Summer's Flying By!

It's been such a busy summer, and soon we'll be gone to Minnesota for a family wedding and some reunion time. (My brother sent photos of the collapsed bridge, from the top of a 23 story building he manages right next to the bridge, wow, so horrific. No one we know was on it, PTL!) Then some vacation, looking forward to the traveling. WHILE SANDY'S GONE HOURS WILL BE 11 - 3 Tues. through Sat.

So, from Aug. 17 until Sept. 18, minus a couple of days, Sandy will be gone, but DO COME SHOP! Pam, Linda H., Ty, Sue, Linda S. and Julie will be here, eager to help you! Please, help them "earn their keep" and keep Sandy out of that red ink hole! :-) There will actually be new things arriving, and Becky will be checking it in, calling you about your special orders, and putting out the new merchandise.

The photo above shows Jamie Beam's (The Knotted Tree) Spring, Summer and Fall Floral Samplers - each uses different fun fibers and linen (or your own fabric choice - Linda H. hand dyed her own Aida! - she'll be here on Aug. 21, 24, 30, and Sept. 14 if you'd like to ask her how she did it). Jamie's working on Winter - poinsettias and holly and a red cardinal - we know we'll love it just as much as the other seasons.

So, what else is new? All the Mill Hill beaded pins and ornament kits are here, as well as the fall and Christmas beaded and buttoned kits (six more village buildings!). There are new Prairie Schoolers and Heart in Hand designs, Lizzie Kate and Bent Creek (the Red Thread Snapper series continues, just a delight); new designers (at least to us) The Primitive Needle (Kindred Spirits), A. Fox Original (Let it Snow - sounds good right now!), Midsummer Night Designs (Forget Me Not); and oldies Donna Kooler (Great Cross Stitch Gifts), Passione Ricamo (The Queen of the Fairies!, gorgeous!) Mirabilia (Crystal Symphony is her latest) Nora Corbett (her new Pixie Couture Collection is just darling), just to name a few. Sandy continues to stitch the months of Crabby All Year by Raise the Roof Designs - it's hilarious, and has been so much fun to stitch! It uses lots of buttons from Just Another Button Co., too, such a great touch; the fried eggs are truly clever.

Another local designer is back in business, hurrah! Maureen (Doherty) Jaimes, Doherty Designs, has re-released her local patterns, including Mt. Hood and Lost Lake, Multnomah Falls, Timberline Lodge, Mt. Bachelor, Haystack Rock and Crater Lake, lucky us!! Sandy saved her stitched Timberline Lodge, so you can see that one "live", but long ago donated Multnomah Falls to a local charity auction, and Lost Lake left with the framer. They are all fun and easy to stitch, however, and the finished pieces are terrific.

Maureen also has a design of the Sydney Opera House and bridge, which Sandy has her eye on since she'll be visiting there in September!; she enjoys stitching her own souvenirs - don't you? :-)

Watch for our new website in the fall, http://sandysstitchniche.com! We don't know what will appear yet (what would YOU like?), but it will be good learning experience. :-)

Until later...we're off to the wilds of Minnesota.