Next in the Series: A New November Design!

 
So often, after I create what I think will be a single one-of-a-kind design, it will become so popular, someone will ask if it's going to be part of a series and will I be creating more?  And then I get busy designing more pieces for the newly created "series".   That's what happened with my very popular INDIAN SUMMER and INDIAN AUTUMN pieces from my American Quilt Collection (shown above and below).

When I got to thinking about what to do for an INDIAN WINTER design, I wanted to use a different color scheme -- with colors that evoked winter on the plains, snow-covered golden fields and brilliant blue skies, something like this:

(winter photos from FreeBigPictures.com, 

because, ahem, we don't normally get scenery like this in Sonoma County!)

And I pulled a Watercolours thread 279 called "Martinique" for my variegated foundation, and then created a blue and gold palette for this brand new piece called TA DA -- INDIAN WINTER:

I really enjoyed working this geometric quilt design.  It was very relaxing, with easy stitches, yet challenging enough with all the elements changing directions to create interesting light effects. Here's a close-up:

I like it so much, I'm hoping I can stitch it again sometime, using another color scheme.  Although for this model I specifically wanted a variegated thread that could support four separate accent colors.... but you could also use a variegated thread that just had TWO main colors, and then you'd alternate the colored blocks!  Fun, fun, fun....

So if you're in the mood to hunker down in front of a November fire, with a design that captures that special autumn-into-winter feel, please visit my website for all the INDIAN WINTER details and ordering information!

Changing Colors

 Are the trees in your area changing colors?

Do the leaves look like they are being hand-painted by nightime elves?

Does this time of year inspire you to work on projects with autumn colors of red & gold? 

 If so, here are a few of my favorite fall designs:

 FALLING LEAVES, from my American Quilt Collection

 

and CHEROKEE STAR, which has the same red and gold colors 

(also from the American Quilt Collection)

  a more elaborate TURNING LEAVES, from my Impressionist Collection

and a blackwork version of AUTUMN LEAVES, from my Sampler Collection

As the weather gets cooler, don't you think it's nice to work on a project that reflects 

the colors of the season?  I certainly do...

so Happy Friday, Stitchers....and enjoy your lovely long Veterans Day Weekend!

Tonight's the Night!

  Have you got all your candy?

 Found your tall pointy hat?

Cut holes in your sheets?

Fed your familiar?

Let the bats out of the belfry?

Lit up the jack-o-lantern?

Then you're definitely ready....

 Hope you have a fun-filled Halloween!

Is Your House Decorated for Halloween?

Time to gather the pumpkins....

Decorate your entry....

Stock up on your favorite candy..... and get ready for the spookiest holiday of the year!

Pssst:  That's my HARVEST MOON HOUSE, stitched last year and still a favorite with counted canvas stitchers!

Bargello & Butterfly Stitchers!

Hey, all you BARGELLO AND BUTTERFLY Stitchers!  I just want to alert you to a boo-boo in the Butterfly Graph....  The DMC numbers are reversed on the teal and blue symbols, so here's how they SHOULD be:

In other words, the BLUE thread - DMC 791 - should be the LOZENGE symbol; and the TEAL thread - DMC 991 - should be the FLOWER symbol.  And you can see where the teal stitches are if you look at the butterfly photo at the top of this post. 

And if you purchased one of the first patterns, you might not have DMC #5 791 listed on your back Materials Page.  You can stitch with DMC 791.... or if you have DMC 792 or 797 in your stash they also match the royal blue metallic ribbon that is used on most of the butterfly wing -- any one of those blues is equally electric!

So very sorry for the charting mistake and hope this doesn't cause you too much of a stitching inconvenience.....

This Month's Trunk Show

 
Well, this month my trunk show is up in the California Gold Country -- at Kelsey's Needle Krafts in Placerville, California (530-622-6205).  

I've sent my newest models - including the new HALLOWEEN BARGELLO piece - and lots & lots of patterns.

So if you happen to be driving through the Gold Country this month to see the glorious fall colors up there, please stop by and say "Howdy" to Sue and the other nice ladies who run the store. They are a super-friendly bunch of stitchers and are always ready to make you feel at home!

Love Those Ribbons!

It's been ages since I've created a ribbon project, so I thought it was time to introduce a new cyber class that has a few fun ribbons in it.  Oooh La La!  I'm calling it "Ribbons & Monogram" and it looks like this:

It's a small project, 7" x 8.5", done on the old-fashioned brown mono canvas, just to give it an antique look.
There are just three ribbons, but each one is different and equally fun to stitch.  I've also designed a special alphabet that is a little bit Victorian, a little bit French, n'est pas?

And because I couldn't narrow it down to just one colorway, I thought I'd offer the stitcher several color options (each one equally yummy):

The cyber class registration runs from now until the end of November, and the class will start in January 2014, after the hectic holiday season winds down.  So if you're looking for a special treat for yourself, or a fun project to kick off  the new year, why not visit my website and see more of the particulars regarding this new "Ribbons & Monogram" cyber class -- including the specific Watercolours threads and #5 pearl cottons used in each of the colorways.