HI!!!!

It sure has been awhile! And no, I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth - just been absent, busy, sidetracked and distracted for a long, long while. But I will be back into some (hopefully) serious blogging with possibly some major changes in my life coming up! So stay tuned for the next posting. I PROMISE I won't take another ten months to get back to you!
Meanwhile, celebrate the New Year with joy, have faith in the good inherent in all, and confidence in the future. Be safe, have fun and I'll chat with you soon!
Happy 2012!
Cathy

Remembering Lisa Roswell and her family

It was such a shock to learn this morning of Lisa's sudden and senseless death. We can only shake our heads and wonder why when this sort of thing happens to such loving and selfless friends and loved ones. Lisa and her family will long be in my thoughts as I and so many of her needlework community of friends send prayers and thoughts of love and hope of finding strength and peace in happy memories and her needlework legacy.

What looks like crazy and busy....IS!

Nashville Market is over for another year and what a great market it was! Even though there seemed to be fewer vendors and shops in attendance, it was wonderful to see old friends and make new ones! Less crowded exhibits allowed us to see more, share more and generally talk with everyone more! It was lots and lots of fun. A big thank you to everyone who came into my exhibit! I really enjoyed seeing you all.

Somewhere along the way on the trip home from Nashville Monday night, I picked up a nasty stomach and intestinal bug, and by Tuesday afternoon, I was flat out  on the sofa. Next day, same thing. Finally by Thursday, after several cups of ginger lemon tea (wonderful stuff!!!!!) the head and stomach stopped pounding and gurgling, and I felt once again somewhat human. That bug was nasty! Are "bugs" getting worse or am I getting older? Anyway, feeling much better on Thursday, I got much of the pre-market mess in the house under control, and brought it back from its very "h...-in-a-hand-bucket" condition. It looked like a war -zone and I HATE so much out-of-control clutter and mess! So........my body gets back on track and the house follows suit....Life is good!

Next job: fill the bird feeders. Both the little guys and the big ones (like squirrels!) ravaged the feeders while I was away and they were very empty. When filled, I came back inside and watched while everyone found lunch. But when I tried to take some pictures, they sensed my motion at the window and took off. Of course, Andy, who follows me like a shadow, was standing there as well. He must have heard the cat who lives three houses away, walking around outside (he certainly can't see it) and went into fits of barking to go out, which of course sent the birds up and away. Again! I was hoping to get some pictures of the flock of Eastern Mtn.Bluebirds that have been frequenting the feeders all winter. I have never had them in my yard - I thought they were a summer bird. What a treat to see their bright blue and rust coloring against the white snow!

So at last the car was completely unloaded, the boxes and equipment  put away for another year,and the house in some sort of reasonable order. After two separate birthday parties for various grands Saturday and Sunday, Sunday night I gathered up an antique sampler to reproduce and the supplies necessary to create new ideas for future designs, and packed it all into the car along with Andy and his gear (and my stuff) and finally headed for the Cape on Monday. Too cold, you say? Well, you know "they" say it never rains on the golf course (I wouldn't know - I'm not a golfer!) but I say it's never too cold to be on the Cape! Just bundle up! I know for sure the dog will be in the water - and yes, that IS cold!

So off I went to my Cape Cod spot to hopefully find inspiration, refreshment and renewal. I'm sure all beach-lovers know exactly what I mean. I've been here one day and already I can feel the tightness inside unwinding and loosening up. Goodbye stress! The peace is settling in and I'm ready to get to work. Actually it's not work - it's an interesting, most-of-the-time fun process to sit back and see what design takes shape out of a sketchy idea or two!

Until next time, enjoy stitching your new projects ........................
Cathy

AND I'M BACK ...............FINALLY!

