Is it winter or is it spring?   I awoke to 16 degrees this morning and tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid 50′s  I think I best get the Neti pot back out we will probably all be sick before the weekend. 

 It  does have me going at home and in the shop I’m feeling the need to throw out and freshen things up so I have been working on getting a few new things into new spring vignetttes in the shop.   I had to put out Gwen’s “Double Hourglass Quilt”, the pattern is in the Civil War Sewing Book.  This is one omy favorie toppers and the subtle colors are perfect for spring.    The size 49″ x 49″ and price @ $65.00 makes it even more right. Spring flowers, a new spring rabbit, white dishes, Martha’s new entertaining book, new etched soy candles, spring wreaths and Blackbirds tin of Wild Garden it’s all fun.

We just got in the most wonderful yummy colors of velvet ribbon.  It comes in two sizes and on the most wonderful wooden spools, we are really enjoying looking at it and dreaming of how we want to use it.   I thought you might enjoy taking a look too. 

We also just got it our silk Matka, Stacy used the oatmeal in her Paris Purse.  It is $28.40 per yard and we also go thte Tobacco and Tauper back in.  We have been waitng since December.  Good things take time.  It looks and feels so good you might want to think about stocking up for future projects.

You have been waitng so patientily for us to get a picture of our Stamps Quilt.  It is 62 x 74 and the kit is $96.50.  I love the choice of fabrics.  It is dark, a little patriotic and on the primitive side but works and reads a great quilt for all year because of the colors.  We are all excited to show off this new quilt kit.   The outside border is little American Flags and the gray green solid sahing just melds it all together.  Notice one of our new hanging spring backets on the door.  We have wonderful black hangers that are just the perfect size for hanging over doors, even quilts.   The new Flag blocks are another item we girls embrace.  It is tastefull and comes in 2 sizes.  Ilove the look you get when you off set the blocks.  It gets some dimension and looks even better. It is always fun to be able to give you a peek at my Market Needlework favs and lord knowsI’ve got them this year.   I was a nervous wreck worrying Linda was going to sell out everything I needed while I was shopping.  I fell in love with her New “Scarlet’s Summer Sampler”.  I have everything on order for this kit, the Lakeside linen and the Bell Soie and Glorianna silk threads.   I even know how to break the silks down so the cost of the kit isn’t off the charts and if you just want the chart it is $10.00.   I have also ordered the Weeks Cinnibar herringbone wool and have a company making the paddles it is mounted on.  It gets five stars from me and I know my customers well enough to know you will love the whole concept too.   It’s kind of brilliant! 

 Linda also has a great sampler she calls “LuLu’s Flock”.  So if you are a sheep lover this is a must have stitch I know you will enjoy.  I have this linen on order too.  Theres still more.   Every market Linda does a kit and this year it is the “Glory House” good timing coming out during an election year.  She also  gives you finishing options showing it as a hanging pinkeep backed in an old red velvet or framed.  The kit is $22.00 and my gosh they were just flying out of her booth.  I was back and forth shopping and trying to help her and I said finally I have to write my order or there will be nothing left.  Words of Wisdom!  We came back with three empty tubs for me to pack my market finds in.  I think I mentioned last week that her “Chessie’s Cat’s Alphabet Needlebook” was going to be released at market.  Cat lovers everywhere were screaming about this one!  It is so fun when people like what you do, congrats Linda on a job well done.

How exciting for me to see our Stacy Nash at her first market.  She’ll be back.  Marlene her mom traveled with and what fun we had over breakfast and dinners just catching up with each other.  I loved her booth because she filled it with fresh spring flowers and added touch I admire she just happens to have a wholesale florist that is incredible right by her home.  I will get right down to the good stuff and I know you will be thrilled with what you see.  I was taken with her “ Grace Bridges Sampler” pictured on the left.  It is a wonderful big old primitive looking sampler 19 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ stitched on Weeks 35 count linen.  I have ordered the linen but other than that it is stitched with DMC floss.  Thechart is $18.00.  I know we will have to get one stitched for the shop I think Im into samplers that make a statement on your wall or just laying up on a mantle.  I know the large samplers take up space but you can always rotate them if your space is limited. 

 I’m pretty sure you will need to stitch Stacy’s New “1902 Paris Sampler Bag” this little reproduction schoolgirl sampler was purchased at an open air Paris market and has been stitched up on 30ct. Weeks Mocha linen it is then put together using an oatmeal colored silk matka for the bag finishing and then everything gets overdyed to make us primitive people even happier.  The bag lady I am thinks I need this too.  The chart is $14.00.    FYI:  We have more packages of Walnut crystals that Stacy uses for dying, you can order a bag for $8.50.  Th last new chart is called “Summer Gathering Pinkeep Drum, Slipper, & Strawberry“. This chart is also $14.00 and calls for 35 count linen.  The little necessaries that go with really are so sweet and the design on the drum is pretty swell too.  I’m liking the horse motif.

La D Da, La D Da!!  Lori had me when I walked in the door this year with “Spot the Cat”.   Yikes! He is another fav for sure and I bought kits!  The kit is $30.00 it is done on 30 ct Confederate Gray linen and packaged with Needlepoint Silk and a needle.  The stitched cat fits in a 5 x 7 frame.  This was so popular she was sold out before she could blink.   Our photo picked up a yellow color but there is no yellow we may have to try this pic again.   Another new chart I thought was special was called “The Seven Virtues” and is something we all need to remember to practice more often and teach our children.  I like the idea of this reminder greeting me everyday.  The chart is $9.00 is stitched on 30ct linen and uses only 4 colors of floss or you can stitch it with NPS I love options.  I don’t know why we are coming up with yellow streaks on this scan but maybe we need to clean our glass.  

