Just a Quick Hello

I received a message that this blog might be spam - !!, so am posting just to keep from being - deleted?? Too strange. Maybe that message was spam! :-)

Back from our Cascade Singers trip - one photo attached (most of the group in a ring fort - where we sang "Home in the Rock"!). Still stitching!, working on county fair projects...did lots of eyelets on my Hardanger table runner while on the tour bus!

Summer??

Erratic weather, that's what it is. Our back yard cherry tree still has green cherries on it! We're eating lots of garden strawberries, though, and the birds are leaving them alone - because they're off hunting for ripening cherries elsewhere?? (Two of Sandy's favorite cross stitched pieces are her Strawberry Sampler from Blackbird Designs and Cherries Crate Label from American School of Needlework - wonder why? :-)

The aboriginal design pictured is Sandy's "souvenir" from last September's trip to Australia and New Zealand - Aboriginal by Prairie Moon (Hog River frame), a favorite designer - we have most of their new patterns in stock. This and Native American are the first in their new International Folk Art series.

Speaking of last September's trip - Sandy's been making greeting cards from her photos - check them out, here at the shop.

NEW, NEW, NEW!!

We sent an email about Lizzie Kate's new Double Flip series for Christmas, but another favorite is Housework Never Killed Anyone - come see it to find out why not! Other new favorites are Primrose Needlework's Mum's the Word; Little House Needlework's The Rain Fell (that's appropriate!); Country Cottage Needlework's Joyful Summer; Mouse Hunt from Lynn's Prints; Seeds of Kindness from By the Bay Needleart; Spring Fever and others from Cinnamon Cat, an English designer; April Showers from Praiseworthy Stitches; Brooke's Books' Spirit of the Bride and Dutch Treat Designs' God Bless Our Home and The Lord is My Shepherd, all designed for perforated paper; Nora Corbett's latest reindeer and her new alphabet series, A, B and C so far- these are fabulous - see them on Wichelt or Hoffman, as they're just out and not in stock yet; Four Leaf Clover from Rosewood Manor; many new baby samplers, including a book from Stoney Creek - and their new Dragons & Wizards; A Dog's Life I and II from X's & Oh's; and last (not really, just have to quit somewhere!) Birds & Blossoms and the superb Virtue Samplers from Homespun Elegance. Sandy's got a lot to stitch!!!

FREE, FREE, FREE!!

The teapot series from Just Another Button Company is adorable - one each month! There are lots of other freebies, too...come 'n' get 'em!, please! :-)

If you enjoy Michael Powell's designs as much as we do, log onto his website, join as a member and have access to some darling free patterns - the latest is the Greek Window. No half or quarter stitches, easily done on aida if you choose - sweet!

And while they last, we still have some birthday gifts for you...OUR 17th birthday!

VACATION!

Sandy's off to Ireland and the U.K. to sing with Cascade Singers June 28, back in the shop on July 22. The shop WILL BE OPEN 11 Am to 3 PM each working day except July 5, so do stop in!! Orders will come in and you'll be called if you have an order arrive. Also feel free to call, 541-296-3939. Email will be stopped during that time.

Who Knew?!

I thought I was the only one - ! Of course, we don't have major league ball here, but we certainly do have baseball!

Promote Needlearts — Celebrate Traditions — Strengthen Community

Celebrating the needlearts & baseball!

WHAT is Stitch N’ Pitch?
Stitch N’ Pitch brings together two wonderful traditions – Baseball and the Needlearts. Every season, Major League Baseball (MLB) and The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) hold Stitch N’ Pitch events. Fans sit together in a special section, work on their crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting or needlepoint projects, cheer on their favorite team, and celebrate the needlearts. Our events attract a unique mix of folk — men, women, boys, girls, old, young, stitchers and baseball fans. Click here for Stitch N’ Pitch Gallery. At each ballpark, there is a Stitch N’ Pitch Expo that may include demonstrations, giveaways or needlearts contests.

Needlearts gets media coverage!

WHY Stitch N’ Pitch?
Stitch N’ Pitch is one of TNNA's successful outreach programs that creates high visibility of the needlearts within the general public. The event is fun and quirky and gets us some important recognition. In 2007, we had over 15,000 fans attend our events with major national press coverage in media outlets like New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and The Associated Press. We have had over 2 million hits to our Stitch N’ Pitch website from interested fans from all over the world!

TNNA members, guilds, groups and more participate!

WHO makes Stitch N’ Pitch Happen?
Each metropolitan area has a local Stitch N’ Pitch Committee that works with the MLB Team to promote each event. Committees are comprise of TNNA members, guilds, and other interested groups who see the value in this program.

WHEN and WHERE is Stitch N’ Pitch?

At the ballpark!

The baseball season runs from April to October. More than 85% of MLB Teams (> 25 Teams) are holding a Stitch N’ Pitch in 2008 in major metropolitan areas! In 2008, TNNA is expanding the program to Stitch N’ Pitch at Minor League Baseball (MiLB) venues across the country. To find a Stitch N’ Pitch event near you check out our Calendar Schedule.

Spring Cleaning?!

WHAT?! Who wants to do that when there's stitching to be done? But this is advice from Nordic Needle's newsletter about cleaning your needlework:

As a follow-up to a previous discussion, Frances D. from Minnesota wrote. “In late August I wrote to ask for help in cleaning my cross-stitch pieces that had been damaged by a faulty furnace that created an oily soot on everything in my sewing room. I got several helpful responses from your readers, but the tip that worked the best for me was from Sherryl who suggested using Murphy's Oil Soap. I was unable to find the Murphy's Oil spray as she suggested, but I diluted the regular kind and followed her directions otherwise. In case someone else should encounter a similar problem, this is what I did."

