A new design for October release

Hi all~

I am pleased to show you the latest Glory Bee design~Quaker Gamebard. My friend Roberta stitched this for me and she did a fantastic job. The model was stitched on 28 ct Lambswool linen and

uses Blue Navy Threadworx overdyed cotton floss. I love the varigation in this one! Design size is 141w by 141h and works out to be 10" x 10". I used an Eastside Mouldings frame. I hope to release this in time for the Stitching Jubilee in October in Lancaster PA. At that time I will also release St Valentine which can be seen on this blog under Sept 1st post. If you are a shop owner and wish to pe-order these designs please email me: Nancy@GloryBeeStitch.com

I hope you lik it........Nancy

Glory Bee Halloween Designs

These are all Glory Bee Halloween designs. They are all still in print and available at fine needlework shops.

Which Witch?: Are you a good witch? This was stitched on 28 ct fabric using Sampler Threads.

Trick or Treat: This is a retired class piece. It has some specialty stitches. It is fun and quick to stitch.

Pumpkin Man: This design is one of four seasonal samplers. It is stitched with WDW floss on 28 ct fabric and uses a JAB Co maple leaf button.

Low Flying Brooms: This is one that I had a special frame made for. The frame is by The Sweetheart Co. The frame is perfect for this. It too was stitched with overdyed floss on 28ct fabric. Any neutral color will work. Hauntsville: This is one of my all time favorites! I love the big pumpkin overlooking the city of Hauntsville! Happy Halloween: I just put this one on my mantle. I was decorating for Halloween and remembered this older design of mine. I love the fabric, very chocolate brown. Halloween Trio: These three designs may be stitched individually and made into ornaments. This was modeled on 28 ct fabric and again uses overdyed floss. Halloween Sampler: This is my newest Halloween design. This was stitched on 14 ct fabric and uses overdyed floss also. Bats, black cats, and ghosts, oh my!

Hagatha's Hats: If Salem had a hat company it would cetainly be as old as this one eatablished in 1692. Hagatha has three hats to choose from, all very nice! Flying Monkeys is stitched on Natural Light linen, which is no longer available, but you may use any neutral fabric. It uses Gentle Art Sampler Threads and a JAB Co Bat btton. Here we have BYOB (Bring your own broom!)

How cute is that. Another one stitched with Gentle Art Sampler Threads but on 30 ct linen this time.

She's finished!

Okay, I finished Ida Mae this afternoon and I think she is lovely! What a wonderful design. I thoroughly enjoyed stitching this one. I changed a few things to suit me, fibers, and the colors in the flowers.

I hope to get back to My Lady's Quaker this evening. Enjoy the holiday weekend....Nancy

Ida Mae Crow by The Good Huswife

Is she just the cutest thing you ever saw!!!! I fell in love with this design and bought it the minute it was available. I do not know why it took me so long to start stitching it. I did substitute some Gentle Art Sampler Threads for DMC but the colors are almost a perfect match. I just have to finish the flowers and the dots on her dress. I am planning on making this into either a pillow or a totebag.

The weather looks gorgeous here this holiday wekeend. My husband was going to go deep sea fishing today but got called into work instead. Oh well....Tomorrow he and his crew are doing a 300 foot dive to try and locate a new wreck as of yet undiscovered. It could be something or it could be a pile of rocks. They won't know until they get down there. So please keep the crew in your thoughts as this is a very dangerous depth to dive to.

I plan on stitching most of the day on Satruday and some on Sunday. We have a party to go to on Sunday afternoon. I hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend and find time to stitch..........Nancy

My Lady's Quaker SAL Progress

This is my currect project. This is My Lady's Quaker and there is a SAL Blog here. My choice of fabric was 27 ct Crean Northrn Cross linen using DMC 924 & 926. The floss looks darker than it actually is. The other thing I am trying to finish up is Ida Mae Crow by The Goode Huswife.

