Long Overdue Blog Post

Some of you may know by now that my unexpected trip was to 

Nashville Needlework Market!!!!

My friends, Ann and Pat of R&R invited me to tag along for the snowy trip:) 

and hang out in their suite.  What great friends they are and I had a blast!

Here is a picture of the table in their R&R room.  I loved the cut out R&R books and the bright tulips.  Ann and Pat were so sweet to let me display my newest release 

"Quaker Friends".

I wish I could say I took tons of pictures, but the time at Market seemed to fly at such rapid pace.  It was so wonderful to meet so many of the designers and shop owners.  

I was just giddy at the fact that I was finally able to meet and chat in person with my dear friend Niky of NikysCreations.  

Her room was filled with such wonderful goodies.  She gifted my this sweet xs heart that I brought home and hung immediately.

 

This was the back of the car after the show, loaded with Market purchases.

You can't even see the car top carrier, which was also full.  

 Great pack job Pat!  I still can't believe she got it all in.

These are the other goodies I brought home from Market

This mug will get lots of use:)

I leave you with this pic of my "Roomy", Norma......so many laughs....it will take me awhile to unpack all the memories from this trip.  

 Thank you my friends for making it "Epic".

x x x x 

I know this was a long post....thanks bearing with me.....I'll be back with another post soon.

I have a few really great Stitcher's finishes to show you next time.

Smiles, Nan

A Stitcher's Finish and MORE Gifts

Just couldn't wait to show you this finish that Pat from Dyeing to Stitch did. She asked me convert the DMC I used to Gentle Art floss on Beggar's Night.

Here's her wonderful stitched piece!

If you're interest, here is the conversion I suggested.
DMC            GAST

Ecru            Oatmeal
     3021            Wood Trail
612             Chamomile
   610             Old Hickory
        3011           Chives                
   3012         Grasshopper
301            Pumpkin Pie

She also chose to trim this with R&R Cocoa chenille instead of the Cinnamon.  I wish you could see all the variegation in the pumpkin pie floss.  It's really beautiful.  Thank you Pat for stitching this and sharing it with us.
x x x x x
Well, my buddy Ann came back from Market and sent me a surprise box.  She went antique shopping while in St. Charles and got this sweet crow candle holder for me.  She knows me so well.  I put it out immediately.

She also sent more R&R linen, vintage pins and a Halloween inspired kit and chart from Blackbird Designs.  Yep, when I saw this "Away We Ride" chart, my heart skipped a beat.
Ann's a very good listener and surprised me with it.   

Wonderful gifts from a wonderful friend.
Thanks Ann, you know I love everything and they've brought me many smiles.

Hope you all have something to smile about too.
Enjoy your evening!
Smiles, Nan

Surprise Birthday Box

I am absolutely giddy!

My birthday was on Sunday.

It was a wonderful day spent with

my hubby.  We went out for a nice

dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Now, I'm at the age that it's not really 

a big deal anymore, but I have to say, 

when this big box arrived today

from my buddy Ann, I felt pretty 

special!

This is what I unwrapped.

Look at all these goodies.

Beautiful R & R linen in my 

favorite counts, 32 and 36 :)

A pattern I've been wanting!

 A primitive huswife with

a wool star on the front.  She even

stitched this wonderful Halloween

ornament for me.  How special!

It's so pretty and just perfect.

 She knows just how much I love

Halloween and sent this

Pumpkin Head man too.

Isn't he cool?

 Now I can't wait to decorate for Fall.

♥ ♥ ♥

I just love everything my friend and

you have brought me more smiles than 

you could ever know.

Thank you!  I am so touched by 

your thoughtfulness.

 ~*~*~*~*~

I'll be back later this week

to show you some stitcher's finishes

that were sent to me.

They are super.