That was a lead into “Needlework Press’s New Sampler Design cloth eye glass and screen cleaners.  I love these and so did everyone else.  I got 36 they sell for $6.00 and I’m thinking they would make a great gift for your sampler buddies. This is a genious idea, I have mine already tucked in my.  

 Little By Little had these incredible paper pinkeep cubes and I had to buy all of her cats because that just makes sense.  They are $6.00  and even come with pins.  In the same picture please note you can see the 3 new Gentle Art threads.  Great colors, Burlap, Carriage Black, and Linen.  Classic colors and you can order them for $6.30 I know these are going to be very popular.  I also picked up new needles and if you are like me they go somewhere but I’m never sure where.  These are from France and you can order 26, 28, or 24 Tapestries for $2.60 a pack.  

I have only time for one more picture tonight and this New Kit is from Shepherds Bush.  Tina’s “Eve”s Garden” is incredible.  The kit is $70.00 and has everything you need to complete this sampler.  It’s so soft and pretty for Spring.  I hope you like it as much as I do.  It is stitched on 32 count hand Dyed Belfast linen with silk threads.  It’s a winner. If you have wanted to stitch and Adam & Eve sampler I think this is the perfect choice.

We all love Brenda Gervais’s With Thy Needle & Thread patterns and her new spring offerings are really going to be super fun to stitch. ” Peter & Peep” is done on a fine 22 cream Ariosa linen.  This linen gets distressed and over dyed to give it the aged look we like and the threads you use are overdyed from Gentle Arts.  You will need a 1/2 yard of fabric to complete the pillow.   Notice it is trimmed in an old lace so start looking in your stachs and see if you have the perfect trim.  This is a great Spring and Summer pillow you will love sitting out in your nests.  The kit including the $10.00 chart is $76.90 and if you would like us to add the Japanese ticking it calls for the lining the cost will be $86.95.  We also have Walnut crystals by the jar or packaged to do the overdying after you finish.  

 I think you will love the look of the next new pattern called “House of Blues & Browns” Sampler Pillow and it also uses the fine cream colored 22 count Ariosa and your favorite fabric but I like the idea of using the ticking because this is the year you will see lots of stipes so embrace the idea.  Kitted with the pattern, ticking, ric-rac and Gentle Arts threads the price comes out to be $44.90.   The pattern alone is $10.00.   The April Word Play is also new this month if you are doing the monthly series that charts are $9.00.

We have to talk about Blackbird Designs.  I showed you the new “For My Friend” book cover but you might like to see a few other projects that are featured in the book.  “Love One Another” is a beautiful sampler you could easily use for a Wedding Sampler.  there is room for initials in the larger heart towards the bottom.  You have to love the spring “Tweet Hearts” the girls stitched these with Gentle arts simply wool.  I really like the ideas in this book for gift giving these gitls think of the most wonderful simple ideas that are genious.  I think many times I must have stood behind the door too long and didn’t get this gene.  I need it!  “Our Home Sewing Box” is another project that works for me, it has a house, uses chenile trim and you all know how much I love a storage boxes. 

“Wild Garden” is and exclusive kit that Barb & Alma designed just for market.  I was lucky enough to get 24 before they sold out.   They packaged it in a great tin with silk threads, a glass bead and  overdyed linen.  The cost for this kit is $50.00. They were showing it framed and it looked great.  The last pattern they did was done on brown perforated paper it is called “Sweet Thoughts of You” they did a demo make it take it and I think this would make a wonderful little spring class for us.  I loved the concept it is sort of like the ornaments we did at Christmas time only bigger and we use scrap booking paper you antique instead of soder.

  Watch for this idea to surface as spring breaks in the shop in the next few weeks. 

Little House Needleworks & Shakespeare’s Peddler have a new kit they have put together, its not the norm.  You get 3 patterns, Cresent Colours overdyed threads and Bean Sprout rick-rack for $30.00.   “A Stitcher’s Heart” is from Little House Needleworks and “Gentle Stitches” needleroll is by Shakespeare’s Peddler and if that isn’t quite enough there is  even a third bonus pattern included.  I saw the finished models and they looked like the necessaries my stitchers would enjoy, you be the judge and I like the option of being able to pick your ownd linen.  

Another new sampler from Shakespeare’s Peddler is the “Ann Dale 1827″:  Big and Beautiful.  the chart is$30.00.  The sampler was stitched on 40 count Pearled Barley and is 20 x 26.  Thus you can see how the title  Big and Beautiful applies! 

Heartstring Samplery has a new design that intrigued me.  It is called “Gather Ye Tulips”.  It looks old to me and a perfect little sampler you could tuck in anywhere for any season.  The chart is $10.00. 

Pineberry Lane has a brand new sampler I will get up by the end of the weekend but in the meantime I had to show you “A Faithful Friend” sampler.  I love its darb primitive feel but most important it is a great sampler to make for a special friend.  On 32 count linen your sampler will be about 10 x 15.  On the left you can see Martha Brown  dated 1844.  I love the simplicity of old samplers.  I am not sure what the cost of the chart is going to be yet but I will put it out there as soon as we get them into the shop.

Primitive bettys also has a new design.  It is a “Winter Bell Pull” hanging of an old twig and embellished with wool.  I think you will like it, it will be a quick stitch using 28 count natural linen and only one DMC color 2031.  the chart is $10.00.  This is all I am going to get to today I hope you enjoy gazing through the market finds.