Monday, November 30, 2009

Christmas is coming!

Well, the weekend flew by so quickly and I didn't even get to go shopping. I normally stay away from the Black Friday crowds anyway. I did look a bit online. It's always great to Christmas shop in your jammies. The turkey leftovers are all gone and all the casserole dishes are washed and put away. I spent last night finishing a few new cross stitch designs and thought I'd share a peak. This one will be going to distributors this week and on the website sometime this week also.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Whole New Week for a Drawing



Well, it's getting closer to Christmas so it's time to start offering some Christmas charts. This week the drawing will be for 2 charts,
#41, Stockings Were Hung and #40, The Ornament Sampler. All you have to do to enter is email me with your name, address and email address at PGPeddler@aol.com and put "Stockings" in the title. If I get a lot of entries again, I'll probable draw two or maybe even three names this week. Good luck!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Another Autumn Sunday, Another Weekly Winner

We have a winner of the Eye Glass Case this week. It's Leah from TN. Leah, watch your email. I need to know what color you prefer.


This week I'm going to offer my new chart, Three Pumpkins, along with three pumpkin stems to go with it. I think I'll even throw in a small piece of Juniper wool for the leaves to finish them.


All you have to do is email me this week at PGPeddler@aol.com, before Saturday midnight, and put "Three Pumpkins" in the title. Send your name, address and email address. I promise that I won't share it with anyone. I will choose a winner next Sunday.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Online Retail Show Continues

Tomorrow is the last day for the Online Needlework Show. There is a lot to look at and I've spent a few hours on there. This is a test show so they can decide if they want to continue with it. I personally didn't do the show but I know a few designers that did and I think they've had a good response. There was a lot of talk about needlework shops boycotting the designers that did the show so I'm guessing that's probably why so many designers didn't do the show.

If you haven't seen it yet, the show is at http://needleshowretail.com. Tonight is the last to enter the drawing this week. Tomorrow starts a new drawing. Off to finish some designing.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Is it Friday?

Well, it certainly came fast this week- Friday, that is. The online needlework show started yesterday. I got a good look at it last night and there sure is a lot there. I think it's a lot bigger than the wholesale show. I noticed a few shops had my charts so that was cool.

Tomorrow is the last day to enter my weekly drawing for the Eye Glass case. Email me by tomorrow night and the drawing is Sunday. A new weekly drawing starts Sunday also.

I got this picture of Grace today in her princess outfit. It just made my day!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Little Candle Mat Finishing Instructions

I've had some inquiries on the little candle mats and finishing them so I thought I'd try to explain it here. I trace the candle mat shape, that's included in the chart, onto clear plastic template and cut it out. Lay the template centered on the back side of the stitched design and trace around the template with a pencil. There are center lines on the template and it's easy to line up. Lay the stitched design face down on top of a second piece of matching linen. Use this traced line to sew a seam all the way around with machine or by hand. Trim the seams and corners.

Pull the top and bottom slightly apart in the center with your hands. Snip the very center of the unstitched backside, not the stitched side. Snip about 4" across the center of the unstitched backside only for turning. Turn right side out through the snipped hole. Press out the edges with your fingers or a ruler. Press all edges flat with an iron. Hand stitch the opening closed on back without overlapping the sides and press again.

Lay the candle mat face up on a 9" square of wool. Hand stitch the candle mat to the wool using thread that matches the linen so it doesn't show. I used blue thread on this one. Trim the wool to about 1/2" from the edge. Lay it on a second piece of wool and trim the edges to match. Make a decorative stitch, such as a buttonhole stitch pictured here, around the outer edge of the wool with pearl cotton to attach the two layers together. It is really very easy to do!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Another New little Candle Mat


We have another new Little Candle Mat available. It's chart #52, Colorful Cats. It will be on the website in a few days and available from Hoffman and Norden Distributors by the end of the week. It measures 9" finished and uses all DMC floss.


We had a great Sunday here, with all the kids and grandkids over for dinner after church.
The leaves were blowing in the yard and everyone enjoyed the 70 degree weather after our month of rain. Looking at this picture reminds me that they sure grow up fast.

New Weekly Drawing Details

We have a new drawing this week. It's a Pre-finished Stitchable Eye Glass Case. It can be used with cross stitch, punchneedle or embroidery. The winner will get to choose the color from eight different colors available. Email me with your name, address and email address by midnight on Saturday night. Say "Eye Glass Case" in the subject line. Good luck to everyone!