Boy, thanks to some lovely hacker, I’m spending the last day of 2008 having to redo the ENTIRE website.

I’m working on it, and will get it running as soon as I can.  The blog is the easy piece, so that will be the first you see.  The rest of the website will follow during the month of January.

I apologize for any inconvenience.  Please feel free to e-mail me should you have any questions.

Happy New Year!!!!

I just found mention in a blog of an amazing work-in-progress, stitching our Garden Traditions – Albemarle, and had to share.  Annemiek is a shop owner in the Netherlands, and she’d told me back in February that she was going to stitch this design.  What’s amazing about it, is that she’s going to stitch it on 50 count fabric!!!! 

Annemiek, I can’t wait to see how your little project progresses.  Since you told me you were going to do this, I’ve been thinking about trying another design on tiny fabric as well.  One day, maybe, I’ll get crazy and do one myself…

Happy stitchin’!

Well, my web host is in the process of upgrading the server my website resides in, so gremlins are at work. They say the upgrade should be complete some time today, so things will probably continue to be a little strange until then. Yesterday neither the Blog or the Stitchin’board were working, and today they are, but my e-mail is downloading the 4th copy of all my vacation e-mails – yippee!!

I thank you for your patience through all of this.

Just found this blog entry this evening, showing an idea for finishing your Needlework Building Blocks needlework stitch. Beautiful work and great idea!

Good afternoon everyone! I’m back again.

Stop in at our What’s New page to find the newest designs of Stitchin’spiration! A Blackwork Christmas returns, as well as more bookmarks and another Knotwork Medallion.

With these new additions, I’ve also gone back to the quilting room, and have added some quilted Needlework Building Blocks.

Holiday weekends are just the best – aren’t they? I don’t know what it is, but that extra day away from work just really does make it perfect. Jim and I spent the day in complete laziness, taking a picnic to our favorite Virginia plantation – Brandon. Here’s what we saw for much of the afternoon as we napped the afternoon away.

Brandon (the plantation) was the inspiration for my beginning the Garden Traditions series. The series isn’t meant to recreate gardens, but simply to catch the inspiration from these gardens. Take a look at the borders of my blackwork Brandon, and you’ll find an urn, a pineapple, and bushes surrounding the formal gardens.

Take a look around Brandon (the plantation), and you’ll find an urn…

… a pineapple (sorry, didn’t get that photo), and bushes…

surrounding wonderful garden rooms…

AAAAHHHHH!!!! Just writing this I can feel my blood pressure dropping, and I almost can feel the breeze from the amazing James River.

These pictures just don’t do the garden justice, but I wanted to give you a peak as to what awaits anyone who visits there. If you’re in the Richmond area, don’t miss stopping by Brandon, and taking a look at it’s wonderful gardens.

PS – For you history buffs, Brandon’s farms are believed to be America’s longest continually running agricultural enterprise. This year Virginia celebrates 400 years since the US was first settled at Jamestown, and Brandon’s farming began just a few years after…

The business of needlework keeps you working constantly on multiple levels – as does any business. Designers not only work on designs, but also must work on marketing, finances, models, and distribution. Of course, we’ve all gotten in to this business because of our love for “the design”.

Well, the most exciting part for me is when that elusive design which has been living unfinished in my head, all of a sudden falls together. Last night, I had one of those moments!

My Garden Traditions series – with Brandon and Albemarle – has always been my own favorite series.

Both designs have also consistently been good sellers, so that means you stitchers enjoy them as well. Well, what you don’t know, is that Brandon and Albemarle have 6 siblings in the wings, ready to be finalized and released. Those, in my opinion, are as beautiful. The actual garden designs are ready to roll. But… the borders need to be designed.

For many-many months, I’ve had a “design block” on a couple of them. I have the inspiration gardens chosen, photographs taken, and many attempts. None of those attempts, however, have ever made me happy.

Last night, the “block” evidently was broken, and now the finalized design is staring at me. Keep checking back!!!! It’s another beauty!!

… you gain MUCH excitement when a friend dumpster dives from the back of a retail store, and brings you display spinners…

I must really be in the business now. Several months ago I decided that I finally needed to make the jump and show in wholesale trade shows for needlework shops. I’ve taken part in the online Needlework Show , and have had a distributor who’s taken my models and designs to trade shows for me, but my time has come.

For Stitchin’spiration to get to the next level, I must buckle down and start getting out there myself. It’s come alive in my brain again, as just this week I received the first information package for the large show in February which I’m targeting for my first one.

Well, funny how things work… I was at work this morning when my phone rang. It was another designer friend of mine, Kathy, and she was running errands around town. Well, it just so happens that she noticed some merchandise spinners sitting next to a dumpster behind some retail shops. She checked them out, and wanted my permission for her to pick them up, and take them to my house for me……

Yes, you heard that, she wanted my permission “recycle” good quality display items – for me. She checked with the shop, and I think they were just happy to get rid of them. Look at these babies…..

Aren’t they just grand???!!!!??? Of course, I have NO idea where in the house they will park until February, but my mind’s already working on all the display possibilities…

I remember the day when I got excited chills looking at new threads and fabrics….. Now, show me new charting ideas, or talk to me about marketing ideas, and I am thrilled… Wow!!

Don’t I have a wonderful friend who’s not afraid of a dumpster???!!!??? Now that’s a priceless friendship… Stop by her website – Designs by Kathy – to see her work!!! I’m in awe of her architectural details, and her beautiful nature designs.

I do hope that everyone in the States has a wonderfully long Memorial Day weekend. Our office is closing early tomorrow at lunch, so a friend and I will be heading down to my favorite James River plantation – Brandon – for the afternoon. I’ll be sure to share some pics – especially since it was my inspiration for Brandon.