Meet Belle Pepper!

I mentioned a while ago that Theresa Venette invited me to create a "Jenny Bean and Friends" pattern that would release this fall along with other designer's "friends" patterns.  I immediately thought of the name "Belle Pepper" as Jenny's friend.  Everyone has come up with their own name, pattern, etc. and I have to say it has been a lot of fun. 

This chart will not ship until mid-September but I saw other charts going up on the internet so I wanted to get this one up too.  It's called "Be Merry - Belle Pepper".  I have included an optional word for the bottom of the chart if you wish to keep Belle's name off. 

I hope you like this pattern as much as I do!

A little side trip. . . . .

In Arizona we have the good fortune to be able to fill our planters and pots with flowers nearly every month of the year.  Summer was cruel to our flowers so we're scouting new blooms for a late summer planting.

We were at Home Depot and couldn't believe how simply gorgeous everything looked.  We had just had a heavy rain the night before and the plants were a little beaten down but still so pretty! And yes, cactus may be one of our choices!

It's still so hot!

Are you ready for fall?  I know I am!  The heat continues day after day making it unbearable to stay outside.  Today is expected to be 104 which is down only one degree from yesterday.  So when it's this hot there is only one thing to do and that's design and stitch which I have been doing A LOT of.  In the evening we go outside with Gracie, water some, do a little yard work and enjoy the setting sun.

Gracie, trying to stay cool.

I am looking forward to fall and the release of a few designs with autumn coloring.  It's my favorite time of year (I'm an October baby).  You can look for snippets of the designs the first part of September.

Momma and baby in our orange tree.

We always get little doves nesting everywhere in our yard.  This little sweetie is sitting on a very low branch in the dense orange tree.  I feel certain she thought she was well hidden.  I saw only one baby (see photo) but they usually have two so the other one is probably somewhere in there.  Maybe he's a little camera shy.  :)

Shades of Summer

So what are you all stitching while keeping indoors on these hot summer days?  Fall or winter designs?  Gifts or something for yourself?

Stay cool friends!
Diane

Friday fun day!

What a fun day!  Ron, Nikki and I went out this morning looking for treasures.  We went downtown Tucson to a row of antique stores and oooh-ed and ahhh-ed over the wonderful goodies found inside.  I did come home with a few awesome finds that I'll feature in 2011 photos alongside new patterns.

Nikki and I love looking at the old hand painted plates and retro jewelry.  My grandmother left behind quite a bit of it that Nikki wears now and then.  She loves cut glass and big brooches.  I'm a jeans and boot kinda girl so all I did was admire the cases of goodies.


I forgot just how much fun going through the old stores could be.

After a few hours of being in and out of the heat we went to lunch where I looked forward to the iced tea about as much as the food.  I think it's 105 today.  Yuck!

Now onto business. . . . . . there will be a SAL on the LHN/CCN Yahoo group for The Family Sampler in just a while for anyone interested.  If you want to join you need to be a member of the group so head on over there using the link to the right.  You need to provide an email address that the moderator (Milly) can reach you at.

Wishing you all a nice weekend!

Diane

Layout of the sampler

Vonna emailed me this morning and she said there were some stitchers on her blog concerned about odd numbers of people in the sampler and that maybe I should provide a peek into an arrangement.  So here you go!  I have provided you with a few fill-in elements if you don't have pets.  And by the way. . . . . there are six dogs and three cats on the elements page to choose from.

If there are any more questions, just post them here, subscribe to the thread and I'll answer as soon as I can!

The Family Sampler Update

SO! The Family Sampler should be at our distributors tomorrow which means shops will start ordering and we will finally get those charts into your hands! Hooray! Vonna at The Twisted Stitcher (http://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com/) has given it a glowing report from a stitcher's perspective which I am EVER so grateful for. She has stitched much of the lower portion which is where you create your family. She has done an awesome job and said it was so easy. I guess I worried for nothing. :)

In reading the blog posts there I saw that one stitcher was wondering about stitching it for herself and one child. We solved that one! In the pack you have a sample page of layouts. We added a fence for a single parent family! See. . . . .I told you I tried to think of as many possibilities as I could! AND, I fully expect to see many of you change the color of the house to reflect your family home!

Just a reminder. . . . .when you stitch and finish your sampler, send me a photo of your design pressed. . . . no need to frame. I will feature as many of them as I can on my web site.

Happy Stitching. . . . .
Diane

Gracie at 37 Weeks

She's a big girl now!

Traveling Stitcher

The answer is YES!  I double checked with Mary Kathryn at Impie, Hattie and Bea and there are more sets of the pouch and needlebook.  This pattern is currently seeing a second life (that happens) and I know there are people looking for the matched set for this design.  This is not the original fabric seen in the photo but is from the same Moda line.   You can get information at http://www.impiehattiebea.com/ .  I have a few sets and keep different projects in each.  And YES. . . . . the pattern is still readily available as well.

You know the saying. . . . . . everything old is new again!

The Family Sampler!

The Family Sampler

Well here it is. . . . finally!  The Family Sampler is what we are calling a "stitcher participation chart".  I made that up but it completely tells the story.  When you get your packet, the area where the large initial is placed, the established date, the people and the full name area will be blank.  Everything else will be where you see it.  I plan to offer some tips and help along the way but after reading your instructions I don't know if you'll need me at all.  That's a good thing.  But for those of you that want help, Vonna at "The Twisted Stitcher" blog will be providing a little help with the calculations along with visuals.  She has been hard at work testing our directions and stitching the design for her family.

Now here are the issues I want you to think about before making your purchase.  1.)  If you have a hyphenated name it simply won't fit unless you find a creative way to insert it in the initial box in the upper left corner.  2.)  Not all names will fit the surname line with the selected alphabet.  However you can choose to use the smaller alphabet that appears at the bottom of the chart itself.  3.  If you have more than four children and two adults, you will need to remove the two blossoms on the bottom of the tree OR leave the adults off and showcase the kids.  More children than that and they just won't fit.  You'll have to use names only and fill in the space that way.

With all of that said, there is yet another choice for this design.  You can if you choose, stitch it for the generation that puts you in the position of the child and your parents take the role of the adults.  Just think ahead to what you want to do with it.

This design was worked on for over two years.  During that time I came up with better ways to make this a chart that you could love and cherish for years and years.  It's not perfect for every family and I know that but I did the best I could.  Finally I had to admit that I would not be able to please everyone so don't be mad if yours is the family that won't work.  I TRIED!  I will be putting the actual back cover on my web site soon so you can read the details and instructions.

So with that said, these charts will start appearing in your stores right around the first of September but I knew you were waiting for the reveal so I posted it without further delay!

Have a nice weekend!
Diane

The 10th Ornament!

"Under the Tree"

It's the first of the month. . . . the date I try to get the newest ornament posted.  The supply list is already up on our web site under the ornament section.  "Under the Tree" has tiny little beads you can add to make the popcorn garland dimensional.

After Vonna (Twisted Stitcher) finished this for me she said she was going to make one for each of her kids!  That's FOUR ornaments?!  And she will. . . . .I'm sure of it!  I'll bet she is going to put their names at the bottom.  Let us know Vonna.  :)