Trunk Show

Hi Everyone!

I am announcing a Trunk Show of my work

at 

Stitcher's Stash 

in Fairfax, Virginia.

10409 Main Street

703.218.3131

Lehmer and I drove the Trunk Show to this

lovely shoppe this morning.  We persevered through

the horrible traffic on 95N.  It just seems to get

worse and worse.  We finally made it and

hand delivered everything to this lovely shoppe.

If you live in the area, please try to stop by.

My models will be there until the end of the 

month, and I am scheduled to be there for

a "Meet & Greet" on August 24th from 

11:00 to 4:00.  I would love to meet anyone

who can make the trip to Stitcher's Stash.

This is a wonderful shoppe filled to the brim

with many, many wonderful patterns and

all the "stash" you need to complete your

projects.  Hope to see you there.

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

This is what it looks like when I am getting

ready for a Trunk Show.  All the models with

the product for each one, laying all over the

place.  Once every design has its publication

with it, then we do an inventory, and then it

is packed up, and in this case, loaded in

my car.  Usually it is shipped to the shoppe.

Doesn't this look like fun?  It's fun when it is all

packed up and delivered.  Please wish me luck

for a successful Trunk Show.

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

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

New Scissor Fobs

Hi Everyone!

Taking a little break from getting ready for a new

Trunk Show.  Pulling together everything has given

me a headache, so I thought I would come chat with

you for a few minutes.

I have two new Scissor Fobs/Floss Tag to offer you

this week.

"COURTSHIP"

 "SUNFLOWER PROTECTOR"

Both of these designs are prints of my

original artwork that has been decoupaged

on adorable wooded pieces.

These new fobs are 3" long X 1 5/8" wide.

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

Please note that the ring for your floss is not

included, but the cording is supplied.

$11.50 + $1.50 shipping.

These will be available in my ETSY shoppe soon.

In the mean time, you can just call or email

me.  I take Paypal, checks, Mastercard, and

Visa.  

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

As I usually do, there will be a cross stitch design

to go with these fobs, not yet, but I promise

there will be.

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

In My Garden

Good Evening Everyone!

You might remember that back in the Spring I told you

Lehmer and I were killing my overgrown (30+ years old)

flower beds.  Well, it was a lengthy process and Lehmer

did most of the hard work.  It is really strange to look

at the beds now and see vast areas of mulch.  I did

plant a few perennials and will do more in the fall,

but now it is too hot and dry to do more. 

Even though it looks very sparse indeed, it looks better

than the weed infested snarl of plants that was there.

It broke my heart not to dig up and save dozens of

mature perennials, but you know what, if I didn't

work I could have done that, but sometimes you just

have to give in and say "I just can't do it all" and 

that is what I did.  Now, it is so nice to be able to

walk in the beds and deadhead the plants without

fear of the dreaded copperhead moccasin which

is abundant in our area.

As promised, here are some pictures.  Do you like

to decorate your gardens? I do.

I think it is a very similar thing.  I've been collecting

garden "stuff" for years and love moving it around

the garden every spring.  The only difference between

decorating inside and outside, is that I like colonial

colors inside, but outside I like pinks, whites, and blues.

Here goes ~~~~

 Boxes and boxes of stitched models are stored

in the little shed.

 Mint for my tea.  I found out many years ago

that mint needs to be confined to a pot.

 The upstairs of the garage is where I store most

of my inventory and other Homespun Elegance

stuff.  I make dozens of trips up and down

those stairs every week.  You would think I

would lose some weight.

Now you can see where I spent a lot of time

this Spring.  With this heat we are dealing with,

I only go out when I have to and that is to 

water my poor plants.

Anyway, there it is.  By next summer I will have

filled in with some more plants in the two beds

and it will look a lot better.

Hope you enjoyed my little garden tour.  

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Will Be Ready Soon!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I am stitching and designing the day away, but

decided to take a little break and show you what

will be ready for the August TNNA Show.

These are a little more than "glimpses" ~ all

stitching is finished, but I haven't framed, finished, or

added any embellishments.

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

Here is

"PEACE TO ONE AND ALL"

and

continuing with my 

A Halloween Year II Collection

"Casting A Spell"

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

Please let me know what you think.  I am really

excited about how they turned out and hope

you will want to add them to your ever

growing stash pile.

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

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

Marking Sampler Update!

Hi Everyone!

Are you melting like I am?  So over this disgusting

weather.  We are suppose to get a break from the

heat in a day or so, but it will probably come along

with some nasty storms.  I'll take it as long as the

wind isn't too bad.  The yard to screaming for a good

watering, but there is no point in doing that now.

