Shorttakes

And the beat goes on!

That's right, the Market may be over in Nashville, but I am still uploading more & more things! Before we dive into the next batch of incredible treats, let me just take a minute & give ya more info! 

I am continuing to add things to the Nashville section & I will keep going until I've got up as much as humanly possible.  I am so sorry to not have gotten things up as fast as they appeared on social media, designers' websites & other shops, but I am so grateful for everyone being patient with me (& with all of us at the shop!). 

You can continue ordering Nashville goodies thru Sunday March 10th & still be eligible for Nash Cash (if you need a refresher on that, click here: Nash Cash).  Usually Nash Cash ends the Tuesday or Wednesday after the Market, but since I am still uploading things that I don't want you to miss out on, I wanted to extend that timeline.

 

Okay!  That's enough housekeeping stuff!  On to even more great things.

 

 

 

Judy continues to capture our fancy with her lovely designs.  Many are inspired by the French Country aesthetic & they are just so pretty!!  Her designs are timeless & we never fail to be enchanted by each new creation.

 

Fleur de Alphabet - Well, I can't decide what I love more about this: the sampler itself of the gorgeous shades of blue she used!  Doesn't matter, this goes right in my stash!

A Collection of Petite Samplers - From Judy: "This book includes five samplers which were stitched from the years 1828 and 1894.  The collection includes two small red saplers and another sampler worked in pastels.  One of the most intersting samplers is worked in blue and was originlly part of Glee Krueger's Collection. It includes the phrase: 'A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.'  What an appropriate sentiment.  And the fifth sampler is an adaptaion of an Ohio sampler, worked in lovely shades of aquas, greens and peaches."  I love these.

 

   

Flights of Fancy - Both charts pictured here are included in this book.  You'll notice the smaller one is simply one of the sweet birds plucked from the branches of the larger sampler.  These birds are truly lovely!

 

My Heart to You is Given - A big book full of love!!   

 

   

When Cardinals Appear - This is such a comforting verse for so many. And when it's included in a lovely sampler, it's all the better.  Someday I'll tell y'all about my cardinal "encounters" ~ they're a bit too outrageous for this pretty sampler!

Renee's French Alphabet - This gorgeous alphabet is a great resource for monograms, names & more.  So elegant!

 

  

Jeannette's designs are always eyecatching!  Some are fun & sweet, others are intricate & involved.  Many of them have specialty stitches & she does give detailed diagrams for them.

 

Chubby Bee - This cutie joins the Chubby Fox, Chubby Bird & Chubby Bird.  Charlotte M., this one's for you!!

 

   

Budding Bouquet #3: Spring - This one's for me!!  I love the blues in this!

Budding Bouquet #4: Summer - One of the things I love about this series (have you already stitched the first 2?) is that they are smaller, yet still very pretty!

 

   

Needle Be True Sampler & Smalls - This gorgeous sampler is one of Jeannette's previous class pieces & is part of a series, so be on the lookout for some similar ones in the future.  I personally love the smalls that are included with it.

Heart and Home - You know I have a thing for houses & each one of these has its own special flair!  I also love the border on this.

 

   

Garden Box - Garden time is on the horizon & this chartpak is filled with garden treasures that will last long after the last bloom has gone away.

Mini Bouquet Collection - Love love love this design!  I also really like that you can take a few of these & incorporate them into another creation.  Just last week Chris G. & I were looking for a flower in a pot to insert in to a sampler she was doing.  These would certainly be an option!

 

Crown Sampler - Jeannette adapted this design from an antique samapler she came across.  The orignal sampler had a more traditional layout but also had several blank spaces ~ whether the threads had disappeared over time or perhaps the stitcher just didn't fill in the whole space.  So Jeannette decided to lay hers out in a more vertical style.  I love it!!

 

Beth's designs always delight us ~ whether it's the latest series of Fragments in Time (10 years & going strong!) or a collaboration with other designers.  We are always eager to see what she creates!

Fragments in Time 2024 - This year's Fragments are inspired by her forebearers.  It is a series of ancestral houses.  How cool is that? As always, they can be stitched individually or you can stitch them all as one design & she provides a border & layout on her website.  You're gonna want to collect them all (you know I will, because ....houses...).  The remaining 6 designs will be released over the course of 2024.

 

   

Fragments in Time 2024 no. 1 - This is a log cabin that still exists in Central PA.  It features a horsewoman, sugar maple trees & a field of flax ~ all nods to those first inhabitants that carved out a homestead in the Pennsylvania frontier.

