New In the Shop

There are lots of new things in the shop this week, some things with a fall or Christmas theme, and some things with an ocean-going flavor. First up is Harriot Redfearn 1830, by Queenstown Sampler Designs. We love the vivid colors, and fearing that the chart colors were off (the cover photo is perfect!), we pulled the NPI fibers for it (it's also charted for DMC). Click on all pictures to enlarge.


Somebody grabbed one off the shelf, kitted it up and dashed home to start it. This is a few hours of progress. How many times do you get to buy bright orange silk? With purple? Harriot is being stitched on 40 count Meadow Rue by Lakeside Linens.


That same somebody purchased one of Prairie Schooler's Christmas designs--"Santa's Night"--and kitted it up as well. Here it is pictured with 32 count black Belfast linen and the called-for DMC threads. We're glad we're not having to stitch all that black background!


More new Prairie Schooler Designs:




A lovely folk/patriotic design by Tree of Life Samplings--"Penny America."


Even if we're not "beach people," there's no doubt that there's a strong pull of the sea at this time of year. We celebrate that with some cute items in the shop: this pin cushion, by Just Another Button Company: "Shell Seeker."


Along with some of JABCO's beachy pins.


Ellen put this together in a few minutes, without any sewing!


And look at the needlepoint that Radonda stitched and had finished! We oooh'ed and aaaah'ed over it.


And one last seaside item: a JABCO Sand Dollar needle threader.


To order or for questions, please call us at 703-360-4600. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and the first Sunday of the month from 12:30-4:30. Stitch nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6-9 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

A Lovely Afternoon in Christmasland

We had our Christmas in July Lock-In today, and there was much jolliness and merriment. The shop was decked out in its Christmas finery, including these trunk show models from Sandra Sullivan's Homespun Elegance:



Our stockings were hung by the window with care--notwithstanding temps in the 90s.


We had a chance to visit and stitch and catch up with everyone's projects. Sandy's Butternut Road "Rose Sampler."


Sherri is working on Drawn Thread's "Marriage of Minds."


Charity's Mermaid is coming along beautifully--love the sparkly fabric and fibers. And darn, I've forgotten which one it is--maybe a Mirabilia design?


Kerry is working on a Marjolein Bastin bird design. Love the yellow.


Mary is needlepointing this Paris canvas and will turn it into a pillow.


Danielle's working on "Rainforest Crunch."


And Jill is stitching Plum Street Samplers' "A Sweeter Love" to commemorate her own marriage.


As always, we came, we saw, we stitched--and we shopped! New in the shop is Part Three of the Mystery Sampler. We have all three parts in the shop if you missed out.


The latest issue of "Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly" is here.


We have the new "Loose Feathers" by Blackbird Designs.


And a Christmas tote for your Christmas projects, or any projects at all. A whimsical vacation project carry-all for the beach, or the mountains. (Perhaps you're planning a ski trip in South America?) We're not--we're going to be right here--stitching!


We had a very special visitor in the shop this week--go see the photos from Lori of Notforgotten Farm--who said such nice things about us that we're blushing.

Please call us at 703-360-4600 if you have questions or would like to order. We are here Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and the first Sunday of each month (12:30-4:30). Stitch nights (except July) are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6-9 p.m. We hope to see you soon!

Happy Stitching!

Christmas in July

This is the 16th summer we have offered the Christmas in July event/sale to you, our customers. It begins on Monday, July 11 and will continue through Saturday, July 23. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. We have over 25 Christmas models on loan from Homespun Elegance--they arrived late last week and will surely tempt you to start at least one new Christmas project. For you needlepointers, the canvases from What's The Point are arriving as well. There will be a 20% off sale on all trunk show merchandise.

Here are just a few of the Homespun Elegance Christmas models in the shop:




And to get you in the Christmas spirit, a couple of our shop models:



Now is a great time for stitching up those ornaments for friends. Christmas is just around the corner!


Stitch and stuff this big stand-up Santa:


We have lots of new Mill Hill Christmas kits in the shop, and they're flying off the spinners. Here's one.


Come see our trunk shows, Christmas merchandise and new charts, canvases and knitting/crochet yarns, books, patterns, gizmos and tools!

Please call with questions or to order at 703-360-4600. We are open Monday-Saturday, 10 to 5, and the first Sunday of each month from 12:30 to 4:30. There are no stitch nights in July, but normally stitch nights are held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

Independence Day

Good morning, all! We're hoping your Independence Day weekend includes independence from the usual chores, with plenty of time to stitch!

We have a new shop model by Dessins--A Mon Ami Pierre. Vivid colors, a nice medium size, and we love how the rain is shown in thread (all photos clickable to see larger images).


New in the shop: the Just Another Button Company rooster pin cushion kit. He's too cute.


Stacy Nash Primitives "Tribute to Summer Sampler." Wow--I love this sampler and grabbed one for myself. It is charted for Gentle Arts fibers on 30 count Weeks Dye Works Cocoa (shown with the chart). Normally I stick close to the thread recommendations and go my own way on the fabric, but I cut several pieces of the WDW Cocoa for this project for customers yesterday, and I have to highly recommend it--the color is just perfect. I noticed that WDW Mocha would work well also.


Puffin & Company's scissor pal. We have lots of different pals for minding your scissors.


Elizabeth Mary Gandey by Shakespeare's Peddler, shown with some of the recommended threads and with a piece of 40 count Lakeside Linen in Vintage Pear. And of course, if you prefer to stitch with cotton, or on a different count, we can help with that too!


This reproduction sampler is by Sandra Sullivan of Homespun Elegance. It's "Mary Lamin's Lord's Prayer." My photo doesn't do it justice--the colors are much better than this photo indicates. The recommended fibers include Gentle Arts, Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works and DMC.


"A Day at the Beach" by Country Cottage Needleworks is stitched on 30 count lambswool using DMC, Crescent Colours and Gentle Arts fibers. With a stitch count of 165 x 84, you can finish this before the end of summer--or perhaps before the end of your beach vacation.


Cute primitive pin cushions (or ornaments if you prefer) by Niky's Creations.


By up-and-coming new designer, Scarlett House, we have these two adorable projects: "Death by Candy Corn" and "Coverlet Birds."




We have Little House Needleworks' "The Melicent Turner Sampler," which is stitched in five colors of either Belle Soie, Crescent Colours or DMC. Something else I want to stitch.


Watch this space for information about Christmas in July. (Hah--Ellen is vacationing with her family and just spit her coffee all over the computer screen at this photo, I'll bet.(Okay....I did spill my coffee...but only on the WHITE carpet) Ellen keeps a tidy and beautifully arranged shop, which extends to the sidewalk and entranceway. She has planted flowers in the planters and keeps things groomed and fresh. One of the shop's neighbors is a gentleman who is less interested in aesthetics and has left his Christmas decor up for a couple of years.) Also, for those of you who have not visited the shop but plan to come by when you're in the area, that McDonalds is a landmark. Mmmm--frozen strawberry lemonade--perfect for a hot holiday weekend!



Remember that we're closed today and tomorrow for the holiday (July 3 and 4). We will reopen on Tuesday, July 3 (ahem, Glenna--that's July 5) (*Whoopsie* Ellen, I am the stitchy paparazzi; I don't need no stinking calendar). Also, there are no Stitch Nights in July because so many people are out of town.

Please call us at 703-360-4600 to order or for questions. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the first Sunday of each month (except this month) from 12:30-4:30.

Happy Independence Day, and happy stitching!