Lots and lots of things to talk about this month. First, we have the Customer Gallery winners!

First Place Winner

Second Place Winner

Third Place Winner

You know, I think we were all winners getting to see the wonderful pieces. If you have a piece here you might want to come pick it up and pick up your winnings and your discount coupons for entering. Thanks to all who entered and to all who voted! Get your pieces in the works for next year’s Customer Gallery.

Don’t forget the Lizzie*Kate Trunk Show is still here through the 20th of August. You can see all the goodies that came with the show by clicking here and you can see all the Lizzie*Kate products in stock by clicking  here. Nothing beats seeing the models in person so if you’re close enough, come take a look! The next automatic is scheduled to ship on Monday so we may well have those new designs here before the end of the show. This shipment will include the long awaited 6 Fat Men series and the 2011 Tiny Tidings! You can keep up with all the Lizzie*Kate doings by following their blog.

Here's a sneak peek!

Lots of fun things going on in the next few months. Tracey and I are participating in Celebration of Needlework in St. Charles, Missouri in September. You can see the information about this fun consumer show at Celebration of Needlework. Still plenty of time to register. Do you remember the Spirit of Cross Stitch events? This is the same type of event! Tracey is teaching a class on Peyote Stitch so if you’ve wanted to get started with that technique this is the perfect time to begin. She’s also bringing her Threaded Needle Designs Trunk Show so come participate in this great stitcher’s event.

Of course Needlework Hideaway is just a few months away, we’re counting the days now! The classes are up on the website so visit Needlework Hideaway to see them. We have two new teachers this time and are excited to add them to your choices. Ruby Bailey will teach a beautiful beaded bracelet and Libby Roleson will teach a Kumihimo Bracelet and a Basic Earring class. We’ve set our 2012 schedule and will have contracts with the Red Apple Inn soon.

We are changing the days and hours at the shop beginning the week of August 22nd. I’m off to ANG National Seminar in San Antonio, TX and Mr. D is keeping the shop open for you on Thurs., Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. These hours will be in effect until further notice but remember that we’ll open up for you when you need to come with just a phone call or email to make arrangements for that. Mail order will be handled just as always so your orders will go out as usual.

We’ve added a new Thread of the Month Club that came to us as a suggestion from a customer. Each month I’ll chose an overdyed thread and add a variety of threads to complement it to create a collection that can go directly into a project! We’ll choose from across the lines of threads we carry so you may get a collection based on Waterlilies or on ThreadworX or on Overture that may include Kreinik, Rainbow Gallery, Caron Collection, DMC, Bella Lusso, Accentuate, Trebizond, Weeks Dye Works, The Gentle Art… you get the idea, if the threads work together you’ll get them! We’re looking forward to this Collection so sign up today! Here’s where you can see them.

I can hardly wait until we actually get to Seminar as I’ve been stitching the ANG Stitch of the Month a little ahead at the request of the Board and am all finished but can’t show you until they are shown at Seminar. All the Area Representatives are working on these so the excitement is building to see them finished. Mr. D is framing mine next week and I’m going to take a photo so that I can post it here as soon as we get the go ahead!!

Keep cool and keep stitching,

Pat