What Do YOu Think?

Good Evening Everyone!

It has been a beautiful day here in Virginia.  My husband,

Lehmer, belongs to the Dominion Club here in 

Fredericksburg.  It is a social club that was organized

many years ago.  They have a few delightful

get togethers each year that include us women.

The first Sunday in November is the Oyster

Roast.  If you like oysters, this is the place to be.  

They fix them all kinds of ways and all are delicious. 

I can't do the raw ones, but any other way is fine with me.

They also have grilled tenderloin and all kinds of delicious

things to go with it.  The weather was just perfect -

just cold enough to need your gloves by the end of

the afternoon.

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Back home now and I wanted to share with you a

design I did many years ago.  The book is long out

of print.  Having always loved this design, I 

thought you might like to see it reprinted.

If you like Sewing Birds and the color blue,

this just might be for you.  Of course, you can

make it any color you like.

I added the little stuffed pincushion.  It gives

it a a little dimension.  Hope you like it.

I drastically aged the fabric with coffee and

mounted it in an antique frame.  Let me

know what you think.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Something New!!

Good Early Morning!!

Thank you so much for your comments about

our Baby Chef.  You are all so right.  I knew

I would love being a Grandmother, but it is

impossible to describe the feelings that I have

for this child.  He is such a blessing.

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Have a few things to share this morning. A little

 "snippet" of something new and a reprint of an "oldie

but goodie".  The "oldie" first.  This book is out of print, so 

 I thought I would take the main design and reprint it. 

I put it on the Online Show and it was my best seller.

~~~~~~~~~~

"All Hearts Come Home For Christmas"

~~~~~~~~~~

Through the years I have literally published over a 

thousand designs and this is still one of my favorites.

It is always part of my Christmas decorations.