I haven't scanned it yet, maybe later. I have to run out right now. More later.....Nancy

Preview of new design and class piece

Here is a little preview for you!
St Valentine is stitched using Threadworx Bleeding Heart, regular DMC #310, and #310 in #12 perle coton for the blackwork border. The heart is stitched using Rainbow Gallery Gold. I love how this came out. I am hoping to release this along with Quaker Gameboard, which is being framed now, by mid-October at the Stitching Jubilee

The other piece is called Patriotic Trio and it is stitched using 28 ct Cashel linen in Summer Khaki with overdyed floss. There are also gold beads in the far right panel disguised as bees. This is a class piece that I hope to teach at Celebrations in 2010. Other events will follow I'm sure!

I am 99% certain I will be teaching Give Thanks and Christmas Trio in Ohio in November. I will post more when we finalize the plans. I am excited about going back to teach for Shelly again. Keep the first weekend in November open!

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments on my *SCUBA* picutre! It really was a ton of fun.

I have been putting kits together for my upcoming classes. I have been doing it all afternoon and needed a break. Now I must get back to it. See it's not all stitching and fun and games. Sometimes I have to WORK!

It is a beautiful day here although a bit chilly. Wherever you are I hope you find time to stitch. Until next time..............Nancy

Just for fun!

Just for fun I uploaded a picture we took while scuba diving in Bonaire in December 2006. Click for a large picture. My husband thought it would make a great photo for my website and it was on the home page for a long time. I know some people haven't seen it so I wanted to share it again. I am actually "stitching" on plastic canvas with yarn. It is supposed to be a fish! This photo was taken at the dive site Karpata. This dive site becomes quite deep, over 150 feet, although this photo was take in about 15 feet of water at the end of our dive. I hope you enjoy it! Nancy

Pictures of the new designs!

These are the two new ones. Golf is stitched on 25 ct Lugana and uses Sampler Threads. Two Blackbirds is stitched on 30 ct linen and uses DMC floss. I hope you like them. I am shipping them out this week. My distributors and auto shops will have them soon. Ask your favorite shop to order these for you..........Thanks! Nancy

Time flies when we're having fun!

This has been a very busy month. I have accomplished a ton of stitching, designing, and business related work this past month. There are two new designs ready to go to my auto shops. Two Blackbirds and Golf will be showing up in your local shops very soon. I will post pictures soon.
I applied to Celebration of Needlework for the 2010 Sprng event. I have always been interested in teaching there. I am submitting four class pieces to them and hopefully they will be accepted.
I am starting to gather kit supplies for my four classes in Lancaster PA at Stitching Jubilee in October this year. And the designs just keep on coming! I have three already stitched and a fourth is being stitched now. Two are framed and another one is being framed now. I have made some changes to this blog so you may follow along with the progress on my designs from the actual stitching to the release.
I finished some personal stitching as well. I finally finsihed Quaker #1. I was waiting on thread. I don't know how I will finish it yet. I also finished Spot the Horse by Carriage House Samplings. I never thought I would finish that one! It seemed to take forever. I really like it and will probably make it into a pillow for my office chair. Now I want to stitch Ida Mae Crow by Goode Huswife. We'll see.....
I promise to post pictures soon. I hope you find time to stitch today. Unitl next time..........Nancy

Exchange received!

I received this lovely Sweetbag from Nancy K on the Legacy Board. It is a Mosey n Me design and the stitching and sewing of the bag is wonderul. She did a fantastic job on both. She really spoiled me with all the goodies she sent with it. There is a cute Summer design by M Designs, she included the fabric and embellishments with it. A bag of DMC floss, amd square buttons which are too cute! Some patriotic ribbon and fat quarters. The little Altoid tin at the bottom will make a great needlecase when it's empty. Thanks so much Nancy!

In other news, I got back this weekend from PA and a vist with my parents. They are both 84 now and doing well, which I am forever grateful for. They still keep up with all the housework and yardwork. My sister and her family came over too and it was nice to see all of them again. It's way too long in between visits! Hopefully I will be able to stop by again in October on my way home from Lancaster after the Stitching Jubilee.

