Some Things to Show You

Greetings, all! I was tired when I went to the shop the other night, and I said "I'm bored. I want to see something new" when I came in the door. "Bored!" the ladies exclaimed. "No way!" as they scurried around fetching projects and designs and products that made me shed my boredom and my fatigue.

Lookie here! I love this finished design. I've been watching several stitchers work on it. This is the shop model, which we are showing without the buttons. We had a lively debate about adding the very cute buttons (there's one per square--all manner of birds and snowflakes). Now I want to stitch it... That's the thing about shop models--they suck you in. "Frosty Forest" by Country Cottage Needleworks. The squares are purchased separately so that the project doesn't feel overwhelming--and in case you just want to stitch a square or two as ornaments.

Show me classic historic samplers, please. Big ones! These three are by GigiR, who, as usual, has outdone herself.

How about something bright and contemporary! "Serenity Prayer Lighthouse" by Stoney Creek.

Something small for fall! "Pumpkins and Bittersweet" by The Scarlett House.

Small and flowery with pretty pins! By Shepherd's Bush, "Goodness and Grace."

Small and Christmasy! By Hands On Designs.

Lots more ornaments, please! Yes, we have the Christmas ornament issue in stock!

OK, back to fall, please! How about this Autumn Band Sampler? It's in the interior of "Cross Stitch and Needlework Magazine."

Oh, I keep losing my needles! Show me something that minds my needles. (We sell lots of different needles if you need replacements.) This is how you can avoid the dreaded lost-in-the-sofa-cushion syndrome. Blingy Needle Minders! Love this blue jay!

and this substantial witch!

Who can be bored with all these wonderful things?

To order or for questions, please call us 703-360-4600. Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA. 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 p.m. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 - 9 p.m.

Market #3--More!

Greetings, all! Here's my last post about the St. Charles Market goodies; next post (possibly next weekend after I've visited the shop again) may show a few more that I missed, along with other new arrivals.

Bygone Stitches re-release:

Some truly wonderful project bags. Fun, sturdy and really well priced.

Remember the Procrosstinate Tees? Get the mug too!

Cherished Stitches "Halloween Chronicles." Small and wonderful. We have lots of smalls that I haven't had a chance to show you. I may devote a future post to just smalls.

Amy Brueckens' "Fridge Art." Fabulous small designs to go on your fridge! And even more designs than we're showing here.

"Safely Gathered" by Shepherd's Bush. Wonderful, colorful and quick!

Scarlett House's "Penny Pumpkin." I would love to stitch a bowlful of these little autumn designs.

"Noel" by T.A. Smith Designs.

Another lovely entry for a box-top. The perfect gift for a dear friend. "True Friends" by Lone Elm Lane Designs.

"Cats on Parade" and

"Spell of the Moon" by Blackbird Designs.

Two great new designs with a historic feel and in a perfect size by Black Branch Needlework: "Susanna Riticor" and

"November Harvest Sampler."

"Happy Acorn Harvest" by Jeannette Douglas. Also for purchase separately, the most precious wood acorns to adorn the project.

"Snowflake Tree" by Scissor Tail Designs.

"Spooky Hollow 1820" by Lindsay Lane Designs.

And the large, impressive "The Big Red Ship of Life" by Ink Circles.

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

Happy stitching!

Market #2

Greetings again, all! More photos of the delightful products of the St. Charles Market Needlework Show (note that a couple of the things in the shop were new items that have arrived recently but may not necessarily have been at the show):

From a new-to-me designer, The Purple Thread, "The Girls at the Guild."

"The Shepherd's Love" by Threads of Memory"

By Chessie and Me: the tiny "Ghost Inn."

Also by Chessie and Me: "Harvest Time" and...

..."Tombstone Mansion."

By Summer House Stitche Workse, "Karaline Beringer." This can be done in very fine wools, which is how it was shown at Market. The colors are glorious.

A colorful English reproduction, by Samplers Revisited, "Willis/Hedley c 1850."

Another colorful reproduction, by Pineberry Lane, "Mary Ann Appleyard."

More color! "Quaker Village" by Rosewood Manor.

Latest entry in the Just Nan "Just Dropping In" series, just in time for Halloween, "Flight School."

By Foxwood Crossings, new sled designs: "Freezin Season"

and "Twilight Santa."

"Be Ye Thankful" by Pineberry Lane.

And the tiniest, most impossibly perfect design (but not impossible to stitch--we swear), done on silk gauze (easy--not even a full cross!) or on fabric if you'd rather (where you'd use the full cross): "Witches Go Riding." I so want to stitch a whole ton of these Erica Michaels silk gauze designs and hang them on my inspiration board at work. I'd better head back to the shop and get mine, along with "Ebenezer's Christmas," which I'll show you soon.

For questions or to order, please call us at 703-360-4600. I will be back tomorrow evening or Saturday with more new designs. There's lots to love! Come on in to see what we have!

8800F Pear Tree Village Court, Alexandria, VA--regular hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Open the first Sunday of each month from 12:30-4:30, and Stitch Nights from 6 - 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

St. Charles Market I--Can't Wait to Get Started

Greetings, all! Here's my first installment of the new charts, kits and products from the Needlework Show at St. Charles, MO. The ladies from In Stitches stuffed the truck, gunned it toward Virginia, and then scurried around putting away all the new goodies so we could attack it all with maniacal glee enthusiasm yesterday afternoon and evening at Stitch Night.

So much to enjoy! If you have been following various peeks on the web, you know this is Beth Twist's (Heartstring Samplery) super new 100th design, and it's a biggie, comprised of motifs from her earlier designs. Here is the chart and the recommended floss (WDW and GAST) on a floss toss where I was contemplating 40 count Weeks Dye Works Angel Hair (the lighter color on the left), and 40 count Picture This Plus Legacy. The design recommends 28 count Picture This Plus Dubloon. We have the Dubloon, but I found the color a bit more aggressive than I was happy with, so I was weighing colors that fade into the background a little more. Note that my stitching pals don't all agree with me; some prefer the dubloon. But that's one of the things that makes stitching fun: switching things up! I'm still considering 32 count, however; I love the idea of a great big stitched piece! Can't wait to get started.

From really large to tiny: bet you could stitch this in a day. I purchased this as well. "Autumn" by Shepherd's Bush. Comes with floss, fabric, needles and two little buttons. Can't wait to get started.

This is a re-release of The Workbasket's "Old McMary's." I've wanted to stitch it forever, so I bought one. Can't wait to get started.

I wanted to show you a close-up of the Lone Elm Lane Designs "Halloween Resurrection." So clever and fun. Yes, we carry the boxes!

I love these two designs from SamSarah Design Studio, Inc. They come with the adorable buttons. And yes, we stock the hardware for displaying your finished work!

I love this tiny chart by Blackbird Designs. We love the Beatles-themed charts as well (and we have them!), but I didn't want to overlook this darling little project (a quickie!)

Here's a striking sampler: "The Mary Bathe Sampler 1831" by Historic Handworkes.

"A Ghoultide Welcome" (we have "Yuletide Welcome" as well) by Plum Street Samplers.

Needlework Press' "Mexican Band Sampler."

I love all of the samplers of each of these designers, both of whom are local to us. The first is Queenstown Sampler Designs' "Praise God," which I will be stitching.

Also a must-stitch for me, Ada Haslam, an English reproduction by Samplers Revisited. I can't wait to get started!!!

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

Our address is 8800F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA.

We will have a 2nd post later today. Happy Stitching!