AARRGGHHHHH….. Don’t you just love technology. It seems to somehow always catch me at odd times.

I just realized that when my web host changed the server that hosts me, my main contact e-mail address all of a sudden became unusable for my contact forms. The web pages have now been corrected, and messages will now reach me.

If anyone has submitted any contact requests through my website from 5/8 until 5/22, I unfortunately did not receive the e-mail. Please resubmit your contact information to me, so that I can respond to your request.

The design development process is very funny. It puts you in holiday moods at all the wrong times of the year.

This weekend I’ve finalized more of my Christmas designs, which will be coming out in the next couple of months. Now that it’s finally getting nice and warm in Richmond, I’m in the mood to dive into my Christmas boxes and start decorating. I’m really excited about the Christmas coming out for your stitching pleasure.

I’ve finally formalized my first chart with designs for Tokens and Trifles Sewing Cards. If you haven’t seen these cards, you just have to try them out. What an easy way to get those quick gifts taken care of. I’ve not even shared with my model stitchers – as I’ve stitched all the models. They’re a great travel project, because the sewing card and threads fit nicely into a small ziploc bag, and in my purse. Several of the models went with me to England, and what great airplane stitching they were. Even didn’t take up much space in my luggage – which definitely was a consideration. Keep an eye out for them, they’ll be coming out soon.

More are in the works – as I have another nice stack of sewing card models in ziploc bags a’waiting my stitching.

Well, can you hear it? Silence!!! Linda returned today from vacation, so Max the puppy is gone. We really did love having him here, but it’s a wonderful thing to be the aunt of a puppy. They come to visit, but then they go home. Almost as soon as they left, Jack immediately began a long Sunday afternoon nap, which still continues. AAAAHHHHHHH – tomorrow we can sleep in!

Color and blackwork. I just love the combination, and love even more playing around with it. I’ve just gotten back my 4 models from my A-Maze-ments series, and am so excited about them. You see, the 2 designs which have already been released, I released showing them in 1 color.

Then, as I developed the models, I decided to play around with the DMC Linen Threads, and color. I took each of the 4 designs, used different combinations of the linen threads, changed the border schemes on each, sent the model kits out to my model stitchers, and crossed my fingers. Well, they came back, and they’re really beautiful. Each definitely has it’s own look, and I really love the combination of the 4 together.

Here’s your little sneak peak at how they came out.

I’ll be revising the current 2 charts to reflect the color options, and will be releasing the remaining 2 A-Maze-ments designs – Traveler and Wanderer – in July, 2007. Keep your eye out for them.

Until then, play around with color on other blackwork projects. What a great opportunity for you to pull out all those leftover partial skeins, and let the creativity soar.

Isn’t it funny how creativity shows up in everyone in different ways?

I was reminded of this when an old friend of mine, Susan, nicely reminded me that I hadn’t e-mailed her back – oops! Sorry Susan!!!! Susan and I went to college together, and she’s currently a fiber artist, putting out wonderful art quilts.

If you want to see some truly creative and colorful fabric art pieces – stop in at her site Creative Chick. Susan’s use of texture and color are amazing, and I’m envious of how she works with all the different elements.

I’ve always had a more structured and ordered creativity. As a kid I’d sketch on my father’s engineering pads – with the different shapes of grids – of course keeping with the lines. Even in my profession – interior design – don’t ask me to do a freehand sketch of a square. It will come out somehow roundish and oblong – and definitely not to scale. But, get me on the computer with AutoCAD, and I’m all over it, and will get you 10 different ideas in as many minutes.

Back in college is when I realized that everyone was creative in different ways. Susan and I had a couple of other sorority sisters also in the arts, as well as a couple of big brothers, and each one was different. In my freshman year, I remember sitting in the studio of my first freehand sketching class, hanging out with the skull of a goat (think I named him George), struggling over it for hours. Then, one of our big brothers walked in, an art major, and immediately was able to quickly sketch what I still couldn’t after hours, and helped me figure it all out. I still have those pencil sketches, and I’m proud of them – since I really did sweat that class out. Somehow, my sketches of George ACTUALLY look like a goat!

