Went antiquing .. all by myself .. and had the absolutely best time!
I started out at Yesterday's Treasures right here in Fenton (I had some extra time before I had to be at Mom's to take her grocery shopping). I'd not been in there in 'ages' and ... it was such a treat. I'll tell ya, if you're looking for vintage jewelry for wearing or for making into other items, THIS is the place!! Drawers and cabinets full! I was paying more attention to ceramics but there was this antique beaded and stitched bag that was calling my name .. I forced myself to ignore it! (fingers in ears lalalalala I can't hear you)
Then over to mom's ... did a quick run through with her at the Goodwill store, she wanted to see what that was all about .. then groceries .. then back to her apartment. Chatted for awhile and I was on my way.
Decided it was such an beautiful sunny day that I didn't want to go home yet. So pointed my VUE-hicle towards Holly and the Holly Water Tower Antiques Mall. That place is a gem! You can get lost in there .. and I spent several hours browsing through the ceramics again. The owner eventually stated 'following me around' as she began to see that everytime she saw me, I had my hands full of tiny toothpick holders, salt cellars, and egg cups. She rescued them from me (or rather, potentially rescued me from myself) and took them up front to wrap up while I wandered some more. I'd not been in there in ages either. (The last time I purchased a McCoy Dog Cookie Jar for my BFF Sharon as a Christmas present. The exact same McCoy Dog Cookie Jar I'd already given her TWO other times!! I am now forbidden to buy cookie jars for her collection ... it was REALLY Cute .. HONEST!!!)
I figured eventually that I'd done enough damage to my bank account and decided to get a pizza and go home. There are other antique stores in Holly, but .. I'd had MY day!
I've been happily felting pincushions since late this afternoon and only managed to drive a needle through my finger once. Well, not exactly THROUGH, but really gave it a jab. Funny thing .. this was the first time I've ever had a finger go 'numb' from a felting incident. After about 15 minutes, I had feeling back AND the beginnings of an incredible bruise!
I must be taking after Padme!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
State Of The Needlearts
TO: Needleartists Everywhere!!
SUBJECT: Needlearts expertise, survey, GIFT CERTIFICATES
PLEASE complete the 2010 NeedleArts survey at www.NeedleArts2010.net . The needlearts community needs YOUR advice and opinions, whether you are a beginner or an expert! This survey is only conducted every few years. Your input is VERY important and will be included in a published national report.
Your answers are anonymous. No one will use your survey responses to market to you.
In return for your participation, you will receive valuable benefits:
· Gain a chance to win one of five $100 needlearts GIFT CERTIFICATES.
· Ensure stores and suppliers provide what you want.
· Explore your needlearts interests.
Your valuable input will help the needlearts community, too:
· Advocate for more programs to support the needlearts, such as Helping Hands Needlearts Mentoring, Stitch N’ Pitch, and Stitching for Literacy.
· Help independent retailers and family-owned suppliers succeed by giving them the customer feedback they need.
As a thank-you for completing the survey, The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is offering the chance to win one of five $100 needlearts store gift certificates. To enter the sweepstakes simply fill out the survey at www.NeedleArts2010.net and then click on “Sweepstakes Entry” on the page you see after submitting the survey.
The 10-minute survey asks about your experiences with the needlearts you enjoy: crocheting, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, or needlepoint. Let us know which types of projects you prefer, the kinds of new products you want, and what you’d like to see needlearts shops do better.
The survey is sponsored by The National NeedleArts Association, a business organization dedicated to supporting the needlearts community. Hart Business Research is conducting this survey for TNNA and compiling the results into a major national report, The State of Specialty Needlearts 2010. Please complete the survey right away at www.NeedleArts2010.net .
Survey closes April 19, 2010.
SUBJECT: Needlearts expertise, survey, GIFT CERTIFICATES
PLEASE complete the 2010 NeedleArts survey at www.NeedleArts2010.net . The needlearts community needs YOUR advice and opinions, whether you are a beginner or an expert! This survey is only conducted every few years. Your input is VERY important and will be included in a published national report.
Your answers are anonymous. No one will use your survey responses to market to you.
In return for your participation, you will receive valuable benefits:
· Gain a chance to win one of five $100 needlearts GIFT CERTIFICATES.
· Ensure stores and suppliers provide what you want.
· Explore your needlearts interests.
