“Block of the Month” Opportunities: There is still time to sign up for either of two monthly projects for this year.

We have just packaged up the first block for a Bits ‘n Pieces quilt called Stars Around the Garden. This beautiful quilt will measure 87” x 102” finished size. The cost is $19.00 a month. You will make 2 pieced blocks each month, an appliqued center and your choice of either a pieced or appliqued border and a pair of pillowcases will finish up this project. We are offering two colorways. One will be a “Thimbleberries-ish” tea-dyed look and the other one will be brighter more vivid colors. Fabric in kits will be enough for the front, borders, binding and pillowcases. You will furnish the backing fabric or may purchase it separately for 10% off.

The other continuing project is a monthly wall hanging using The Wooden Bear “Straddling” patterns for pieces that finish approx.19 ½” x 23 ½”. These are cute as can be and we will start with a bunny holding an egg for April so you will have time to finish these and hang them for the month of the theme. Each has a pieced neutral background with applique film used to apply the design. You may choose to go around these pieces with a stitch of your choice either by hand or machine. Kits will be $25.00 per month. This includes the pattern, fabric for the front and binding plus buttons for eyes.

If you sign up, we expect a commitment for the entire series.

Wedding Accomplished: Although the weather was not very nice, the wedding was and Jennifer has changed her name to Mrs. Arend Miller. We welcome him to the family. He told me he does know how to cross stitch - way to go Arend’s mom! When we replaced our outside sign and stitched the pegboard around the edge, he knew exactly what holes to use. Former housemate brother Alan has now moved to an apartment in Cedar Falls. Know any nice girls for him?

Coming in April: Mark you calendars for the Love to Shop Hop Trail on April 2,3,4 and the Online Needlework Show April 15 – 20.

Free patterns: Thanks to Handblessings for sharing her Valentine Acorn Birdhouse pattern.

Weather Reminder: With winter here, please call first to make sure we are open if there is bad weather before you come. Sometimes it takes me a while to dig out on our country roads to get into town.

TECHNIQUE TIP: Thread Storage.
New Year’s Resolution: get organized. Anybody have this one on their list? Let’s talk threads since that is the easiest thing to get tangled. I have a storage unit that I really like that isn’t made any more for my DMC floss. You used a hook to pull a whole skein down in a plastic channel. The closest thing I find today is the DMC Stitch Bow. This system has a plastic insert that fits in the loops of a skein of floss – no cutting or winding necessary. These can be kept in a binder, roll or box and taken out as needed for projects. Floss bobbins come in cardboard or plastic and are an inexpensive way to keep floss neat. These can be kept in a plastic box, on a ring or in a plastic sheet with little pockets. It does require some time to wind the floss from the skein onto the bobbin. Remember to thread the end you cut rather than the leading end as you have wound the beginning of the skein closest to the bobbin. If you want to wind pearl cotton, there are larger plastic bobbins from Best Way that work good for those. Spool stockings are an expandable net that fits around spooled threads to help keep them from coming unwound. LoRan makes heavy cardboard holders that have holes for looping threads through and separate cards for individual projects. There is a place for numbers to be written by the holes to identify colors. DMC and Anchor make sticky labels to mark bobbins or baggies with floss numbers. Floss Away, Westex and Darice make various size zip shut baggies, mostly 3” x 5”, that have pre punched holes to hang on a ring. File A Floss made a nice box for the baggies to hang on but availability may be limited. Thread Tux makes longer, skinny ones the size of a skein of floss. All these work good for saving those partial strands when you only use some of the skein. Plastic floss organizers in butterfly or horse head shape hold 16-24 colors that loop through holes around the edge. Annies Thread Keepers and Needlecraft Palette have loops for the threads and places for the number to be recorded. Whatever you choose, now is the time to get organized.
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Class Schedule: One half of the class fee is required at the time of registration to hold your place. Please register at least two weeks in advance of scheduled dates to allow for ordering of supplies in time for class. Fees include supplies and instruction unless otherwise stated in class descriptions. Please add 7% tax to fee if you mail it in. There are no refunds for class fees once I have ordered supplies, but you may reschedule a makeup time at your convenience.
Biscornu of the Month for February = From Heirloom Embroideries of Yorkshire England – Nana’s Little Treasures. This one has three patterns from which to choose, flowers and hearts, swirly or motifs. Uses DMC and Dinky Dyes silk floss. Pattern only: $20.50. Designs are square 67, 74 and 103 stitches.

