Market was FABULOUS!!!

And when I say fabulous, I mean it!  Thanks to all of the dedicated shopowners for attending the market, we couldn't do what we do without you!!  After arriving on Thursday, I taught two classes on Friday.  Saturday morning, Market began...KABOOOM!  We were swamped which is an excellent problem to have.  Everyone loved the new cottons, silks and perles and our new Halloween Towne kit with Raise the Roof Designs.  Sold lots and lots and lots of the six perles that are used in the 2010 Shepherd's Bush Stocking, "Sadie".  Taxi'd to the airport this morning, slap my bags on the security belt, and they pulled my purse for inspection.  TSA lady digs in my purse and pulls out my Elena 8 inch shears.  I gasped, so did Jennifer, I had no idea they were in there.  I needed them to cut fabric to put in my class kits at market, but had checked them in my suitcase on the way there.  There was no mailing option so I could send them to myself and I watched the lady toss my $100 shears in the bin.  Sickening.  I mean, I have another pair of Ginghers, but not THOSE Ginghers.  Flight home was quick and so was the stop at the Attic to drop off Rosie the suitcase.  Headed to Tucson and I'm sitting in my comfy chair with a happy daughter and two grateful puppy dogs. Mom is home and everyone is happy.  I'll post some pictures tomorrow, I don't know how to do it from the MacBook.

The Market was wonderful, your shopowners are bringing home some really special things.  I hope you enjoy the new threads.

Sharon

Technology at it's finest!!!!

I'm sitting with Deb Koch from Stitches 'n Things ready to teach a class on technology. I'm showing her how easy it is to update my blog from my iPhone. Ta-da!

Sneaky Peeky...

This is market week and the frenzy begins!!  Ship all the boxes, fly in on Thursday, teach twice on Friday, two days of crazy selling, pack and ship the booth back and fly home.  Sounds easy enough, right? All of that is done in about 96 hours.  But we are ready and excited!! I am blessed that Jennifer knows how to set up the booth :)

This is a tiny snippet of a piece that I'm teaching at St. Charles and the pattern will be available to those shops that attend.  It's really darling, in my oh so humble opinion.

That little peek of the frame is our Meg frame, finished in Vintage Icing.  I'll post the full piece when I return from market.  Everyone have a beautiful week!  Sharon

They just keep coming and coming...

I love Market time...all of the beautiful things these very talented designers have come up with just astonishes me.

We leave for Market on Thursday, and my friend Jennifer is flying in from Virginia to help with the booth.  It's great fun because we only get to see each other maybe 3 times a year, so we have good friend time! 

Back to beautiful designs...Blackbird Designs has another beautiful piece in the Anniversary of the Heart Collection.  It's called Clara Ellen and uses 9 of our cotton threads.  I cannot WAIT to stitch this! 

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Sharon

Autumn is coming!!

Take a peek at Little House Needleworks upcoming design, "Pumpkin Hollow".  Not only does it use a bunch of our cotton flosses, that frame is ours too! Called The Finley, with a fleamarket blackbird finish. 

I know exactly who I'm going to stitch this for.  My best friend since we were children, Ronna, loves to garden and grows the biggest and bestest sunflowers I've ever seen.  I took a long overdue break last week and visited her in New Mexico. She lives in the middle of nowhere, on a ranch.  I had no cellphone coverage, no computer, no internet.  Just peace, quiet and a lovely time. 


I'm going to take some pictures of the new colors tomorrow and give ya'll a sneaky peek.  I think they turned out just beautiful!  Until then, things here are cookin' for market.  No matter how much you plan or start early, you work right up to the very end.  Best Wishes!!

Two posts in one day!!! Whew!

But I had to tell you about a project that I'm doing with Shakespeare's Peddler for market. It's called Halloween Town.  We had started this out to be a four-part series, but decide to make it all one pattern and a big fat bundle of Belle Soie silks.  The buttons are from JABCO but not included in the kit. JABCO is making packs specifically for this design.  There is also no fabric. I think it's so cute!!!  And it's going to be a bargain, suggested retail price around $28.00.  Here's a preliminary picture:

The frame is from our Family Tree Frame Co. called The Jake in Fleamarket Blackbird.  I hope you enjoy this design as much as Theresa and I do.  Happy Weekend!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

How lovely are your branches!! Just singing away today because I found something gorgeous!  Every year, I collaborate with Hoffman Distributing (my distributor) and Nora Corbett of Mirabilia Designs for an annual Christmas Tree kit.  Well, the 2010 Christmas Tree is ready!!  I love it, it contains the patterns, 4 full skeins of Belle Soie Silk and lots of beads and treasures and Kreinik.  There is no fabric in this kit, which I think makes it nice for people who stitch on different counts of fabric.  Anyway, here it is, in all its glory:

I just love all the snowy, sparkly stitching!!  Your shops will be able to order this from Hoffman now.

Enjoy your long weekend and stitch! I'm going to stitch on a patriotic piece this weekend! I love Americana!

Sharon

It's September and you know what that means...

Market is coming soon!!!!  I will be teaching a class along side Lizzie*Kate, JBW, SamSarah & Erica Michaels.  I will also be on the panel discussion board, it's gonna be busy and FUN!!  Luckily I have my favorite sidekick, Jennifer, who is a GREAT helper at market.  Plus it lets us spend a few days together and have friend time.

We will have new cottons, new silks and new perles (being used in the Shepherds Bush annual stocking) and everything is turning out so pretty! We hope you'll like them too!

We recently made a frame and supplied colors to Diane of Little House Needleworks for her contribution to the Jenny Bean's Friends collaboration.  Isn't it darling??

The frame is called the Dee (in honor of my Auntie Dee) and uses our cotton flosses.  I love it!

That's all for now. I need to design a piece for an Italian magazine and my project for the class at market! Only 3 weeks away!!! The push is on!  Enjoy your day...Sharon