The saying touches my heart because it is so true.

~~~~~~~~~~

This new design was inspired by Avery.  I didn't

have time to get his stocking design finished for

this year, but it will be coming your way in plenty

of time for next year.  Of course, this doesn't

take the place of a stocking, but I did my best

for this year.  Hopefully, you will have a little

one to honor with this sweet design.  Of course,

you are only seeing a "snippet", but I think

you will get the idea that it will a "little"

something special to do for someone,

maybe even yourself.  

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

Well, I must go for today.  More new things

to come for the holidays.  Talk to you 

soon.  Wishing you a great weekend

with

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

Better Late Than Never

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great day.  I have gotten

some much needed things finished, so I'm going to

take a "coffee break" and share something adorable.

Speaking of "coffee breaks" first, every afternoon

about this time I have to relax a little and have a 

small dose of caffeine.  This started many years

ago and it really helps me keep going later in the

day and believe me I need all the hours I can

get in every day.

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Anyway back to my most favorite subject!

A Halloween baby that is beyond cute.

You might remember me mentioning at some point

that Avery's Daddy is Head Chef at a restaurant

in Richmond.  Well, months before Avery was born,

Hollis Goggled baby chef hat, and this is what 

she found.

A complete outfit with a double breasted chef's coat

and checkered pants.  We stuffed the hat with

plastic bags.  

Do you love the food channels like I do?  If so, you are 

probably familiar with The Naked Chef - 

Jamie Oliver.  Well, we now have our own!!

Of course, we had to have a daytime Halloween

outfit.  His Granddaddy said he looked like 

a convict.  

You all know Faye, who has worked with me

for years.  Well, she is forever giving something

wonderful to this baby.  This is an adorable lion

costume, so we had to wear that one too.

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What a great time we had.  I think it will be

really hard next year to top the Chef costume though.  

If he ever finds out that I put his little naked

body with a huge hat on a BLOG, I may lose

the Grandmother Of The Year Award.

Oh, well, you can only get away with pictures

like that when they don't have any say in the matter.

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I have new stuff to share, so stay tuned.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Another Little Look

Good Saturday Morning!!

Hollis and Paul wanted to take Avery to the

Pumpkin Patch today, but so much for that idea.

The weather here is just horrible, raining now 

with a chance of snow.  The mountains of

Virginia are definitely getting snow.  I keep

trying to remind myself that it really is fall.

Here are a few of my minimalist ideas of

decorating this year.  Christmas decorating 

will be better - I hope.

Never did find my white pumpkins.  I found

one tiny one at Walmart, can you believe that,

and being a good MOM, I gave it to Hollis.

Looks great in her bathroom.

Still hoping to find some before Thanksgiving.

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Before I get to my little peak for you, wanted to

share the most adorable hat on the most adorable

baby.  Don't you think he would have been a hit at the

Pumpkin Patch?  Cannot wait to share his

Halloween costume.  Stay tuned for that.

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Now for the reveal.  This is 

~~MERRY BIRDIES~~

So sweet, so cute, so prim, and so

quick.  I hope you will love them.

These will be available soon with

some more "quickies" for your

Christmas decorating and giving.

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If you are in my part of the world, try to stay

dry and warm.  The coffee will definitely be

flowing today.  I have to finish my last two

publications to go out next week and move on

to the next.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

New Stuff

Good Morning Everyone!

Hope all is well in your part of the world.  This

is a really busy day for me and before I get started,

I wanted to share with you my two new publications.

If all goes well, they will ship next week.

Hope you like them.

"CHRISTMAS WON'T BE CHRISTMAS. . ."

I know you will all recognize the origin of this special

quote from Little Women, one of my most favorite

stories and movies of all time.  I have always loved

this quote and wanted to do something unique to use 

in my Christmas decorating.  This will occupy a special

spot on my sofa with all of my other Christmas pillows.

  All the fancy magazines talk about the packaging being

part of the gift, well this time the packaging could be

the gift as well.  I made the pillow out of Weeks felted

wool and the ribbon is just something from the

craft store that just happens to match the color

of the cross stitched gifts.  I may have a little of

this to sell if you are interested.  It is stitched on

Old Mill Java with a variety of fibers.  Would be

quite special over one for an ornament.

Next is

"QUAKER REJOICE ORNAMENT"

This continues my heart ornament collection.  So simple

and elegant at the same time.  It is stitched on 36 Count

"Wheat" from R & R Reproductions, with a Stitch

Count of 39 Wide X 69 High.  The brass charm is

included.

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Just so you know, I will have another heart ornament,

some Christmas birdies, and Christmas Silhouettes in

the coming weeks.  Can't wait to share.  

Love Christmas designing so much.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend with
 Many Happy Stitches,
Sandra

A New Little Something!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I hope you are all having a grand day.  We are

having a gray and windy day with leaves

blowing everywhere.  Fall has definitely

arrived in Virginia and I love it.  I haven't had

much time for fall decorating and it is driving

me crazy.  I so love this time of year.  Have

yet to find a white pumpkin or bittersweet.

What in the world am I going to do.  I may

have to paint one and age it.  

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Just wanted to let you know that the Online

Show is up and running.  If you would like to

take a peak just go to Online Show.

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Thought you might want to see a little snippet

of two of my new designs.  If all goes well 

they be released next week.  

CHRISTMAS WON'T BE CHRISTMAS

and

REJOICE

"Rejoice" continues the Heart Ornament 

series that I started several years ago.

I'll let you see the complete designs in a

few more days.  Just a few more finishing

touches to go.  

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Now for something really cute and special!

I know I'm being obnoxious again, but cannot 

help myself.

Have a great rest of the day with

"Many Happy Stitches",

Sandra

I'm Still Here!

Hi Everyone!

I cannot believe that it has been almost a month

since my last post.  I guess you all thought I had

gone to Richmond for good.  Well, I just about

have for various reasons.   Avery went to day

care for his first three days and what happens -

he gets a cold with a slight fever, etc.  Poor

Hollis and Paul, welcome to parenthood.  Anyway,

he is better now, so I came home Wednesday

and have been working on the Online Show

and trying to catch up.  We had to get things

shipped to Attic Needlework for a Trunk Show.  

 If you are in the Meza, Arizona area, many of my 

models will be there for about a month.

If you have never read a newsletter from Attic

Needlework, then you are in for a real treat.

Please go to

www.atticneedlework.com

You won't be sorry!!!!!

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I was so shocked when I opened an email from

Terri Stanley and saw this fabulous display of my

"HALLOWEEN YEAR" collection. 

Everyone of them is finished in her own special

way.  She definitely has a flare for finishing.

Thank you Terri for sharing this with me!!!!!

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Well, I have to get back to the Online Show.  I still

have a lot to do and the deadline for everything to

be in place is Monday.  Before I go back to Richmond

(I am taking care of Avery on Mondays and Tuesdays)

I hope to show you a little glimpse of new designs.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

New Stuff!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

 I want to share

with you the last of the three new publications

that were shipped to shoppes and distributors

a few days ago.

"Be Truly Thankful"

What a wonderful time of the year and it is fast

approaching.  Just enough time though to stitch

this quick design and have it ready for your

Fall displays.  Everyone at the Sullivan household

is even more thankful this year.  Cannot wait to

see little Avery at our Thanksgiving table.

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Also, wanted to share with you that I have a design

in both the new publications from

~~ Just Cross Stitch ~~ 

Halloween Collection Book

and

the 20ll Christmas Ornaments Magazine.

The pre-finished stocking was designed

and made by Olde Colonial Designs. 

They should be available at your shoppe.

If not, you may get them from me.

Both of these publications are the bargain of

the year.  Filled with dozens of unique

designs for your stitching pleasure.  You

won't be disappointed!

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I hope you are having a great day.  I am playing

catch up around here ~ printing publications, working

on new ones, working on some special things

for the Online Show in October, etc.  Never a dull

moment.  I hope to have time this weekend to

update my ETSY site.  Many of you have asked 

where the new things are.  I just haven't had

time to do it.  If you want something though

all you have to do is a Conversation on the

ETST site or call/email me.  It is never a 

problem.

Be back soon.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Time To Share

Good Evening Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that 

Cinnamon Stick Santa XXIII

"Such Delight"

is about to be shipped.