Your valuable input will help the needlearts community, too:
· Advocate for more programs to support the needlearts, such as Helping Hands Needlearts Mentoring, Stitch N’ Pitch, and Stitching for Literacy.
· Help independent retailers and family-owned suppliers succeed by giving them the customer feedback they need.
As a thank-you for completing the survey, The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is offering the chance to win one of five $100 needlearts store gift certificates. To enter the sweepstakes simply fill out the survey at www.NeedleArts2010.net and then click on “Sweepstakes Entry” on the page you see after submitting the survey.
The 10-minute survey asks about your experiences with the needlearts you enjoy: crocheting, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, or needlepoint. Let us know which types of projects you prefer, the kinds of new products you want, and what you’d like to see needlearts shops do better.
The survey is sponsored by The National NeedleArts Association, a business organization dedicated to supporting the needlearts community. Hart Business Research is conducting this survey for TNNA and compiling the results into a major national report, The State of Specialty Needlearts 2010. Please complete the survey right away at www.NeedleArts2010.net .
Survey closes April 19, 2010.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday!!!!
I've got a full load at home tomorrow!
(1) Do online banking against my checkbook and then write bills -- that should take care of an easy 2-3 hours.
(2) Do the finishing needed on Just Nan's "Needle Tweet" .. stitching is done, but the rest is cutting out and ironing on and stuff that's basically like 'Latin' to me! Maybe 2 hours?????
(3) Re-Do a felted scarf. I did one on Thursday and I knew when I was doing it that it was way too thin and needed more wool, but did I stop and take care of that? Noooooooooooo! So, when it was felted and finished, it was like gauze and has holes. So .. maybe 3 hours total with layout patching and then the felting.
(4) Finish the stuffing of the Camp goodie bags .. have 3 more items to put in and all is now here, so that can be done and crossed off my list. Probably an easy half hour.
Been laughing about the $100-million lawsuit Lindsay Lohan filed against E-Trade for their 'milkaholic Lindsay' baby commercial. She says it's based on her; that you can look at the baby and see the marked resemblance to her; that HER NAME is the same as Oprah or Madonna ... all you need to do is say "Lindsay" and the world knows who you're speaking about.
I don't know about you, but when I hear "Lindsay", I immediately think of my niece Lindsay Koch. Actually, unless you put Lindsay together with Lohan I would have no idea who you were talking about, nor could I pick her out of a lineup! Me thinks she needs to go back into rehab so the press can have something to say about her .. some people! And then she says, if the commercial wasn't meant to be 'all about her', why didn't they use the name "Susan"? sheesh, then someone Susan would have to sue???
My people are going to follow Lindsay around for awhile ... she had better not use the name "Deb" or "Stitches N Things" or there will be a lawsuit to put her $100 mill to shame!! LOL
I almost did have a lawsuit once...quite a while ago. Another cross stitch shop used "my shop name" in print instead of using their own. The ad read ..... in smaller print we have new and then in very LARGE print Stitches N Things and again in smaller print in the stock. The Stitches N Things was the only large print and their shop name was no where in the ad, just their address and phone number.
I had a call from a customer who had just seen their ad (in a newspaper that is state-wide) and called to congratulate me on 'branching out' and opening a new store site!
I went up about 13 feet in the air and came down dialing my atty's number. She was served with a cease & desist, the paper she was advertising in refused to run any more print jobs for her, and I spent the next 3 days hitting the court offices of every county surrounding my county and the state of Michigan offices filing DBA's so this couldn't happen again in the future.
What got to me the most about that? Not her advertising that she was 'me' but that she had come to me for advice and information on starting her own business and I gave her all the help I could. What a pay back! Oh .. she's no longer in business.
(1) Do online banking against my checkbook and then write bills -- that should take care of an easy 2-3 hours.
(2) Do the finishing needed on Just Nan's "Needle Tweet" .. stitching is done, but the rest is cutting out and ironing on and stuff that's basically like 'Latin' to me! Maybe 2 hours?????
(3) Re-Do a felted scarf. I did one on Thursday and I knew when I was doing it that it was way too thin and needed more wool, but did I stop and take care of that? Noooooooooooo! So, when it was felted and finished, it was like gauze and has holes. So .. maybe 3 hours total with layout patching and then the felting.
(4) Finish the stuffing of the Camp goodie bags .. have 3 more items to put in and all is now here, so that can be done and crossed off my list. Probably an easy half hour.
