September 1 update

Mums, in those beautiful fall colours!

I just couldn't put the word fall.... I am still surprised it is September.... but I should know it as we have had a few cooler days here already and it just begins to have that slightly nippier feel. We have a few more weeks but by then Calgary will definitely be showing it is fall. Comes early here doesn't it. I never feel quite ready although I love fall and have a ton of stitched things to hang or place in baskets in the fall whereas I do not for summer.... funny that. Next week already I am starting into my fall teaching. It will be Buffalo first! Looking forward to this, to some familiar faces, I have been to that area a few times already, looking forward to those Buffalo Wings! And then the 'Close to Home' retreat in Cambridge, ON and a visit with my sisters and their families in between! To both places we will bringing out new goods for fall, so look for them to come. We have some fun surprises for the retreat in Cambridge and I look forward to seeing old friends there.... there is a few of you! I love it, at this retreat I have seen the names and so I know who will be there, often it is a surprise when I get to an event, but I 'see' you in my list!!

Check out the Harvest Market Hop - it is an on line needlework trade show, to bring some of the new goods all in one place for shops. Hope you enjoy it. Check out the website http://harvestmarkethop.com/ and the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harvest-Market-Hop-Needlearts-Tradeshow/

Here is a sneak peek of one of the new things coming up.

Sneak peek - Over the River

mid- August already!

How can we be thinking fall already but we are! Notice that there are a few on line needlework markets - which is great. I am participating in The Fall Harvest Market Hop. It will take place Sept. 10-13, 2015. As you know I will be teaching in Buffalo and then on to Cambridge, ON at that time, and my helper will also be on holidays - this was planned before the dates of the market were known- and this creates a bit of a problem for shipping for me in a timely fashion. We will see what we do here.... I have to think about it. I wrote this beginning of August and here we are the middle of August already. I think we have figured it out what we will do, it's nice to have a solution. We will post it on the blog post with the market news. Dale and I did get away for an  extended weekend out west, through the mountains over to the Shuswap in BC. The top picture is a picture of the Rogers Pass, it is so beautiful driving through the mountains, it gets one all prepared to relax which is great.

I do have to let you know about the newest pattern in the seasonal series that began with The Spring Bird, then The Summer Flower and now we have released The Autumn Acorn. It is still pink, those of you know me that pink and I don't always agree..... but this whole series has pinks in it!! and I rather enjoyed it! Move over Terra cotta! It also have a few fun stitches in it, but a real cross stitch base- so nice for a new to specialty stitches stitcher! There is an embellishment package available with the silks and beads necessary to complete the piece.

We will posting soon about the new goods for the Fall and look for that to come.

If you did not know already also have a look on the Craftsy -www.craftsy.com site that is now running the Cross Stitch Basics and Beyond class that was produced in May. It is a fun and informative little journey in our favourite pastime.

Craftsy

Craftsy

The Autumn Acorn

enjoying summer....

As I write this our lovely temperate Calgary is going through some very hot days. As you may not know, most Calgarians do not have air conditioning. It usually cools off at night and when you are in the shade it is nice.... but oh my, it has been warm. I am sure nothing like our southern friends, but nevermind we are talking Canada here and latitudinal quite far north. But suffice it to say, I am loving it. And I have to chuckle why do we always talk about the weather. I always say it's because everything we do is so affected by it, our mood, our activities etc.  Happily enough Stitching does not seem as affected by it, except I think in the choice of project to work on, and if you just totally lose your 'mojo'. For those of you wanting a refresher or an update on cross stitch basics and clever little hints please note that my Craftsy class will go live by the end of July. It is coming up soon and you can enter for a free chance to win free access, so you can learn all about beginning cross stitch or hone up your skills and work on a great project while you do this.

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/JeannetteDouglas_Giveaway

Cross Stitch Craftsy Class

I hope some of you join me and or bring a friend to this, a great idea for a friend who is wanting learn from seeing you do it and your enjoyment, now you can easily share the knowledge. Please check it out on Craftsy.com. I was just looking at the video this morning and I am amazed!! I was so sure I fumbled so much more and all I remember is doing several takes especially the first few lessons until I settled into it. I thought it would be choppy and so I am actually blushing because it turned out!! yay! I was sure it would be fine as the staff seemed so comfortable and easy to work with but still......  I actually had a blast even though by the end I was super tired. They were very professional and it shows.

I am almost ready to release the next in the series of the seasonal set that started with The Spring Bird, continued with The Summer Flower and now we will have The Autumn Acorn! Look for it to come soon. I have shown you here  a snippet of the 2 to come yet, in a piece that all four are stitched on together. I loved them each separate but I thought it also very nice altogether here.

Coming up acorns

I am running away for a few days to the Whitefish, MT area as we do most summers and from there will fly out to Chicago for the Tomorrow's Heirlooms event in Glen Ellyn, IL along with Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers. Don't tell Paulette but I have some Maynard's Wine Gums for her in my bag!! She loves them. Looking forward to this event. Kind of fun and nice to do an event in the summer, rather than try to squish them all in in the spring and fall. Pam and Kim of Tomorrow's Heirlooms have a great group of ladies coming I'm sure and I am excited to share the project with you! They also have some fun surprises for retreat goers. See you there!

And who can forget the little sweetie who is destroying my nice house and prancing off with fabric and threads and thoroughly enjoying herself. She is the luckiest puppy, we are both home all day with our home businesses and Walter and Ellie from next door come over everyday! Yes, the next door neighbours have added to their household a new rescue dog named Ellie. She is as cute as Walter, if not cuter if that is possible! So we have a fine time around here. Chaos really. Ryder is growing everyday- here is a cute face picture and a picture of her hanging in her bed with all the toys.... we had just vacuumed for the nth time and put all the toys in the bed to do so and she jumped in so Dale called it the Animal house!

Animal House

Ryder beginning of July 2015

Hope you can get some stitching in with your summer holidays and your family visits and look forward to seeing some of you soon!

As ever,  jeannette