May Gibbs Cross Stitch kits

Dionne    Cross Stitch     At the Seaside, Cross Stitch, may gibbs

I have finally finished loading all of these beautiful kits online.  The May Gibbs collection are our most popular online brand.  At the Seaside is probably my favourite.

What did you stitch in your Christmas break?

Dionne    Blackwork, Christmas, Cross Stitch     Black Work Show 20, Blue Ribbon Designs, courtney collection, Danish Flower threads, Red Letter Ornaments

Here is a picture of what I thought I would enjoy doing at Christmas.  I carted the threads fabric and pattern to my parents home in Tasmania, … and back without having opened it, other than to look at how yummy it is.

Fabulous contemporary Blackwork Sampler

Thanks Courtney Glau, Black Work Show really is a stand out Blackwork sampler.  I want it up on the walls in the shop, and despite the fact that I have too much to do and not enough time to do it.  I WANT IT!

This is what I actually did in my Christmas break, … when the munchkin was asleep.

The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that these are miniatures from the picture posted in our Christmas message on Facebook.  These lovely designs Red Letter Ornaments from Blue Ribbon Designs can be made in the larger design which we had stitched for the shop.  My fabulous stitcher, Margaret also stitched 5 of the 8 miniatures, but ran out of fabric.  For those of you who missed it, here is the picture.

I did the other three.  Then I fell in love with them and had to have a set for my own tree!  The munchkin is also very keen on the Kreinik corder I purchased to completed the twisted cord around the outside.  In the home stretch now and maybe I will be able to finish a few other stitching projects.  (We stitched ours in the DMC on 32 count.  My lovely Margaret may well have said rude things to me if I sent her 40 count linen to stitch on, I know I would have done if someone sent me 40 count linen.)

Also thanks to Mel from South Arm in Tasmania for reminding me to upload the palette for the Danish Flower Threads with their new colours.  Hope these are all legible, if not download the chart, remember colours may differ on your screens and printers from what I actually scanned in.  Here is their new palette.

2012 The Year in Stitches, and new thread too.

Dionne    What's New     2012 The Year in Stitches, Danish Design 2012 calendar, Haandarbejdets Fremme, Marianne Thornberg

Haandarbejdets Fremme, the Danish Handcrafts Guild, 2012 calendar is now available, with lovely designs by Marianne Thornberg.  For a William Morris fiend like myself, this calendar is heavenly with so many of the designs reminiscent of his crisp wallpapers.  There are also an additional 28 colours to the range of Flower Threads for those who love the smooth fibres but lamented the limited palatte of the range.  Both the Calendar and new threads are available online and in store now.

ooo new thread!

Dionne    What's New    

“May you live in interesting times”, Mark Twain.

I could do with things being a little less interesting and being far more predictable at the moment.  It is a tough time in retail and hobbies and crafts have been especially hard hit as people appear to have less disposable income with rising costs of fuel, energy and food.   As a consequence of this, many small craft manufacturers have stopped producing and are shutting their doors.

As an Australian business we are looking at what we can do to help ensure there is a healthy industry for our customers to enjoy, now and when things improve.  Part of that plan is a conscious choice to stock more Australian products amongst our ranges.  Regulars in store visitors would be aware of the increase in Fiona Jude’s Country Threads, Stewart Merrett, Danico and our range of Australian themed canvases.

We are now looking at Australian thread ranges.  First to be added to our stock thread range is Mogear Embroidery Yarn in the Gossamer 100% mohair and Silky 70% mohair and 30% wool.  The Gossamer is a 2 ply yarn, hand-dyed in solid and varigated colours.  Gossamer solid colors are available in 10 metre skeins.  Gossamer varigated and all Silky threads are available in 8 metre skeins.  Silky is a 3-4ply thread.  Both Gossamer and Silky thread weights are also available in fun multipacks of related colours in half lengths.  The full palatte of 90 colours is available now online and in store.

Yarn for Australian summers

Dionne    Knitting and Crochet     araucania, jo sharp, knitting, sublime, sublime organic cotton, sublime soya

Looking for a yarn for our warmer evenings?  We currently have 100% cotton in a dk or 8ply from Sublime in the Soya and Organic ranges as well as the lusterous 4ply Araucania Lonco, which is a mercerised cotton.  I am currently working on a top to throw over swimmers in the 4ply on 5mm needles, the only limit with this product is your imagination.  If you are stuck for inspiration, you can always check out the patterns specifically designed for cotton from Sublime or Jo Sharp.