do some cleaning and some finishing... lgm october 7, 2011 i know - i can hear you - twice in one week?? very scary isn't it. we had new things arrive...and it's all good...scruff is asleep on my desk (worn out from helping this morning), i have a meeting at 1:00 this afternoon and so - why not?? over 1.5" of rain from this storm...and there was a tiny bit of fog this morning caused by the standing water...there is a marching band competition tomorrow night at the high school about 2 miles from the house - we are going to cheer annie's son's band to victory...and then more painting on sunday and monday...and more cleaning out and more throwing...i love throwing...and i have potted two ficus trees in one pot...heavy as lead...and i need to get that up the stairs without killing myself...should be a challenge - at the very least. so...without further ado...here we go shepherd's bush - are they just too cute or what!! sam sarah design studio jeanette douglas designs aury tm by the bay needlearts quick trip this time...heading out to the front to start shoveling off the cutting table...close to starting the weekend...but not quite...busy as beavers...have a wonderful columbus day weekend...and if you are leaf peeping...enjoy...we are still fully green with a mild hint of color and not much more than that...even the corn mazes are green as can be ;) lgm et al october 5, 2011 it rained last night - and a lot - and it was wonderful and yesterday was the first day we have not had to turn on AC and that was wonderful too!!! it has been so dirty and dusty around here due to harvest - everything is bright and clean and the breeze is blowing and they are talking about an "open storm door" and i am way too excited...and lots of snow in the mountains too...i think fall has arrived. crescent colours - more of the lace and twill tape arrived
this week - i have them up on their page - the colors are just wonderful...the
trims are delicious and my brain is working overtime with all the
possibilities...check 'em out
have done all the reservation things that i can do this far out for our workshops next year...spoke with la d da yesterday - we know what we are doing and it's going to be so very swell, fun, dynamic and different - and we have a special little thing going for friday night which will require a tiny bit of "shopping" homework from all who attend...but i promise - it will be worth the required shopping... betsy morgan is all set for october of 2012...we are going to do her beautiful casket and i can hardly wait for it...i've seen it in person - takes your breath away. i will have information and registration forms up for these two classes within the next month or so...but we need to complete our october 2011 workshop first with belinda karls-nace of blue ribbon design...and how much fun is that going to be. and finally...i live in a very special world where MY
alphabet appears to differ from the regular alphabet...in my skewed world this
year there doesn't seem to be the need for "W" or "J" - not
in my world...but it seems that other people might possibly like to have their
initials charted for them for the breast cancer piece... and, with that final bit of boo boo taken care of...the breast cancer piece next year will be our last one...i ordered the fabric on tuesday to be delivered the beginning of december; i already know the theme and i will give you a tiny peek at the fabric...and tell you it will be a box - it will have a significant ribbon on it as part of the design theme, it will contain little "things" that mimic the flowery fabric pattern but in counted thread, it will be bright and fun and sassy, it will NOT have a monogram on it ;) and we are excited about it.
enjoy your week...and the glorious fall weather...this is
truly my most favorite time of year... september 29, 2011 oh my - it's almost october - oh my - our workshop is at the end of october...and oh boy - we are all ready - everything is done - except the singing...and a few menu tweeks and some cleaning...and we are so excited to see everybody and our first time to california teacher belinda karls-nace of blue ribbon designs...life is good. we have known these were coming for a very, very long time...but we were so wonderfully surprised and delighted when the box arrived this week - crescent colours trims - rick racks in 4 different sizes and chenille and ten colors...it was like the bestest birthday, christmas and easter all rolled into one box...the colors sing...and they look so beautiful on the new racks that annie and i made yesterday morning... check 'em out...wonderful!!! and, coming in our next box...all the lace colors and twill tape...hot spit...it's fabulous!!! other new things have have graced our doorstep this week: little house needleworks with thy needle and thread (country stitches) the temps are supposed to go down by the weekend, i have a teaching gig in sacramento at my guild on sunday and on the way home - another trip to ikea...but since i will be by myself - i'll also have the front passenger seat available too...a small elephant sized object can fit in that space...and i know bruce will be more than helpful when i get home - because we are redoing his office upstairs...it's all terrific...but lord love a duck...why is it that when you do one thing new and different - everything else then needs some help because one new thing makes everything else look just a twitch shabby...even when it's not? kitten news: all 4 are doing well in their new homes - i am relieved beyond all things and scruff was quite lonely until wednesday when she finally got didnot to swat her as scruff chased her around the back room - life is back to normal. enjoy your weekend - i'm out of here - have to make center pieces for annie's progressive dinner on saturday night - and then finish up a few things that are befuddling up my "to do list" and i really don't want to copy those items to the new list. cool enough to paint more on monday - am excited...more finished...more things crossed off my always expanding list ;)
