It’s June!   The season of Grads, Dads, Brides and summer.  And, even though it’s officially a still a few days away, it definitely feels like summer!  Hope you’re staying cool and comfy and getting lots of stitching done.  And don’t forget to stock up with new projects for your summer travels.  We don’t want you running out of needles and threads on the beach!

Speaking of travels, we just returned from our annual stitch retreat in the north Georgia Mountains.  I think it was one of our best trips ever, with lots of stitching, eating, laughing, shopping and just enjoying the beautiful mountain views!  And thankfully it was a few degrees cooler up in the clouds!  A great big THANKS to all of our trippers for helping to make it such a great retreat!

Now here’s what’s going on back at the shop.

We’ve been Spring Cleaning again…at least in some of the book categories.  That means our sale bins are overflowing with bargains!  They’ll live there for awhile before they’re bundled into Grab Bags.  Hurry in to check out the deals!

JULY 4TH WEEKEND:  We will be CLOSED Saturday July 2 and Monday July 4

WEEKEND STITCH-IN AND SLEEP-OVER:  Friday July 1 and Saturday July 2
Where:  Belvedere First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall;  Fee $5.00
Pre-registration required!
Join us for a red, white and blue stitch weekend!
Friday evening – stitch-in begins at 7:00.
Eat dinner first or let us know if you want to order pizza.  Bring snacks to share.

Sleep-Over – Bring your air mattress, sleeping bag, blankie and PJ’s for an old-fashioned slumber party.   We set up our sleeping stations in the Sunday School rooms, so there’s plenty of space available.  And since we’re cooking hotdogs for lunch, we aren’t planning to cook our usual big breakfast.  Just bring something light to tide you over.  We’ll provide coffee, juice and fruit.

Saturday – lunch at noon; stitch until 3:00
It wouldn’t be the 4th of July without hotdogs.  Sharon’s cooking her famous Southern fried dogs.    We’ll provide the standard fixings.  Bring a picnic side dish to go along.

JUST CROSS STITCH SPECIAL EDITIONS
It’s that time again!  Time to put in your pre-orders for the Just Cross Stitch special edition Halloween and Christmas ornament issues.  And this year’s there’s a new Halloween book!  Check below for details and get your orders in to us ASAP so we can place our orders.  Don’t want you to miss out on these!

JUST CROSS STITCH HALLOWEEN EDITION $5.99
The special Halloween edition of Just Cross Stitch magazine should be here in early August.  It will include 15 fun Halloween designs and several fall pieces.  If you love stitching little ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night, reserve your copy today.

JUST CROSS STITCH HALLOWEEN BOOK $16.95
Also coming in late August/early September is a Halloween book filled with 50 brand new projects.  This is a 100 page, soft-cover book.  We’re not ordering a lot of extras of this one, so let us know quickly if you want it!

JUST CROSS STITCH CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT EDITION $7.99
The annual ornament issue is due out mid September.  Each year 75 needlework designers contribute ornaments and recipes or special holiday stories for this special edition.  We’re taking per-orders for this issue now so call or email us today to reserve your copy!
(We do have a couple of copies of the Christmas preview issue left. It has 11 ornaments to whet our appetites.  Let us know if you need one. $5.99)

STITCH TIMES: No fee; No reservation needed
Bring your stitching projects and join us for these informal stitch times.

WEDNESDAY MORNING STITCH: Every Wednesday morning 10:00 AM – Noon

NIGHT STITCHS: 2nd Tuesday, 4th Thursday; 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Occasionally there are exceptions to these stitch times.  Please check below.

Tuesday Stitch: June 14
Thursday Stitch: June 23
Tuesday Stitch July 12
Thursday Stitch July 28

REINDEER/FULL MOON STITCH: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
June 18, July 23, August 13
Christmas/Winter designs: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Halloween/Fall designs: 4:00 until…
This is an all day stitch.  Come when you can and stay as long as you can.  There are no meal plans.  We bring our own, order in or go out to eat…whatever strikes our fancy that day.

BLUE RIBBON DESIGNS STITCH-A-LONG:
Last Tuesday each month, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, no fee; June 28, July 26, August 30
No complicated rules for this stitch-along.  Just stitch on a design by Blue Ribbon!

