Twas the night before Christmas!

Merry Christmas,

Here it is 5 minutes before midnight and I am getting ready to hit the hay. Santa had to deliver some stuff first and eat cookies & milk before she could go to bed. :)

I am thinking back on a wonderfully full year with many surprises, challenges and joyful times with friends, family and my extended needlework family. I am grateful for the new friends I have met this year. One can never have too many friends. My thanks go to those of you who have been a great support to me and you know who you are!! I feel very blessed to have you in my life.

Christmas is a time of celebration. Celebration of new life and the possibility of rebirth. I am grateful for the many gifts that have been given to me this year. Besides the many gifts of time, patience, support and love that I have received from friends and family there is the gift of learning that comes with facing new challenges and doing the best that I can to overcome obstacles in my path. Though sometimes the learning can be difficult, I know that in the end it will be for the greater good.

So, with best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010 I bid you goodnight as the clock strikes midnight and Christmas is here!

Keep warm and get some stitching time during the holidays.

Gloria

Time Seems To Fly

Hello Stitching Friends,

As I grow older it seems as though time just slips away and suddenly it's the end of the year or the beginning of a new one. Why is it that when I was young I couldn't wait for time to fly and now that I am older it's "hey...slow down"!! Guess it's that sense of my own mortality that makes me want to have the days go slower. Maybe it's the time of year. The seasons draw the earth cycle to a close and it's always so beautiful as it ends with the glorious colors of fall. Texas is usually slower than the rest of the country when it comes to fall colors. Although they aren't as brilliant as the northern fall colors, they do change and there are bright spots if you only pause to look at them. So, the last two weeks I have noticed the beauty of the season. Of course the season in Texas is short, so don't blink or you will miss the colors.

This is the ornament I designed for my home guild (Tudor Rose Sampler Guild). I was able to teach the stitches at our November Guild meeting. I think I may offer it as a kit for guilds to use as a teaching piece. It would be a good piece for those in sampler guilds to learn a lot of new stitches. The stitches include: Rice Stitch, Diamond Eyelet, Smyrna Cross, Long-Arm Cross, Alternating Double Back Stitch, Satin Stitch Variations, Montenegrin Stitch, Queen Stitch, Four-sided Stitch, Lora Standish Stitch, Two-Sided Italian Stitch, Ray Stitch, Double Herringbone Stitch, Rhodes Star Stitch, Alternating Mosaic Stitch and Cross Stitch. Stitchers will learn 15 sampler stitches. I received some very nice feedback from guild members and I am grateful for the chance to participate in guild functions with so many wonderful sampler stitchers.

I finally got the printer fixed. It only took a month for the parts to come in! I am finishing up the printing of the final pattern of the year. Of course looking at works in progress for the Nashville Market keeps my designing hat on. However, it's good to feel like I can breathe again as the pin cushions production list is winding down and the final orders are going out within the next few weeks.

I am working on my ornament for our guild Christmas ornament exchange. It's nice to stitch on something other than my own designs. There is so much out there to stitch and I have so little time to stitch on the many beautiful patterns in my stash. I am look forward to the weekly stitching time with friends on Thursday evenings. Stitching friends are really forever friends. We will be losing one of our stitching friends to Germany for two years. Although, she will be missed a great deal, I know that our friendship is strong enough to bridge the distance. Who knows, maybe I will finally get to Europe!!

I hope all of you have had some days or at least a few hours to stitch on your favority projects during the last few weeks of the year. Enjoy those hours of solitude with needle and thread!

Happy Stitching,
Gloria

Winners of the Online Needlework Show Drawning

Hello All,

I went to my regular Thursday night stitching group and we had a wonderful time laughing, eating and talking. Not much stitching was done and my friend Michelle should have reminded us of her blog title a few days ago ("Less Talkie and More Stitchie") before we got too far into the evening!! We had a great time!! Aren't stitching friends the greatest!!

