Woodlawn!

Greetings, All! We are thrilled to see so many new faces in the shop. Carloads of eager stitchers, having just visited the Woodlawn needlework show, which we believe is extra compelling this year. Everyone who sees the show gets jazzed up to stitch their fingers to bloody stumps. I know I did; I came away with literally dozens of projects I want to stitch.

Here are two notable exhibits (we are not allowed to photograph the actual exhibits, so we'll show you the charts instead), stitched by one of our customers, John K. John stitched each on very high count linen, and they are jaw-droppingly gorgeous:

We have a La-D-Da trunk show in the shop. These were high above my head, so I couldn't get the best angle on them. I particularly like the little yellow salt box house on the top right and will go back to buy that chart ("Harvest House"). The chart packages have modest, low-key photos that don't do the projects justice. Seeing them stitched brings them to life and makes me want to go on a La-D-Da binge.

I get a little overwhelmed by the size of some of the projects, and it's a relief to see some of the smaller stitches. Here, Pineberry Lane's "Tokens of Affection."

"In Seasons" by With thy Needle and Thread (Brenda Gervais).

A sweet new chart from Little House Needleworks:  "First Corinthians."

I love these three quick stitches from Samplers Revisted's "Coastal Collection."

Also by Samplers Revisited, "Sarah Green 1849" and

"Hay Cairns 1840"  We have these in a trunk show also.  The are wonderful:  warm and colorful, intense but not enormously large.

Another beautiful reproduction sampler by Scarlett House: "Susan Wasband"; I love the two birds that look like eagles/gulls.

Last but not least, a peek at a springy project: a kit by Elizabeth Bradley. It looks like needlepoint, but it's full cross.

Speaking of spring, next time we'll take a look at some spring and Easter projects!

To order or for questions, please call the shop at 703-360-4600. We are located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court, in the Mount Vernon section of Alexandria. We are just a couple of miles (north, toward DC) of the Woodlawn show. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and throughout the month of March during Woodlawn, from 12:30 to 4:30 on Sunday. Normally we are open the first Sunday of each month from 12:30-4:30. Come join us on Stitch Night, from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

Happy stitching!

Nashville 4 (and a few Non-Nashville Items)

Happy Saturday/Sunday/Turn the Clocks Back and Rob Us of an Hour of Stitching!

First, for those of you who are following along on With Thy Needle and Thread's "Stars and Stripes Forever," here's my progress as of today:

It's getting warmer here, and we ARE dreaming of tulips! "Dreaming of Tulips," by Rosewood Manor:

Flowers in abundance: "Amena House 1845" by Samplers Remembered.

Not a Nashville piece, but worth noting. A shop model by Nebby's Needle: "Amazing Grace," a lovely pin pillow featuring one of my favorite flowers--bleeding hearts.

Gorgeous flowers in Scarlett House's "Mary Betchell 1810."

Also not from the Nashville show, in addition to the fabulous trunk shows by Queenstown Sampler and Samplers Revisited is a trunk show by Elizabeth Bradley. Her tapestry kits are stunning (no, you don't have to be a needlepointer to complete them.)
I could not show the wall hanging in its entirety.

I would love to do this one:

More Flowers! Jeannette Douglas Designs' "Rose Sampler."

Not from Nashville, but these little needlepoint projects, with their respective floss tosses, caught my eye. (Everywhere corner of the shop contains these little revelations and surprises.  It's very distracting!)  Easter is on April 5. You have time to stitch one or both of these. They're small!

Two adorable projects by Notforgotten Farm:

An Adam and Eve sampler by With Thy Needle and Thread."

Samplers Revisited has loaned us some beautiful samplers, including this Scottish sampler: "Hay Cairns 1840."

I'd like to get a closer shot of these, but they were hanging high on the wall. I will try to get a better set of photos of our trunk show samplers when I go next. On the top is Queenstown Sampler Design's "Dutch Sampler 1787"; on the bottom, by Samplers Revisited, is "Ann Smith 1809," a Westtown School sampler.