Been laughing about the $100-million lawsuit Lindsay Lohan filed against E-Trade for their 'milkaholic Lindsay' baby commercial. She says it's based on her; that you can look at the baby and see the marked resemblance to her; that HER NAME is the same as Oprah or Madonna ... all you need to do is say "Lindsay" and the world knows who you're speaking about.
I don't know about you, but when I hear "Lindsay", I immediately think of my niece Lindsay Koch. Actually, unless you put Lindsay together with Lohan I would have no idea who you were talking about, nor could I pick her out of a lineup! Me thinks she needs to go back into rehab so the press can have something to say about her .. some people! And then she says, if the commercial wasn't meant to be 'all about her', why didn't they use the name "Susan"? sheesh, then someone Susan would have to sue???
My people are going to follow Lindsay around for awhile ... she had better not use the name "Deb" or "Stitches N Things" or there will be a lawsuit to put her $100 mill to shame!! LOL
I almost did have a lawsuit once...quite a while ago. Another cross stitch shop used "my shop name" in print instead of using their own. The ad read ..... in smaller print we have new and then in very LARGE print Stitches N Things and again in smaller print in the stock. The Stitches N Things was the only large print and their shop name was no where in the ad, just their address and phone number.
I had a call from a customer who had just seen their ad (in a newspaper that is state-wide) and called to congratulate me on 'branching out' and opening a new store site!
I went up about 13 feet in the air and came down dialing my atty's number. She was served with a cease & desist, the paper she was advertising in refused to run any more print jobs for her, and I spent the next 3 days hitting the court offices of every county surrounding my county and the state of Michigan offices filing DBA's so this couldn't happen again in the future.
What got to me the most about that? Not her advertising that she was 'me' but that she had come to me for advice and information on starting her own business and I gave her all the help I could. What a pay back! Oh .. she's no longer in business.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Blather .. Blather ... Blather ...
Attempted assault by squirrel in garage foiled! News at 11~!
Traffic on quiet country road disrupted by herd of 9 deer standing & staring at approaching car!
Life taken in own hands by woman driving home with gas tank registering empty .. and driving back into town to find fuel!
Dog refuses to go outside unless toy drying out in front of wood stove is given to him!
Cat throws itself against window in attempt to catch squirrel on window ledge outside!
Unusually large possum tries to get into house through kitchen deck door; stares down dog and 1 cat nose to nose through glass; refuses to run or even scurry away when woman approaches it through snow on foot. Video at noon.
it's a zoo .. I live in a zoo
Traffic on quiet country road disrupted by herd of 9 deer standing & staring at approaching car!
Life taken in own hands by woman driving home with gas tank registering empty .. and driving back into town to find fuel!
Dog refuses to go outside unless toy drying out in front of wood stove is given to him!
Cat throws itself against window in attempt to catch squirrel on window ledge outside!
Unusually large possum tries to get into house through kitchen deck door; stares down dog and 1 cat nose to nose through glass; refuses to run or even scurry away when woman approaches it through snow on foot. Video at noon.
it's a zoo .. I live in a zoo
Monday, February 22, 2010
On The Road Again ....
... and heading back home from Nashville! Still a bit tired, but this was a FANTASTIC Market! Kudos to those vendors and shops who attended ... and a BIG "Boy Did You Ever Miss Out" to those who didn't attend! I think this was one of my better markets .... fun wise, shopping wise, networking wise .. it was just great!
If you've not been following Ellen Chesters' blog (With My Needle), check it out ... great photos of her booth/room AND lots of pictures of shop owners ... its so neat to be able to put a face to a name or a voice! I got to meet Tracy of Ink Circles in person and some others too. Karen Kubla of Rosewood Manor took my 'silk gauze' class. She had an idea of something she wanted to do, but wasn't sure how she was going to be able to pull it off. After seeing how I stitch on gauze as though I were just doing cross stitch and NOT the needlepoint manner of filling in the background (I find different materials to mount behind the gauze so only the design is stitched .. and the tin foil, or fabric, or colored mat board is the 'background') ... Karen said she can go ahead with her plan for a new design and feels really confident about it! I was just 'honored' to have a designer in my class room!!!
