Sunday, September 16, 2012

Comments Anyone?

Hello Stitching Friends,

I have been looking at a lot of blogs out there trying to get new ideas for my blog.  I changed the look of the blog and I am wondering what you think.  If you have ideas as to what you would like to see more of on this blog, please leave a comment.  If I implement one of your ideas, I will send you a free chart from Milady's  Needle.  I would like to have this blog be one that people like to read and comment on.  So, let me hear it from you out there in blog land. 


I am stitching tonight and will be attending Sampler Sunday at the Attic tomorrow.  Wish I was already stitching on the new sampler design, but I am still charting it and choosing colors.  So, I will have to choose another sampler to bring with me to stitch on while there.  It should be a fun afternoon.  I love to look at all the samplers that others are working on and of course the new things will be in from the Baltimore Market. 

Off to stitch for awhile now and hope you are doing the same.

Until next time,

Gloria

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

New Designs In the Works


Hello Friends,

Well, the last post I did was supposed to be on my personal blog as I am not sure how many of you are really all that interested in what I am stitching for friends or what I am reading or for that matter how I am feeling on any given day.  :)  I wondered where that post went on my personal blog and searched for it everywhere.  Guess I didn't think to look at this blog.  So, if you wondered why I was telling you all that stuff...well..it was an oops moment.  :)

So, back to Milady's Needle doings.  The Summer Sampler Soiree at the Attic was simply wonderful!!  I had a great time teaching the finishing of the pin cushion and scissors fob.  Whilte I was teaching the class, I realized that my finishing technique for this piece is different enough that it would be a good teaching project rather than simply releasing it as a pattern. All the designers have agreed not to release their Soiree pieces for one year.  So I decided to release this design as a teaching piece and will be starting to schedule classes at the Nashville Needlework Market in 2013.  Classes will be scheduled beginning the fall of 2013.  I hope that some of the shops there will be interested and those of you who belong to guilds, please be sure to let your workshop chairperson know that Milady's Needle will be teaching the Garden Delight Pin Cushion and Fob.  They can contact me at gloria@miladysneedle.com. 

I am busy getting ready for the October Online Show.  I didn't attend the Baltimore Market this year, but I am looking forward to the next fall market being back in the middle of the country again.  I would love to return to St. Charles, Missouri, but I am not sure where the market is going to be next fall.  I am sure we will know by the Nashville Market, which is in February. 

In the meantime I am working on completing a few new things.  I have Christmas Ornaments in the works as well as Ann Smith Blockley's Needlework Accessories.  I am working on two reproductions and hope to have them complete for the Nashville Market.  If you read the Attic Needlework Newsletter, you will have seen a picture of these samplers.  Here is a sneak peak of M. Woods. 


The first picture is of the front of the sampler and the second is of the back of the sampler.  Look at those colors pop!!  I love looking at the back of the antique samplers.  The colors are so rich and bright.  I know that a lot of you love the older, softer look on the front, so never fear, I will include the softer colors in the final chart.  I think that she is going to be lovely with the original colors. 

The exciting thing about this sampler is that it is also going to be pictured in Joanne Lukacher's upcoming book about the samplers of Norfolk, England which will be published by In The Company of Friends.  I won't tell you too  much about this now except to say it will be available in February of 2013.  I will tell you more when I know more about the book.

A sneak peak of the other sampler in the works will be posted at a later date.  Don't you just get excited about new reproductions!!  I do and I love to look at what other designers are reproducing.  Several new ones were released at the Baltimore Market.  Look for all the latest reproductions at your local needlework shop.

Until Next Time,

Gloria

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Gloomy Day


So, it's a cloudy in Arizona today.  Not many of these kinds of days in the Valley of the Sun.  I love bright sunshine, so when it clouds up I begin to feel a bit gloomy myself. 