While this is my last "formal" Nashville post, there's plenty more in the shop from the Nashville Show to see. Come visit us--we're open every Sunday in March from 12:30-4:30 during Woodlawn. And be sure to check out the Woodlawn show--it's extra good this year!

Our normal hours are Monday through Saturday 10-5. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

For questions or to order, please call us at 703-360-4600. Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA.

Happy Stitching!

Nashville #3

Happy Friday evening, everyone! I'm back with some more Nashville photos.

First off, I have been asked about the called-for Valdani in With Thy Needle and Thread's "Stars and Stripes Forever." I purchased the Valdani, which is the small ball. I used it in the pomegranate and the flag, and as you can see, the thread varies from deep red to a light yellowy/orange. I'm enjoying it and won't change now that I've started it, but I like the pomegranate Gentle Arts a little better. There's more pink/red and less yellow/orange. Either way works, I think, so if you buy the chart and kit it up, don't feel that you have to stitch with the suggested Valdani thread. Just my opinion here--not speaking for the shop or the designer.

Here's a refresher on what the project looks like. I'll give you another update on my stitching progress with tomorrow's post.

More pink/red: "The Black Cherry Tart" by Plum Street Samplers.

A booklet by Blackbird Designs, "In Friendship's Way."

"My Pink Rose," a lovely springy pinkeep.

The Scarlett House has some wonderful new designs. Here's one. I will show you more next time.

Long Dog has some wonderful, intricate new projects.

Teresa Kogut has a bunch of new designs. Here are just two of them.

Heartstring Samplery's "IL 1817" and

"Spring Flame Pincushion."

Heart in Hand's "Joyful Journal."  Here, July, but I saw lots of other months as well.

Shepherd's Bush: "Spring Trifles."

The fabulous "Hip Hop" Kit from Lizzie Kate--

Which contains these items! Love the finishing fabric, ribbon and button!

I'll be back tomorrow with another post.

I understand Woodlawn will be open tomorrow (it was closed today for the weather) and that it's a very worthwhile visit. Then come see us afterwards and stock up on fun projects!

To order or for questions, please call 703-360-4600. We are at 8800 Pear Tree Village Court, Alexandria, VA. If you are heading north from Woodlawn, we are just off Route 1 in the shopping center to the right of the McDonalds.

Our hours are 10-5, Monday through Saturday, and during the month of March during Woodlawn, 12:30 to 4:30. We hope to see you soon!

Nashville 2

Hello, again, all! Back a little later than I had intended, what with driveway shoveling and a subsequent nap. Oh, and stitching a little on With Thy Needle & Thread's "Stars and Stripes" (will show you floss toss and progress next post).

Our banner photo is the model of this amazing chart by Queenstown Sampler Designs. The model is stitched on 40 count, using good old DMC, with the exception of the green stitched window-pane type border. That is an overdyed cotton. Will show you more Queenstown in another post.

Erica Michaels created the next three designs. You can stitch these on silk gauze or if you'd prefer, on fabric.

By Scattered Seeds Samplers: "Country Cottontails"; and

"Queen Esther's Pure Heart."

By Kathy Barrick: "Little Lamb"; and

"Good Intentions."

"American Coast" by Chessie and Me.

Samplers Not Forgotten's "Bird Song."

"Quaker Halloween" by Aury TM.

"Three Wise Men" by Amy Bruecken Designs, complete with bead pack

And a lovely shaker box sampler:  "Chocolate Hearts."  

Lots more photos to go. Check back tomorrow for a post or two. We've got lots of goodies to show you.

To call us with questions or to order, 703-360-4600. Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria. Our normal hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. We are open all the Sundays in March for the Woodlawn show, from 12:30-4:30. We have had considerable snow, so please give us a call before venturing out. We will keep the answering machine updated.