UPCOMING CLASSES:

BEGINNING CROSS STITCH: Saturday, July 30, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Instructor – Nancy Bailey
Fee – $15.00
If you can count and make X’s you CAN do counted cross stitch !
You’ll learn the basics, tips and techniques as you stitch a colorful rainbow heart design.

ESCAPE FROM AIDA: Saturday, July 30, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Instructor – Nancy Bailey
Fee – $15.00
Stitching on linen is easier than you think.  Master the technique of “stitching over two” as you create a small flower design on 28 count linen.  You may never want to work on Aida again!

PUNCH NEEDLE CLASS: Saturday August 6, 10:00 AM – Noon
Instructor – Nancy Bailey
Fee – $20.00
Punch Needle is an antique Russian needleart that resembles miniature rug hooking.  This introductory class will teach you the basic techniques and offer helpful tips.  Our punch needle tools are available for your use during class and for purchase after class should you get “hooked” on punching.

CLASS POLICES:
Pre-registration is required for all classes.
Class fee is due at registration.
Class fee includes class supplies and teaching fee unless otherwise noted.
Class size is limited for individual attention.
Refunds:
1) Full Shop Credit is given if we cancel the class.
2) Full Shop Credit is given if attendee cancels 24 hours or more prior to class.
3) Full Fee is forfeited if attendee cancels less than 24 hours prior to class or fails to show.

BOOKS:
Keep current with what’s new in the needlework industry by visiting our major book distributors, Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts.  Hoffman posts new arrivals every Friday and Norden updates their site on a regular basis also.  Look them over and tell us what you’d like.
See info about our new book discount plan below!
http://www.hoffmandis.com/newbooklistings/newbook.cfm
http://www.nordencrafts.com

Start the summer off with SANDCASTLE BAY from Praiseworthy Stitches.  This expansive seaside scene depicts sailboat, lighthouse and beach picnickers.  Chart $12.50

The Willowhill Samplings Birth of a Nation series continues with CROSSING THE DELAWARE.  Now is the perfect time to start this patriotic piece!  Chart $9.00

WISH UPON A STARFISH from Designs by Lisa shows a single starfish nestled on the sand surrounded by cool blue waves.  Leaflet $7.50

EARLY AMERICAN GARDEN from By the Bay is a symmetrical and somewhat funky formal garden with oversized trees up front.  Chart $12.00

And By the Bay continues their FUNKY FLOWER series with HANNAH, a periwinkle blue iris design.  There will be a total of 24 flowers in this fun series. The possibilities are endless…afghan, quilt, cute little pieces to tuck into bare corners, needlework smalls, etc.  Chart $6.00

FUSCHIA 1 and FUSCHIA 2 from Dimples Designs are gorgeous.  Stitch just one or do them both for an elegant pair.  Charts $10.00 each

The Silver Lining’s KATIE is a stunning long-stemmed pink rose.  This is a must have for flower collectors.  Chart $10.00

Blue Ribbon Designs’ TURN THE PAGE Bookmark Sampler is a lovely collage of vertical and horizontal border snippets.  Stitch as is or lift out pieces for bookmarks and smalls.  Chart $15.00

PLAIN ALPHABET from La-D-Da gives three complete alphabets in a simple border.  Leaflet $8.00

COLONIAL WELCOME sampler from Little House Needleworks features a house flanked by a man and woman in colonial apparel, small pineapples and a traditional sampler alphabet. Chart  $8.00

Simple elegance would describe PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH BLUE HUSWIFE from Dames of the Needle.  A soft blue hand-dyed floss is used to stitch sampler style basket motifs, hearts and borders for this trifold needlework accessory.  Chart $11.00

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH PINK HUSWIFE is a sister design to the above piece, with basket, berry, bird and deer motifs.  It’s also finished into a trifold accessory.  Chart $11.00

A PETITE HUSWIFE joins Primitive Traditions’ series of Quaker Pocket Needfuls.  Traditional Quaker motifs are stitched into a useful accessory roll.  Chart $14.00

Plum Street Samplers uses phrases from one of my favorite Sound of Music songs in their FAVORITE SPOT SAMPLER design.  “Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens” are stitched as well.   Chart $10.00