Sounds extreme, but it worked!

Spring into action: There's still plenty of time to stitch Habitat for Humanity pillows, from a free design by Count Your Blessings, for the annual auction (in August) - a quick and fun design, and a painless donation to your community. We'll even give you a remnant to use!

Spring a bookmark on an unsuspecting reader! The Bookmark Challenge is in full swing - and we have free patterns and remnants - you could win a $100 gift certificate from Nordic Needle! Just have them to Sandy's by April 30.

Spring is also the time to think of Moms and weddings, graduations and dads (and baseball?! - we watched our neighbor's son pitch in last night's Little League opening game, and were reminded of how we miss those frequent evenings at the COLD ballpark - and all the "down" time Sandy used to stitch there!). There are plenty of wonderful things to stitch for all those occasions (even baseball!), and we'd love to show you some - new designs from Lizzie Kate, Prairie Schooler, Silver Lining (pictured above, Sandy and Marc Saastad, designer), Mirabilia, Lavender & Lace, so many more.

Also check out the semi-annual online trade show with over 120 vendors!, April 16 - 21, daily doorprizes, things you'll not see elsewhere that we can get for you. http://needleworkshow.com

Nashville News

What a fun trip! There's always so much to see and BUY at this trade show - and the flights and drives were smooth - AND we got to have lunch in Minnesota (four hour layover!) with Sandy's Dad (Mom was ill), youngest brother and oldest sister-in-law - at the "destination" Mall of America, since you can't even meet for coffee at the Minneapolis airport these days. (The site of the Mall was the Minnesota Twins' stadium when Sandy grew up there, oh so long ago - a conversation with a security checker about that caused quite a delay... :-)

Come in to see what we brought back - with more arriving via the usual shipping channels. Weeks Dye Works and The Gentle Art have new threads; Picture This Plus as new hand dyed fabrics; X's and Oh's has a wonderful 2009(!) calendar out already; Glendon Place has several beautiful monochromatic designs with lovely sayings; new children's kits called "Grandma and Me" by Designs from Pamela will provide a change of pace for those precious beginners; Hob Nobbs to delight as always, Val's Stuff, Rosewood Manor, Eric Michaels, Hands to Work, La D Da, Brittercup, SamSarah, cute, cute, cute!! (There are flyers to peruse if you're not into cute. :-)

Then there's Sisters and Best Friends - they are now two companies (AB Designs and Wildflower Stitchery), but still friends - so they have twice the cute (sorry, I'm just into cute!)!

Habitat for Humanity project - We have ten stitched pieces already! Count Your Blessings sent us a dozen Mary Engelbreit fabric tuckaway pillows, what a great start! She also sent a gift for each stitcher - and we have some left, so do bring in your stitched piece - no need to do any finishing! We're hoping to raise a nice piece of change for our local organization.

Christmas is coming!

Still, we have three weeks to finish our projects!, so don't lose heart. Sandy's still working on her grandkids' ornaments, and just started a small picture for her dad - three weeks, plenty of time!

ORNAMENT CONTEST WINNERS - First place, Mary Crichton, $15 gift certificate; second place, Reta Holland, $10 gift certificate; third place, Linda Berry, $5 gift certificate. Each entrant also received a special gift for entering - start now for next year! :-) Come see them, vote on your favorite, and check out our wonderful tree full of handmade ornaments, with lots of easy ideas for finishing.

BOOKMARK CHALLENGE - We didn't have many to turn in this time, but we have another chance come spring - Sandy's happy to give you remnants and free patterns if you'd like to participate - you could win a $100 gift certificate from Nordic Needle! The bookmarks are given to kids all over the country to encourage them to read - a doubly good reason to stitch!

Don't forget our after Christmas sale, stating at 11 AM Dec. 26!

[Photo is a quick cancer survivor design from Count Your Blessings, with Sandy's friend and survivor, Ceecee.]

This is a brief post because there's much stitching to be done - but we have lots of quick to finish designs here, and even some pre-Christmas half price Mill Hill ornament kits from past years! Stop in!

Computer Crashed!

"This wasn't supposed to happen to me!" The Geekster (a local computer repair service) echoed my exact words - it's what everyone says. BUT I had everything backed up - BUT it's not there! I still don't understand it, but have been in the process of fixing and re-entering everything I can find - which does not include a lot of email and snail mail addresses for all of YOU! Please send us an email when you read this so you can also be resurrected - sandystitch@gorge.net - THANKS!!

Meanwhile, life goes on, and merchandise continues to arrive - stop by to see what's new! Fabrics, books - Halloween and fall designs, Thanksgiving and Christmas - there are lots of beautiful new things to stitch! And some of us are doing baby samplers, again! Sandy's expecting grandchild #5 just before Thanksgiving, is doing the "high chair baby" from Imaginating's Gift From God leaflet - because the baby looks so much like all of her grandkids, so adorable, of course! :-) (You can see it on Hoffman.)

Also, watch for our new website at www.sandys-stitch-niche.com - right now it looks like graph paper - not bad, but it's a pretty blank chart! :-) (The address works with or without the dashes - please add it to your favorites, and we'll let you know here [or by email if we have your address] when it's functional.)