Candle Wrap Freebie Graph

Hi Everyone!

Here is the "Freebie" I promised you!  I am
so excited about the positive
reaction to this idea, that I am now planning a
new publication with seasonal "Candle Wraps".
Stay tuned!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget that there will be a drawing to win the linen 

banding, the straw ribbon, and the waxed linen cording.

You have until Sunday evening and then I will draw

three winners of the project pack.  

Good luck to everyone!

"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

A Drawing

Good Morning Everyone!

Do you like candles as much as I do?  My absolute

favorite scent for several seasons of the year is "Citrus and 

Sage" by Yankee Candle and we all know how expensive 

Yankee Candles are.  But I pay the price because I

love it so.  I did sigh up for their email so I get

coupons occasionally.  

But, I have found a little treasure, in of all places.  -

Walmart.  They have a candle right now that is

called "Lemongrass and Verbena".  It is a much lighter

scent than my favorite but is really nice and it is a

lovely green which is great for decorating this time

of the year.  I liked it so much, I bought all they had at

 my local Walmart, (which wasn't many) so it is a good thing 

you don't live near me.  I'm afraid they will not restock it for

the rest of the season.  If you do take a chance and

get one, I hope you will like it.

Here it is on a cupboard on my back porch.  It

goes so well out there with the plants and other

touches of green on the porch.   I wrapped it in this

great straw type ribbon.  The stitching is done on

linen banding and tied on the candle.

This little candle wrap will be a free graph for all

of you, but you will have to wait until I get back

home later in the week.  I don't have access to

my graphing software and all the other things I

need to post it for you.  But I will get it done.

*****BUT*****

I AM DOING A DRAWING

You have to be a follower and send me a comment.

I will be sending THREE of you a little project pack

which will include the straw ribbon, the linen

banding, the waxed cording, and the graph

to make a candle wrap.  You have until Sunday

evening to make a comment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did make great progress on all of my 2012

Annual Ornaments.  One is almost finished and 

I have to pick the colors for the other two and

start the stitching.  I'm very excited about how

they are turning out.
Plus, Cameron and I made a little more progress
on my new website.  So exciting!

Well, I am in Richmond, and Avery is taking a nap,

so I must go and get as much done as possible 

before the little crawling/almost walking person

wakes up.  No working for me after that. 

Have a great day.  Hope to hear from all of you.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

A Little Glimpse

A Good Afternoon To You!!

Today was set aside to work on my new website with

Cameron.  It is beginning to take shape now.  The boring

part is about to start and that is loading all of the images

and text.  I cannot imagine how long this is going to take.

It is tempting to open it before it is completely

uploaded, just to get it out there.  My old website

is so horrible it is embarrassing. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

2012 Annual Snowman Ornament

"SNOWMEN ON PARADE"

A little glimpse of the Snowman ornament.

Hoping to get everyone in the Christmas

stitching spirit.  

The annual sampler has been graphed and

Santa is still just a drawing, but never fear,

I will get them done.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hollis, Paul and Avery are on the way home

from the beach.  I believe from all the pictures

and the fun texts, they had a wonderful

first family vacation.

One of their great memories from the first vacation

with him --  he began saying "Mama".  I bet I

know who is grinning from ear to ear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Taking A Break

Good Afternoon!

My eyes are about to cross from graphing.  I have

to say that this is not my favorite part of the design

process.  I'm happy that I don't have to use rub

on symbols anymore (showing my age), but still

have to complain every now and then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Way To A Friend's House 

Is Never Far"

A long out-of-print publication prompted me to 

update a popular design from it.  I have changed

it a good bit and updated fibers and fabric.

I hope you will like it.  I have always loved

the sentiment and believe it is so true.  In our world

today, so many friends and family members live

so far away.

Let me know what you think.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANOTHER GRAMMIE REPORT

Can you believe this!  They were heading back to

the beach this morning in what looks like matching

sunglasses.  It is unbelievable that he is keeping

his hat and glasses on.  Usually he pulls off a 

hat within seconds of putting it on him.  I told

you yesterday that he is scared of the ocean, well

he still is, but he loves the pool.  Loves his bath, so

it was just a giant bath tub to him.  I hope Paul and

Hollis are making lots of videos.

Thanks for letting me share Avery with you --

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

Little Beach Bum

Good Evening Everyone!

Look at those sweet little rosy cheeks!!

Avery is at the beach for the first time, enjoying

his bottle in his own personal little tent, which is

is also under an umbrella.  Hopefully, they are protecting

 his tender skin from the sun.  Hollis called this morning to

share that he was scared of the ocean.  Had a total

melt down with the waves crashing.  It was the first

time that he had wrapped his arms around her neck.

He must have been terrified.  Liked the ocean from

a distance - just not too close.   I can't wait to hear

from her tomorrow.  Maybe he warmed up to it before

the day was over.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wish I was at the beach -  instead graphing is on my

plate.  Christmas ornaments are in the works.  I will 

share some little glimpses soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

  

Continuing A Series

Hi Everyone!