Are you old enough to have learned typing in high school?  Then you will recognize the phrase “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” from Plum Street’s FAVORITE FONT SAMPLER.  As you can imagine, it’s stitched in varying letter styles.  Chart $10.00

WHIMSICAL WORDS from Stoney Creek uses super bright colors along with playful flower and insect motifs to encourage us to Imagine, Play and Dream.  Book $10.95

Stoney Creek’s SWEET CHILD’S BIRTH SAMPLER is a tone on tone elegant birth sampler graphed for boys or girls.  Leaflet $7.50

Stitched in a similar style, Stoney Creek’s Roosevelt Birth Sampler uses a variety of specialty stitches.  These are well diagramed and a great way to learn new techniques.  Leaflet $7.50

Stitch sweet little rows of baby toys and clothes with The Trilogy’s BABY LINE UP.  Leaflet $8.00

Treble clef and notes accompany the words “where words fail music speaks” in Stoney Creeks MUSIC SPEAKS leaflet.  $7.50

Lizzie Kate’s automatic it on the way, but not here yet.  Here’s a preview of the goodies it contains.

I KNOW GOD is the first in a new Inspirational Boxer series from Lizzie Kate.  This familiar quote from Mother Theresa states “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle, but I wish He didn’t trust me so much.” The kit includes 32 count Belfast linen, hand-dyed buttons and a bonus design.

The Lizzie Kate alphabet seasonal alphabet series continues with AUTUMN ALPHABET.  Chart includes squirrel and moon charms and tiny buttons for owl’s eyes.

FLORA McSAMPLE FARM SAMPLER is a whimsical mini barnyard sampler.

LIVE LAUGH LOVE continues their Then and Now series.  It reprints one of their older designs along with an updated version.  Stitch one or both.

Counted Stitches’ New Book Discount Plan:
1) Sign up for new product listings from Hoffman and Norden Crafts.  (See web addresses above.) You’ll receive a weekly email with a link to all the new things that were just added.
(Or just visit their sites every week to see the new listings.)
2) Get 15% off any of these new listings when you order from us BEFORE the next weekly update is posted.  Please give us the Book Title, Designer and product code.
3) Get a 10% discount on any older items from their websites that are ordered at the same time!
To receive this discount you must order at least one thing from the new book listing.

GUILD MEETINGS:
Embroiderer’s Guild of America – Augusta Chapter
1st Monday, 7:30 PM, First Alliance Church, Augusta
For more information call Natalie 706-736-5508 or Michelle 706-863-5159.

Embroiderer’s Guild of America – Aiken Chapter
Morning Group:  3rd Monday, 10:15 AM, Aiken County Library
For more information call Ann 803-648-0997.
Evening Group:  3rd Monday
For more information call Mary Dell 803-644-7732

Isabella Birtwhistle Sampler Guild
Evening Group:  3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM, Belvedere First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
For more information call Pam 803-441-8956 or Julie 803-442-7976
Morning Group: 4th Monday, 10:00 AM, Aiken County Museum
For more information call Pam 803-441-8956 or Ruth Anne 803-624-6085

It’s actually May already!  Can you believe that?  We had lots and lots of April showers and I’m enjoying the brightly blooming May flowers.  Makes me want to go out and plant something and I am definitely not a yard person. But I do love flowers…and tomatoes…and peppers…and fresh basil.  Guess I’d better get busy!

Now for the good stuff.  Here’s our upcoming schedule and a sampling of what’s new in the shop.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND:
We will be CLOSED Saturday and Monday, May 28 and 30.
Hope you can spend your weekend stitching, eating and having fun with family and friends.  And please take time to remember all those, past and present, who have sacrificed to keep our country safe!  We thank you…and your families!

STITCH TIMES: No fee; No reservation needed
Bring your stitching projects and join us for these informal stitch times.

WEDNESDAY MORNING STITCH: Every Wednesday morning 10:00 AM – Noon

NIGHT STITCHES: 2nd Tuesday, 4th Thursday; 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Occasionally there are exceptions to these stitch times.  Please check below.

Tuesday Stitch: May 10
Thursday Stitch: May 26
Tuesday Stitch: June 14
Thursday Stitch: June 23

REINDEER/FULL MOON STITCH: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
May 21, June 18, July 23
Christmas/Winter designs: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Halloween/Fall designs: 4:00 until…
This is an all day stitch.  Come when you can and stay as long as you can.  There are no meal plans.  We bring our own, order in or go out to eat…whatever strikes our fancy that day.