Fragments in Time 2024 no. 2 - This features a stone house that once served as a general store, post office & tavern, all in a valley known for their apple harvest.

 

 

The Greatest of These: FAITH - Based on a treasured bible verse, this first in a series of 3 is absolutely lovely.  I do so love when she creates something that has a coverlet feel too it (with rows of color not dependent on the pattern itself).  The other 2 in this series will be released in the coming months & all use the same colors.

 

    

Lucky Charm - Isn't this pretty?  Perfect for St Patrick's Day stitching & for keeping out all year.  I love the quilt pattern feel to it.  Definitely adding this to my stash (I might even be able to get it stitched...).

Grandma's Flower Garden - Another small design with a quilt block feel to it.  Perhaps a theme is developing...

 

I don't know if it's because I also love quilts (& this gal incorporates a lot of quilt patterns in her work), or if it's the soft colors she uses, or if it's the WHOLE PACKAGE! But I will say I have a big bunch of her designs in my stash (& I can tell I'll be adding more from this batch!).

 

 

Wisteria Lane: Foxglove House - What a sweet little cottage and a cute little fox guarding the foxgloves!

Wisteria Lane: Sampler House - Now who wouldn't wanna live in a Sampler House??

 

Below are all 5 of the Wisteria Lane houses to date.  Aren't they lovely?  Linda H ~ are yours all done so far?

 

 

Betsy's Easter Basket - This will go directly into my stash as I have all the baskets so far (and none of them are stitched...but I'm ready!).

 

There is something so lovely & cozy about these designs...I've added quite a few of her creations to stash & there are a few more here that I'm gonna "need"!

 

Vineyard Faire - Joining Strawberry Faire (which I loved stitching!), Pumpkin Faire & Honey Faire, Vineyard Faire is a wonderful addition.  I love the grapes on the vine in the background!

 

 

Pollinator's Garden - Oh my gosh, I LOVE this one!!  All the varied flowers here make me smile & I can't wait to stitch this one. She also noted that if you split the design, you could stitch one row above & one below "Queen Bee" (seen to the right).  And since bees are supreme pollinators, it only seems appropriate.

Queen Bee - Another fun "Skinny Mini" design, this one is cute as can be!  Will you stitch it with the flowers surrounding or just as is?

 

Americana Blue - A companion to "Americana Red", this sampler speaks to me on so many levels.  First of all, it's BLUE!  But I also love all the stitching & sewing motifs included in this, as well as several lovely borders.  If you are ever putting together a sampler of your own (for your own enjoyment, not to sell) there are several borders here that would be wonderful to include.

 

I do enjoy the many different aspects of these design ~ whether it's a lovely sampler or nice smalls, they each have their own enchantment.

 

Literary Love Notes - This speaks to my reader's soul!  They harken back to earlier times when the language of love was more flowery.

Straighten Your Crown - And this design is most definitely made for modern crown-wearer!  I love this one ~ wouldn't this be great to stitch & give to that girl heading off to college for her first year? 

 

   

Emma Thatcher Sampler - I like Emma's thinking: "In books or work or healthful play..."  Yay books!!  And the fact that it's part of a lovely sampler makes it all the better.

Grace Gill Sampler  - Grace did a fantastic job of mirroring each motif she used.  This is a wonderfully detailed sampler & it's actually nice to see her age was an "advanced" 28! 

 

Isi continues to create stunning pieces as well as some gorgeous fabrics.  Which one will be coming home with you from all these treats?

 

  

Not Hoarding - I like that this looks like it's "serious" ~ which it is to those of us who stitch!!!

Cross Stitcher's World - A big book filled with treasures FOR stitchers, ABOUT stitchers to be created BY stitchers! 

 

       

Furry Babies - As you might devine from this book, Isi is as much of a furbaby lover as I am!  I have often said A) I'd like to work like my dogs (whenever someone makes the comment "working like a dog"); and B) When I come back I wanna come back as one of my dogs!  Do you love someone who would love to receive one (or more) of these pillows as a gift??

St Patrick Queen of the Needles - This is one of my favorite "Queen of the Needle" designs.  I love the rainbow along the edge.

 

       

Luck of the Irish pinset - Ohmygosh, these are SO FUN! 

Leprechaun Scissor Fob - This guy is sure to be the lucky charm you need to help keep track of your scissors (I definitely need his help...).

 

   

Reader Queen of the Needles - Another design destined for my stash!  And while I don't need a needlebook (I tarnish my needles so quickly that I go thru - on average - 3-4 needles per piece), I think I'll stitch the back of that design as a picture!

