We took a wee vacation in July, and ran down to New Brunswick for a week, so my dad (and mom) could visit dad's brothers and sisters, most of whom live there.  Only one was missing, since she lives in Spain, LOL, and the one who lives in Oakville came down for a visit at the same time, so 7 of the 8 were together.  They're almost all in their 80's, so chances to get together are getting harder, and we had a wonderful time visiting everyone and having family get-to-gethers.

Bill and I took a day with one of my cousins (Lois), who was home for a visit as well (she lives and works in Vietnam), and ran down the coast to Alma for some fresh lobster for supper... as my uncles say "boy, that was some good!".

Didn't get as much stitching done on my project for A Needle Pulling Thread as I expected - though I very optimistically took a second project with me, in case I got it finished, LOL.  Here's a peek at how it's coming along:

The issue theme is something like 'holiday destinations", and I told the editor I preferred "stay-cations", LOL, which is how the idea came about... I still haven't decided if I'm going to backstitch the lettering... I think it shows OK, but we'll see ...maybe I'll rip out some of the roof / window around the letters instead (wink).

The background house is worked with a single strand of floss, so it's faded in the distance, while the woman in the hammock is worked with three strands.  Bill sez I have to define the pages of the book hanging off the edge of the hammock as well, as they're hard to see... I'm stitching on this pretty much non-stop, so should have it done by the end of the month, when they want it...

Anyway, I am also working on a design (not ready to be stitched yet), based on Shelley McVittie's artwork, and it is very different for her... a bird landing by a pile of flowers and fruit, on a black background... I'm thinking about using beads for the berries, to get that rounded globule look, LOL.  I just have to figure out what SIZE I need. 

OH, and the stitcher who was working on the new Keirstead has it done - and it's GORGEOUS!  Watch for it in the September newsletter!

Other than that, just trying to enjoy some summer, and getting excited that our girls and grandkids (and SIL, LOL) will be here in less than THREE WEEKS!!  So much to get done before they arrive, as I won't be getting much done while their here!  Happy stitching... try to keep cool and dry in this unpredictable summer!!

Can you believe it's the end of June already?  As I told you last month, there was all sorts of activity getting ready for QUILT CANADA, which was a lot of fun... except Bill broke his foot the night before I left (sigh), so he stayed home when he was meant to be heading to work in Nunavut... then because of the boot on his broken foot threw his spine out of alignment, he spent the first few days of the show lying on my sister's floor, LOL, so she could help him up!!

So I worried about him all week while I was away... but he was home by Friday, and I got home Saturday, and he's doing much better, but may be off for the summer... or at least until the end of July, we'll have to see what the doctor sez!

Anyway, this blog is supposed to be about what I'm working on... so here goes, (GBG)... I finally got the four FOLK bookmarks done, and those kits will be in NEXT months newsletter - mainly because I forgot to include them in THIS months note, ROFLOL. 

The DANCE WITH ME design came home from the stitcher, and it's adorable - one of my favorite designs!  It went to distributors this month, so will be in next months newsletter as well... I can't wait for you to see it!

The new FRIDGE NOTES are on the website.  Right now they're under CARDS, but I'm having my webmaster set them up by themselves on the ACCESSORIES list, so when that happens this link won't work.  Hopefully I'll remember to update this blog, but if not, please look for the item on the upper left side of the webpage.

I'm working on a new style of FRIDGE MAGNET, and have the first set of QUILT sayings done - if you were at Quilt Canada, you had a chance to see them, but you can also see them by clicking on the link.

And the GOLD MAZE / SILVER MAZE evening bag pattern I was telling you about is coming along very nicely... I'll even share a peek with you:

And one more peek for you... remember I told you how gorgeous the IRIS & BUTTERFLY design is going to be?  Well, see for yourself, LOL:

So that's what I've been up to this month... what are YOU stitching?

WARNING - this is going to be long, as I've been VERY busy this month, LOL! I have QUILT CANADA coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm trying to get several new things done up for that, so here's what I've been doing:

First, I've noticed over the past couple of years, that more and more stitchers are looking for small kits... some beginner things, but also just quick and easy projects to travel with, or finish as gifts.

So I've been giving that a lot of thought, as kits are expensive and time consuming to assemble... but I finally decided, if there's a need, we should fill it.  But I wanted to keep it fairly simple - at least to begin with (wink).  So the first thing I did was RETIRE 16 Charmings - the first 4 sets (of 4) that I created.  These small, easy designs were the perfect base for what I had in mind for kits - though I must admit that in the beginning, my ideas were kind of vague!

I took the 4 Christmas motifs, modified and added to them, and turned them into absolutely adorable little bellpull ornaments, which are on the website (click on the link).

Second, the next set of four I'm working on will be FOLK BOOKMARKS, and they will be added to the KITS link once I have the models finished.  I found 4 short sayings about books, or reading, and I have the graphs all done, and I'm hoping to get them stitched (AND kitted) this weekend.

Which brings us to the THIRD project this month... creating FOUR NEW designs for the FRIDGE NOTES series!   Again, you can follow the link to see the existing set (if there's more than 4, the white backgrounds are the new ones).  These are notepads with magnets on the back (so you can hang them on your fridge), with designs stitched on perforated paper and inserted in the top!  I have 2 of them stitched so far, and again the last 2 are on my list for this weekend - wow, it looks like June is going to be busy as well!