september 23, 2011 honestly - nothing new here to post or put up...the greatest thing was liberty hill on tuesday and those are going like gorgeous little hotcakes...BUT, there is a happy ever after and so i will give you the news. last week on friday - the little dark chocolate/white boy was spoken for...if we could hold him until today - and of course we could. he was going to a very wonderful home in sonora to a lovely woman that i have known since i first moved to modesto. i was so pleased that LBF (my husband called him "little boy friend") was going to her for his forever home - it was a good match and i knew she would be a wonderful mama for him. anyway - today she came to get him - and she took one of his twin brothers with her too...so two of the little boys have gone to sonora to live in a very loving home and the remaining twin and his sister will be going to rescue in tracy on sunday and they will find forever homes too because that is what rescue does... i am sad to see them go and the pen is a little bit empty with just the two ginger ones left but i know that they will go to good and loving forever homes like the first ones did. annie and i cried a little when the first two left this afternoon...but it's a happy ever after story and so much better than what could have happened to them if i hadn't crawled thru the bushes on my hands and knees that wednesday nite almost a month ago... scruff, as their half sister has done a wonderful job of mentoring them and has taught them how to body slam each other, how to kick sand all over the place, how to leap straight up in the air and play vampire...it's all been good...and it's been good for her too - didnot is rather large and lazy...and scruff has enjoyed the games. i will sleep well knowing they will be loved and cared for...and i will also sleep well knowing that i won't ever do that again - until the next time...because i just can't help myself - it's just part of who i am...and i'm stuck with it. enjoy your weekend...fall is in the air - if the temps would just drop down past 100 - they are saying 80s by sunday - i am going to celebrate. happily ever after!!! september 20, 2011 quick update - got notice that liberty hill is doing something wonderful for halloween - and here it is. we have a specific number ordered and when they are gone - poof. preorders please and they will arrive in the shop the first week in october and we will ship immediately..
no stitching required...all you have to do is remove from bag and place it near your favorite stitching spot and not only is it ready to use...but what a wonderful decoration...not to mention...the new witch's boot scissors from kelmscott would be tooooooooooooo spookyly cute as would the kelmscott steweb scissors.
september 15, 2011 we have some new things this week - lady dot creates has a new batch release and drawn thread came in - and the sweetest pincushion from jabc... just another button company drawn thread lady dot creates - for more information on these products click
here the world is getting "righter". the babies are here now - we have them in a giant pen on the "dark" side of the wholesale side - they are growing like little weeds and they have a new opportunity as of next sunday the 25th when they go to a rescue organization in tracy, california to be adopted out into forever homes. they play so hard and scruff is having the time of her life showing them the "kitten ropes" in the back room - the only hard part is trying to gather them all up at the end of the play session to put them back safely in their play pen area. growing like little weeds, fat bellies full of food and good lord - those 4 can fill up a cat box quicker than anything. i am so happy they are going to forever homes and i will make the appropriate fat contribution to the organization - bless their hearts...i was starting to hit the panic button - i have way too much emotional investment... and, my husband is driving me back to ikea on monday - how good can the world get?? and i am getting closer and closer to finishing my house...little steps, one-by-one and it will be good. in the interim - we are so looking foward to our guest arriving next month for our workshop - we need to give ms. belinda blue ribbon a proper california welcome...since this is her first visit to our state and i know i can get her into some miserable trouble after her work is done here...shall be fun... annie has made my lunch for me - i can't leave this half finished or the internet disconnects and then i disconnect (literally) so i am going to finish this, wish you a wonderful harvest moon and a great weekend and thank you for visiting this week... fall is in the air...we are actually having temps in the 80s...it's blissful. lgm