Biscornu of the Month for March = From Rovaris – Bunnies. Profiles of four bunnies adorn this biscornu. They are shown in red DMC floss or a blue/green over dyed on the cover, so you could choose any color you want your bunnies to be. Pattern only: $10.25. 5”-5.6” finished size on 32 or 28 count fabric of your choice worked over two threads.

Thurs. Feb 12th 6:00-9:00 p.m. – Beginning Cross Stitch over two: Learn to cross stitch on 28 count even weave by stitching over two threads with DMC floss and a Precious Moments design. Counting Our Blessings is a girl stitching on an afghan accented with beaded tassel fringe and commemorates the 25th anniversary of charting PM designs by Gloria and Pat. Class Fee: $22.50.

Sat. Feb. 14th 9:00-12:00 – Cross Stitch Plus: Using a design from the Drawn Thread called All You Need is Love, you will use 12 different stitches beyond cross stitch to make hearts on this simple design and on Valentine’s Day what better day to stitch hearts. Threads used will be over dyed silks on a linen ground fabric. Stitch size is 50 x 31 on your choice of 28 or 32 count linen. Class Fee: $19.00.

Thurs. Feb 19th 9:00-12:00 or 6:00-9:00 – Beginning Counted Canvaswork: Needlepoint Butterfly Garden from Handblessings is done on 18 count Santa Fe Sage needlepoint canvas with DMC and Weeks Dye Works pearl cottons. This is a great piece to try canvas work with an easy variety of needlepoint stitches. It is only about 3” big and is accented with an antique silver butterfly charm in the middle – quick gratification! Class Fee: $36.00.

Sat. Feb 21st 9:00-12:00 – Paper Piecing: Your choice of an apple, ladybug, iris or tulip pattern to learn how to paper piece. Fabric provided for center design – you may add borders on your own. Center designs are 3 ½” to 4” big and make great appliques on shirts, pockets, bags or note cards or make several and put together in a small wall hanging. Bring your sewing machine and a neutral color of thread. Class Fee: $13.00.

Thurs. Feb 26th 9:00-12:00 or 6:00-9:00 – Beginning Hardanger: Pattern is called Strawberry Vine Pillow by Kathie Stanley and done on 22 count white Hardanger material. A small hardanger design is in each corner with cross stitched strawberries in the middle. A touch of drawn thread embellished with ribbon adds to a center cross on the piece. Class Fee: $23.50. Bring small embroidery scissors.

Sat. Feb 28th 9:00-12:00 – Jeweled Garden: This piece from From Nancy’s Needle’s small monthly quilt series done on 18 count eggshell needlepoint canvas uses all satin stitches. It is the thread coloration that makes this piece feel like a breath of spring and is accented with a cool floral button. Threads are Gold Rush metallic, over dyed Watercolours, and pearl cotton.Class Fee: $49.00. Need stretcher bars10” x 10”.

Thurs March 5th 9:00-12:00 or 6:00-9:00 – Tic-Tac Penguin: This totally cute 19” square wall hanging from Debbie Mumm is one last piece for this winter. Penguins alternate with snowflakes surrounded by a checked border in this design. Fusible web will be used to adhere appliques. Includes fabric, batting, backing, buttons for embellishments and Winter Follies book that has other fun winter patterns.
Class Fee: $36.00. Bring your sewing machine and neutral color thread.