In the business world, creativity might not show up as artsy, but it exists. Ever watch an executive mentally work through a problem, and effortlessly work through the logistics of a complicated deal? That’s amazing to me as well.

If you don’t think you’re creative – you are!!!! Go and find it… it’s a wonderful way to release yourself. If you know you’re creative – use it and stretch your creative muscles.

Want to exercise your creativity? Susan offers some great classes online that will get you playing in color, fabric, beads, and thread. Stop in at her Joggles Class Listing to see what she has to offer. MMMMMMMM, I might just need to finally try my hand at one this summer… How cool is this piece!?!

What might you find interesting to play with? Let me know, I’d love to hear!

Design models…. you know, the models on the fronts of charts you find in your local needlework shops. They are a very interesting part of the needlework design process. In the development of the design, I spend hours and hours staring at the screen, playing with each element, working on it until I think that the design is perfect.

Then comes the design model. Fabrics and threads – oh boy! What will I use? I sometimes think that this is the hardest part of the process for me. My designs, mostly graphic in nature, do not necessarily need a specific color for any element (say the perfect blue shading for sky, red shading for bricks, etc.). Therefore, the entire thread and fabric world is out for selection. I also have begun doing multiple models for many of my designs, showing 2 different looks. Blackwork, at it’s simplest, in a single color, is absolutely stunning. But, add in those wonderful variegated threads, and voila – the design just pops. Oh, but can’t decide – then pull together multiple colors for a sampler look. For me, add in the fact that I’m not choosing the colors for any reason or location except to look good, and it just puts my brain into overload.

But… at the end, when the model comes back to me from the model stitcher, it’s as if a child has returned home from a long time away. The design has now come to life, and is truly a reality. Every one takes my breath away the moment I open the envelope.

I’m thinking of this process this morning, as I just received frames for 4 of my models last night, and I’ve gotten the models pinned, and boy they dress up pretty!!! Framing has always been hard for me. Having very little time to go out to choose frames, being too impatient to wait weeks for frames to arrive, and having lost my previous framing source (which went out of business), I’ve had models stacking up needing to be finished. They patiently waited in their bags, until finally in February, I found a new framing source. I’m such a happy lady!!!! The 2 orders of frames which I’ve received, of over a dozen various types of frames, have come in quickly, and in great shape. American Frame, also, is online, so I’m able to make my selections from here at home, in my jammies!!!! Something tells me that the local frame shop might not appreciate me coming through their doors in my bunny slippers and jammies. Anyways, I’ve been pleased with my American Frame experience so far. One feature that I love, is that you can upload an image of your piece, and try out the different frames on it. You even can save the image for future reference. Wanna sneak peak? Here’s one of the pieces I finished last night, shown in the virtual frame from my “shopping trip”.

Stop in and also request a catalog. The catalog has clear pictures of all the frames, so is a handy reference as you shop online. Also, you can go ahead and order your archival, acid free mat board and foam core through them also – already cut down to the exact size of your frame. It’s a wonderful thing, as I will no longer have to spread out across my dining room any time I frame, because I’m having to cut the large boards to mount the pieces on. Remember, use acid-free, archival quality products on your needlework!!!!

Well, Twisted Sweetness, shown above, will be one of the new 2007 A Blackwork Christmas designs. Keep your eye out, as it will be coming out in the next couple of months!

Have a wonderful day! Happy stitchin’!

I hope everyone’s had another great Saturday! It’s been gorgeous here today, and I was able to spend a good amount of time outside while I designed. Yup, the designing bug has hit again, and luckily, a creative mind has followed as well. I love it when I get into this mood, and am able to get pen (or mouse) to paper, and actually have some good results come from it. My great motivation this time – stress!