Well, after many hectic, busy days weeks of multitasking (that should read cleaning, cooking, laundry,cleaning up stink bugs - grrrr, ect., etc.), stitching, shoveling snow and chipping ice, creating copy(ugh!), proofing, babysitting, shoveling snow, printing, RE-printing, shoveling snow, photographing (which is not so great since I couldn't get outside for really good color shots and everything was covered with the very beautiful but bright white stuff anyway), pasting pictures on chart covers, cleaning up stink bugs - STILL, and pushing 2000 chart packs in bags, I'M DONE and ready for the Nashville Needlework market this week! Yeah! Oh yes, and the snow has all but melted and I finally got Christmas decorations put away last week, honest! Embarrassing! My four-year-old grandson could not believe we STILL had the tree up!(it is an artificial one) "No time for such trivial work," I told him - and he just looked at me and shook his head, thinking, I'm sure, that I was really getting old and strange! I had almost decided to just push it in a corner and throw a sheet over it until next  year and call it some sort of sculpture project to anyone who had the audacity to ask what was going on.

I know I had promised in an earlier post to give you stitchers some sneak peeks of what was in the works,but...........that obviously didn't happen! But now you get to see the whole design  - and I hope you like what you see!

This first design, "Plenty and Grace" was created as a wedding sampler for my youngest son and his wife. It may be a wedding sampler for them, but it is also a geneology of sorts as I have put both family's  parent's initials as well as the siblings in both families. Various motifs have significant meanings to both bride and groom which further enhances the special appeal and yet they are part of the overall folk art design to others.It can be anything you want it to be!!!

 

 The next design will look familiar to many, I'm sure. I have had many requests for just this part of the Sarah Elliot Sewing Chest chart pack and since the chest itself is now out of production, I am releasing the chart for the top only under the title, Sarah Elliot's Home Port. The accessories that were in the original Sewing Chest chart pack will be released later in a new format.



 

Third design: "Just For Today" gives us a gentle nudge and reminder each day.....................of things we should all do to make us all feel better! Let's get it going!

Two years ago, I reproduced a similar antique Victorian Motto, "With Joy We Greet You" and this year, I reproduced "Welcome Home" It makes a great companion piece and looks perfect by the front door or in the guest room. It is a snap to stitch on 18ct. Khaki Davos (easy satin stitch and straight stitch) and the wonderful, wonderful cross bar frame gives it the perfect finish. (The source for the frames is listed in the chart pack.)

The last new design, Quaker Pocket Needfuls - A Petite Huswife is the fourth (and final?) piece in the Quaker Pocket Needfuls series. While this "Petite Huswife" can be used to hold small sewing accessories and needful necessaries, I also find it perfect for carrying pieces of jewelry in my suitcase when traveling. It comes with (directions included) its own little matching travel pouch.



I hope you like what you see. Let your local needlework shop know if you are interested in any of my new designs or email me for additional information and contacts.

I will see you all again when I return from Nashville - and I really will try to post more often now that the crush of production is over! Then soon after that, the dog and I will be heading to Cape Cod for a little bit of business and lots of quiet, peace and beautiful ocean and beach! Can't wait!!! (Hope I get snowed in!)

Happy Valentine's Day! Kiss your sweetie and HUG your dog!

Cathy

"Life is a song. Love is the music."

        (author  unknown)

HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!

My goodness! Have you ever seen such an original title? Gives you an idea of the state of my mind - depleated! What a crazy busy insane holiday season I've had. I didn't do much in-store shopping. most of my gifts were purchased online and with free shipping, so that was a good thing. But then a good many packages didn't come until the 24th! Not much time left for wrapping them! And non-Christmas stuff squeezed its way in too, which left too many of the fun things - like baking dog cookies for the local shelter (and Santa's reindeer) with my grandkids until the very last second of Christmas Eve afternoon! Those kind of memories are what make the holidays special and I hate it when I feel grouchy and rushed. But, when all was said and done, it was a fabulous, joyous Christmas Day with all of my four children, their wives and grandkids whooping it up, lots of good food, good cheer and laughter. So all the crazies before hand were forgotten and we realize we are so blessed!



Many times this month (it's still Dec. right????) I sat down at the computer and thought "I really need to get out and take some pictures for the blog".......................................and then nothing happened! Or rather I was distracted by other thoughts of what I had do and moved on to something else. So, dear friends, AFTER the New Year is over (exactly what that means - not sure) I will start to KEEP my #1 resolution and post more often and with pictures to boot. We'll see, we'll see! I do have new designs for the Nashville market that are beginning to come together, so I hope to show you snippets and bits to whet your appetite! Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, do have a safe but happy time this weekend- I hope wherever you are Saturday, you are relaxing with some stitching or with family and friends - or both! Make happy memories with those you love!