My potted plants are OK because I'm watering

about every other day ~ so so far so good for them.

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

It has been a while since my last post.  I don't know

where the time goes, but it does.  Faye has been

on vacation this week (lucky thing - but she deserves

it), so I'm holding down the fort alone and not

doing it very well.  Unfortunately, the first thing to go  

when I'm running out of time is the Blog, but I

must fill you in on the progress I have made

on the

MARKING SAMPLER.

Slowly but surely I am moving along.  I only

get to work on it for a very little while at night.

At this rate it will be a few more months

before it is finished, but I love it.  It is going to

be fantastic hanging over the bed in my

guest bedroom.  Cannot wait.

This is where I was when I first shared it.

 And this is where I am now.  I cannot wait to get

to the next row of letters.

This is the antique sampler.  I didn't choose a

fabric as yellow/gold as the original, because of

where I want to hang it.  But since it is only one

color you will be able to make it whatever you want.

Another interesting thing about this sampler is that

the J, K, W, X, and Y are missing.  I am not a

sampler historian.  Does this give a clue as to

how old it is or where it was stitched?  If you

know, would you please share.

The original post was on June 20th.  So you can see

 it has taken me nearly a month to get this far.  Pathetic,  

I know.  In the original post, I said if you

"comment" each time on the Blog when I do an

update, you will be put in a drawing for a copy

of the design and something else. So, if you wish to

try to win, just give me a quick "comment".   

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

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

They Are Ready and A Winner

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope all is well in your world.  I am very busy

and very hot.  So tired of this humid, nasty

weather.  We are suppose to have storms this

afternoon.  Hope it brings some cool relief

for me and the garden.

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

 THE WINNER 

 of my tin pinkeep box

and scissor fob is
~Michelle~

I have sent you an email. 

I hope you enjoy them.  I just

need for you to send me a

shipping address.

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

~PROCLAMATIONS~

VACATION TIME

Faye is going on vacation next week and I

will be here only a few days myself.  Therefore,

if there is anything you need, you must get

in touch with us tomorrow to insure

shipping on Thursday.  I know this is always an 

inconvenience to everyone when we

go on vacation, but we have to

take a break every now and then.  This is

coming at a bad time because we sent

out new designs today, so if you see something

 you love or think your customers want,

get in touch with us tomorrow.

NEW DESIGNS

A HALLOWEEN COLLECTION II

~MAY~
"Batty About Halloween"

HOMESPUN WEE ONES
COLLECTION
"What Are Boys~"

 "What Are Girls~"

The frames shown are also available from me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hollis and I are really excited about our new
collection.  Of course, we have to thank little
Avery for our inspiration.  I hope all of you
Mothers and Grandmothers will like what 
we are offering you tonight and in
the future.  It is going to be a lot of fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Many Happy Stitches",
Sandra

July 4th Celebrating

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th.

We certainly did and I want to share some

pictures of our very quaint celebration.

Hollis' husband, Paul, had to work as usual,

but Avery, Hollis, Lehmer, Cameron and I

took in the "olde" fashioned 4th in

Ashland, Virginia.  This is a tiny little town

located between Fredericksburg and Richmond.

Randolph Macon College is there.

It is a wonderful little place, full of old homes

and great shoppes.  Haven't been shopping

there for a while, but I'm sure it is still

great.  There are a number of "antique

shoppes" which qualifies it as a place to

go if you have a chance.

This was truly an "olde fashioned" 4th.

No motorized vehicles in the parade, just

children walking, on bikes, and in wagons.

Lots of adults walking dressed in their

patriotic garb.  Quite a contrast to

what goes on everywhere else.

After the parade, they had music in

front of the decorated Community 

Center.  Lots of good food for sale,

including $1.00 slices of apple pie.

Then we went back to Hollis' and had

a delicious dinner.  Her strawberry,

blueberry, and white chocolate sauce trifle

was fantastic.  This has not been a dietetic

weekend.  Monday will begin another diet

for me.

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

Here are some pictures of our fun 4th!

 Our house decked out for the 4th

 Avery enjoying the parade!

Don't you love his glasses and his
patchwork outfit.  So cute! 

Patriotic garb was everywhere~

 Here is the band in front of the 

Community Center~

Flags were everywhere~

 Hollis' Trifle

We ended the day with sparklers for Avery.

He loved them.  No fireworks this year.  He
does not like loud noises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's my little picture show.  Hope you
enjoyed it.
Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra