To get you started take a look at the next Blog entry, called Ornament Contest. I know it’s scary to think about designing a piece but this is a small ornament where you can play. Grab a piece of 14ct and start doodling. Use Kreinik threads and keep the design round or something that will fit in a round and have fun! I didn’t do the math in the contest announcement but on 14ct the piece needs to fit in a 5-1/4″ circle. Not a big piece but large enough to allow for some detail. Think Christmas with this one.  The best part of participating in this contest is that whether or not you win you can use your design as the entry fee for our 15th Anniversary Celebration. Well, maybe the best part is the $100 of Kreinik threads that’s the Grand Prize or the Gift Certificates to the shop?

Don’t forget that October 15th is the big day, lots of fun activities both in the shop and online and lots of great deals to be had. In order to receive the discounts we’ll offer we need you to send an ornament for the Salvation Army/SAAC Christmas Tree we’ll decorate this year. Get the ornament to us by the 14th so we have time to register it and you’ll be eligible for the discounts! A stitcher who is planning to participate was admiring Rhonda’s finishing techniques on an ornament and wished she knew how to do that kind of work so we’ll plan a finishing class for all the stitched ornaments we receive some time in early November so you’ll have plenty of time to finish yours for this Holiday season. Get stitchin on that ornament!

We found this site and thought it was interesting enough to share. I’m not a math expert and don’t totally understand what he’s talking about with the math part but I did like the stitched piece. This link offers more choices of pieces to create based on math principles. Enjoy!

Reminder, get your Fair entry in by Friday to be sure we can get it framed in time.  We’ve framed some beautiful pieces this summer so this year’s Fair exhibit should be awesome.

Recently we’ve had several customers request different Thread of the Month Club offerings. Take a look at what we offer and let us know what lines you would like to collect and we’ll add them to the list. Over the past couple of years the thread companies have had to increase prices. We’ve tried to hold the line on the prices of the TOMC but in January, 2011 we will have to change the individual collections to reflect the new pricing. The customers who are collecting a line will be able to complete that line at the price they signed on for, only new orders will be at the new price. That means that if you sign up now the entire line is available to you at this year’s price, a real savings over the life of the line! Sign up today and you’ll receive a fun suprise package the first part of each month. Available lines are in the Rainbow Gallery, Caron Collection, Au ver a Soie, brown paper packages, Gentle Art, Weeks Dye Works, ThreadworX, Trebizond, Accentuate, Soy Luster, Barouque Silk, and Bijou line. Plus you can request any other line we carry to build your collection, see them here.

Ok, have to get to the shop and get the next fun thing started but before I go I want to remind you about the Needlework Hideaway. This fall we’ll gather at the Red Apple Inn on November 4th thru the 7th for fun stitching, good company and great food! Still room for you so take a look and register today!

See you soon,

Pat

This is your opportunity to put your creativity to work and earn some great prizes at the same time!

Kreinik Manufacturing, the folks who bring you those wonderful metallic threads, silk Mori floss, needlework kits,  silk gauze and other great products is introducing a new product that combines the joy of stitching on silk gauze with the convenience of finishing included. To celebrate this new idea Stitcher’s Workshop and Kreinik have teamed up to bring you a challenge!

Design a piece (think ornament) that, when stitched on 40ct silk gauze, will fit in a 2″ round area. That would give you a stitch count 80 stitches high by 80 stitches wide on the diameter but remember that it’s round so don’t go 80×80! I would suggest you draw a circle on graph paper that is 80 threads  on the diameter and you’ll have the correct area to work with. You don’t need to stitch it on 40ct but the design must fit in the area if it was stitched on 40ct. The 2″ allows for sufficient border around the design so just make your piece fit within the 2″ circle.  I’ve loaded a .pdf of even weave graph paper to help you work this out.  Click here and then click on the counted ground paper link to download the .pdf

Don’t forget to include the great Kreinik threads in your design. Silk Mori and the finer metallics will be perfect for this piece! You’ll find those threads here.

Designs are due in to us by October 1, judging will be completed by October 10 with winners notified immediately so they have time to send the actual piece for presentation at our 15th Anniversary Celebration on the 15th of October. Pieces do not have to be stitched, we can judge from the chart but we will want a stitched piece by the 14th.  Submission may be in person or mailed, or as electronic .jpg files.  Judges are independent needlework professionals who are NOT employees of Kreinik Manufacturing or of Stitcher’s Workshop.

