Works In Progress--and New in the Shop

Greetings, all! I thought you might like to see some progress on some of the projects I've bought in the last year or so from the shop. All of these designs are currently in the shop, in case you feel like jumping in and joining me!

First, Scarlett House's "Christmastide at Holly House."

My progress to date. I am using 40 count Lakeside and the called-for silk threads:

"Mary Ann Crumley 1829" by Samplers Not Forgotten:

My progress:
I am working in 40 count light examplar by Lakeside, using most of the called-for silks.  I did not care for the pale peach on the border flowers (or are they strawberries?), so I am using a light- to medium pink shade of silk called Pink Flamingo which I think shows up better on the fabric I chose.

Next up is "Jane Clarkson 1856," by Samplers Revisited. 

Here's how far I've gotten:

I love stitching Santas, and I have this one (among others) going by Mirabilia.  This is called "Santa."

And here's mine, which I'm working using a bright white linen in 32 count with DMC.  Later it will be beaded--don't you love sparkly things, especially for Christmas?

Here are the works of a couple of our other Stitch Night stitchers:

Also by Mirabilia, and full of beads, the stitcher of this beauty brought her in to choose a frame:

"Red":

"Red" is stitched on Picture This Plus (I think 32) in Valor:

Notice the exquisite beading.

Another one of our very creative stitchers ordered a burlap coffee bag from the internet and is embellishing it. It's very large and quite breathtaking:

So clever!

We have quite a few new fabrics in the shop, including the very high count Lakeside and these beauties:

And the gorgeous fabric that goes with the many new designs by The Primitive Hare. These designs are beautifully charted, artistically presented, and best of all, the photographs are clear!

This is "Triora Witches Trials"

and "All Hallows Needles' Queen,"

and

the prettiest Christmas ornaments:

Among lots of others!  What to stitch these on?  The Primitive Hare's very own luscious hand-dyed fabric!

Oh, and I want to show you these lovely finished projects. Sigh--don't they make you just want to drop everything and stitch away? And yes, we do carry the boxes, and the Jill Rensel mat if you prefer to frame yours:

And this adorable stocking is a special edition, too: "Never Far Apart."

One last very special thing. For those of you who have heard about/visited/exhibited your work in the Woodlawn Needlework Show, here's the Woodlawn Sampler by Woodlawn's own Nelly's Needlers.

Our address is 8800F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, VA. Our phone number, for orders or questions, is 703-360-4600. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12:30-4:30 p.m., the first Sunday of each month. Stitch Nights are from 6 to 9 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Happy Stitching!

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!