BLUE RIBBON DESIGNS STITCH-A-LONG:
Last Tuesday each month, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, no fee;  May 31, June 28, July 26
No complicated rules for this stitch-along.  Just stitch on a design by Blue Ribbon!

BOOKS:
Keep current with what’s new in the needlework industry by visiting our major book distributors, Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts.  Hoffman posts new arrivals every Friday and Norden updates their site on a regular basis also.  Look them over and tell us what you’d like.
See info about our new book discount plan below!
http://www.hoffmandis.com/newbooklistings/newbook.cfm
http://www.nordencrafts.com

These are just in from Olde Colonial Designs.  We found them at the April on-line market.
MY SCISSORS  – this is a complete kit for stitching a 6-sided flower scissor fob to identify your special cutters.  I have a fob on every pair!  Kit $20.95

WASTE KNOT NEEDLES & PYNS  – also a complete kit for making a hard-sided needlebook decorated with flowers.  Kit $32.95

TURTLE NEEDLEBOOK – this needlebook sports a pair of turtles on the cover and includes a wooden turtle floss holder.  Kit $35.95

Also from Olde Colonial, Pam Reed has compiled a collection of 5 reproduction samplers from her private collection, Old Sturbridge Village and the Dedham Historical Museum.  Booklet $30.00

Tempting Tangle Designs is a newly discovered company for us.  Here are a few of their creations.
FIRST LIGHT celebrates God’s creation with a sunburst and an array of specialty stitches.
Chart $12.00

NEEDLEWORKER’S ABECEDERIUS is a fancy stitched alphabetical arrangement of stitching terms.  What a great piece to display in your stitching room!  Chart $16.00

And their ACROSS THE MILES recognizes the value of friendship “across the miles and through the years.”  Chart $12.00

Beach time is almost here!  Anticipate the season or cherish the memories with SEASIDE MEMORIES from The Sampler Girl.  Waves and ocean critters combine with a quote from Anne Bronte.  Chart $10.00

Sampler lovers may be familiar with Moira Blackburn’s lovely designs.  We haven’t been able to get them for awhile, but we have just received a new supply of a few of our favorites.  Get them while you can!
FRIEND’S HOUSE SAMPLER – $14.00
GROWING LIKE A TREE SAMPLER – $21.00
THREE THINGS SAMPLER – $22.00
TIME AND SEASON SAMPLER – $21.00

And last but not least, Mirabilia’s SEPTEMBER SAPPHIRE FAIRY is “inspired by the beautiful prints and kimonos of the Far East.”  She is dressed in a royal blue and vermilion silk brocade gown.  Chart $14.00

There’s lots and lots more new stuff to see on our distributor websites.  Check under the BOOKS heading for their web addresses.

Counted Stitches’ New Book Discount Plan:
1) Sign up for new product listings from Hoffman and Norden Crafts.  (See web addresses above.) You’ll receive a weekly email with a link to all the new things that were just added.
(Or just visit their sites every week to see the new listings.)
2) Get 15% off any of these new listings when you order from us BEFORE the next weekly update is posted.  Please give us the Book Title, Designer and product code.
3) Get a 10% discount on any older items from their websites that are ordered at the same time!
To receive this discount you must order at least one thing from the new book listing.

GUILD MEETINGS:
Embroiderer’s Guild of America – Augusta Chapter
1st Monday, 7:30 PM, First Alliance Church, Augusta
For more information call Natalie 706-736-5508 or Michelle 706-863-5159.

Embroiderer’s Guild of America – Aiken Chapter
Morning Group:  3rd Monday, 10:15 AM, Aiken County Library
For more information call Ann 803-648-0997.
Evening Group:  3rd Monday
For more information call Mary Dell 803-644-7732

Isabella Birtwhistle Sampler Guild
Evening Group:  3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM, Belvedere First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
For more information call Pam 803-441-8956 or Julie 803-442-7976
Morning Group: 4th Monday, 10:00 AM, Aiken County Museum
For more information call Pam 803-441-8956 or Ruth Anne 803-624-6085