I have been stitching a lot! I stitched a Mother's Day design, a golf design, and a Valentine's Day design. My model stitchers finished a sampler and an Easter design. I think the next two to be released will be the sampler and the golf design. Another model stitcher still has the Quaker Gameboard and is working on it. I can't wait to see that one. It is modeled on Lambswool linen with a beautiful Navy Blue overdyed floss.

I have been working on new class pieces to submit to Celebrations for next spring. I am going to try and have at least 3-4 design ready. I hope to be able to teach there next year. It is only 30 minues from home so it would be wonderful!

I have also been working on Carriage House Sampling's Spot the Horse. I love that design and am stitching it on a piece of tobacco colored fabric with the DMC conversions which I have to say don't quite look like the pictured colors, but I love it anyway. I di get sick of DMC 310 so I ut it aside for a bit. Ithink I will make it into a pillow when I'm finished with it. I also want to stitch Goode Huswife's Ida Mae Crow on the same fabric and also make a pillow. I think they will look good together.

We finally have good weather here in New England! We had so much rain in May & June I thought we were going to need an Ark! It is still cool and comfortable too. I have to get to the gym. I will post some pictures of the newest designs as soon as they are ready. They are at the framers right now. Have a wonderful day....I hope you find time to stitch! Nancy

Finihsed Quaker Patriotic Heart

Hi all~

I finally finished this really cute free design by AuryTM www.aurytm.com It was a joy to stitch. I used GAST Cranberry& Deep Sea and WDW Linen floss on 14 ct Cobblestone aida. More updates later.....Nancy

Excange received!

I received my Legacy Board Quaker Quarterly Exchange from Darla yesterday. Our theme was black this time and she did a wonderful job stitching this on 32 ct Lugana using Needle Necessities ovedyed floss, Ashes to Ashes. What a great color! Darla made this into a pinkeep and the toile fabric used as the backing compliments it perfectly. Notice the pins she used, the larger, very round ones are those bright yellow flower head pins. She dipped them in black model paint. Great job on all counts Darla. Thank you so much! Nancy

Two new designs!

These are the two new ones! The first is GB-89 Home. This designs has a very colonial-looking home and couple. And home is the key to their hearts as signified by the two hearts and a key over them. This design is modeled on 14 ct oatmeal aida using DMC floss. Feel free to change the fabric to any neutral color of your choosing if you prefer a different count. Conversion to Anchor floss is included on the chart.

Next is GB-90 (can I really have 90!!! designs already) Halloween Sampler. This design was stitched on 14 ct Khaki aida. I used Gentle Art Sampler Threads on this design. The motifs are happy halloween ones, not scary ones. And the ghost, almost as friendly as Casper!

I am sending both of these to my auto-shops and distributors this week. Look for these in your local shops soon. If you need help finding a needlework shop you may email me, or go to my website for a listing of shops under Retail Sources.

My Blog needs a serious update with WIP's, finishes, and lists of Blogs I read. I will work on that over the weekend. I will also update you on my classes at Stitching Jubilee coming up in October in Lancaster PA. Until then................Happy stitching, Nancy

This is Bent Creek's Rise & Shine. It was originally a kit and a friend sent me her chart. I finally finished this. I started it over a year ago. I took it to Stitcher's Hideaway Alumni Retreat in February and got most of it done. Yesterday I worked on it at Celebrations in Nashua NH. The picture is clickable for a better view. I did change almost all the colors to what I had on hand, and that went with my wallpaper in the dining area. Whch is where it will go.

In other news~I was in Delaware last week and stopped by Where Victoria's Angels Stitch in Clifton NJ on my wy home. Thanks to all the stitchers that stopped to say hello. I love that shop! Tawny has the most well-stocked shop I have ever been in, and I've seen a lot of shops.

This week is Celebrations in Nashua. I dropped my models off at Chris's Collection and then went back up yesterday for shopping and stitching. I ran into practically every stitcher I know. It is a very popular event. They have some great classes, but to me it's the mechandise mall that makes it worth the trip. That and sitting in the lobby stitching with friends.

I am sitting here waiting for the Direct TV repairman to come fix my dish. I have been without TV for 3 days now. I have to say, it isn't that bad. But I have missed a couple of the new shows that we've been taping. I'll find them somewhere, maybe even online. Isn't technology wonderful!

I have a couple things to sew. I am going to make the Bent Creek I just finished into a pillow for my dining area. I bought a pattern for a wool needleroll yesterday but I am using fabric instead. I also have a little purse pattern I want to try. Pictues when they're finished.

Back to work. Have a great day. I hope you find time to sttch............Nancy

Another finish!

This is Hornbook Angel by The Primitive Needle. I stitched mine on 14 ct beige aida using Cherry Bark by Gentle Art. It took two skeins and I only did part of the stars in the upper corners. The model used two colors. I eliminated one color. I love how it came out and it will look good as a center panel on a totebag, don't you think? I have so many framed pieces, and now that I am no longer afraid of my sewing machine, I am finding many other ways to finish my stitching.

The Needlework Show is still going on. It ends Monday at midnight. Links are in my last two posts. I saw a lot of designs that were "must haves". Have you checked it out yet?

We planted some new grass seed in our front yard so I am in charge of keeping it wet so it doesn't dry out. I think I have the easy part. My husband was raking, planting, and shoveling all day yesterday.

Next week I go to Delaware to visit relatives and on my way home I will be at Where Victoria's Angels Stitch in Clifton NJ. Tawny has my trunk show and I am going to pick it up and will be there for a couple hours for a "meet & greet" while we pack everything up. If you are in the neighboorhood please stop in and say hello!

My trunk show will be at Celebrations coming up April 30th through May 2nd. Chris's Collection takes my models so be sure to stop by her booth and check them out along with all the other great charts and supplies she'll have. I have designed an exclusive "freebie" that she will be handing out.

It's kind of sunny/cloudy today. I may go outside and stitch some today because it is finally getting warmer. I hope you have a great weekend and find plenty of time to stitch........Nancy

This picture will give you some idea of how accurate Threadworx has matched the old Needle Necessities colors. I started this piece and had one 20 yd skein of NN. I eventually ran out because I under-estimated the amount of floss I needed. I decided to try Threadworx and see what they came up with for a match. I cannot tell by looking at this picture (it's clickable to see a larger view) where one brand began and ended, can you? I highly recommend their color conversions. I also had a class piece I needed more floss for when I kitted it and it was a perfect match also.
In other news, be sure to check out the Needlework Show that runs until Monday at midnight. There are some great designs to be seen there. There is also a link to shops that can order these from the designers for you.
It's a beautiful day witha promise of more warm weather tomorrow. I hope you find time to stitch today...........Nancy

Needlework Show is this week!

Hi all~

This is just a reminder~the needlework show is this week! Starts April 15th at 2PM and ends April 20th. I have signed on for both shows this year. I saw the vendors list and there are so many talented designers exhibiting this year. Please take a look, mark it in your calendar, shop in your jammies, etc.

http://www.needleworkshow.com/

Until next time........Happy stitching,

Nancy

Class pieces finshed!

Here they are! I am very pleased with how they turned out. All the pictures are "clickable". I am awaiting frames for the first three and as you can see the Stitcher's Rule has been finished. I contacted Vonna, from The Twisted Stitcher, last week and she got these finished in record time and did a WONDERFUL job. The design doesn't look that great until you see them finished. All four of these will be classes at Stitching Jubilee being held in Lancaster PA in October. I believe they start sign ups the first week in June so keep checking their website. My classes are limited to 24 students and Stitcher's Rule looks like it will fill the first day, judging on the emails I've received asking about it. That's great!
The first design is "Seasonal Sampler", next is "Christmas Trio" and then "Give Thanks" followed by "Stitcher's Rule". These are all intermediate pieces and even if you've never stitched on linen or evenweave you could do these. The directions are clear and we will have plenty of time to go over them thoroughly in class. So sign up! Not to mention the merchndise mall there is really good too. Last year my models were at Stitch n Stuff's booth. I am already scheduled to show my models there again this year. You can check out all the shops that will be there. They are listed on the Stitching Jubilee's website. Last year Vicki Clayton was there with her wonderful silks and fabrics.
I have finally set up my Needlework Show pages and am ready to ship them off to be set up by Cindy. I hope you can make time to check out all the wonderful designs showcased there. She has an online show in April and again in October. I am signed up for both this year.
Well, with me so busy with Glory Bee work it left all the yardwork to my husband. We had an awful ice storm in December and the yard is finally cleaned up. There was so much debris. Fallen trees, branches, broken fences, etc. And we had two trees removed from the fromt yard.
As if I didn't have enough to stitch, I signed up for the Sweetbag exchange on the Legacy board. I love stitching for someone else in an exchange because I know they will appreciate the work that went into the stitching and finishing. Now that I am taking sewing classes I am more confident in my finishing abilities also. The theme is patriotic so I plan on choosing the project later today.
The weather is wonderful here in the northeast today. I think I will stitch on the porch a bit today. I hope you have a great day. Thanks for stopping by..........Nancy

Busy Week

Hi all~

First, thanks for all the nice comments on my last post, and for waiting for me to post again! This has been a busy week. I had to get another ornament stitched, finished, and mailed. For those of you keeping count, that brings the total to three. These will all be published in Just Cross Stitch magazines; Halloween issue, Ornament Preview Issue and the special Ornament Issue. I don't know the exact release dates but will let you know the moment I see them out. At that time I will post the pictures. This has been so much fun to do. I am certainly honored to be invited to do these for the magazine.

Pictured above are a few of the many things I worked on last month at the Stitchers Hideaway Alumni Retreat. First is LHN's Home of a Needleworker, Too. I have to finish the roof and windows in the house and it will be done. Next is a snowman design for Glory Bee which isn't quite finished. I am adding teeny tiny jingle bells to the hat in the top left and maybe something to the top hat. Iam stenciling a frame for this. It will be white with snowflakes, I think. Lastly, Birds of a Feather's No Bees, No Honey. I love this one. I started it soooooo long ago. It was a UFO calling my name.

The stitching above are previews of the class pieces for Stitchers Jubilee being held in Lancaster PA in October this year. The first one is "Seasonal Sampler". There are different specialty stitches in all four borders and some within the different seasonal squares. Next is a fob and the back of it will have your inital stitched. That goes with the piece below it called "Stitcher's Rule". There is a 6" ruler that goes wth this. The top picture is the ruler case and below it is the needlecase, unfinised right now. The left side is the back of it, and the right side will be the front. All of these pieces are suitable for anyone comfortable with working on evenweave or linen. I'm also designing a 3 piece Christmas Ornament set with some specialty stitches (it's almost finished) as well as a sampler called "Give Thanks". I still have to stitch that one!

So as you can see I have been very busy and love working on all these Glory Bee projects! I also have two new designs almost ready to publish. They will be released in conjunction with the Online Needlework Show coming up in April. They will be sent to my automatic customers first and then offered at the show for all of you.

And now I must go do the boring part of this job, the paperwork! I hope you enjoy your weekend and find time to stitch. Until next time..............Nancy

Anyone out there?