On my way to meet with my group, I had my friend Kim cut up all the names from the comments section of the blog for the drawing. I had copied all of your comments with the names so that I could use them for the drawing. Near the end of the evening I had each friend draw a name from the container and then narrowed it down from four to one. The winner of the drawing is Elizabeth of Witch of Stitches!! Congratulations Elizabeth!!

But wait...when I arrived home, I found that three of the pieces of paper with names on them that were cut on the way to the meeting had lodged under the drivers seat of my car. Guess Kim got a little crazy with the cutting! So, I decided that I would simply add those names back in and do a second drawing. So you all had a second chance at winning. The second winner is Kellylee! Congratulations to you Kelly!!

It was great to have so many entries for the drawing and the number of you who joined as followers is wonderful! Thank-you all for your lovely comments on my designs. It helps every designer to know that there are more than just her close friends who like what she or he is creating!! :) Please do keep visiting Milady's Blog and keep up with the latest news on the design front. Hopefully my husband and I will be able to get the website into shape this next year and I will let you all know when it's ready to view.

Hope you will have many blessed stitching moments this fall.

Warmly,

Gloria

Milady Goes To The Online Needlework Show

Hi All,

The online needlework show starts in about 3 days. I have new and not so new items for you to view with quite a few Christmas ornaments in the mix. Of course all the new items from the recent St. Charles Needlework Market are there and in addition there is a new Christmas Ornament that will be released at the online show. "Woodland Christmas" is pictured here. It is finished as a stand-up ornament and the fabric chosen to surround the ornament was just perfect!!

To see a few more designs not listed in the show, but available for purchase, search the previous posts in my blog and go to my website.

Go to: http://needleworkshow.com/index.html to see the show. See you there!

Gloria

New Releases From St. Charles

Hi All,

I am home exhausted, but we had a wonderful time at the show!! It is always fun to see what everyone has come up with between shows. Seeing the models makes all the difference. I promised to post the pictures of the new items...so here goes:

Halloween Rules is done both as a ruler and a basket band. It's stitched on 40 count R&R Garden State Java with Weeks Dye Works Threads. The instructions for finishing are included in the chart.




Christmas Elegance is done in both a simple Cross Stitch chart and as Asissi work (where the background is stitched instead of the actual pattern). This changes the look of the finished work. The piece is stitched on 40 count River Willow by Lakeside Linens and 35 count Beige by Weeks Dye Works using Crescent C0lours Silks.

ABC 123 is designed with the quilter/cross stitcher in mind. It is stitched on 30 count Tin Roof by Weeks Dye Works using Gentle Arts Simply Wool. It is mounted on Weeks Dye Works Houndstooth Wool Fabric with the Blanket Stitch. It was fun to stitch.





Winter is Past is stitched on 36 Count Sand Dune by Lakeside Linens Silks using Au Ver A Soie. The lovely bright colors add to the charm.

Trade Show Special: In The Garden. This piece was only offered at the show, so you will find this kit at shops that attended the market. Although this will again be offered at the Nashville Market in 2010, you will probably need to look around to find a needlework shop that carries this cute box. It comes as a complete kit. It is stitched on 40 Count Vintage Butter Cream from Lakeside Linens.

I hope you like the new releases and will ask your shop to carry Milady's Needle Designs.

Till next time...may your stitching bring you many rewards. Gloria

Hello From The St. Charles Market

Hello All,

Here I am at the St. Charles Needlework Market!! It's been a busy day setting up the booth and getting ready for the influx of customers that we hope will inundate us tomorrow. Sylvia, Kim and I have already been shopping during the early bird shopping hours. They have both put a dent in their wallets, while I have been good so far.

We are excited to see how people will like the new items including Halloween Rules, Christmas Elegance, ABC 123, Winter Is Past and the new Adam & Eve box. I will post pictures as soon as I am able.

I brought my laptop with me and my husband has not downloaded all my pictures so I will have to post them by taking pictures of the pictures I have with me and post them. Hopefully tomorrow night. The light in the hotel room is very yellow, so I am not sure how good the pictures will turn out.