~~~~~~~~~~

Here he is along with a special

bag to hold your delights!!

Hope you like my Cinnamon Stick Santa.

I cannot believe that I have been doing

this series for 23 years.  Boy am I old.

So many Christmases ~ So many delights!

Many Merry Stitches,

Sandra

I'm Back From The Beach!

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a week as I have

had.  Building memories with my precious

grandson, Hollis, Paul, and Lehmer will be forever

cherished.  We played with Avery, ate wonderful food, 

played with Avery, sat on the beach, played with Avery,

put together a complicated puzzle, played with

Avery, sat on the deck looking at the ocean and

watching beautiful sunsets.  My only regret is that

it had to end.  I do have wonderful pictures to

show you.  I will only bore you with a few

special ones though.

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

Anyway I am back and I have to get back to

reality and that means I have to finish my new

designs and get them shipped this week.

Stockings 'A Plenty I

This is one of the three that will ship this week.  The

stockings are pre-finished for your stitching pleasure.

Note the tiny ornament tucked between the top

two stockings - another option for the designs.

I'll post pictures of the other two publications

sometime this week.

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

Nice to visit with you again.  

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Too Quiet Here

Hi Everyone!

It is too quiet here.  Hollis and Avery went back

to Richmond yesterday evening.  They finally got

their electricity back after the hurricane.  Such

mixed emotions.  Of course I wanted them to have

electricity, but I sure hated to see them go.  I also know Paul

was anxious to see his little boy and Hollis.  So I had to 

let them go.  Faye is off today and Lehmer is playing golf, 

so I am here alone.  The last few days were very hectic also 

because Faye and I were trying to get my Trunk Show

together to go to Notforgotten Farm.  Lori's "Gathering" is 

September 17th.  I hope some of you get to go. 