First of all I wanted to share with you a wonderful

gift I received from Hollis.  Bless her heart, she 

gave it to me just because she knew I would love it

and I do.  Sorry it isn't morning anymore, but I took

it this AM and couldn't get to the blog.  I think she

believes my memory needs some help.  

Unfortunately, she is right!

It has a scalloped tin back with the chalkboard 

painted on top of it.  It is hanging from a set of

shutters that covers the side of my frig.  Just perfect!

In another post, I want to show you a chalk board

that I made for Hollis.  This chalk board paint 

has opened a whole world of possibilities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, on to cross stitch.  I don't know if you have ever

seen these designs.  It was meant to be a seasonal

series and I just didn't get it finished in a timely

fashion.  Well, it is finally coming together, and

the next season, Summer, will be ready soon.  So,

to refresh your memory, here are the first two and

a glimpse of Summer.  

SCENES OF SUMMER

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to wish all the Father's in your lives, a

wonderful Father's Day.  Paul will be having his

first Father's Day.  So special for him I am sure.

Lehmer has had many Father's Days, but we

try to make everyone of them more special

than the last.  He is so great, so special, and

so loved by all of us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you have a great weekend and can squeeze

in a few 

"Happy Stitches",

Sandra

NEW STUFF READY

Good Morning Everyone!

I am home on a Monday.  Seems so strange.  Hollis

and Paul's scheduled was unexpectedly changed, so 

mine was too.  I'll be there Tuesday and Wednesday.

I haven't seen Avery since last Tuesday which is the

longest period of time without holding that little guy.

Boy do I miss him.   I hate to complain because I know

some of you don't get to see your grandchildren as often

as I do.  In fact, my best friend's grandchildren live

in Belize and New York City, so she doesn't want

to hear me complain  -- ever.  

Today will be very busy.  I am going to be one of

the featured designers in Norden Craft's Needleworkers

series.  I have to get all of my questions answered and

do a free design for all of you guys.  I will let you

know when it goes up on their website so you can

get the "freebie".  Also, my 2012 Annual Christmas

Ornaments are on the drawing table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just wanted to let you know that my new things are ready

and will be shipped soon to my distributors and Auto Shoppes.

"Ewe Be Patriotic"

Scissor fob will be available separately!

"A Family Homestead"

Note the new frame which is available!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, wanted to share a little glimpse of something new

that will be coming later.  Don't you love the colors?

If you don't, there are only two main colors, so you can

easily make it your own.

If you are familiar with this series, they are all finished

as Cupboard Hangers or Pin Keeps.  A quick stitch for 

you or a needle friend.  

"Sampler Lady"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing you a great Monday with 

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

A Little Glimpse

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great week.  I had

a really special two days this week with our

sweet Avery.  He just started crawling a few

days ago and today he took his first steps

pushing his Radio Flyer wagon.  So cute!

Hollis was able to video part of it so Lehmer

and I got to see this milestone. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"EWE BE PATRIOTIC"

If you have followed me for many years, you

know that I love to  paint.  I don't have much

time to devote to it, but periodically I need the

diversion.  I have decided to interpret some

of these little paintings into cross stitch and

then use the paintings to make wooden

scissor fobs.  This is the first one.  The design

will be sold separately from the fob, but I

hope you will find it fun to have the set for

your collection.  

Please let me know what you think.  This will

be ready in a few weeks (just in time for the

Columbus market) along with

"A FAMILY HOMESTEAD".

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Good Morning Everyone!

I am happily preparing for the arrival of our

  Mr. Avery.  

Unfortunately his Papa is

away on a golf trip, so he won't get to spend

any quality time with him on this visit.  Can you 

see what a ham this guy is turning into.  When Hollis

picked him up from daycare yesterday, his

teacher said he never cries.  He is such a happy

little thing.  Unless he is sick or over-tired,

he is just full of himself.  This has been a big

week for him.  He officially started crawling and

waving.  He was a little behind on the crawling

because of some minor surgery, but is making

up for lost time.  He has officially "found his

wings", and I am a little wary of keeping up with

him.  I think I need some more vitamins to

build up my stamina.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

My new publications are ready and will be shipped

next week.  Here they are and so hope you like

them.

"TO STITCH IS BLISS"

The color is a little off in this picture.  Way too blue, much

better on the book cover.

"NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP"

"LOVE THY COUNTRY"

I  hope these will all be in your shoppes in the 

near future.  I plan to ship to our AUTOS on

Tuesday - Wednesday at the latest.  If you do

not have access to a Shoppe, we will be happy to

help you.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I'm off to vacuum my dirty floors, thanks

to Zeus, the resident St. Bernard.  This needs to be

a daily event. So exhausting, but the floors need

to be spotless for little Avery.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I wish you a great weekend!

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra