October Releases . . . .

We haven't shipped yet but we're close. . . .new patterns head to our distributors on Friday.  There are two this month. . . . first is KINDNESS, from the Little Sheep virtue series.  This might be my favorite. . . .  .it must be the  combination of sheep, and pumpkins.   And the black crow buttons are too cute!  

I just love fall!

Second is a design called "Home is Where the Sunflowers Grow."  This is a checked-up design for sunflower lovers everywhere.  It's Ron's favorite flower.  His grandparents had them on their farm so they have a real feel-good memory for him.

On a personal note, Ron is done with treatments and is doing his very best to mend and get back on his feet.  It wasn't easy to go through chemo and radiation at the same time for seven weeks but he did it and I am so proud of his attitude.  The girls at the radiation center said he was their best patient ever. . . . . never complained and always had a smile on his face for them.  That's my sweetie!!

Happy Stitching,

Diane

Sheep and yarn. . . . . a good combination

Without a doubt, this was the year of the sheep.  

By December we will have released all twelve Little Sheep Virtues.  

Not long after the first release (which was HOPE), I bought some sheep-like yarn and started a granny afghan.  Yes, another one.  You are probably wondering if I even know how to crochet anything else.  I do. . . .but don't want to!  I love grannies! 

The yarn is Lion Brand Homespun and is a bit of a handful to work with.  The results however are worthwhile.  I say this as I get the cobwebs off of the project.  I put it away when the weather warmed up.  In Arizona, yarn and summer just don't match up well.

The two sheepy colors I chose were Barley and Pearls.  I didn't use a pattern . . . just created it the way I do all granny squares with one exception. . . . .I decreased the center joined circle by one chain (I did four and then joined the circle)  and I also decreased the corners by one. . . . two instead of three chains.  The center gets too big and loopy if you chain five and the corners get out of share if you chain three. 

It's cooling off so I wanted to get it out again and get going on the squares.  I may just finish it before summer 2014!

Happy Stitching. . . . . 

Diane

We are almost there. . . . . .

It has been a long time since I first announced that my husband Ron has been battling cancer.  We have had peaks and valleys along the way but here we are. . . . close to the end of the treatment journey.  

As of this very moment there is just one chemo left and eight radiation treatments.  In my opinion, he has done very well.  Once this stage is behind him, we move onto the "wait and see" stage which involves constant testing.  

It won't be for two full years before we know if Ron is cancer free.  But I guarantee you that no one here will be sitting on their hands waiting during that time and not working!  I have begun designing again and have great plans already in place for the new year.  We even have a new series that we will be announcing in the weeks ahead!  It will overlap the sheep by one month so we will actually be finishing in December with the sheep and starting with the new one.  

Living through and with cancer changes you.  Those of you have been there and done that know exactly what I mean.  I like to think that we have been forever changed for the good.  Thank you for sticking by us and helping us to see this through.  We both feel so blessed.

Diane

The Bump in the Road

It took us a while to process the news we received a few weeks ago . . . . . I guess you can say that it knocked the wind right out of our sails.  Our "bump in the road" is cancer and it is the reality we are facing. My husband, Ron will be starting chemo and radiation on Monday and has a long road ahead of him.  We are optimistic and full of hope for a complete recovery but the journey will be tough.  

We will be doing our best to get our orders filled and finish the year of sheep.  I am even hoping that we can launch a new series at the end of this year but don't hold me to anything just yet!  Gotta take care of my sweetie. . . . . . .he comes first.  

Your prayers are appreciated and welcome!

Diane

LHN Announcement

A message for those not on Facebook . . . . . . . please direct your stitching questions to your local shop owner or the shop where you purchase your patterns.  And we would like to ask shop owners to direct their questions to our distributors and not email LHN for the time being.

We are continuing on with the sheep to the end of the year as planned and we will also have a few other designs to release but the Hometown Holiday design that was to come out in October is delayed until next year some time.  Sorry!

As I said on FB, we have hit a personal bump in the road which means at this time we are not "business as usual."

Keep on stitching. . . . . .
Diane

The 2nd Cactus Bloom

Today was a happy/sad day.  Happy because this morning the cactus bloomed but sad because it is dying already.  I did get some beautiful photos of it right before the sun came up.  The sprinklers had left beautiful little water droplets all over the silky petals.  

The scorching heat has arrived in Tucson!  Hoping my fellow Arizonans stay cool stitching indoors!

Diane

June Releases!

June seemed to be a good month for a bit of farm life so we are releasing two designs with cows!  Maybe we'll start a cow revival.  The first one is "Bessie".  I am thinking she needs a companion so maybe next year I'll design one for her.

I have taken a fancy to her so she is sitting with my milk pitcher on my hutch.

The second cow comes from the design "The Farmer's Daughter" which is so much more than just a cow and a girl. . . . it's an entire farm.  Remember, I grew up in rural Indiana so this speaks to me.  My brother and I rode our bikes to the farm nearby to pick up fresh eggs for mom.  There was a bull on that farm that we were never allowed to get close to but there were also sweet cows and chickens.  This piece reminds me of those earlier days.

And last but not least is the sixth sheep in the virtue series, "Simplicity."  We kept it "simple" to remind us all of the little things we need to appreciate in our lives.  Some times it's just nice to take a deep breath and have an uncomplicated day surrounded by the basics.

Happy Summer Stitching!

Diane

The top of the Mystery Sampler!

The top section of your sampler is arriving in stores!  The birds are singing in the trees and the sun is shining brightly over this seasonal sampler.

10 Summer Stitching Ideas!

Summer is just different. . . . . . it's hot, kids and grandkids are out of school, it's hot (I know I already said that), . . . . . . well you get the idea.  So I came up with a list of ten ideas to revive your summer stitching.  Here they are:

1.  Stitch a surprise gift for a friend.  It isn't her birthday and Christmas is still far away.  These gifts are the best!

2.  Try stitching a pattern by a designer you have never tried before.

3.  Start 3-5 new projects and alternate them weekly.

4.  Add beads to a design that doesn't call for them.  Bling is good!

5.  Step outside your box and stitch a design just because it looks fun.  Not all stitching has to have a purpose.

6.  Add a fun or interesting fiber to a design.  Sheep can be made fuzzy, dragonflies can be made shiny.  Use your imagination!

7.  Stay cool the stitchy way by making your Christmas ornaments now.

8.  Remember waste canvas?  Why not use it to add some cute flowers or ladybugs to summer tank tops.

9.  If you aren't vacationing, why not stitch a beach scene?  I happen to know someone who has quite a few of these designs to choose from.  www.countrycottageneedleworks.com.  Nikki loves the beach!

10.  And last but not least, stitch with friends in comfort at your local shop.  You bring the lemonade and someone else can bring the iced tea!

Stay Cool!
Diane

Just one night. . . . . .

Ron and I have been waiting and watching for one of our newer cactus plants to "give birth".  We were both so excited when a little stub began to protrude from the plant. Day after day the appendage grew larger until suddenly there it was!  

It seemed like we had waited forever for it to bloom and then over night it just appeared!

Then the worst possible thing happened. . . . . .it started to wilt and shrivel throughout the day.  The gorgeous flower that we had waited and waited for simply ceased to exist.  After a little research on the internet I read that the flower blooms at night then dies.  and that is that.  All of that beauty here one hour and gone the next.  Like life. . . . . . .never take what you have for granted.

The good news. . . . . . .there is another bud.  We have one more chance to sit and marvel at the flower that lives for just a night!