Easter Basket

Hello, everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend (and, if you don't celebrate Easter, just a wonderful spring weekend)!

We have some gorgeous new models in the shop! Our first is a Lone Elm Lane design, "His Glory," in a beautifully crafted box/frame:

"Old White Farm House" by Stacy Nash:

The newest monthly, "April" by Cross Eyed Cricket:

"Friends," by Shepherd's Bush, with a Jill Rensel mat:

Just Another Button Company's lovely rabbit design, complete with buttons. Here we're debating between two frame treatments. (I think the bottom one.)

Wacky, witty, whimsical, colorful new designs abound: Stitchy Kitty's "Woof."

Clever Alessandra Adelaide's "Green Bike."

"AlphaBetsy's House," by the Needle's Notion:

"Mercy Goodehart's Sampler" by Shakespeare's Peddler:

I'm going to have to stitch this: Barabra Ana Designs' "Long May She Wave."

I don't want to CUT this short, but you have to see some of our newly arrived scissors! Bohins in lots of colors!

The next two photos are Shelly Tribbey Designs: fun shoes and flowers!

To order or for questions, please call us at 703-360-4600. We are located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, VA. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the first Sunday of each month, from 12:30-4:30. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

Greetings, all! The shop is open today (Sunday, March 23) from 12:30 to 4:30, and you have just through the end of March to see the show at Woodlawn. Come see the beautiful stitching at Woodlawn and then drop by the shop and take a look at our delicious no-cal wares!

First off, one of the two blue ribbon winners at the show in the counted cross stitch category is this chart. It is stitched beautiful and simply, along with its sister chart, Sonne Spot, also lovely and colorful. They just glow from across the room. Here's "Beautie Spotte."

And my start. I'm stitching it using the called-for fibers (DMC) on a nice piece of white-white Lakeside Linen (40 count) in Attic Lace. Aren't the colors gorgeous? I love that each motif is outlined in black and then filled in. It's the perfect travel/commuter project.

A lovely pinkeep:


I have also started Scarlett House's "Seven Sheep."

I am stitching this on 40-count Lakeside Linen also, using an on-the-fly conversion to all Belle Soie, because that's my favorite fiber in the world:

I showed you this (to hoots and catcalls) several weeks ago.  I can't get over how fun the Heaven and Earth Designs are!

A FULL yard of fabric (not overdyed since every thread is filled in), using the 87 colors of DMC. Here's my start. Ten-year project? Twenty? Who cares! (And yes, if you keep track, I'm doing an enormous HAED Santa as well).

For those of you who ask if I ever finish anything, the answer is yes!

I should tell you that the shop cannot order this chart for you--it's long out of print.  If you go looking for it, it is Peaceful Paradise by Midsummer Night Designs.   What I want to show you though, is the frame, expertly and perfectly done here at the shop.

Here's a close-up.  We pin or lace your needlework, so that you will never experience the horror of those desperately awful chain stores and their "coupons" with taping and glueing and off-centering! We care for your needlework as you do--we know how long it took to stitch your pieces, and how thrilled you are with them. And if you're on a budget (who isn't?), let us know, and we'll help you choose something affordable and nice. This was framed very inexpensively. I love to get my stuff framed, but I prefer to put my money into silks and Lakeside!

Here are some lovely projects worked on by our stitchers last Stitch Night!

With Thy Needle and Thread, beautifully sitched and finished:

Work in Progress: Margret Rogers' Garden of Eden by Needlework Press:

"Red," by Mirabilia. Jan is almost finished with the stitching on this and is about to launch into the BEADS! What a stunner!

Here's a gorgeous sock on Deb's needles: pattern from "The Box of Socks."

"Topiary in Bloom" by Blackbird Designs.

A fabulous two-sided needlepoint Santa ornament:

Here are a couple of new items in the shop: a mystery sampler by Rosewood Manor. Take a close look at the wonderful fabric!

