Thursday, July 30, 2009

Busy Night, Busy Week

I can't believe it's Thursday already. The week has flown. I have been designing some new things this week and when I get busy, everything else suffers. I have a new cross stitch design ready that needs to be framed and photographed. I hope to post a sneak preview here this weekend.

I have everything ready for the Scavenger Hunt that starts Monday. It's our first and I think it will be a fun time. If you haven't already joined the mailing list, it's on the website. We will have 24 winners in 4 weeks, with each person winning 6 quilt patterns or cross stitch charts.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Monday , Monday

What a beautiful morning it is here in Missouri! This whole summer has been unusually cool and wet. We've only used the A/C 2 days so far. Tomorrows forecast- you guessed it, rain. I hope to make the most of today. I'm on my fifth cup of coffee this morning so I think I'll be moving quickly for the next few hours.

I got a lot of music downloaded on the I-pod over the weekend and I really like it. There's some great old songs on there that I haven't heard in years. Now I can easily sit for hours with plugs in my ears. Who knew? The best part, I don't pay attention to any other distractions.

We had a great response over the weekend on the free chart download on the cross stitch site. Thanks everybody for looking! We are anticipating the Scavenger Hunt starting next Monday. It's going to be a fun month.

Have a great day everyone!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Saturday morning

Well, I spent the last six hours downloading music into the new I-pod. Who knew it would take so long? I got 43 great songs to start with and I'm sure I will add a lot more later. I'm excited to go walking in style now with white plugs hanging out of my ears. I'm sure I will be entertained with every step.
I was so excited to see the 700 hits on the website since we added Taffy's free chart to the cross stitch site yesterday. That's a lot of downloads! The newsletter will go out this Monday with details of the Scavenger Hunt. Have a great day!

Friday, July 24, 2009

The New I-Pod


I just got a new I-Pod and now I have to figure out how to load it with music. Seems I'm always way behind when it comes to technology. I think it will be fun this weekend to play with.

I saw two young fawns this morning during my walk. The grass next to the corn field had just been mowed and they were hanging out there until they saw me coming.

I think I'll look through my Weeks embroidery floss stash and see what I can play with today. I have this neat little basket I use for Weeks, it keeps them all together.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Complimentary Cross Stitch Chart

I just added a Complimentary Cross Stitch chart to the website. It is a needle roll designed by Taffy Soderholm, who stitches a lot of my designs for me. She is very generous to share it with everyone. Go to www.prairiegrovepeddler.com to download it.

I am sending a newsletter tomorrow with details of the Scavenger Hunt that's coming up. If you're not already signed up, go to the website and sign up on the bottom of the Home page for the Quilt Newsletter. The Cross Stitch Newsletter is on the bottom of the Cross Stitch page. There will be six winners each week in August.

More baskets

I spent the day working on more baskets, seems it's my basket week. I have about two dozen more to finish. I'll add a picture tomorrow. They look so pretty when they are finished. The weather is so nice and cool that it inspired me to get outside and work. Had a big black snake in the garage the other day so I'm staying out of there for now!

I am working on the details for the Scavenger Hunt starting next month on the website. Newsletters will go out tomorrow with details.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Basket, baskets, baskets

It's raining today. Not the best of weather. Fortunately yesterday was a great day to be outside. Yesterday I spent the day working on baskets. They turned out so pretty. I have a large collection, between my mom's and my own, I think there's about 100 in all. I put Danish oil on some of them and they just glow.

I think my favorite basket is the market basket with 2 handles in the background. It's such a neat style basket.

My mom and dad made white oak baskets for years and taught me how in 1987. I love making baskets, it's such a relaxing hobby. My dad used to have a shaving horse and actually shaved the weavers we used. The handles were also hand carved. Those were in the days when the craft fairs were every weekend. They went to War Eagle every year and demonstrated the art of basketmaking. I have so many good memories of the craft fairs.
Today I think will be a cross stitch day. I have a lot of designs on my mind just waiting to escape.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

My First Post

I'm probably the last person on earth to start a blog but here goes! I just joined Etsy a few weeks back and I thought that was quite an accomplishment. Then I joined Twitter and ventured in new territory, prompted by others. The blog seems to be the next thing on my list. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.

I started my business in 1990 in St. Louis County. I started selling dolls and hand made white oak baskets at local craft fairs. Those were the good ole days for craft fairs. I would pile my crafts and kids into my little car and just have the best time. My two kids ran around and visited other vendors all day as we knew a lot of them having sold at the same craft fairs. A lot of the fairs were outside and people dressed in period costumes. My kids had such fun!

I attended my first wholesale Quilt Market in Fall of 1993. I was pregnant with my third child at the time but didn't know it yet. I started designing quilt patterns in 1997. This will be my 17th year of going to market in Houston.

I spent the afternoon sitting in the shade visiting my kids and grandkids. Most Sundays we have dinner here after church. It's a great time to catch up on family news, watch the babies play, and relax. The only drawback is the dishes! I do survive most Sundays though.

Thanks for sharing my first blog.