Now for the prizes! Grand Prize is $100.00 of Kreinik products. First Prize is $75.00 Gift Certificate, Second Prize is $50.00 Gift Certificate, and Third Prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to  Stitcher’s Workshop to be used in the shop or online.

Here’s the fine print. Winning entries become the property of Stitcher’s Workshop and will be charted and sold as patterns or kits by Stitcher’s Workshop with credit for the design to the designer.  Contestants agree to have their designs posted on the Stitcher’s Workshop Blog or the Kreinik Manufacturing’s Blog and elsewhere online or in traditional media for promotional purposes. Credit to the designer will always be given. Stitcher’s Workshop and Kreinik Manufacturing may, but are not obligated to, offer to purchase designs that are not prize winners for the purpose of charting and selling that design.

Ok, get started and have fun. Who knows, your piece may be the next new design featured with this fabulous new product! Call me if you have questions at 866-862-2239 .

Enjoy,

Pat

First Place goes to Queen of Freedom by Mirabilia!

Second Place goes to Holly by Black Swan Designs

Third Place goes to this Original Design by the Stitcher.

For those of you who supported the Original Design you’ll be glad to know that I’ve requested and been granted the right to reproduce the design so watch for the chart coming soon! Feel free to reserve your copy, just email me with your interest.

All who participated in the Customer Gallery are welcome to pick up their pieces at the shop and collect your Discount Coupon for participating and your Prizes if you were First, Second or Third! Thanks for your support and thanks for sharing your work with us!

Rhonda working on the stand with Lavella looking on.

This stand is perfect for scroll rods with a special support piece to give maximum performance.

Scroll Rod support bars adjust for just the right stitching angle.

This detail photo shows both the support system and the adjusting slots.

This closeup shows the range available in angle adjustment.

The Clamp system is perfect for either Stretcher Bars or Q-Snaps.

Clamp system will adjust for frames up to 29" standard. A cross bar allowing wider bars is available special order.

Side clamps hold Q-Snaps as well.

In addition to the width adjustments, this stand allows for height adjustments. I’m short so you wouldn’t want to stitch on a stand that works for me. This stand works for every height requirement, adjusting in 1″ increments.

Easily adjusted by moving the bolt alignment. A few twists on the wing nut and you're ready to stitch!

The feet on this stand are designed for stability, no tipping when you raise your piece to finish off the threads!

Feet are 16" long by 2-1/2" high and 31" apart for stability.

This is the last floor stand you’ll need to buy. It’s built for stitching convenience with materials that will last a lifetime. See how to order here.

You might want to start a new project and if so we have several new items on the site. Lizzie Kate has a new Christmas Double Flip starting and, according to the customers who’ve been in to see it, it’s the cutest one yet. See it here. While you’re there, all the Giggle Boxers are in now and would make perfect gifts for your special friends. These are quick to stitch so plenty of time before the Holidays.

Speaking of Holidays, get ready for our big blow-out in October. We’ll have completed our 15th Year on October 15th and we are going to party! All day Friday and all day Saturday, October 15 and 16 we will be having hourly drawings for baskets of goodies; discounts on select merchandise, some up to 50% off; refreshments; Goodie Bags and lots of other fun activities we’ll tell you about as the time get’s closer. Now here’s the important part! in order to participate you need to bring a stitched ornament for the Arts Center Christmas Tree. Ornament does not have to be finished but stitching must be completed. Those of you who are online customers will be able to take advantage of the specials, just mail in an ornament to reach us by the 14th of October and you’ll automatically be eligible.  Get stitching on your ornament as you’ll not want to miss this party!

Sadly I have to tell you that Linda Hinckley of Lavender Wings Designs has decided to retire. Many of you have purchased her things from us at Seminars and here in the shop (sorry I don’t have them online but all of her designs are available special order). We’re sorry to loose such a talented designer. You can see her designs here and order them by sending us an email.

Take a look at this incredible piece of work More than 200 stitchers participated in creating this tapestry. It’s worth your time to watch the video!

Still time to sign up for the Needlework Hideaway but if you want my class let us know right away as there is pre-work for the Hardanger in that class. Check it out here.