Yes, I’ve finally made the decision to take part in my first “live” wholesale trade show. Next August, Stitchin’spiration will be exhibiting for the first time at the Summer needlework show held for needlework shops. I’ve taken part in the online shows, but this is quite different. It’s definitely time for me to make this move, and I’m very excited about meeting all these wonderful shop owners in person. I feel as if I know many of them already via e-mail, so look forward to putting a name with a face. The task list is quickly growing as I begin to get some planning for it done. But, in the meanwhile, it’s been a good shove to my creativity.

Well, I hear Jim in the kitchen beginning dinner. Better run along…

Happy Saturday everyone!

It’s been just so crazy around here, that this weekend I concentrated on getting “back to the basics” on some things. I’ve been working on the new Needlework Building Blocks releases, and the next few months you’re going to see designs come out that are truly back to the basics of blackwork. I decided not to try to get cute or special in them – just simply played with shape and fills. The results, I think, are beautiful – and to me will stitch up looking like lace.

It also allowed me to remember what I just LOVE about the series – how playful it can be!!! I decided that I wanted to literally play around with the blocks, so I’ve made my own game pieces to do so. How fun it was – even with Jim staring at me with that blank “what in the world are you doing” look on his face. It’s given me some ideas – that you’ll see developed eventually in the future.

The weather here in Richmond has finally taken a turn for the cold. But with the incredible fall colors still with us, it’s really getting me in the feeling of the season.

Well, not much more happening around here. Wedding plans for my sister continue – and we got her into a couple of wedding dresses over the weekend. What an exciting – and daunting – time it is to plan a wedding!!! At least we have a year…

Have a great week!

Well, got up this morning, and realized that we get an extra hour of sleep this weekend!!! Whoo-whooo!!! Sleep’s been at a premium lately, with so much going on, so I’m looking forward to those extra 60 minutes.

The sky’s finally clearing this morning in Richmond, after having rain all day yesterday and this morning. A last little thunderstorm came rumbling through about an hour ago, and now I’m already seeing blue skies. What a beautiful fall this has been. Yesterday, as I sat in my car talking on the phone (imagine that!), noticed that with the falling rain, and the vibrant fall colors on the stand of trees I was facing, it was almost like an oil painting which continually changed. It was just amazing!!!!!

This past week has seen quite a flurry of stitching activity here in Richmond. The EGA National seminar was here. I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to sneak away from work to take some of their classes, but I did get an opportunity to go down to the Emporium and shop a bit. It was all about temptation – I’m telling you. Threads – charts – stitching accessories – handmade boxes, bags, ornaments – books galore. I somehow didn’t go overboard, but picked up some threads to play with, as well as a few charts for fun. But….. I had an opportunity to meet Marion Scoular! She and I have e-mailed in the past a bit, but what a neat lady she is in person. She introduced me to the DMC floche. If you haven’t seen it, you must find some. It’s got a beautiful sheen to it, and feels like it will be a smooth stitch. It’s a product not found readily in the States, but is available from some vendors. Also, the website says there are only 20 colors, but Marion carries it in 168 colors. I picked up quite a few skeins, and plan on using it in some upcoming models. Also picked up some Prescencia threads as well, in some beautiful colors. I can’t wait to play around with these… Next year’s seminar is in Chicago, so I might just be tempted to head up to the Windy City to play some…

This week for me has been the week of organizing myself. As I’ve moaned and groaned in my few posts, my big challenge in embarking into Stitchin’spiration has been keeping up with all that needs to be done. Well, I’ve always been a “list” person, who gains much joy in crossing off something because it’s been completed. I’ve now gone off the deep end, and have literally “task listed” everything that must be done. Yes, you might be wondering, “posting to the blog” is on that list. Anyways, I’m hoping it will keep my head a little more clear, and a little more focused on what needs to be done. I’ve also gained much inspiration from how software development teams work at the company we work for, and am getting ready to streamline it all as well. Just call me a complete geek, but if it keeps me up-to-date and sane – then a geek I am.

Well, I’m being called to the backyard. Jack’s having a “chuck-it” withdrawal. If you haven’t heard of a “Chuck-it”, and have active dogs, you MUST get one. No more nasty hands from the nasty balls he bring back for me to throw. Off to the back yard…..

Yet another task completed….. ha-ha!