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

Winter Garden Release

Winter Garden is available starting today on the Needlework Online Show. I had so many stitchers request a continuation of Autumn Garden, so here is the next season. Like Autumn Garden, Winter Garden celebrates the colors of the season, in this case red, green and gold. The model is stitched over two on 30 count Ligonier Latte linen from R & R Reproductions using overdyed floss from The Gentle Art. My favorite part is the "Nordic Ribbon" border. I hope you enjoy stitching this fun little sampler. Spring is next, be looking for the chart to be release at Nashville in February.

The Needlework Online Show opens today, 20 October at 2pm EST and closes at midnight on 25 October. Here is the link. Browse through the General Viewing pages and note which designs you need to have, such as Winter Garden, and then let your favorite needlework shop know, so that they can place the order. There is also a list of the retail shops that are participating, in case you need to find a shop.

All my Best,

Beth

NorthCoast Tour de Stitch

Hi Friends!

If you live in Ohio or in a surrounding state, you are in luck this weekend. Five needlework shops have banned together to offer a "shop hop." They are offering door prizes, specially-designed needlework projects and trunk shows at each shop. My trunk show is on display at Just Stitching in Stongsville, Ohio. The other participating shops are: Clare's Stitching Post in Vermilion, Ohio, Craft Gallery in Findlay, Ohio, Crafty Ewe in Broadview Heights, Ohio and The Curiosity Shoppe in Oak Harbor, Ohio. For more information follow this link. Hope you are able to join the fun! My trunk show will be on display at Just Stitching until the end of October.

Keep Stitching!

Beth

Soil and Sand restitch

Hi friends!

I recently decided that Soil and Sand needed a new look to get stitchers interested in the design. I designed this chart when I was researching weaving patterns to create my Nine Shaft Sampler design several years ago. I love the movement of this pattern. I originally stitched it in black floss on 9 count Heatherfield, I also stitched up a little needlecase at the time. I revisited my needlecase and decided to stitch it up with a bit more color. This version is stitched with Chameleon Thread's Stormy Seas space-dyed floss on Weeks Dye Works Straw linen.

This is the fourth time that I have stitched this design and each time it stitches up so quickly.

The interior features a piece of blanketstitched felt for storing your needles.

I hope the new model will inspire you to look for the chart.

Holy, Holy, Holy in Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue

The special issue of the magazine was released in the beginning part of September, so I hope you have picked up your copy. I will be getting mine this weekend and can't wait to see it, as this is the first time I have been featured in the magazine. I hope Holy, Holy, Holy becomes a special ornament on your tree this year.

All my Best,

Beth

Rain, Rain...

Go away or go to Texas, anywhere but here in Central PA.

This is the nice, tranquil Conodoguinet Creek, which flows right below my house. We are fortunate that our house is up a high bank and out of the danger zone. But...

neighbors right down the street are not so lucky. As shown in the photo, the creek is coming up to meet the house.

Here is another photo showing how fast the water is moving. Please remember our neighbors and others who are being displaced by the raging waters of Tropical Storm Lee in your prayers. The forecast for the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg is that it will have the second highest crest level in history.

One good thing about all of the rain...I just want to sit and stitch. I am restitching a couple of models to get them ready for a trunk show in October. I'll have more info on that, but I think I will save that for another post.

Hope you are keeping dry!!

Beth

Autumn Garden Patera

Hi Friends!

I have had so many people interested in how I make the Patera necklaces. They really are stunning. I wanted to share the latest one that I made using the central motif of Autumn Garden. I created this necklace and earring set for my sister-in-law. I changed the colors up a bit to fit her personality and wardrobe. The "island" colors give a different to the motif look along with the delicacy of stitching over one.

On another note; to all of you looking for Autumn Garden to turn into a seasonal series, you are getting your wish! Winter Garden is well underway in the design process and I am looking at releasing it in October during the Online Needlework Show. Stayed tuned for a sneak peek once I am in the stitching phase. I will be using Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art for the entire series. I love the look these threads give to the finished worke.

Happy Tuesday!

Beth

Baltimore Market Recap

I had an absolutely fantastic time at the Baltimore Fall Market! My mind is still reeling with all of the new ideas I have for Summer House. I learned so much and meet so many great people. The needlework industry is full of the nicest people you would ever want to encounter. Since it was my first time to exhibit on the national level, I was a little apprehensive about how long it would take to set up, etc. Brenda Kocher and I shared a suite, which worked out great. She is such a fun person and we were laughing all weekend long. We were not laughing when we initially looked at our room though. It was so much smaller than we imagined and the hotel stipulated that none of the furniture was to be moved. So, after an ice cream treat from Megan at Needlework Retailer, we decided on a plan and had our booth set up in about an hour's time. Here are some photos of our booth and the Hotel.

The "Summer House" side of the booth.

We shared space on our make shift table display across the couch.

Brenda's side of the booth.

The atrium of the Embassy Suites.

I released three new designs at Market and I can tell you that Autumn Garden was very well received. It is stitched on R & R Reproduction linen in Ligonier Latte with Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art. I had a chance to meet Kristi and Nancy from The Gentle Art and you will be seeing more of my future designs featuring their thread. I was also able to see their wool floss line and I loved the feel and stitched look of it.

As a promotion, I did a drawing for the Autumn Garden model. Cathy Habermann from Cherry Wood Design Studios drew Cathy Roginela from Inspired Needle in Lemont, IL as the winner. We laughed, because when Cathy R. filled out her ticket for the drawing, she wrote down her room number, as she was positive the model was going home with her! Congratulations Cathy!!

I also released the second design in the Fathers of Freedom series, American Ambassador, featuring Benjamin Franklin. It is stitched on Sandstone/Tea-dyed linen by Wichelt with DMC floss. The beautiful frame is from Valley House Primitives.

Detail of the frame graining pattern. MCD moulding in Lamplight with Hairpin graining.

Last, but not least is Svetlana's Biscornu. This piece was inspired by a display of Ukrainian cross stitch at Hand Dyed Fibers Needlework Exhibition in June. I love the contrast of the vibrant colors with black. This was my first attempt at creating a biscornu and it was not a difficult process at all. Finishing instructions are included in the chart.

I hope you enjoy my newest designs and I am already making plans for Nashville's Market in February.

All my Best,

Beth