So to cheer myself up, I am doing some of my favorite things....that is reading and stitching.  I am working on a gift for my good friend Kim.  She will be coming to visit here in October and her birthday is the 22nd, so of course the stitching is Halloween related.  Although I am not much on Halloween decorating myself, she loves Halloween and decorates and stitches on Halloween themed items as the 31st looms ahead.  I am looking forward to the visit and I know she will like the surprises I have in store for her birthday.  I won't post pictures until we actually celebrate as I really do want her to be surprised.  Will let you know how it turns out. 

I am currently reading House Rules by Jodi Picoult for my book club which meets on Monday.  Don't know that I will have it completely read, but it's a nice group of women, so I will go to the meeting anyway.  It's been a good read so far and I have always enjoyed Picoult's books. 

I am also reading Les Miserables.  Whew, a very long book, but very interesting.  The jury is out right now as to the rating, but I am still reading, so either I just want to get through over a 1,000 page book or I am still hooked into the story.

Next up on the book list is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. 

Guess I should get busy here, as the day is slipping by as time usually does.  Some days I wish I could slow it down.  When I was  kid I always wanted to speed things up.  How life changes.

Until next time,

Gloria


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Attic Needlework Summer Sampler Soiree


Hello Friends,

I was thrilled when Jean from The Attic Needlework Shop asked me to participate in the upcoming Summer Sampler Soiree on the 17th - 19th of August.  We have quite a few designers in the area and there are a lot of great projects going to be stitched that weekend!!  Joining me will be Tanya from Scarlet House, Vickie and Meagan from NeedleworkPress, Linda from Samplers Remembered, Bunny and Apryl from Priscilla's Pocket, Linda from Needlemade Designs, and Nancy from Five Times Blessed.    I am excited!!  The project is finished, I have ordered supplies and I will kitting up the class projects within a week or so.  Thought you might like to see what the class project looks like.




Garden Delight
Pin Cushion & Fob



Check out all the classes in the newsletter which Jean sends out every Thursday Evening at: www.atticneedlework.com/.

Until Next Time....

Gloria

Monday, July 30, 2012

Margaret Brown Stitched


Hello Friends,



















It's always nice to see some of your stitching of Milady's Needle designs.  Last week, as I was reading through all the blogs that I follow, I found Margaret beautifually stitched by Shannon.  And she plans to stitch Sarah also.  Shannon says she changed the colors to overdyed silks.  Isn't this simply stunning!!  You can see Shannon's other stitching at: www.lovetostitch-onestitchatatime.blogspot.com. 

Send me a picture of your completed Milady's Needle projects and I will post them on my blog.

Til Next Time...

Gloria

Saturday, July 21, 2012

What's Up At Milady's House


Hello Friends,

Take a look at my personal blog ( www.samplermakerssamplerspot.blogspot.com ) for information on what's happening at Milady's home in Arizona.

We returned from a trip to Canyon De Chelly and we able to get the closets finished for moving in all my stash, work related fibers, fabrics and needlework tools. One picture says a thousand words.



Until Next Time.... Enjoy Your Stitching Time.

Gloria

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Feedback Needed From Stitchers


Hello Stitching Friends,

I am in need of feedback from those of you who would like to stitch the design Cottage Charm, but have not yet purchased the kit.  The kit came with linen, floss and fabric for the needle book and pocket. 


Cottage Charm Stitcher's Pocket

Cottage Charm Needle Book Inside





The kit is no longer available, because the fabric is no longer available.  Despite searching everywhere for more of this fabric, I have been unsuccessful.  I have never discontinued any of my designs, as I still have orders for them, so I hate to do this at this point.  I have had requests from shops for the kit, but have had to disappoint them. So, it would seem that there are still those who might want this design.  Obviously those who have the kit will be ahead of the game as they have the fabric for finishing which accents the piece so well.  But, I am sure there are other fabrics available that would work nicely too.
So...I am wondering...how do you feel about offering this design as a pattern.  I would like to hear from shops as well and stitchers about this before I release this as a pattern. 

Please let me know your thoughts about this before I retire this pattern for good.  I always appreciate feedback from stitchers and shops.

Until next time...keep your needles busy.

Gloria