It's like Weight Watchers for rug hookers...

Updated Friday afternoon...

Before I moved here I started a hooked rug just for me...which I very seldom do because I just don't seem to have the time when there is so much that needs to be done for the shop. When I got here to NC, it all went into a big basket up in my work studio and there it has sat ever since! The other night I was sitting there in a daze looking at it...thinking...."this is nuts! I'm going to treat this project like Weight Wathers and get this thing done!" It's all about accountability, right?

SO...I brought it all down to the living room, sat it by my favorite chair and every day I am going to work on this rug and at the end of the week I'm going to post a picture of its progress...again, accountability! I though maybe if I have to show some progress each week, it will help keep me on track and I'll finally have a "me" rug that can go in the house!

So...here are the beginning pictures...




And if anyone would like to join my "Rug Watchers" group, we can send pictures to each other every week for encouragement and positive reinforcement!

Now back to shop news....

We've put in an order for a new upcoming book...Maggie Bonanomi's "Book of Days"...due out in February. I want to make sure we order plenty...so I am takng pre-orders on this book.
Maggie Bonanomi designed a Book of Days that can be used as a calendar, scrapbook,or journal – now you can make one too. Maggie’s version is filled with photos of her favorite seasonal surroundings, quotes, and hand-drawn art. She shares how she made her book and ways you can tailor yours to fit your taste! Make a book for yourself or as gift for a special friend! Inside you’ll find instructions for putting a book together and lots of inspiration for filling the pages. $14.95 per copy...WOW members will receive a 15% discount on this purchase!



We've decided to start carrying Rug Hooking Magazine in the shop! For those of you that have trouble finding it, we will now carry the magazine, starting with the Jan/Feb issue. Cover price is $9.95...WOW girls, don't forget your discount! If you need us to reserve you a copy, just email us!



New Spring pattern in the shop this weekend...Chicks n' Pussy Willows! Overall size is 16" x 11"...makes a cute spring pillow or runner. Pattern price is $6.95. (WOW price is $6.25.) I'm going to try and have a few kits ready for this weekend...I'll let you know a price for those later!



Some great vintage pink fabrics are coming in this weekend...$7.95 per yard






1) Marcus Brothers from Charleston V collection
2) Moda by Minnick & Simpson
3) Moda from Three Sisters Favorites
4) Moda from Paris Flea Market
5) Thimbleberries by RJR from the 2007 Club Series





Two fun red prints...




Both of these are by Moda...Minick & Simpson...$7.95 per yard






A fantastic blue/cream print by Minick & Simpson for Moda...












And one more fun print from a Moda line by Sandy Gervais called "We the People"











Judy Condon called today...her next book,"Simply Country Gardens" will be shipping in two weeks! If you want your name on the list to receive one...just let me know!
Book price is $24.95 (WOW discount applies!)




Last weekend I had a laundry basket full of stuff that was out of my studio...selling it CHEAP! Needless to say, it only took a couple of hours and most of the stuff was off to new homes! I'm bringing in more this weekend...mostly 5 melton weight wools...red, cream, soldier blue, light golden/sage and a great dark green wool...all of these wools retail at $20 per yard.....I'm selling them for $8 a yard! The Melton weight wools are also great to dye over and make perfect backgrounds for penny rugs or if you do clothing, jackets and vests. Here are the colors so you can see...

Ok girls....yall wiped me out of the wool! Right now there is only 22" of red left!









Yall all have a great weekend...come see us if you get the chance!


Lisa

Valentines and Cupids

(Updated Thursday late afternoon...)

Now that the Christmas/New Year holidays are behind us, it's time to think hearts and bunnies!

We have on order three new patterns from Country Stitches...I want to make sure that we get enough for anyone who wants to get it...so I'm taking pre-orders on these three patterns and the linen as well! (WOW members...don't forget about your discount!)


St. Valentines Fraktur...overall size is 4" x 12". Pattern price...$12.95


New Castle 40 ct. linen in "Raw"...you'll need an 18" square for the project below...price per 18" piece is $11.95


"Love Filled Heart". Makes a 6 1/2" heart pocket/pinkeep...perfect to stash away your favorite pair of embroidery scissors and sewing pins. I will include the tiny chenille that goes around the outside at no charge! $8.95 for the pattern.


"Cupid's Arrow" pattern...makes a sweet little stuffed cherub with paper wings and a stuffed red heart...pattern price is $11.95 and comes with the red fabric for the heart.

If anyone would like to pre-order...just email me and I'll get you on the list!

(Monday evening...)

Got a nice big stack of springtime wools dyed today...so far there are about 35 colors coming in...I've been humming "here comes peter cottontail" all day in my head! One more day of dying and we should have a good jump on Spring projects!



And...the January free wool for the WOW members is done! Come pick up your piece when you have the chance!