Number FOUR is more a progress report, on something I designed that is out being stitched.  The model for DANCE WITH ME (the little girl on a water color background I've been telling you about) is on it's way home - hurrah!  It will be going out to shops in June, and in the July newsletter...

FIVE is a new design I finished, for a pair of GORGEOUS evening bags, which I'm calling GOLDEN MAZE and SILVER MAZE.  They are being stitched with Kreinik braids (gold and silver, obviously, LOL), so will be quite elegant for an evening out.  I plan to make a Dorset Button (with braid) in a lovely pinwheel pattern on one, and buy a large decorative button for the other... I'll see what I can find for a button, and whether it's gold or silver will determine the color of the Dorset!  This model went out to a stitcher near the beginning of the month, and the first one is about half stitched already (this stitcher is FAST!).  I already have the lining material on hand, and the chart set up, so can't wait to get them back and finish them.

But wait, ROFLOL, there's more!  Number SIX is ALSO a new design - I finally got the Keirstead IRIS & MONARCH artwork converted, and it looks gorgeous (if I do say so myself)!  That too has made it's way off to a stitcher, and I expect I'll have a good report for you on that one next month.

But I'm not done yet!!  After some discussion with the editor of "A Needle Pulling Thread", we have bumped the LOUIE ARMSTRONG piece I've been working on, ahead two issues, and I am frantically working on designs she would like to have instead... but she has been told that they are going on hold until AFTER Quilt Canada - I can only do so much, LOL.  So though I started SEVEN and EIGHT, they are mostly rough sketches and have been set aside for 2 weeks.

And now we're up to NINE.... I am updating the basic fridge magnets I used to make, to a lovely square plastic version ... if I can find small easels, I will also package some up to stand on a desk or shelf.  I love the look of these - and they are so much easier on my hands than using the manual machine that makes the other type of fridge magnet!  We will be retiring those old magnets shortly.... and I'm about half-way through making 9 dozen magnets (with 9 quilt sayings) for QC... I'll convert the rest if I have time, or after the event.

TEN and ELEVEN are things I did JUST for Quilt Canada, or at least in limited quantities.  I have half a dozen small, fat, wooden hearts, that are BEAUTIFUL, some are layers of different color woods, some have a hollow heart centre, all are stunning!  I picked them up at a gift shop (where they were just sitting in a bowl on the counter, looking pretty, LOL).  I drilled tiny holes in the tops and added an eyelet, and put them on silver chains, for beautiful necklaces!  However, they only had a limited quantity, and I may not get more, so the ones I have may be the only ones available.

Eleven was another limited item, though there's more of these (almost 40 all together), and they're needlework ... I had some cute little ornament toppers, a Santa, Rudolf and Snowman, so I ordered in some little 3" hoops, and created designs (smaller, slightly different versions of the charming sets, as well as two snowflake designs), and created little kits, which you can see HERE.  Again, these were a left-over item I hated to throw out, so re-purposed, and the patterns may not be available once this original batch is gone - though I think I'll keep stocking the wee hoops, and may re-package the patterns w/o the ornaments when they're gone.

Ten and eleven will NOT be available to shops, and the wood necklaces won't be added to the website unless there are any left over after QC... though the HOOPED kits are on the site now.

There's a few more things on the drawing board, but we're almost done May, so they will wait for next month - or at least next months note... but FYI (wink), I ALSO got the tile backsplash done in the kitchen, and the tile border done in the bathroom, though neither is grouted yet... (whew), no wonder I'm tired, ROFLOL... have a great month, and maybe I'll see you in Ottawa at Quilt Canada!

Wow what a month, LOL.  In spite of the work leading up to the Creativ Festival (in Toronto), I managed to work on THREE projects this month - and finish TWO of them!  I'm so proud of myself, ROFLOL.

Of course I am still working on the set of 4 wallets (remember I showed you the first 2 in Feb)... and I got the third one stitched (but not assembled), so the CAT is done this far (I think that w/o the button eyes in place, he looks like a zombie cat LOL):

So that was the first thing I finished ...  then I was looking at what to release to shops this month, and I thought "we haven't released a new Little Leaflet in a long time!", so I dug out my idea books, and scrolled through my in-progress designs, and came up with an adorable little silhouette of a child on a hobby horse, with the saying RIDE MORE... WORRY LESS (GBG).  It will be in next month's newsletter, so here's a peek at just a bit of it:

But of course, my favorite project I've been working on every spare minute (mainly while watching a WORLD OF DANCE marathon from our PVR, LOL), is the LOUIS ARMSTRONG piece in blues (of course).  I have Louis' head and shoulders finished, and I still have to stitch a few fingers on his trumpet hand, and then the trumpet next... the wording will be last, and I'll be done, LOL, should be any time now!  Just a reminder that this piece is for A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD, so won't be released any time soon... I've been talking to them about doing a series, since the first one (AUDREY HEPBURN - POSSIBLE) was in the magazine a couple years ago, so we'll see about that...

The stitcher working on DANCE WITH ME (the outline of a little girl dancing on a swirly water-color style background) sent an update, and she's about 3/4 done... I think this is going to be one of my favorite designs - but I say that a lot, ROFLOL...

I have TWO stitcher's waiting for projects as well - one is a Keirstead piece that is ALMOST designed, and the other is an idea similar to my SNOWBALLS & BELLS, only with Santa and Mrs Claus - and honestly, I haven't done more than preliminary drawings and idea notes for that collection... so still lots on my designing plate - and needle! 

What's on YOUR needle?