Wishing you all a happy, prosperous New Year!

Cathy

New motto for 2011:

"There's Nothing in the Universe That Says I Have to Make Sense."  Love it! It covers so much!

HELLO, HELLO!!

Zeeeesh! I can't believe I have been gone for so long - and I apologize! I thought about posting a whole bunch of photos to help catch up but somehow photos of the beach seemed a little silly now with the smell of woodsmoke and the chill of the coming winter in the air (thank goodness!!) as Thanksgiving approaches! I love, love, love this time of year - even when the sky is a chilly gray and it might be drizzling. Good stitching weather!

Suffice it to say my month - long "retreat" on the Cape was just what the proverbial doctor ordered and when I finally returned home the middle of October, I was well restored and sated with feelings of well-being, inner peace and calm. However, since my oldest grandchild's 9th birthday party was the day after I got home, all the inner peace and calm were short lived!! (Well, not really - but it sure was a loud and chaotic party!)

So....it's back to the reality and stress of too much to cram into these days. And then I found myself having to deal with some nasty, volatile family issues that are tearing us all apart. Oh to be back on the peaceful beach playing with Andy, without a care in the world - except deciding what to have for dinner, - or sitting in my favorite meditation spot! Escaping there doesn't get anything resolved here though, so onward we go.

 Meanwhile, even though it is really hard, at times, to focus and stay on task much less feel creative, I'm trying to work every spare minute on designs and directions for a new teaching project. This particular class will involve constructing a sewing box with a removable tray insert, finishing it and creating the accessories to go in it. I'm hoping to have lots of opportunities to teach the class in many places across the country.

Other designs that are still works in progress as well are a wedding/house blessing sampler (which will remind you of the section I created for "A Noble Pursuit"), a companion piece to the Victorian motto I reproduced a couple of years ago, and one or two other small designs. I'm not a particularly prolific designer and it took awhile to get back to designing after being away from it for a year (again, family commitments to honor), so I don't have a vast store of new stuff to show in Nashville. But what I do have, I hope everyone likes!! I will show glimpses of these projects as they are finished, then please watch for them on my web site right before Nashville Market.

Well, in spite of all our worries, frustrations, difficulties and troubles, I feel very fortunate  to be living in this beautiful country, and for whatever that means for each of us, I hope you find lots to be grateful and thankful for.

So I wish all of you a blessed and happy time with loved ones this Thanksgiving. Be safe in your travels and eat all the turkey, stuffing and dessert you want - just this once! And for heaven's sake, don't forget the chocolate - or the wine - or both, if you prefer! :-)
Cathy

Some more "Summer Fun" and then...........back to work!

Do you believe it is still so hot .........97 degrees in the shade today, again, and it's now September 2!!!! Aaarrrrrghhh! This past week, I've had the twins here for a few days before I head north to my Cape Cod. house. I thought I'd show you some of our fun in spite of the heat. Our typical day started with breakfast al fresca on the porch. I took this picture before they started to eat. They eat with their fingers and the end of the meal is not a pretty sight! After dressing for the day in bathing suits - the coolest clothing next to nothing at all - we had great fun stacking blocks with the greatest of care..........

with intense, focused concentration, sloooooowly pulling our hands away.......

and carefully added MORE!

We gently stacked the BIG blocks as high as we could reach.......

squealed "yea!" when the tower stayed up, and laughed hysterically when it fell!

Then the rock and roll music from the guitar on the chair was just too enticing (we had been listening to it play over and over and over........)so we just had to practice some movin' and groovin' and shakin' our booty.......so serious and so funny!

After all that exercise, it was sprinkler and pool time. The wagon HAD to be in the pool too, even though it took up most of the room! (oops - the picture disappeared! Darn - it was cute! Sorry!)

We had lots of fun those three days and I will miss these two little ones while I'm on the Cape.

After they left for home, I FINALLY got back to my desk today and put the final "tweaks" on a new sampler design. I plan on stitching it - and finishing it (?) - this month while I'm you-know-where! At last my post has something to do with stitching! (oops again - see below!)