 

30ct  Kiss Me In Paris linen - This fabric is used in the "Cross Stitcher's World", but it's so lovely it will lend itself to many designs.  A yummy grey with a touch of purple.

 

 

Not only are these designs a bit more modern in style but also in color.  I thoroughly enjoy her designs ~ they appeal to my color-loving eye & whimsical side.  She has several more releases but they are all exclusives & won't be released until April, so I will post them then when we can get them for you.

 

 

Spring Rabbit Pillows - I love these darling bunnies! What could be more eyecatching for your springtime decorating?

Alice in Wonderland Tree - So many great motifs from a treasured story.  My favorite part?  "We're All Mad Here".  Also on a totally different note, sometime if you're on social media & want to see something hilariously fun, look for clips from the ballet "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" ~ particularly from the Royal Opera Ballet.  The clip including the Queen of Hearts is HILARIOUS!! Every time it pops up in my feed I watch it over & over again.  Ballet is not just stuffy swans & unrequited love stories!

 

We Should BEE Friends - This is so true.  For the month of February, my bestie Carol & I got together every week & baked treats.  This past Sunday was our first non-baking Sunday & even though I was busy all day with Nashville work, I was really sad to not be hanging with her having fun. 

 

 

Annie's designs have become increasingly wonderful with each new creation.  One of her new releases was the very first thing requested (more than once!) before most of the Nashville designs were released.  I also like that she has a wide range of things ~ from samplers to Christmas ornaments, they are all enticing to our stitchy fingers.

 

12 Days of Christmas Stockings - These darling ornaments are already a best-seller!  Don't have any idea how to make them into ornaments?  Not to worry ~ Therese, our fabulous finisher, will be ready to take care of that for you!

 

   

Every Heart Beats True - A fun little patriotic design!

Busy Bee - A sweet design featuring a well-loved verse.

 

Spring Green Pears - Another favorite request, these beauties are quick to stitch (& then Therese does the rest!).

 

   

Many Mansions - I've always loved this verse & this sampler is really lovely.  My favorite part of this is that floral band at the bottom.

Down in the Valley - This design was created in honor of the designer's grandmother & father, both of whom loved this song.  It is just beautiful.

 

 

We truly love these designs & have been holding out hope that they would come from one of our distributors, but until that happens, we'll keep getting some of these beauties directly so we can all enjoy them.

Tonight We Ride - This is one of the coolest Halloween designs I've seen in a while!  I just love it!

 

   

A Spooky Stroll - How fun is this?  So many fun little quirks here.

Good Witch Bad Witch - Very cool!  Which one are each of us?  On any given day, BOTH!

 

   

Ghost Towne - This is the perfect town for trick-or-treating...although, I'm gonna guess it'll be all tricks!

Hilda the Garden Witch - I'm betting Hilda can mix up a potion to get anything to grow!

 

Falling Leaves and Coffee Please - I know several folks to whom this applies!

 

   

Snow Days - This is just a fun little winter design ~ and exactly where I like to see my snow...in a picture!

The Jolly Trio - These 3 are definitely jolly!  I love that sweet little fox.

 

Welcome to our Home - I love this fun & happy design!

 

Well, in the midst of all the excitement of Nashville's new goodies, I am asking you to spare mom & me a thought.  On Wednesday we will be saying goodbye to mom's sweet girl Maddee.  This sweet pup is just shy of 16 years old & she is tired.  She has been such a sweet girl for the 15 1/2 years she has been part of our lives & we will miss her desperately.  But she has let us know that she's ready.  This is the hardest part of loving a pet. And yet, I've said many times that while it is a tremendously high price to pay, it is worth it for all the love we get from them.  We know that her sister Lillee will be there to greet her when she crosses the Rainbow Bridge.  And while many of us know that our pups (& kitties & other furry & feathered friends) will be running & jumping on the other side, Lillee will instead be showing Maddee all the great places to be a "speed bump"!  Those 2 have always been 2 of the laziest laid-back dogs ever!  Even when they were young, they preferred to just plop down somewhere & let the other dogs run around (& over) them.  They were also the old ladies at the pool ~ you know the ones...the ones with the flowered swim caps who sat on the stairs or the side of the pool & yelled "You kids stop all that splashing!".  I know Lillee will be happy to see her sister & I'm sure Maddee will be comforted to be back together with her. And while it's hard to let go, we know that letting them go before they are suffering is the best gift we can give them at this point.

The speed bumps catching a breeze from a fan!

 

 

Hugs & stitches ~

Beth & all the fluffer lovers at TSS