Nashville Needlework Market & M. Woods 1759 Sampler

Hello Friends,

I am back from the Needlework Market and finally recovering from all the flurry of activity that accompanies preparing and going to markets.  It was a wonderful market with a lot of wonderful new works from all the designers that we love to love.  I am sure that many of you have been to your local needlework stores market day or night and have enjoyed seeing some of those new designs.  It was great to see old friends and all the great shop owners that attend these events.  That's the best part...putting faces to names and renewing relationships with shop owners that have continued to carry Milady's Needle Designs.

On the design front at home...I know that many of you have been waiting patiently for the release of M. Woods 1759 and I worked very hard to get this reproduction complete before the market.  I finally had to give it up when I ran into problems with color matching that just would not resolve.  So, I had to put her on the back burner until I returned from the market and get all the other designs completed and ready for publication.  So I am indeed sorry that I wasn't able to get this complete for the Nashville Market, but I am plugging away on it now and hope to have it ready by May.  I almost have that color problem fixed and I am just waiting for some new colors of Tudor Silk from Gloriana Threads to see if there is a better match there.  In the end, you will all probably be fine with whatever I choose and I know it's going to be lovely.  I will announce the publication of the design here first and hope you will stay tuned for that announcement.  Please be patient for her late arrival.  Here is a picture of the entire antique so that you can see how lovely this sampler is going to be.  This picture shows the more muted colors that result from age and dirt.  Poor Margaret has some damage to her right lower corner too, but she is beautiful just the same.  The reproduction will be with the brilliant colors on the back, but I will try to give you some suggestions for the colors that will give you a more muted look.

 

As for the new market releases...here they are pictured below.  I hope you like the new designs.  If you don't have a local needlework store that carries these design, email me and I will get you directed to some shops that carry my designs.                                                       
           

Friendship Keepsake Box



 

Ann Blockley's Pin Cushion & Scissors Keep

 

 Ann Blockley's Pin Keeps

 

 

Ann Blockley's Needles & Pins

 

1817 Needle Book

 

 

Well, back to work here on M. Woods.  Maybe I can give you an update on my progress in a couple of weeks.

 

Until Next Time...Keep Those Needles Busy,

 

Gloria



Nashville Market is around the corner.

Hello Friends,

Wow!!!  Time just flew by in January without a minute to spare.  :)  This is always a very busy time of year and it only makes things worse when I get sick for a couple of weeks.  Boy, I have really had a time of it in terms of illnesses.  I just got over the last one and round two hit me in January. 

Feeling much better now and working hard to get models done for the Nashville Market which is the first weekend in March.  There will be at least three new patterns available at market.  The first new pattern available will be the reproduction sampler that I have already showed you a sneak peak of in a couple of past posts here on my blog.  One of the other new patterns will feature Ann Smith Blockley's Needlework Accessories, which includes pin cushions and needle books based on the motifs on Ann's sampler.  I let myself play with variegated silks and I think you will like the result.  And the other new pattern will be one I designed for the top of a rectangular embossed paper mache box which you can no longer find at craft stores.  Never fear, though, I have plenty of those boxes for awhile and they will be available at your local needlework store after the market. 

A sneak peak at one of the variations of Ann's needlework accessories is below.

 

On another note...Back when I started stitching reproductions in the 1998, there were quite a few stitchers who had very definite ideas about reproduction samplers.  There were fewer designers reproducing samplers and the purists liked to have the reproduction be as close as possible in size and coloring of the original.  Thus many people reproducing samplers at the time would find the fabric size that was close, use silks as close as possible to the type that might have been used and would always look at the back of the sampler for color choices.  This means that the sampler colors would often be very bright.  In addition the sampler was reproduced exactly so that mistakes were left in.  Currently, some of the newer designers reproducing samplers are doing whatever they like.  They change motifs to be symmetrical when they are not.  They don't leave in mistakes, but try to correct them when they can.  They don't chart from the colors on the back, but instead choose the colors they like better.  They often use variegated threads rather than silks which are probably closer to the original sampler.  I personally  have always thought of these designs as adaptations rather than reproductions.  Reproduction means to make something as exactly like the original as possible.

 

Don't get me wrong...I love some of the new things that designers are doing with old samplers!!  I have several of these patterns in my personal stash.  I even love to see what stitchers change in my designs that are reproductions.  I like the old look on the front too.  But when I reproduce a sampler, I strive to create a design as close as possible to the original.  Then you as the stitcher can reproduce it exactly or change whatever you like and make it your own.  Sometimes it's necessary to make a few changes in the counting between motifs as often those little girls would miss a thread or two.  :)  You could go nuts trying to follow a chart that attempts to show over one, over two or over three threads between motifs and I would go nuts charting it!!! 

 

Anyway, I am wondering what all of you think about this issue.  Do you like the pattern to be a true reproduction so you are the one who has the choice to make or not make changes?  I would really be interested in your feedback about this question.

 

Until Next Time...keep those needles busy.

 

Gloria

Season's Greetings



Image courtesy VintageHolidayCrafts.com 

Hello Friends,

Well, the decorations are up, the Christmas cards have been sent and we are on the way to celebrate with our family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.



I love Christmas time and all the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing to be with those we love.  I love to decorate and bake, although this year I didn't quite  get to the baking.  :(  I love to watch old Christmas movies on TCM even though I have seen them all several times.  I love to stitch something for friends and I enjoy spending time with my family. 

Exchanging gifts at my family's house is now a thing of the past.  We decided several years ago to make a change in our usual drawing of names.  We were feeling like we all really had enough stuff to last us a lifetime.  So, instead we each pick a charity that we are interested in supporting and then we gift the money we would have spent on each other to this organization in the name of our family.  Then when we celebrate Christmas we each talk about the charity we chose and why we chose that one this year.  It's been nice to see what others have chosen to support and why.  Of course we still do stocking stuffers to exchange a little something like a Starbucks card or a book card...something small.  My sister Beth always makes apple butter or jam for each of us.  We have made it a yearly tradition for the five sisters to go for coffee (without our spouses ) and talk about what has happened over the year for each of us personally.  I am so lucky to have four sisters who are also my best friends.  I know I can talk to them about anything and I will get support and love.  I know not all families are like this, so I am really grateful that we have this special bond.  So, I am really looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

I went to the Kris Kringle Party at the Attic Needlework Shop last Saturday and really enjoyed myself.  The food was great, the company superb and the ornament exchange was great fun.  I have a picture of what I stitched, but I was so busy decorating the tree and getting ready for this family visit that I didn't get a picture taken of the ornament I received!!  It was adorable and I will have to take a picture when I get back home on New Year's Eve so that you can see what it looks like. 

This is a colorized version of a pattern in the latest Antique Sampler Stitcher Magazine put out by Lesley Wilkins in the UK.  It really turned out so cute that DH said he wanted me to make another one for us.  An easy quick stitch and finish.

I brought along my Wisdom and Innocence Scarlet Letter piece so that I could work on it while on the trip North.  Since I joined Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year stitch along, I am inspired to finally finish this piece.  You can see more about this stitch along on my personal blog at www.samplermakerssamplerspot.blogspot.com. I won't have much time to stitch on it when I get back as I will be busy preparing for the March Nashville Needlework Market.  That always takes up most of the two months before the market.  Lots to do and never enough time. 

I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season and that the new year will bring you many blessings.  Merry Christmas.

Until Next Time,

Gloria

Thank-you

Hello Friends,

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I am planning for a quiet time with family.  My husband's birthday is on Friday so we are just going to slow down for a day or two and enjoy each other's company.

I am grateful for so many things, but I wanted to take time to thank all of you who have helped to keep my business going over the last 9 years.  This of course includes all of the shops and customers who purchase designs from Milady's Needle and follow my blog.  In addition this includes the many friends who have helped me to stuff patterns and assemble kits before markets as well as those who have attended the markets and handled all the craziness that accompanies those markets.  Thank-you, Thank-you Thank-you!!  I would not be in business today without all of you.  Your excitement and enthusiasm for Milady's Needle is what keeps me inspired to continue designing.

My sister sent me a wonderful poem that I want to pass on to you.  The thoughts expressed encompass those intangibles that we can all be thankful for all year around.
 

For the peace and promise of a sunrise.
The quickening of breath that comes
when we take in the beauty of our surroundings.

 

For the mystery and humility
of daring to see how we are all connected. 

For the opportunity, over and over again,
to choose joy. 

 

For waking up every day to the unknown
and the courage to walk into that day. 

 

For loved ones and the trusted few
for whom we dare to be truly seen. 

 

For the ones we touch and those who touch us
never knowing the grace exchanged. 

 

For teachers and wise companions
who shed light on our path. 

 

For seasons of sun and rain and bountiful harvest.
For the reprieve of winter stillness. 

 

For the wild ones with whom we share this earth
those we see and those we never will. 

 

For giving and receiving.
For doors opened and walls broken down
by the simple and spiraling depths of love. 

 

For Belonging. . . 

 

to ourselves
to one another
to the world

 

. . .Thanksgiving.

--Chris Heeter

The Wild Institute

 

 

God Bless you during this holiday season.

 

Gloria

 

Je Suis Malade!! / Online Needlework Show Orders / Drawing Winner

Hello Friends,

I have been reading the book Les Miserables and so I thought my post title would peak some curiousity.  It just means that I am sick.  Basically miserable!!!  Guess I got a wopper of a cold or the flu beginning Friday and ended up with a 102 fever and aches and pains.  I have been sleeping most of the weekend.  Finally had a nice bath and my temp seems to be going down some.  Only 99 so that's good.  Since the Online Needlework Show things have been very hectic.

First let me say to those shops who ordered from the Online Needlework Show... It was a great show and now I need supplies to finish processing orders.  So hang in there, I hope to get all the supplies by the middle of this week and you should get your statements by the end of the week.  Hopefully all orders will ship by Friday.  It's great when business is brisk, but when I run out of things it can slow things up a bit.  Sorry about that.

My good friend Kim from Texas arrived right after the Online Show closed.  We had a great time despite the cold she caught the day after she arrived and then passed on to me.  She was here for ten days and we celebrated her birthday while she was visiting. 

 

 

This stitched piece by Plum Street Samplers is what I gave to her this year. She loves Halloween and really enjoyed this piece. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent time at the Attic shopping and then in Sedona and Jerome shopping too. It was a great time until Friday when I succumbed to misery. She left on Saturday morning and I have been in bed since. :(

 

So, before I head back to bed, I wanted to let you know the outcome of the Online Needlework Show Drawing.  The winners are as follows:

 

1st:   Lin

2nd: Valhi

3rd:  Penny

 

The three of you need to contact me via email and let me know your snail mail address so that I can get your gift off to you next week.

 

I am off to more bed rest.  I hope you don't catch this bug!!

 

Until Next Time...Keep Your Needles Humming.

 

Gloria

 

 

Winner of the 200 Followers Drawing

Hello Friends,

I have to tell you that I was thrilled to receive all of your responses to the question I posed regarding what you do with stash that you know you will never stitch.  So many wonderful responses which gave me some great ideas about what to do with my stash.  If you didn't get to read them all you should go back and read the responses.  You will get some ideas for your own stash plus a few chuckles.  I could relate to many of you who said you couldn't give up your stash just yet.  After all, you might live to be very old and get everything stitched.  :)

I really like the idea from Rebecca which was to ask yourself "What do you want to put your time into to leave behind 'one' day?"  Another thoughtful question to ask yourself shared by J9's friend is to ask yourself while looking at your current decor "Where would I put this piece?"   Of course many of you think of your friends who might want to stitch what you might no longer want to stitch and that is the best gift for a stitching friend.  All in all I really had a great time reading what each of you contributed as answers to this common "problem".  ;)  What we all seem to love to do is to go through our stash and enjoy thinking about what we plan to stitch. 

On to the drawing!!  The winner of the 200th Follower Drawing is: Natasha.  Congratulations Natasha.  Please send me an email to let me know your address so I can get your gift out to you.  Isn't it great!!  Once I posted hitting 200 followers it wasn't all that long before seventeen more people decided to join the blog.  Too much Fun!

Stayed tuned in to Milady' s Needle Blog to find out the winners of the Online Needlework Show.

Until Next Time...Keep your needles busy!!  You have lots of stash to stitch!

Gloria

Online Needlework Show Starts On Thursday

Hello Friends,

Well, it's time again for the Online Needlework Show!  Starting tomorrow you can go to www.needleworkshow.com  and browse for new and current designs.  Be sure to contact your local needlework store or your favorite online needlework shop and let them know what patterns you would like to see them order.  They need to know this as usually shops will do special orders for you during this show. 

After asking you for feedback regarding the Cottage Charm Stitcher's Pocket design a few weeks ago; I decided to release the pattern as a chart.  The design is listed as new for the Online Needlework Show.

I emailed some of the shops who participate in my automatic orders program and a couple of shops emailed me back to let me know they still had a few of the kits left.  So, if you are really wanting to do this project and finish with that cute alphabet fabric contact either Linda at House of Stitches (www.houseofstitches.com) or Debbie at Stitchville USA (www.stitchville.com).  I am sure they can help you obtain this kit.

Online Neelework Show Drawing

 

What would the Online Needlework Show be without a drawing!?!  :)  You all know the drill by now, but in case you are new to my blog here's what to do.  To enter make a comment to this post and list a couple of your favorite designs by Milady's Needle.  Be sure to include your email in your post or I will have trouble contacting you to let you know if you win.  The drawing is held after the show closes on Tuesday the 23rd of October.  So, be sure to browse the show and enter the drawing.  Boy, two drawings in one week.  What am I thinking.  :)

Til Next Time...Keep On Stitching.

Gloria 

P.S.  And don't forget to leave a comment about your "stash practices" on my last post for the 200th Follower Celebration Drawing.  There have been some great comments by all of you.  I am not surprised by how similar we all are as we think about giving away stash.  I have enjoyed reading them with a chuckle or two.  I might just have to do this again when I reach 300 followers.  :)