Just came down from my studio a few minutes ago where I swore I wasn't coming down until I had that pit of a workspace cleaned up and I could find stuff again! In the process, I found this cute little Valentine project that we did years ago for a beginner stitchery class...thought I'd make a few kits and bring them in this weekend! Price will be $6.95 and will have everything you need to make it just as you see it. It fits into a 5 x 7 frame or makes a cute little pillow! (I accidently spayed mine with Brown Sugar room spray...thinking it was my bottle of walnut crystal dye...how stupid was that! However, I will say, it smells delightful!)



"Down the Maiden's Path" patterns for February (Martha) and March/April (Annabell) are now done and available for purchase. $6.95 each...kits won't be ready until Feb. 1st for Martha and a little later for Annabell...













One last quick note...the next Settler's Pride block is ready for the girls who are doing that project. If yours gets mailed, it has either gone out already or will go out tomorrow. (My mail lady got here before I could get all the shipping labels done!) If you normally pick it up, it will be ready and at the shop this weekend!



Well...back to cutting kits...here comes the weekend!
Lisa

Forget Winter.....think Spring!!

Isn't it funny how once the holidays are over with, you're ready to start thinking Spring? Most everyone that came into the shop last weekend could have cared less about the sale we were having on our Christmas goodies....all they were wanting were bunnies and pastel wools and anything else that makes you whistle a Springtime tune!

So here we go....I reordered some of our best selling Spring punchneedle projects...guaranteed to warm you up even when it's freezing outside! All of these run $11.95...(WOW price is $10.75)









There are more designs at the shop as well! Also...new ones coming...but it'll be about a week or so...





Better late than never....Not Forgotten Farm's new 2011 Calendar...12 great watercolor drawings that could be wonderfully adapted for punchneedle, rug hooking or applique! $14.00 (Special WOW pricing is $11.50!)



And one more thing for today...we got the great bolt in from Blue Hill Fabrics...from the American Independence line. Regular retail is $9.50...our price is $7.95 (WOW discount applies as well)...



Is anyone looking for a Singer Featherweight sewing machine? One of our good friends and vendors outside came across one and we are trying to help him sell it! Made in 1947, it is in great running condition...complete with original case, attachments and original manual. Black in color, it is in very good "looking condition" with some paint loss to the edges where your hands/fabric lay...just from years of use. It was serviced back in the 90's and then not used much after that...he's got it at a really good price of $195.00/OBO. We've got it at the shop if anyone would like to take a look at it!

We'll be handing out a free little counted cross stitch give-away project this weekend too!

More coming later....until then, Lisa

Our "Oh Thank Heavens, it's 2011" Sale starts Saturday!!!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday...can you believe it's almost 2011! Where did 2010 go?? It seems like it was just a blurr and now it's time to start a whole new year!!

I feel like we've been closed FOREVER...with Christmas and then the BIG snowfall all last weekend...but the weather will be in the 60's this weekend and we will finally be open once again! We'll have a storewide sale this weekend only...details further down...

A couple of new things to share and show though for now...

The February 2011 issue of Early American Life arrived and will be in the shop for this weekend...$4.99 for the issue. This one has some really good articles...one on hooked rugs written by Edyth O'Neill, a great article on North Carolina Moravian Figural bottles, restoring a 1700's stone farmhouse, rumford fireplaces, new life for old buildings, plus lots more! If you need a copy held for you....just let me know!




The next "Down the Maiden's Path" pattern will be in the shop this weekend..."Crystal" is the January maiden....a fun project to do while we wait for Spring to arrive! I'm working on kits now. Cross your fingers...I might have some done by the weekend as well! Pattern price is $6.95 and the kit price (which includes the pattern) is $28.00. Wow members get special pricing on the kit for $25.00.



Now for the "particulars" of our sale....it's for one weekend only, January 1st and
2nd....

10% off storewide - the regular stuff
20% off Christmas merchandise (including all christmas patterns for wool applique, stitchery, and punchneedle)
50% off All Keepers of the Light jar candles (current stock only)

Yall have a Happy New Years...hope to see you!
Lisa

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Just a quick post tonight...I got home from Texas on Tuesday and have been holiday baking for the last couple of days! It just doesn't seem like Christmas if you don't have some holiday home baked goodies to eat!

This is our last weekend to be open before the "big day" next Saturday... we will be open until 6pm both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Don't forget, we have gift certificates available for any amount! And lots of great things for $10 and less. Perfect for stocking stuffers, treats for your neighbors, or just a little something extra for yourself!

I also wanted to let all of our customers know that we will not be open the Sunday after Christmas.

So....If we don't get a chance to see you this weekend, we hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday and we'll see you when we reopen on Jan. 1st! (Our "Oh Thank Heavens for 2011" sale will start that day! Details coming soon...)

