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Thank you so much for taking the time to come check things out. I hope you and your loved ones have been doing well and that you'll enjoy the time you spend here. I'd like this page to be an opportunity to let you know about new and interesting things that are going on in the world of our favourite pastime and, of course, to tell you about my latest designs.

Recently, our family has been enjoying a bit of a population explosion and that has inspired me to create designs that are intended to be used by, or shared, with little people. The Magic Carpet Ride is one such design.

The Magic Carpet Ride

An enjoyable project for you and a fun game for the little ones

The Magic Carpet Ride's vibrant palette is drawn from those delicious colours which make up a Peacock feather... turquoise, electric blue, teal green, gently variegated golds and irridescent metallics. Although it looks very ornate, a combination of full and half cross-stitches, stem and straight stitches makes this a quick and easy project.

The main focus of this piece is the cross-stitched centre rhyme "Twists and Turns. Loops and Curls. Can you find the Treasures which are buried in these Swirls?" From there, a viewer's attention is drawn to the 4 corners which are linked by 4 border panels, sewn primarly in running and straight stitches, which create a number of little images. (Please click here for more information about this charpack)

Seed Purses

Two pretty purses that keep all your garden seeds organized

Your sisters' Hollyhocks (the ones that came from Aunt Isabelle's garden back home), your neighbours' amazingly sweet Cherry Tomatoes... and those super-prolific cucumbers... where on earth did you put those seeds! If you're anything like me, you have no idea (please click here for more information about this chartpack)

Down the Garden Path

In addition to the Magic Carpet Ride, and other designs for children, I'm very pleased to let you know about my garden-inspired board game, Down the Garden Path.

A very decorative embroidered board game to share with young ones

This piece traces the development of an English country garden from a barren wilderness, dominated by a cobwebbed and ramshackle old she, to a vibrant space full of beaded Hollyhocks, Honey Bees and Vegetables. The chartpack comes complete with a dice, game booklet, complete finishing instructions, 4 glass player pieces and an organza bag for storing the game (please click here for more information about this chartpack)

Other Stitch-y News

Perhaps you're one of those stitchers, who have been blissfully using silks for many years and for much of your needlework. Unfortunately, until recently, I couldn't join you!

You see, I belong to that group of stitchers who are cursed with very dry hands... skin so coarse that it shreds finely spun silk on contact. The beauty of these natural threads along with the history and simple allure of sewing with silk has seduced me many times but always with the same result... a complete mess! Then, one day, while visiting my local needlework shop, I discovered a brand of silk floss that felt light as air and didn't object one little bit to my repeated fondling.

Vicky Clayton's hand-dyed silks are 100% silk. The ones that I've been enjoying are 6-stranded and are packaged in 5 yard lengths. Vicky Clayton's variegated/over-dyed colours range from the most vibrant and intense combinations (ones that would have delighted my mother) right down the softest and most delicate blends. They are also the most affordable silks I've ever seen. These silks may be purchased through Vicky Clayton's web-site hand-dyedfibers.com and, in Canada, may be purchased through Thread & Eye.

I chose to use 3 of her variegated silks in the Magic Carpet Ride (BeSmurfed; Lily Tutters and Examplar Moon-Called Sea). I truly loved working with them and am planning on using them again in my second Embroidered Board Game. Please rest assured, however, that my materials lists will always include regular DMC floss substitutes.

Stitching for a Cause

With all that's going on in the world today, it sometimes feels like we're surrounded by worthy causes and inundated with requests to help. I can quite honestly say, however, that the struggle to bring literacy into everyone's life is one which I hold especially dear.

The ability to read and write not only brings us immeasurable pleasure... it also allows us to communicate with one another, to do our jobs and to navigate city streets and highways. The labels on bottles, jars, boxes and other packages keep us safe from poisoning. Written recipes add diversity to our everyday meals. Letters and cards that we send to one another deliver hope, comfort, empathy, news and important announcements. With the gift of literacy, I could write forever about how much I value the priceless lessons which were given to me by my family and teachers. Obviously, Jen Funk Weber of Funk Weber Designs, feels similarly blessed.

Jen is the founder of 'Stitching for Literacy', a program in which stitchers are invited to donate bookmarks they've made to participating needlework shops. The bookmarks are then distributed to libraries to help encourage reading. For more information about this very worthy cause (which reaches its' height between March 17 and April 28 this year), please click here and then on 'Stitching for Literacy'.

While you're visiting Jen's site, I'd like to recommend that you explore a little. She and Mike lead a very interesting, and unusual, life (read about it in the 'About' section). She has also provided some excellent 'Tutorials' for you to browse.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this newsletter. I hope you've found it interesting and that it's inspired you to pick up your needle. Til next time... take care and Happy Stitching,