Big smiles to you all,

~Nan

Beggar's Night Release

Happy Friday all.....
Thank you again for your wonderful response
to my new design.  I won't keep you in suspense
any longer.  Here is the finish.  Can't wait to hear what you think of it.  If you know me, you know I have a love for pinkeeps :)

"Beggar's Night"

As I mentioned before, this is stitched on one of my favorite linens, 35ct R & R Reproductions Abecedarian Blend with DMC floss.
I chose to trim it with  R & R Cinnamon baby chenille for an added touch!  They have so many great color chenilles and ric racs, but this color
seemed a perfect match.
Ann and Pat of R & R Reproductions, will be taking this model with them to the TNNA show at the end of the month.  It will be on display in their suite #612.
Many thanks my dear friends for your support and friendship.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Now off to get this posted in my Etsy Shop.
Thanks for visiting and have a super weekend.
Smiles, ~Nan

Having Fun Designing

That's right.  I have so much fun designing!

Playing with linen and floss and let's 

not forget about trims.

TRIMS, TRIMS, TRIMS!

             My wonderful friend Ann, of                  

Dyeing to Stitch and R & R Reproductions

sent me a goodie bag last week full of their trims.

I know... I know...what a friend!

They have some really fab colors and I knew I'd 

want to use one of them on the

new design I'm stitching.  

So, here's a sneak peek at the new design and

 just some of the trims.

 It will be ready for the August TNNA  Show.  

I designed it for my favorite of all holidays,

HALLOWEEN : )

I have a few more days of stitching on it, but I

like to plan ahead and get things out to see

what might work.  I'm loving the Cinnamon

baby chenille, so that may be the trim for

this piece.

 It's been so hot here,

just like so many other areas, but I am focusing on Fall and ideas are just flowing in my head.  I think I'll have a lot of things to stitch in the next few weeks. 

I hope you like the peak at my new little design.  

Stay Cool and Happy  Stitching!

~Nan

Worth the Wait?

Thank you all for your patience while waiting for

this new release and 3rd design in the Bee Series.

It's been one of those weeks, but now it's time

to show you what my busy needle has done.

Here is a sweet little pin roll called

"A Bee's Gathering".

This model was stitched on 32ct R & R Reproductions

Creme Brulee linen using Weeks and
Gentle Art floss,but a DMC conversion
has also been provided.

This is such a handy thing to have.
I just love using mine.

Here is my collage of the Series.

 x x x x 

Now the other surprise.

The new sampler design is all framed and is

so beautiful.  Don't you think?

Meet "Ann's Sampler" 

I designed this sampler especially for my dear friend
Ann Robbins of Dyeing to Stitch
and R & R Reproductions. 

Just like Ann, it makes me smile.  I'm so
happy that we are friends.
This is stitched on 32ct Abecedarian Blend
with Weeks and Gentle Art floss.  A DMC
conversion has been provided for this design also.
x x x x
I hope you like the new designs.  They will be
available at your local needlework shop soon
 and I have added them to my Etsy Shop.

x x x x
Thank you for taking time out of your busy
summer to stop by and visit.
Many happy stitches,
~Nan

*** A Wonderful Visit ***

Our trip down to Virginia Beach

 was wonderful and we 

had so much fun!

I was honored to have been invited

and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with

 Ann and Pat and their crew from 

Dyeing to Stitch. 

It was the shop's 7th birthday.

x x x x x

They were so sweet to set up 

a table and display of the models

I'd brought down and some of the 

models they had already stitched.   

x x x x x 

Check out this wall of floss and

silks.  Is this heaven!!!

x x x x x  
Here's the table with all the wonderful
goodies Ann baked. 
Woopie pies and cupcakes. Yum!

x x x 

You may know my friend and

TDIPT sis, Ivonne

of The Crackling Crows.

She was such a doll and

drove down with her

husband to visit.  It was our

first time meeting, even though

we've been friends for a long time now.

  

Here's one of the three of us.

Myself, Ivonne and Ann.

We're all smiles! 

It was so much fun chatting.

x x x x x   

Lots of people came by to help

celebrate and it was a busy day.

Here's Ann and Pat hard at work.

  Look at that wall of stitching.

Just amazing!

x x x 

Thank you to everyone who

stopped by.

 It was so great to meet everyone.

 I just didn't want to say 

goodbye, but I take with 

me many great memories.

 x x x 

Thank you Ann and Pat

for making my visit so special

and for your friendship.

Hope to see you again soon! 

 ~Nan