Bringing back 3, count em ... 3 TRUNK SHOWS with me! All of Hinzeit's NEW designs, some of Amy Bruecken's newest (she'll bring the rest to Camp when she comes to teach), as well as some of Elizabeth's Designs stitched models! I'll find room in the shop for display as quickly as I can and then will be boxing them all up again to take to the "Stitches N Things On The Road Boutique" for Camp at the Comfort Inn in Davison. If you're going to be in the area of my shop between this coming weekend and March 17th, stop in and check them out!! If you're going to be in the Davison MI area March 19 - 21, you will want to stop by the Comfort Inn and see them on display there! I've also found LOTS of incredibly really neat stuff to 'stock' the Camp Boutique with - I'm excited!!
Now to continue adding to the website. I seem to have brought everything I needed for this task EXCEPT for my camera charger .. so as long as I can take pics and put them on from here in the van, I will. The rest will have to wait ... some of the limited edition stuffs ... until I can get back to the shop. A portable scanner is now on my Christmas List!!
With that, I'd better get back to work! See you soon!
If you've not been following Ellen Chesters' blog (With My Needle), check it out ... great photos of her booth/room AND lots of pictures of shop owners ... its so neat to be able to put a face to a name or a voice! I got to meet Tracy of Ink Circles in person and some others too. Karen Kubla of Rosewood Manor took my 'silk gauze' class. She had an idea of something she wanted to do, but wasn't sure how she was going to be able to pull it off. After seeing how I stitch on gauze as though I were just doing cross stitch and NOT the needlepoint manner of filling in the background (I find different materials to mount behind the gauze so only the design is stitched .. and the tin foil, or fabric, or colored mat board is the 'background') ... Karen said she can go ahead with her plan for a new design and feels really confident about it! I was just 'honored' to have a designer in my class room!!!
Bringing back 3, count em ... 3 TRUNK SHOWS with me! All of Hinzeit's NEW designs, some of Amy Bruecken's newest (she'll bring the rest to Camp when she comes to teach), as well as some of Elizabeth's Designs stitched models! I'll find room in the shop for display as quickly as I can and then will be boxing them all up again to take to the "Stitches N Things On The Road Boutique" for Camp at the Comfort Inn in Davison. If you're going to be in the area of my shop between this coming weekend and March 17th, stop in and check them out!! If you're going to be in the Davison MI area March 19 - 21, you will want to stop by the Comfort Inn and see them on display there! I've also found LOTS of incredibly really neat stuff to 'stock' the Camp Boutique with - I'm excited!!
Now to continue adding to the website. I seem to have brought everything I needed for this task EXCEPT for my camera charger .. so as long as I can take pics and put them on from here in the van, I will. The rest will have to wait ... some of the limited edition stuffs ... until I can get back to the shop. A portable scanner is now on my Christmas List!!
With that, I'd better get back to work! See you soon!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Waving HI Frantically from the 5th floor ...
... at the Nashville Market! Dave and I are 'living' this weekend right in the 'middle' of the action ... floors 2, 3 & 4 and then floors 6 & 7 are the 'show' floors with each designer company in a room of their own ... totally remodeled into a little private store just for us to come shop in! Show officially opens tomorrow at 9am for shopping, but I had to meet with Claudia from Dutch Treat Designs this afternoon, so I got to go into her room early! What fun - how cool - all these new stitched pieces on display! Can't wait till I can spend money in there with her. Since there is such a problem getting the Anne cloth into this country right now, most of Claudia's new pieces are her stitched Victorian paper designs ... and you just gotta see these in person! You really do! In other words .. purchase them, stitch them up on perforated paper and TOTALLY WOW your friends and family members!!!
Last night got to spend time with friends, old and new, for several hours: Ellen from With My Needle, Miranda from The Stitching Post, Penny from Ewe Stitch, Carol and Jennie from Cross My Heart, Louise from Cherished Stitches, Karen from Rosewood Manor, and Donna from Satin Stitches. (Ellen did said I was NOT to say anything about 3 of us having 'sex on the beach' in my blog, but apparently .. I must have forgot that when I typed this! LOL)
Taught my gauze class this morning, then had lunch. Did some meeting and greeting with friends and then up to the room to drop off my class models and left over kits. Then decided to sit down and 'chat' with you all a bit. Tonight at 7pm is the "meet and greet" with a preview of what some of the market exhibitors will be showing us tomorrow when shopping begins. That's always so much fun .. a madhouse to be sure, but F U N !!
