Fancy Pants!

The new Ship's Manor Nutcracker 2012 will be available within the next week. His name is Fancy Pants. I've used 3 different Kreinik metallics for this design to give it some sparkle. The rest is done with DMC threads. Ask for this at your LNS or favorite online store!

Christmas

Itching to stitch something for Christmas?  Here is a new design available now!  Christmas is a new wall hanging design that uses Crescent Colours threads and Gentle Art (DMC conversion provided). Also, for that little sparkle, three colors of Mill Hill beads were used. I love watching the snow fall gently in front of the street lamps. This design is joyous and peaceful. I hope you like is as much as I did designing it! 

Hankering for a hunk of Halloween

When you're in between projects. Not sure what to do next. Take some time to get reacquainted with your old scrapbook stuff. I made these!  Super easy and fun. You can find lots of vintage (public domain) Halloween cards online. Save...print. Craft stores carry everything you will need. They have buttons, glitter sticks, glue, paper. I used Kreinik metallic thread for some embellishment around the witch and then used some glow-in-the-dark DMC thread for the other. You use what you have and I know lack of thread isn't an issue for us!  While you're at the craft store, or digging through your stash, take out the Christmas paper too! I know I will be making more for Christmas!

3 Witches!

3 Cats for 3 Witches. The "Head Witch", the "Garden Witch" and the "Potions Witch" are the unofficial titles of these ladies.

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. The colors, smells and temperature revive me. It awakens the senses and sparks creativity. Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine. But, not the slasher, scare-the-pants-off-you type. I like the organic... "hocus pocus"  type. While others are watching "Nightmare on Elm Street" I am watching Disney shows. Yes, I said it. I am a wimp.

So, this design is the lighter side of Halloween. A celebration of Autumn and comfort. I hope you like it!

Create & Decorate

Well hello everyone!  I've been busy with some upcoming magazine designs. Can't give out all the details just yet. But, I am very excited to announce that the new issue of Create & Decorate has a Ship's Manor design in it. It will be available in stores on August 14th. I don't know....maybe it's because I have not been designing long but it was total excitement to see my design in the magazine. I hope I never get use to it. It was even exciting to see a Shrinky Dinks ad in the same magazine. I have not shrunk some of them in an oven for a long time.

Two designs will be out soon. I will be releasing Fisherman's Village and 3 Witches at the same time. They will be out by the end of this month. No pictures of the Witches yet because I want it to be a surprise. I've been working on them off and on for two years. Yes, it's a big design but really fun to stitch. You can even break the design up into 3 different designs...well...you will see!

Christmas stitching is currently going on at my house even though I am dreaming of Halloween. Watch for a free Halloween design on my website August 13th. It's Ship's Manor's Birthday.

Until next time...Happy Stitching!

Forward to Autumn

Summer is in full swing here in Utah. We've had some rainy days but most of the time it's been in the 100's. I have some awesome news to share with you all. I will be in two magazines this year. One is coming out next month. Both magazines are fall editions which means my spring and early summer were filled with thoughts of leaves changing colors and crisp nights. If you're on facebook please join me there!  Click Here!

I've finished working on a Halloween design that has been in the works for 2 years. It is currently at Jill Rensel's studio being framed. I hope you love it!  I will also be releasing a Nautical design (pictured above). This design has been in the thought stage for quite some time so I am happy it is completed. I will do another post when the designs are released...until then stop on over to my facebook page for small updates.

Patriotic

Patriotic is out now!

July will be a busy month for me. I will be stuck in a firework stand 24/7 selling awesome and expensive fireworks. Hopefully I will get to light off a few of them. Last year I did the same thing. At the end of July I was so worn out that I couldn't wait for Autumn and Winter to come so I could hibernate. Of course I always say I am going to take a day off just to watch movies and veg out and it never happens.

Two new Halloween designs will be released this fall. One of them has been in the works for 2 years now. Also, I hope to release my new nautical design either the end of June or beginning of August.

The Needlework Show

Tomorrow is the start of the online needlework show!  This will be my first time participating. I will be showcasing a new design tomorrow. It is 'My Summer Heart'. Check it out at the show and let your LNS know if you want something. Some Needlework shops are having specials just for the show. The Needlework Show

If getting my page set up wasn't hectic enough I am also in the process of charting an 1863 sampler. It's moving pretty slow but I am loving every minute of it.

Dance of the Butterflies and Tranquility

Will be out soon!  Here is a picture of Dance of the Butterflies. Spring has Sprung!

TNNA Phoenix

Just got back from the TNNA show. It was great!  Lot's on new designs and new threads. DMC has 24 new variations threads which look great. Kreinik has 4 new colors. Crescent Colours will have new thread at the Nashville market the end of February. I have 3 designs I debuted at the show that will be available in the next couple of weeks. I am very excited about this year and the new designs that will be released. I have a big project in the works that will take me down an unfamiliar road. I will post more about that later. Here are a couple of pictures from the show. The first one is my booth. The second one is Ded Koch from the shop Stitches N Things teaching me how to needle felt. I've always wanted to learn so this was way better than watching a youtube video. LOL

Spinsters

Well, the Holidays are over and a new year begun. I hope this is a prosperous year for everyone. I have been extremely busy getting ready for the Phoenix show. I'm still very excited and nervous.

Two new designs will be released at the show. They are 'Stitching Spinsters' and 'Gardening Spinsters'. I designed them a long time ago and just got around to stitching the models. I hope you like them.

I don't normally post designs in progress pictures but I thought I would share one with you. It is 'Stitching Spinsters'. The reason I don't post these type of pictures is because it's not finished and will look very different when it is done. But, here it is. I hope it gets you excited to see the finished piece.