Calico Sampler No. 2 & Seasons in Stitches

Hi Friends!

A little sneak peak of the next row of Calico Sampler. I am picking up the charts this afternoon from the printers, so they will soon be on their way to shops. The photo above is the entire sampler so far, with two rows completed.

This photo is just of D, E & F, which is Calico Sampler No. 2. This row adds two new Gentle Arts threads to the palatte, Carriage Black and Heirloom Gold. Fabric is Weeks Dye Works 3o ct. Straw and I am stitching over 2 threads. I just love how this sampler is progressing. The colors compliment each other well and create a relaxed look. The borders that accompany each letter are so fun, I am imagining all sorts of little uses for them, such as bookmarks, curtain tiebacks, etc. And then there are the letters themselves. The calligraphic alphabet is so fanciful! Be looking for Calico Sampler No. 2 soon at your local needlework shop.

This little ditty is my contribution to TNNA's Seasons in Stitches collaborative project. The free-bee charts were distributed to shop owners at the Phoenix Winter Show in January and at the Nashville show in February. Thought you would enjoy a photo of the finished piece. I finished mine into a scissor pocket, using fabrics from Moda.

Happy Spring!

Beth

Calico Sampler Stitch Count

Hi All!

I neglected to include the overall stitch count for the finished Calico Sampler on the leaflet, that is all nine parts of the series. It is 146 x 470. My model is stitched on 30 count Weeks Dye Works Straw linen. I hope this helps as you are preparing your fabric.

All my best,

Beth

Back Home Again

Hi Friends!

Well, this morning we are back on the road again headed home. It has been an incredible market, I am still in awe of the response that I received. The air here in Nashville was just full of excitement for the needlework world. I am so rejuvenated, that my mind is a whirl from ideas swirling around. A great big thank you to all of the shops that supported me. It was grand to meet all of you and I hope the alliances that we formed will only grow stronger with time. For all of you stitchers, I hope you are excited, because new Summer House Stitche Workes charts are on their way to you.

All my Best,

Beth

We're Here!

and all ready to go. The room is set up, charts are bagged and we are just waiting for 7pm for the Early Bird sales to start. Here are a few pics of the displays.

The first is of the window display. I have had a lot of people stop and check out Sylvania, so I think she will be very popular this weekend.

Next is the main display, where the bulk of my designs are.

And the third display on the tv stand. I can't wait to go out and visit the other exhibitors and also to visit with shop owners.

More to come as Nashville unfolds...

All my Best,

Beth

Nashville Preview

Hi Friends!

Here are my new releases for the upcoming Nashville Market!

The first is Sylvania, which you had a little snippet of previously. I absolutely adore this folky design. A lucky shop owner will be taking her home, as I am raffling off the model at the show.

Next is Spring Garden. A continuation of my seasonal garden series. The model is stitched on 30ct. Ligonier Latte from R & R Reproductions with floss from The Gentle Art.

The third new release is the first installment in my 2012 Sampler, Calico Sampler. It will be presented in nine leaflets, three letters in each leaflet. It features a wonderful calligraphic alphabet enhanced with a different border on each letter. A little on the primitive side, but that is what makes a great sampler. Stitched on Weeks Dye Works Straw linen with floss from The Gentle Art.

Just in time for Spring, I will have a fun little free-bee chart for all shops that purchase from me at the show. And a special preview of my design Symphonic Romance that will be featured in the June 2012 issue of Just CrossStitch. So, if you are a shop owner, come enjoy the new designs and some Hersheys chocolate in suite #415.

Lastly, I have to share a photo of my special kitty, Lego. While I have been running around the house like a mad woman for the last month, he can enjoy his little naps. Isn't he just a darling...

Can't wait to see you in Nashville!!

Beth

Nashville Sneak Peek ~ Sylvania

Hi Friends!

I am so excited to be exhibiting at my first Nashville Market this month. Getting ready for it has completely taken over my life. I will have three new releases and will give you a preview in the coming days as the model stitching is finished up and they are framed. Here is a little sneak peek of Sylvania, the first of a collaboration with Brenda Kocher from Brenda Kocher Designs. We decided we wanted to design a few pieces that had a similar theme and chose Baltimore Album quilts as our inspiration. Our series is entitled Baltimore Brides and Sylvania is my first contribution. She is a fun gal, a bit whimsical and is most at home in a woodland grove. From a design point of view, she is a study in monochromism, using a wide variety of greens. She is stitched on 28 count Doubloon linen from Picture This Plus using DMC floss. I can't wait to fully introduce you, but she is waiting for a frame, which I will not get to until tomorrow. The frame is an East Side Mouldings This Old House in Parlour Green.

It is funny how the design process sometimes works for me, I kept playing around with several ideas for this piece and nothing was working. I was starting to panic (just a little), But once everything came together I was so excited with the design that I dropped everything else I was working on to stitch Sylvania. She also went through quite a few names, but I finally decided on Sylvania. Be watching for more updates.

I have to get back to stitching...

All my Best,

Beth

Peace Quilt release and other happenings

Hi Friends!

If you haven't seen Peace Quilt yet, here it is! The model is stitched over two on 28 count Olive Green Cashel linen from Zweigart using hand over-dyed floss from The Gentle Art and Crescent Colours. It is accented with Mill Hill Beads in the little diamonds to give it just a touch of sparkle for the Holiday season. The frame is from East Side Mouldings, their Olde Towne Commons in Black/Onion. If your needlework shop doesn't have it yet, have them give me a call or order it through Hoffman. I loved stitching this design and the whole time I had Christmas carols ringing through my head, especially the ones that include the phrase "Peace on Earth." One of my favorites is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I hear this song, I can still picture the page it was on in my Mom's tattered old piano book. Here are the words in case you are unfamiliar with it:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

The message in this song is so powerful. It is a reminder that we are God's hands here on Earth. Goodwill doesn't just happen. So in that spirit I donated my model of Peace Quilt to my church, St. Paul Lutheran in Enola, PA, so that it could be raffled off at their annual bazaar. The price for a raffle ticket was a canned good. We collected a 100 lbs. of food for our local food bank to help those in need. I hope this small endeavor inspires you throughout the Holiday season and beyond to use your gifts to help make the world a better place, after all it is just "a small voice, a chime, a chant sublime" that keeps us all from despair.

Now onto other things...one of the proudest moments that I have had raising my boys is pinning their Eagle Scout award onto them. Andrew, my youngest received his on Nov. 25. Here I am pinning it on!!

For his Eagle project he (and his troop) created a prayer garden at our church's cemetery, a lovely spot for contemplation and memories. And here are all three of my wonderful children. And even though they are supposed to be young adults, they cannot be serious for a good photo.

First one isn't too bad, but then Laura had to start her antics, because she is so short in comparison to the boys. During the ceremony, Shane gave Andrew his Eagle charge and welcomed him into the ranks of fellow Eagles. Oh, it was good to have them all together and all dressed up in their uniforms!!

All my Best,

Beth