Preparation for the Nashville Needlework Market 2015

How to express the feelings that one goes through preparing for market? There are the extreme highs of " oh, this is fantastic, they will love it" to " oh, you say that item I want to use is is back ordered; or really upsetting, discontinued?" It is the season of  pre market  pushes to get things done. You'd think that by now I would have a template and it would be easy, breezy..... mmmm.... my template must be broken, because there is always glitches. As many of you know, my shipping issues actually are my biggest problem. With boxes not arriving and twirling around in the cargo lot somewhere. So I am getting to things earlier this year and feeling a little less like a loose cannon! haha! The other thing that plays into my preparation is that we work 6-12 months ahead and those things are also on the plate and getting some time in my work day. To that end I would love for you to check out some of the events that are going on this year. We have added them to the events page and they are there for you to peruse. Of course at all of them, I will be saying "this is the best ever event! " you know me, I love them all and cannot say, this or that is better or worse, as each shop or event coordinator knows her clients/stitchers and puts on an exceptional retreat. I think it comes to what works for you and what can I do with a friend to make it memorable. Needle in a Haystack is first and I hope you have seen her newsletter of a picture of the project - 'she' turned out beyond my expectation, I am thrilled, look forward to sharing her with you. My " O Canada Sampler" is done and she is a beauty! I will release her at the merchant night held at the Calgary EAC Seminar, look for her to come in your local needlework shop. Pam and Kim of Tomorrow's Heirlooms in Glen Ellyn, are Paulette and my hosts in July. I have never been to that area, except years ago we took our girls on an across the country trip and we stopped in Chicago for a day and went up the Sears Tower - is that what it is still called? so this will be a treat to go to this area and see the shop and area. And those Buffalo girls, you are so wonderful, I look forward to seeing you all again, last time was too long ago already! I am of course thrilled to be doing the Close To Home event in Cambridge, ON as many of you know I grew up in St. Catharines, ON and this is then a close to Home event. As for the Cape Cod event with Celebration of Needlework and Olde Colonial Designs, this is will be so fun, I can't wait!  Please check out the events page on the website for exact details and dates. One other thing of note, the Christmas Wishes River Cruise is full, has been for months and I am thrilled. Check your Christmas Wishes note from Judy on whether you want extra days beginning and end in Prague and Budapest.

I have been meaning to post this for months but time just gets away on me. This is the Common Thread versions that were done from 2008 -2012 and then of course you know the release was last February 2014. Hope you enjoy them, it is kind of fun to see how it all played out in each piece.

So back to preparation.... we will be releasing new designs for Market! I am pleased to be going again this year and thankful that Yarn Tree and Needlework Retailer picked up the parts and are putting on a Needlework Market for Counted Thread! Look for posting of new things to come soon!

Jeannette

...and the holiday week begins...

I just want to take this moment to thank you all for a fabulous year. It is has been so wonderful to see so many of you this year. Everywhere I go I am always sure it is the best weekend retreat or THE best event ever. How that can be I'm not sure, but what I do know is that it is YOU that makes it so special. Thank you for your generosity  in taking the time to come to events and taking the time to purchase a pattern and stitching it and sharing it. It is so appreciated. All the best of the holiday season to you.

Design Time

My flurry of fall activities has come to an end and with that it seems on to the new for next years events and releases. But when I look back this fall - I just want to thank you all for your friendship and cheer along the way. Shepherd's Bush retreat was so much fun. I loved my lunches and dinners with you, thank you for the invites and sharing times, it was greatly enjoyed and I continue to enjoy the memories we made. It made the event very special along with spending some fun times with the other teachers and of course the Bush girls. I had a blast being a 'helper' in the store in Ogden, I became a bagger of goods extraordinaire! So happy to see all your faces and share in our passion of stitching. The retreat event itself was in Park City at The Canyons and we certainly had some good classes and you all were terrific students! I think there are some that are already finished their 'Over the River' JDD project! Yay! Please check out Paulette's Blog -http://plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/ or Linda's Blog -http://chessieandme.blogspot.ca/. They have done a fine job giving a nice overview of the retreat and took pictures when I totally did not! From there I had a lovely direct flight right from SLC to Spokane, WA. The ladies had prepared and done some pre stitching so they did leave with one little finished pincushion! While it was a tight fit to slip in the Spokane ladies, it was delightful. In my 8 days home I had orders to fill and the instructions to write for the Saskatoon ladies! I had been so very busy it was tough to fit all that had to be done in the short bursts that I was home since mid Sept. As you know those charts are pages long and I get caught up in making the specialty stitches work out and be the same on the main chart..... often what I have originally drawn doesn't work out and then there is the redraws.... and confusion!!  But it did get done and what a super time in Saskatoon, SK too. The Bridge City Needlearts guild had rented space at the Western Development Museum! Our class was at the Palace Theatre above the Boomtown Cafe- where we had lunch -circa 1910 Boomtown- a western town on the prairie. Right up my historical heart. It did have all the modern amenities and I got to use my powerpoint for this piece which made it so much easier to teach! What a treat, and what a great fun time we had. Lots of gals got quite far in the stitching which was terrific.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for the lovely gifts, such thoughtful little things that make a memory. I have a shelf that I put all my fun things on and enjoy all through the year. Thank you!

Thank you everyone for participating in events this year. It has made it an awesome year in friendships made and nurtured - and in lessons learned and shared - you know how I miss my nursing days for the visiting at the desk us nurses do..... sometimes a lonely day here at my computer with no Cleo. I miss her and even though Walter faithfully comes everyday, he just isn't her is he. So Dale is looking.... I'm not sure I am ready. Walter's owners went to Mexico for a holiday and as he is a Mexican rescue dog they returned with this very cute hat for him!

Here are a few pictures of my time in Saskatoon. One is of the ever popular Take Time Series - the quilt ones - all four seasons done on one linen piece and Sue took the words out and put a stitch in the spot from the sampler. I think it looks amazing. Great idea. Another is a picture of The Common Thread 1 - a la Saskatoon, the first city I did the Common Thread piece for. They gamely made changes and have the Bessborough Hotel, a landmark in downtown Saskatoon on several of their pieces. It is a Canadian National Railway hotel. The other is the Palace Theatre where we had our classroom and some time pieces as I love that!

And so that brings me to now.... working on all new for next years events and releases. Fun and challenging at the same time.

The following are events that are in the works: March 27-29, 2015 -Needle in a Haystack, Alameda, CA.  May 12-17, 2015 -EAC Calgary, AB. May 22-23, 2015 - place TBA.  mid July -Tomorrow's Heirlooms, Glen Ellyn, IL.  Sept 11-12, 2015 Buffalo, NY. Sept 16-18, 2015 -Cambridge, ON - email JDD via website re: this event. Oct 16 -19, Cape Cod, MA - check with Pam Reed of OCD -2015 Chatham Brochure. Ending the year with a bang- Nov. 30 -Dec 7, 2015 Europe -with a Christmas Markets cruise!! that is sold out already!

Jeannette