And something new from the Scarlet Letter, "Memento Mori":

As I mentioned, we're here today, Sunday, at the shop from 12:30 to 4:30, and all the Sundays in March during the Woodlawn show. We're located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court in Alexandria, VA, not that far from Mount Vernon. Hey! Look! Black Branch Needlework has provided us with a model of their Mount Vernon Design!

For questions or to order, call us at 703-360-4600. Our hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the first Sunday of the month from 12:30 to 4:30. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

Shop Models! Come Take a Gander!

Hello, All! I hope all of you who are local have had a chance to see, or are planning to see, the Woodlawn Needlework show, which is on display through March (open Wednesday through Monday, closed Tuesdays). We will be open every Sunday, from 12:30-4:30 through March, so that you can drop by and see what's new in the shop, some of which is seen below.

We have some amazing new shop models for you to drool over! Let's start with four from Queenstown Sampler Designs
Lydia Borton 1819:

With a close-up:

Elizabeth Borton 1834

And her close-up

Mary Reese 1785

With her close-up:

Sarah Comfort 1810:

We have models from Samplers Revisited as well: You've been watching me stitching this: Jane Clarkson.

Here's my progress on Jane:

And also by Samplers Revisited, Judith LeLacheur.

We have the charts, the fibers and the fabrics! Call us at 703-360-4600 to kit one (or all) of these up! Or come on in and feast your eyes.

We are located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, VA. Our phone: 703-360-4600. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and the first Sunday of the month, from 12:30-4:30, except during March when we are open each Sunday at that time during the Woodlawn Show. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

Nashville #5 (Quickie)

Hello, again, all! It's late and work ran long today, so just a quick post for now. I stitched a little at lunch on Jane Clarkson (Samplers Revisited), and here's my progress. Don't you love the colors of these border flowers?

Speaking of color, what a fun saying, with its flowers and buttons and bright pink color! "Dilly Dally" by Art to Heart.

This is not Nashville, but it's new in the shop: Just Cross Stitch's April issue devoted to "Blooming Spring Designs" is a winner!

Here are a couple of tastes of the inside of this magazine: Tulips

And Donna Giampa's (always a favorite of mine) Cabbage Rose.

The lovely and delicate "Springtime in My Garden" by Samplers Not Forgotten.

And finally, "Springtime Messenger" by With Thy Needle and Thread. Come on, Spring!

Back in a few days with some more from Nashville and around the shop!

We are located at 8800F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, VA and our phone # is 703-360-4600. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 12:30 - 4:30 on the first Sunday of each month, except during March, when we'll be open from 12:30 to 4:30 each Sunday because of the Woodlawn Needlework Show. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6 to 10 p.m.

Happy Stitching!

Nashville #4

Hello again! I thought that those of you who are interested in stitching Samplers Revisted's "Jane Clarkson" might like to see a little bit of my progress on her so far. I'm stitching her on 40 count Maritime White from Lakeside, using the NPI fibers as charted. It is a very fun stitch!

Not everything that's new in the shop is a large project either. Take a look at "Sheep in the Garden" from Shepherd's Bush. Darling!

"Cinnamon Stars" by Plum Street Samplers. (I'd classify this as a mid-size design.)

"1776 Harbor" by Chessie and Me. Small, and packs a big punch. All kitted up too--just grab and go.

Adorable and beautifully made little "whatnot boxes" that come in four finishes.

Lone Elm Lane's "Oh Glorious Day" to insert in the shaker box top.

This is a larger design, but so arresting in red! Dutch Treat Designs' "Emma Sandford 1867."

And last, but not least, "Pomegranet Sewing Tray and Persimmon Scissor Fob" by Stacy Nash Primitives.

We're at 8800 F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, VA. Our phone # is 703-360-4600 for questions or to order. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30-4:30 on the first Sunday of each month EXCEPT in March, where we are open 12:30-4:30 every Sunday during the Woodlawn Needlework Show. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Come join us!

Happy Stitching, and back tomorrow with some additional new Nashville goodies!