Sat March 7th & 14th 9:00-12:00 – Peacock Stitching Chair: This piece from The Cat’s Whiskers is so neat that I have waived the teaching fee so this is a stitch-in. Fee includes 32 count pearl gray linen, pattern, cardboard templates, chair feet and 3 skeins of Dinky Dyes silk floss. If you want to use a different color, let me know before class. (Scissors 10% off if you need a matching pair.) Class Fee: $54.50.
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WHAT’S NEW! –
Kits: Mill Hill – Button and Bead series – Poppy, Pansy, Daisy; Just Nan – L.E.Over the Top 2009 series Snow Tin with matching needle mitten; Lizzie Kate – Giggle Boxer – Did You Ever stop to Think; Bent Creek – Rowz- Frowzen Men; Heart in Hand – Stack of Hearts; Bobbie G – Love, Love Birds, Kiss Me all with hand painted fabric; Sweetheart Tree – P is for Princess, American Star and Lavender Blossoms Biscornus, Country French Heart. Other stuff: Mighty Bright – gift set of key chain LED light, XtraFlex 2 light, Wallet magnifier; Lovely scissor zingers; Kelmscott – Letters of the Alphabet Needle Minders.

QUILTING: Gathering Friends: By Request; R. Merrill: Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts; Margaret Miller: Stunning Angle Play; Goldsmith & Jenkins: Aunt Millie’s Garden; Kim Schaefer: quilts, bibs, blankies oh my; Pie Plate: Monthly wallhangings.

CROSS STITCH: Sue Hillis: Santa’s Ark, The Beatings; Fire Wing: Embarr; Homespun Elegance: Joy to All, Peace to All; Mystic Stitch: Folk Santa – Dec.; Heart In Hand: What Makes it Winter; Lizzie Kate: Halloween Double Flip-Its Spooky/Treats, Black cat/Spiders, Eek/Creepy; Wear a Smile La D Da: Like Home; Stoney Creek: Faith Hope Love, Pets With Attitude, Vintage Cycles; Trilogy: Winter Lineup; Imaginating: Santa Pack, Cookie Santa, Winter Frost, Winter Hangup, Jolly Snowmen, All Because; Kustom Krafts: Black Stallion; Val’s Stuff: Ho Ho Santa, Happy Holidays; SamSarah: Baubles B is for Bee, C is for Cupcake; Little House: Something Old Something New; Midsummer Night: Christmas Cheer; Twisted Oaks: Trixie and Treat; Forever in My Heart: In This Home, Always Remember To; Elizabeth’s Designs: Count Your Blessings, Pleasant Words; Sweetheart Tree: Apr, May, Jun Samplers, Lavender Blossom Fob; Drawn Thread: Moonlight Garden, Morning Glory, Language of Love; My Big Toe: Quaker Harmony, Be Not Forgetful, Building Block Reign; Crown and Thistle: Quaker Seasons Purse1; Ink Circles: Potluck, Cirque Des Carreaux; Bent Creek: Snapperbets 3 DELMTUV; Vickery: Celtic Medallion; Blue Ribbon: Countdown to Christmas, Peppermint Twist

OTHER: Hardanger: Rose Marie – Queenly Blossoms. Beading: Accent – Regency Collection; Creative Glamorous Beaded Jewelry. Canvas: Laura Perin – Box of Ornaments, Indian Autumn; DebBee’s – Diamond Delight IV; Carolyn Mitchell – In My Wildest Dreams; Needle Delights - Symmetry. Other: Yarn – Prayer Shawl Ministry Vol. 2. Finishing: Just a Thought - 1 & 2

Happy Stitching!

Classes continued:

Thurs. March 12th 6:00-9:00 p.m. – Spring Peyote Pin: This Threaded Needle kit uses Delica beads in bright spring greens accented with tiny flowers and fringe. It is done in the peyote technique and is just the right size to finish as a pin to wear. Class Fee: $17.50.

Thurs. March 19th 9:00-12:00 or 6:00-9:00 - P.S. I Love You: Wool felt scissors case in soft green with pink flowers. Simple embroidery stitches hold it together with buttons for flower centers and a lavender ladybug for embellishment. Fee includes breast cancer pink ribbon scissors to match case. Makes a nice gift for a survivor friend. Class Fee: $40.50.

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER:
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Fiberworks Super Sunday Sale
108 E Bremer Ave. February 1, 12-4 STANDARD Waverly, IA 50677 PRESORT
15% off regular priced items U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 37