september 8, 2011 we hope you all had a decent labor day - but i think everybody on the entire east coast was just slightly wet and i think we need to call a big STOP to them getting all that wet and send some to texas and oklahoma..they need rain so badly...they are literally burning up - rain dances please...we have too many good friends in texas and ok..they need some help. there are some great new things coming...drawn thread's new releases are enroute but i can't put them up until they are actually here with us...of course, with my luck they will be delivered tomorrow...but we have some guests coming on saturday so we are trying to get everything neat for them...but if they come in - i will certainly try. but, in the meantime...here we go!!! kelmscott designs acorn house designs hodgepodge cottage lady k needlearts nikycreations plum street samplers samplers remembered the primitive jewel trenner needleworks and certainly last because W is always at the end - these are so pretty wendy KC designs last sunday was really truly ikea day...but i didn't know that university of california at davis (just up the road from ikea) was going back into session - OMG - every single davis student was there furnishing apartments. my husband was not too happy...but he was happy when i managed to stuff EVERYTHING i had purchased (including furniture) into my little car - (i have a dear friend in spokane who had no doubt - she's experienced the shoe horn approach to packing that car before) and home we came and all the furniture is put together and in place - but, much to my husband's horror - there WILL be another trip to ikea very soon to pick up what i'm still missing... and then we came home...and indeed - i can herd cats -
despite what the saying is that you can't herd cats - well, guess what... god speaks in strange ways sometimes...it's going to be a hard weekend as we remember september 11th - it can't possibly be ten years ago - and yet, in the mere blink of an eye - i remember it as though it was yesterday and will watch and/or tape everything about it and cry at the horrific loss for all of us...it changed our lives forever and we can never go back...it breaks my heart all over again...but i will go there when the memorial is finished...it's a duty to all who were lost there. have a great weekend...it's still hot here...and they are harvesting almonds...and the dirt is just MINDBLOWINGLY awful...ick - but the heirloom tomatoes...i'll get hives from eating so many of them...yum!!! september 1, 2011 scruff is sound asleep on my desk - her fur growing back on her little belly...warm in my office - but should only be about 94 today - back up to 99 tomorrow and sunday - and sunday is really truly ikea day...we didn't get to go last sunday because we had an emergency come up... monday is trap the kittens day - scruff's mama had her surgery on monday - bruce brought her back to her brood on tuesday afternoon...all is well...babies are growing like little weeds and we have a trap and a giant net and a very kind neighbor...and i think between jane and i think we have homes for the entire family...and to quote an e-mail i got last night..."i love happy endings"...as do i - they are just the best... so...here we go - this is how it's stacked on my desk....it's getting late and i need to go help annie out the front... sam sarah design studio bygone stitches tree of life samplings dames of the needle erica michaels carriage house samplings by the bay needlearts needlework press needlemade designs jabc button company - WE LOVE THESE!!! and finally - just nan spent 5 hours monday painting woodwork...until my hand started to cramp from holding the brush...i think i have a lot of the door handles off - we are replacing them - and bruce is particularly fond of sticking his finger in an empty hole to open a door - he has no sporting spirit at all... and that was after we installed 26 drawer pulls and 36 door knobs in the kitchen on sunday...productive and it looks so nice...baby steps but it's getting there - monday is finishing the bedroom woodwork and moving into the master bathroom... crickets seem to have claimed their defeat and left town...we haven't had one in almost 4 days...and scruff got new kitty toys - loofa toys with feathers coming out...still looking for replacement chenille squiggles...toys are such fickle things - the good ones disappear out of the stores - never to be seen again - unless your mama buys you 25 of them (daisy has a cupboard full of new squeek-a-la toys) - we have a lifetime collection. all the kits are ready for our october workshop with blue ribbon design...they are beautiful, the colors are glorious and now we just need to get ready for our guests... all the kits are ready to be mailed for our breast cancer piece (from a pearl's perspective) and we will start shipping those september 15th. have spent the week finishing stockings and needlework collections and painting boxes for blackbird's casting a spell. i have to wax them out and re-attach hardware as soon as i finish this and trim the stockings and add the liners...and do the handsewing...and, and, and...AND, IT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE LABOR DAY. you all have a wonderful holiday weekend...
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