Until next time, keep stitchin!

Pat

Here's what you'll see in the shop!

Individual pieces are:

Piece #1 Queen of Freedom by Mirabilia

Piece #2 Holly by Black Swan Designs

Piece #3 Anna's Prayer by Heartstring Primitives

Piece #4 Garden Cats by Dimensions

Piece #5 Christmas for all Great and Small by Jim Shore

Piece #6 Isola Maggiore Crochet Doily on Box

Piece #7 Rainforest Crunch by Needle Delights

Piece #8 Original Design by Stitcher.

Piece #9 Hydrangea ~ Designer Unknown

To vote just leave a comment here or fill out the contact form on the website. We’ll be voting online through August 15th so vote each time you visit!

Come add your stitches to this lovely project!

The Night Owls Quilt Guild here in Union County received twelve cross stitch blocks of the 12 Days of Christmas by Teresa Wentzler from the Loose Threads Chapter of EGA with the request that they be pieced into a quilt to benefit a charity supporting children.  The cross stitch blocks were stitched on 28ct Cream Cashel Linen from Zweigart with DMC floss.

Guild members assembled the quilt top, provided batting and have the quilt on a frame in the Class Room at the shop now being hand quilted. We’re using Bijoux in copper, red, and green for the quilting and find it is adding a subtle sparkle to a striking piece.

Once the quilt is finished it will be donated to Hope Landing for their annual fund drive. Tickets will be available from Hope Landing staff and the Night Owls Quilt Guild members as well as here at the shop. Hope Landing’s Mission Statement says: The mission of HOPE Landing is to bring hope and purpose to the lives of children with disabilities by helping them achieve their God-given potential. making them the perfect choice to receive the quilt!

Come try your hand at quilting and don’t forget to purchase tickets when they go on sale!

These cute little guys were waiting for us in Indiana!

Thought you would like to see the reason we decided to close over the long weekend.

Here is Mr. D with his son, grandson, and the great-grandsons!

What a good time we all had, thanks to the other Mrs D!

Check out the blog as we have a couple of new posts. One is an announcement from the Royal School in London that you’ll want to hear about, especially if you love to design. The other is  a photo of a customer’s work mounted in one of Mr. D’s trays. We’ve put the tray on the website so take a look, it’s the perfect finish for your special project.

New Lizzie Kate and Sweetheart Tree charts and kits are here. I’m working now to get them on the site and hope to have them there by the time you get this. If you don’t see them check back as I’m typing like mad!

Don’t forget the Customer Gallery and the Christmas in July celebration all of July. A customer from Shreveport was in recently and asked about entering the Customer Gallery online so we’re making a slight change in the program. We’ll kick off the Gallery on the 10th of July to give you time to get things here if you’re close enough to do that or get a photo to us for the Online Gallery if you’re not. Please send you photo in .jpg or .gif format and include the design name, designer, and chart publisher if applicable. Tell us anything you can about when you stitched it, changes you made, how it was finished, etc… Once the pictures are up I’ll send a note explaining how to vote for your favorite piece. We’ll have gifts for everyone who participates whether with a piece in the shop or a photo online. Thanks for the suggestion, Linda!

Many have asked about the technique of Laying Threads. I just found a great page online that clearly explains the technique. Take a look at http://www.lkreinmiller.com/ heartwork/ Tech/laying For some reason I’m having trouble with this link. If you cannot click on it just copy and paste into your browser window to get to the diagrams.

This month’s 15th Year Anniversary special is 10% off on any Christmas themed project you purchase. Save the most by buying the chart, threads, and fabrics all at once to get the discount on all!

Enjoy the holiday and come see us soon!

Pat

Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!

We want to share with you news relating to an exciting worldwide embroidery design competition being conducted by The Worshipful Company of Broderers of London England.

This is a Competition open to anyone from anywhere in the world who is interested in design for embroidery and who is over 18 years of age and enters as an individual only. Entries must be of the entrant’s own original work and not infringe any copyright.

The winning design will be embroidered by the Studio of The Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace, and the winning designer will be invited to London to attend the grand commissioning event.

In addition to a cash of £1,000 for first prize, the Royal School will present the winner with a story book of the stitching of the winning design plus other prizes. There will also be prizes for second and third place. Full details of the competition and prizes can be found at www.broderers450.co.uk.