Have a Counted Thread Group Meeting at 8am tomorrow morning .. .then shopping begins! I keep getting all stressed out thinking how will I do all this and how will I get it all done and what if I miss something .... and then .... "deb - get a grip! This isn't exactly the first year you've been to a cash & carry market and you always get it done! And, unfortunately, there are some designers that are not here this year due to scheduling or family conflicts, so it won't be quite as crazed as it usually is! You'll be fine!! Go take a pill!" So I have my order cards ready and in order by room/floor number .. I know which ones I'm 'hitting' first, and know which ones I'm giving to Dave so he can go purchase for me (have to be very specific with Dave .. he has to have everything all written down so he can just smile and hand the card to someone, take the bag they give him, hand them the check, and leave .. all without having to say or explain anything! (Hey .. he's getting free room service foods here and all the TV he can watch .. he has to do some shopping things for me, right?!)
Anyway .. I'm excited .. I'll need to take a pill to sleep tonight .. this is like Christmas eve to a little one .. knowing that all the presents will be under the tree in the morning ready to dig into and then .. gift overload! Can't wait!
Last night got to spend time with friends, old and new, for several hours: Ellen from With My Needle, Miranda from The Stitching Post, Penny from Ewe Stitch, Carol and Jennie from Cross My Heart, Louise from Cherished Stitches, Karen from Rosewood Manor, and Donna from Satin Stitches. (Ellen did said I was NOT to say anything about 3 of us having 'sex on the beach' in my blog, but apparently .. I must have forgot that when I typed this! LOL)
Taught my gauze class this morning, then had lunch. Did some meeting and greeting with friends and then up to the room to drop off my class models and left over kits. Then decided to sit down and 'chat' with you all a bit. Tonight at 7pm is the "meet and greet" with a preview of what some of the market exhibitors will be showing us tomorrow when shopping begins. That's always so much fun .. a madhouse to be sure, but F U N !!
Have a Counted Thread Group Meeting at 8am tomorrow morning .. .then shopping begins! I keep getting all stressed out thinking how will I do all this and how will I get it all done and what if I miss something .... and then .... "deb - get a grip! This isn't exactly the first year you've been to a cash & carry market and you always get it done! And, unfortunately, there are some designers that are not here this year due to scheduling or family conflicts, so it won't be quite as crazed as it usually is! You'll be fine!! Go take a pill!" So I have my order cards ready and in order by room/floor number .. I know which ones I'm 'hitting' first, and know which ones I'm giving to Dave so he can go purchase for me (have to be very specific with Dave .. he has to have everything all written down so he can just smile and hand the card to someone, take the bag they give him, hand them the check, and leave .. all without having to say or explain anything! (Hey .. he's getting free room service foods here and all the TV he can watch .. he has to do some shopping things for me, right?!)
Anyway .. I'm excited .. I'll need to take a pill to sleep tonight .. this is like Christmas eve to a little one .. knowing that all the presents will be under the tree in the morning ready to dig into and then .. gift overload! Can't wait!
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Good, The Bad, and the INCREDIBLE
The GOOD: Just got the new images from Blue Ribbon Designs of her Nashville releases. Since this old computer at home 'lost' it's photo sizing capabilities in the BIG Crash Of '09, I'll have to wait until I get into the shop to add them to the What's New Page!
The BAD: Signed onto AOL weather to find out what the forcast would be for Nashville this week ...
THU Mostly Sunny 41 25 -- FRI Partly Cloudy 46 35 -- SAT Showers 44 30 -- SUN
Partly Cloudy 42 31
Dare I tell Dave? He so looks forward to this Market trip because in Tennessee we get a 'glimpse' of grass getting green and a bit more 'balmy' temperatures. (sign)
The INCREDIBLE: Just saw the picture of the COMPLETED and FRAMED "Autumn At Hawk Run Hollow" being introduced at Market from The Carriage House! As absolutely incredible as her previous "Hawk Run" series .. but absolutely different in layout! Another must-have for ME!!!
The BAD: Signed onto AOL weather to find out what the forcast would be for Nashville this week ...
THU Mostly Sunny 41 25 -- FRI Partly Cloudy 46 35 -- SAT Showers 44 30 -- SUN
Partly Cloudy 42 31
Dare I tell Dave? He so looks forward to this Market trip because in Tennessee we get a 'glimpse' of grass getting green and a bit more 'balmy' temperatures. (sign)
The INCREDIBLE: Just saw the picture of the COMPLETED and FRAMED "Autumn At Hawk Run Hollow" being introduced at Market from The Carriage House! As absolutely incredible as her previous "Hawk Run" series .. but absolutely different in layout! Another must-have for ME!!!
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