*Ladies' Prim Society Design* Acorn House Pin Drum

You may or may not know that I've been designing for the Dyeing to Stitch Ladies' Prim Society Club for a few years now. I still have a hard time believing that I get to do this and that their faithful subscribers are excited to get my designs two times a year. I have so much admiration for all of you stitchers that are able to place blind faith in a designer's inspiration. They keep asking me back each year, so I keep on designing for them!

I haven't been very good about posting my club designs here, and I'm not sure why. The titles that I create for the club are exclusive for one year, at which point I'm able to release them to the public if I so choose. You are probably aware of some of them. Past club designs that have since been released to the public are Handprint on my Heart, Once Upon a Summer Huswife, and All the Pretty Flowers:

Coming up in a few months, I'll be able to release Winter Snow Stocking:

My designs for 2017 were another stocking, Stars and Stripes Forever:

And finally, my most recent club design is called, Acorn House Pin Drum, which started shipping to club members at the beginning of August:

If you've never considered joining a stitching club put on by your local needlework shop or any of the other fabulous shops scattered across the country, you should!

I'm blessed to share this particular club with Blackbird Designs, which still knocks my socks off. Four times a year, the club members receive in the mail an exclusive chart with all of the kit materials needed to make it.

It's too late to join this year, but please think about contacting Ann or Pat at Dyeing to Stitch to get yourself signed up for next year's club.

They also run another club called Colonial Gatherings, which features designs by Plum Street Samplers and The Scarlett House.

(everything!)

As I edited these photos, I had the Curious George theme song stuck in my head (if you've had children in the past dozen years, you just started singing it too, didn't you?)...

"When everyday (everyday!) is so glorious (glorious!)
then everything (everything!) is so wonderous (wonderous!)
There's more to explore when you open your door
and meet friends like this, you just can't miss (whooooa)
Get curious (curious!) that's marvelous (marvelous!) 
And that's your reward 
You'll never be bored 
If you ask yourself, what is this? 
Like curious, like curious, like Curious George"

I think this should be my theme song for the rest of my life, don't you?

Don't Ask, Because I Don't Know :: Sweet Columbine :: Here, Kitty, Kitty :: One Poppy on Memorial Day :: Coming Soon :: First Homegrown Salad of the Season :: Flowering Currant :: Ready to Start :: Wild Rose :: Home Sweet Home :: I Want to Wear These in My Hair :: Rain = Green :: Waiting for Laundry Day :: Upward Climb :: Last Blaze of Glory

*Ladies' Prim Society Design* Handprint on My Heart

With Valentine’s Day approaching, my thoughts turn to love, but not always romantic love. I wanted to create a design for Dyeing to Stitch's Ladies' Prim Society Club to fit the season, that could commemorate a lost love or be a reminder of someone still in our lives that had moved to a far away place, just as easily as it could be made to celebrate romance.

As I browsed for ideas, I came across the song “For Good” from the musical “Wicked”. It has a line that reads, “You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart”. I added the word “always”, some simple motifs and patterns, and stitched it with red thread, the color of strength and joy.

I’m sure there are a thousand different scenarios of loved ones in your life that this little pin cushion can be made to fit.

If you've already joined the Ladies' Prim Society Club, then you'll be happy to know that your kits are going to start going out in the mail very, very soon. If you haven't joined yet, its not too late! There are still a few spots left open, so if you want to get in on this first kit, click here to join up! This design is exclusive to the club, and will not be available for purchase from anyone else, including my own etsy shop.

Designs this year will alternate between the super talented ladies of Blackbird Designs and myself. I'm already brainstorming ideas for my next offering, and can hardly wait to see what the Blackbird ladies come up with for theirs.

Ladies' Prim Society Sneak Peek!

I can't tell you how excited and nervous I am about designing for this wonderful club in 2015. Organized by Ann and Pat over at Dyeing to Stitch, it is a popular club and I was thrilled and honored when they asked me if I would design for it. And then to learn that I will be paired with Blackbird Designs feels unbelievable to me! This is a completely new experience in my world, and I really hope that all of you who signed up will be thoroughly pleased with what I have come up with for you. If you haven't joined yet and want to, I think there is probably still room. Head over to the Dyeing to Stitch web site to sign up.

I'm up first with a design inspired by love. With Valentine's Day in the near future, I tend to think of my Farmboy and romantic love, but I wanted a design that could easily be translated to represent any kind of love, whether past or present, family or romantic love. And to find out more, you'll have to stay tuned, because this is all I can show you for now...

Coming Soon...

Are you ready for 2015? I sure am!

I have two fun and/or exciting things coming next year.

First, I made up a small batch of these:

If you all like them, I'll add them as a staple item to my shop as long as I continue to find good mugs to transform. The quotes are individually hand-drawn by me on thrifted mugs. I'm so happy with how they turned out! I have an arsenal of stitcher-friendly quotes that I want to use. I meant to offer them for Christmas, but November was rocky around here and I didn't get them done in time. Something to look forward to in the New Year!

The really, REALLY exciting news that I keep pinching myself about is that Ann and Pat of Dyeing to Stitch have invited me to design for their Ladies' Prim Society 2015 Club. I'm thrilled to be paired with Blackbird Designs, each of us contributing 2-3 designs for the year. Nothing like a little pressure, creating next to the likes of Barb and Alma, and this being my very first time contributing to a club! I'm up first with a Valentine-y offering that I hope everyone loves.  You can find details here.

And finally, I have one last design for 2014 that I'm going to release the Monday after Christmas if all goes as planned. It is called "Stitcher's Resolution" and I think its a must-have for every stitching corner around the world. I put in the final stitches last night, and got the frame cut to size today. Now its just a matter of getting her framed, photographed, and the cover design finished.