 It will be wonderful. 

~~~~~~~~~~

I need to thank all of you again for your continued

comments about the baby, the hurricane, the earthquake.

I hope I won't be adding any more weather events to

the list any time soon.  But, there is another hurricane

brewing and our vacation at the beach could be

affected.  I sure hope not, we have so been looking

forward to this.  It will be Avery's first beach trip!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Thought you might like a little look at some new

designs in the works.

The first is

"Be Truly Thankful".  

                   

We have so many things to

be thankful for this year, plus I truly love Thanksgiving.

and

one of the designs in my two stocking publications.

Quick and easy, plus you can get the stocking

already made.  There is also a red stocking.  Of course, 

they make adorable ornaments on their own.  

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

Another picture of my favorite topic of conversation.

Sorry for the blurriness.

Hope all of you have a wonderful holiday

weekend.   I know there are many people 

in our country still suffering from Hurricane

Irene.  I hope everything possible is being

done to ease their troubles.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

What A Week!!

Hi Everyone,

I usually begin by saying Good Morning, Afternoon,

or Evening, but not today.  I'm just hoping we get

through this day without too many problems.

Haven't we had a week!! Earthquakes and now

a hurricane.  Hollis has quite a story to write

in Avery's baby book.  In the month of his birth

he has had quite a few experiences.  She and I

 had just gotten back from taking Avery to the DR.  

I was on the telephone with Faye at home when she

starting yelling something and then the house

 starting shaking.  Hollis said "It's an earthquake,"

grabbed the baby, and we went out on the deck.

What an awful experience.  I never want to go

 through that again.  In 2003 there was an

earthquake in Richmond, so she knew what

she was feeling.  According to her the one in

2003 was nothing compared to this one.  Two

days later, an aftershock woke me up about 1:00

am.  Hollis and Paul were in baby comas and felt

nothing.  Nothing since then, thank heavens.

The earthquake was stronger in Fredericksburg.

I had pictures off the wall, things fell off of shelves,

the door on my linen press opened and some of

my glass items fell out and broke.  It certainly 

could have been worse though.  I don't know

how people in California deal with that threat.

I'm back home for a while and am in serious

need of more time to get all of my new 

designs finished.  I want to share with you

my almost complete Cinnamon Stick Santa.

There is another design in this publication, which

I will show you later this week, I hope.  Plus,

I will share some of the designs from my

Christmas Stocking publications.

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

A little parting picture of Avery?  Can you believe 

how much he has changed.  He has finally gotten

back to his birth weight, plus a few ounces, and

grown 2" in length.  Gosh, I hate to leave Richmond.

I miss him so much. 

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

Hope to get some much needed stitching done

during this hurricane.

"Many Happy Stitches" 

to all of you,

Sandra

Thank You

Good Morning Everyone!

I know it is really early on a Sunday morning, but

we are preparing to leave for a short visit to see

Hollis and Avery.  Cannot wait to get there.

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

I had to take a few minutes to thank all of you

wonderful people out there for your care, concern,

well wishes, congratulations, and heart felt comments.

You will never know how much it has meant to

me.  I read every one of them, many with tears in

my eyes.  It is such an emotional time for me and

my family.  We have waited a long time for this

little one.

Once again, you are so appreciated. 

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

 I'm sorry I could not answer everyone of them 

individually, but I'm sure you understand that I have been

otherwise occupied.  Faye has been here some of the 

time, but if we have not answered a question, missed an

 order, etc., please do not hesitate to resend it.

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

I promise to get back to stitching soon, in fact

I will stitch on the way to Richmond.  Must

hurry and finish my Cinnamon Stick Santa

and my Halloween Rounds 'A Plenty.

I hope you have a joyous day.  I know I am.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra

Family News

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope all is well with everyone.   It has been such
a long time since I visited with you.  Things are 
doing fairly well with Hollis and Avery.  There 
have been a few bumps in the road, but things are getting 
better.  I am back in Fredericksburg for a little visit only,

so I needed to touch base with all of you.

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If you will bear with me, I want to brag a little 

about our son, Cameron.  Here is a picture of the

proud uncle with baby Avery.

Recently, someone found his photography on

his Flickr account and one of his pictures was

shown on Fox News.  Because of that, a

gallery in New Jersey contacted him about

a showing of his work.  How exciting

for him.  He has thought about trying to sell

his work at art shows, but just never got around

to it.  It forced him to think about pricing,

framing, etc.  A little stressful when you have

never done anything like this before.  

Anyway, I just wanted to share.  This is the

picture that was on Fox News - Air France 

descending over the beach at St. Martin.

If you would like to read more about the Gallery

Showing and his other works, go to

 http://galleryatriversedge.com/future.html

When you get to the Gallery page, click on Future

Exhibits and then on Cameron Sullivan.

Here is another one of my favorites ~

We are so excited and happy for him.  

Way to go Cameron!!!!!!

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I promise to be back soon with many new

designs.  Christmas is coming so we must

get our Christmas stitching started.

Many Happy Stitches,

Sandra