Thanks for waiting for me to post again! It has been a very busy month. It started with designing two ornaments for a magazine that had to be finished and mailed by the end of the month. I still have one more to go but have two weeks before it's due.
I also had to work on designing and stitching my class pieces for Stitching Jubilee. I have three finished and a couple more in the works. Hopefully I will get them done by the deadline because it is really a great event and I wouldn't want to miss it. This year it is moving to Lancaster PA which is a great location. I can't wait to see the shopping and the quilts there. No picutres of the class pieces yet. Soon I promise.
I attended the Stitchers Hideaway Alumni Retreat in Mystic CT. It was so much fun. This retreat had no teacher~no schedule and all fun! You got to choose what to work on and when to work on it. I got so much stitching done. I don't think I have ever had that much uninterrupted time to sttich~ever! I can't wait for next years!
I am also getting my pages set up for the online Needlework Show. This is going on in April and again in October. This is such an excellent way for stitchers to get a taste of designers they may never have head of before. Please check it out.
I also have some Glory Bee Trunk Shows scheduled. The first one is in New Jersey at Where Victoria's Angels Stitch in Clifton. Tawny will have some of my models through the month of April. Iam trying to coordinate a date to do a Meet & Greet at the shop. I'll keep you posted on that date too.
And finally the best~going to a needlework shop with my friend Patti last Friday. We went to ABC Stitch in Grantham NH. What a nice shop and they have a wonderful mail order service which I have used also. Here is a picture of my purchases. I got a couple charts and many many beautiful colors of floss for some future projects. The silver circle is a finishng form for my next ornament. I a not the best at finishing ornaments although I am enjoying sewing these days.

















The other thing that is taking up my spare time is quilting. I started taking sewing classes a few months ago and started quilting. I LOVE it. I did the quilt pictured below, it still needs binding to be finished. Please excuse the sloppy picture. I didn't even straighten the fabric at the top. The batting is covered all the way around. I am using the same brown fabric in the border for the binding. The second thing I made was the sunflower table runner. The pattern is from a Thimbleberries book. The instructiosn were absolutely wonderful and sooooo easy to follow,
even for a beginner. That is todays news. I promise to update again this week with more Glory Bee news!
Nancy

Ta Da! New style chart pack is finished

Obviously I made these a bit different in size, they are identical in size in "real life". They are the same size chart pack I always published. The difference is I am now printing the photo directly to the cover sheet rather than cutting out a photo and gluing it on the cover sheet. I can't even imagine how much time this will save me and it actually cost a couple cents less to print!!!! This also makes it much faster for me to get copies ready to send out so re-print turn around times will be much faster. Important to my distributors when they are awaiting charts to send to stitchers. Less time for you to wait also! I am really pleased with how they turned out. Now my poor husband will have to re-do all the disks when it's time to do re-prints. I am doing the rest of the chart the same way. Although the cover sheet and back page are 1/2 sheet (8-1/2" x 5.5"each) instead of a folded full size (8-1/2" x 11") sheet of paper. The chart inside is on a full sheet of paper folded in half. Clear as mud???? Please let me know if you like these and if not, why not.

Happy stitching.......Nancy*GloryBee

New designs are ready for pre-order now!

Okay~here are the next two Glory Bee designs!

GB-87 Seaside Sampler is a retired teaching piece although I have re-designed it with less specialty stitches. So don't be afraid to try it. This design is modeled on 30 ct cream linen and uses DMC floss. You may stitch this on any fabric of your choosing, 14 ct, 18 ct, 28ct, 36 ct, whatever you'd like. If you like the ocean this one is for you. For the life of me I can't figure out why I didn't put a Dive flag on this!!! My husband and I both scuba dive.

GB-88 Stitching with Friends is a design I was inspired to do because all of my stitching frineds are "Priceless". How about yours? And it doesn't get any better than spending an afternoon stitching with them. This model was stitched on 30 ct cream linen using DMC floss for all. The stitches are all cross stitch. You may opt to do a Rhodes over 6 for the flower centers and I have included the stitch diagram for that. Both of the frames come from Huneywood and can be special ordered.

You may ask your local needlework shops to pre-order these for you. I am planning on releasing these designs the week of February 23rd. They can email me if they are interested.

The weather is gorgeous here today. It's almost 50 degrees. Time to get outside and chop the ice off the driveway! Have a great day..........Nancy