LA - D - DA

Leisure Arts has republished some of the charming designs of Lori Markovic, better known as the designer/owner of La-D-Da. If you missed these earlier, this is a chance to pick up several cunning designs in one publication. These were published and available in the $8 range. A couple of these are still available as individual purchases. Take advantage of getting all six designs.

GATHER YOUR CHILDREN

Basic embroidery is a wonderful way to introduce children to stitching. It can be used with children too young or too restless to do counted work. The first book would be perfect for a starter book. It gives you easy ways to transfer patterns, including a website with a video...for those of you who do not like to read directions. Super quick and very easy!

The second book has more advanced techniques. If it is not your thing, consider it and some fabric and fiber as a gift for someone who cannot see well enough to do fine counted thread or needlepoint.

A DELIGHT FOR A BABY

Isn't this darling? Chris knit this shop model using a DK weight kettle-dyed cotton. We have 10 colors, including this delicious "Dreamsicle" color.

FOR THE MAGPIE IN ALL OF US

These lovely stitch markers are available in two sizes and they come with a sweet little organza bag for storage. Treat time! We deserve it. Please click to enlarge.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CANVAS!

This is sooo New England with the homes and the barns scattered around and though the town green. There's one of the sheep hired to keep down the weeds on the conservation land. I've definitely clicked my heels and am no longer in southwestern Minnesota. Don't you just love the flower-marble tree? Makes my fingers itch to supervise someone's stitching of this.

New BOSTON canvas

My friend Lori (Expressions in NeedleArt in Canandaigua, NY) and I had been MOONING over the work of this wonderful folk artist and mutually decided that they had to be licensed in needlepoint and agreed that MAGGIE was the one to point in the right direction. Voila - it happened. Here is the Boston skyline and the Public Garden. The artist is Karla Gerard.

I'll post the other one tomorrow.

FALL IS COMING!

I had to tear myself away from my needlepoint projects, and told my other counted thread projects that they just HAD to wait their turn. It was time to knit for fall. I was thrilled to get this one on the needles and off in one week. Since it will be mine when the store is finished with it, of course it is brown! I'm not the ruffle type, preferring a more conservative look, but this is subtle. One hank of Mushishi and a set of interchangeable knitting needles and you too can have one, but you'll have a choice of colors.