Stay warm....Lisa/Shawn

Winter has hit the South!! (updated Wednesday 8th)

Oh my gosh it's cold here....19 for the low tonight and in the mid 30's for tomorrow...North Carolina is considered the "south", right?
I have to go back to Houston to check on my mom for a week and I'll be leaving Wednesday.... so I won't be in the shop this weekend. (I'm leaving it in the capable hands of Shawn and Sue!) At least by the weekend, I'll be back to temperatures in the 70's...yea!

There are a bunch of new patterns coming in that will be here for the weekend! A new cross stitch or two and some new punchneedle patterns...














These first four patterns are new winter designs by Country Stitches...all punchneedle patterns...I especially love the sheep and winter stocking design! They all are $11.95 each...(WOW discount applies!).

This is a new cross-stitch pattern...two cute little christmas pinkeeps...$9.95



This pattern has a little cross-stitch pinkeep, a punchneedle sewing box and a little tomato made from wool...$9.95



And lastly...two more cute punchneedle patterns...$9.95 each. The first pattern is new to the shop...and the second pattern we've had in the past but sold out. They both make adorable little "purse" pockets...




Plus...I ordered about 20 other punchneedle patterns...all best sellers...so we'll be well stocked!









I put together kits on the Candy Canes and Gingerbread runner...after filling the orders, there are a few left and they will be at the shop this weekend. Kit price, which includes the pattern and everything you need is $29.95 (WOW discount applies!). If you want one and can't make it to the shop, just let me know!

I dyed a bunch a great textured reds and greens today, plus a few other colors we were low on...come take a look if you are needing something to finish that christmas project!

Stay warm and I'll see everyone when I get back!
Lisa

Is it Friday already??

Oh my gosh...it is Friday already! I'm sorry to say...there won't be alot of pictures in this update...and I'll try and not to get tooooo wordy with what all new is coming into the shop this weekend!

We've got some great old primitive smalls coming in...some for only this weekend (cuz I've got my eye on one or two as christmas presents for me!)...



1) Mass. made (not extremely old) spoon rack/candle box. Great black/green over red paint. At the bottom, it has a door that drops down, above that is a candle box and then a place for pewter/silver spoons up top. 29" high by 14" wide. It can either sit or hang...$85.00

2)Nice old firkin...small one! 6 1/2" diameter...top of the stack size. Wire bail handle...all tacks on the bands..it has its original surface (never painted)...$125.00

3)Shoo fly cover...this is a real one, not "made up" from something else. Nice original green paint on the knob handle...$50.00

4)Bail handled pantry box...mid to late 1800's with it's original windsor green painted surface...$250.00

5) Yellow ware butter mold...this is a nice larger early one...with sheath of wheat design on the inside...$50.00

6) Nice stoneware pitcher with cobalt decoration. Not an "oldie"... but if you collect Crocker and Springer pieces..this would fit right in! (I'd almost think it was one of theirs but it doesn't have any markings.) About 10" tall...$25.00

Not pictured....

7) Really nice BIG bread board...much better than most...all heavy heart pine..really pretty handle...overall size is 19" x 32"...$125.00

8) Excellent hand painted gameboard...signed and dated A.D.Adams, Jacksonville, NC, 1942. Great americana colors of red/white and blue...condition is wonderful...$225.00

(There's a realy cool country store counter top pie safe coming in next weekend! Came out of the mountains of Virginia...all solid oak and a nice smaller size. Be great in someone's country kitchen!)

I think that's it for the old stuff!

Just in today...the new edition of the Wool Street Jounal! Haven't even had a chance to turn the pages to see what's inside yet...$8.00 per copy (WOW discount applies!)



Teatowels are back in stock...red/cream, green/cream and black/cream. All in the "tea-dyed" colors...$3 each

Our first order of Cooke Tavern Soups have come in! Always makes a great winter meal and quick to put together! All of our favorites...Yankee Doodle Chicken Noodle, Barn Raising Vegetable (fantastic when you add stew meat to it!),Candlelight Corn Chowder, Broccoli Cheddar Chowder...and two new ones this year...Henna Marie's Cheddar Potato and Mi Madre Maria's Chicken Tortilla soup. Each Package makes a big batch...$6.95 each.



Vicki Wallace made us some more little treasures for the shop...her christmas mice have been selling as fast as she can make them! We'll have a few more of those little guys, along with some other surprises! Come and see what we bring in!

Hmm...let see...a couple of new bolts of fabric...civil war blues will be coming in...some new patterns, more new dyed wool colors...hand made wool Santa stockings and candle mats, and I'm sure some other goodies that I can't remember right now!

And if you didn't catch the picture at the top & right...the kits for "Holly" (the December Maiden) will be ready this weekend! $28 for the complete kit (WOW price is $25).

Guess I better get back to working on kits before I go to bed! Yall have a great weekend and come see us if you get out and around!

Lisa