If you want to see the new things before tomorrow go to Sylvia's blog. She took pictures earlier this afternoon and is posting them as we speak. Go to http://runningwithneedles-sylvie.blogspot.com/.

Stitch faster...a lot of new stuff will be calling your name!!

Gloria

Michelle Finished Her Pin Cushion

Hello All,

Just wanted you to see Michelle's lovely pin cushion using BlackBird Designs bonus pattern from "The Simple Things". You can check out her blog at: http://cozyegg.blogspot.com/.

Market is just around the corner!!

Hello All,



My house will be a warehouse until after market now. Strung around the living room is fabric, charts, models, embossed boxes, silks and cotton floss all over the place. My husband has given up suggesting that I bring some order into this chaos and if I look in the garage where he is still busy turning pin cushions...I could suggest the same!!



We are busy getting all of our ducks in a row so that packing up for market will be easier than the last time. Every year my coherts in crime say,"we are not going to fit everything into the truck Gloria!!" But, after pushing, shoving, and rearranging, much to the dismay of my associates, everything does fit.



For this market...things will be tight. We still have the Milady's Acorn Box from the last market as some shops did not attend Nashville and will want another chance to purchase this box. We also are bringing a new box called "In the Garden". It is stitched on 40 count Butter Cream linen from Lakeside Linens using both Gentle Arts and Crescent Colours cotton floss. It will include the floss, the fabric to stitch the design, the finishing fabric and the pattern with finishing instructions. Adam and Eve are under that tree surrounded by a flowered vine, a squirrel, a rabbit and of course the alphabet. The snake is there too!! :) We are bringing enough so that hopefully we will not run out like the last market. You wouldn't believe how much room those little boxes take up.



It's late tonight so I will let you know about the other things coming out at market as soon as I can get back here to post again.



Happy Stitching To All!



Gloria

Back In The Saddle

Hello All,

Well, I have been out of pocket due to surgery, but I am back in the Saddle now and working on new releases for the St. Charles Needlework Market. Coming up are two Christmas patterns (Christmas Elegance & Woodland Christmas), My Little Bees Ruler Pocket, Winter is Past (Sampler), ABC 123 (Sampler), Halloween Rules (Ruler and Basket Liner), In The Garden (Adam & Eve Box with fob) and hopefully Margaret Brown (An American Quaker Reproduction Sampler). If the latter doesn't get done for this market, it will for the Nashville Market. I can't really post pictures now, as I like to keep things under wraps until the Needlework Markets, so the shops have a chance to pick the new items up before you start asking for them. So, please be patient awhile longer. Maybe when I am at the Needlework Market, I can post the pictures.

Rick is still working on the pin cushion orders! The number of orders keeps growing, but he is plugging along doing the best he can to get these done for the shops. If you have ordered a pin cushion from your local shop, don't give up hope...they are coming.

Hope you are all merrily stitching away on something you love stitching.

Gloria

Oops

Hi All,

Joanne in PA found a mistake on the symbol key of the Acorns Rule Floss Tag and notified me by email. It looks as though I didn't include the symbol for the letter G on the graph. I identified the Weeks Chestnut color as the Acorn Cap Stitch and completely missed the only place on the graph with the symbol X. So, if you are stitching this particular floss tag, simply make a note that the G is done in Chestnut (1269).

By the way if you find a mistake in any of my patterns, please let me know! I always appreciate a heads up about these kinds of things.

Gloria

New Laptop

So, my husband ordered me a new laptop from HP. Since he now works for them, we get a discount on our product from them. So here I am getting used to typing on a laptop and using the controls. It will work nicely to have this available now for markets so that I don't have to wait to enter everything at home and discover the errors in adding. I am excited to use this on trips wherever and whenever.

Today Rick is again out turning pin cushions. And I am again acting as quality control. Now if the wood would just cooperate, we could get on a roll with all the pin cushions that need to be finished.

In other news, I am getting a few projects together for my stitchers to get busy on so that I will have some new things to introduce at the next market. Just to give you a taste...there will be a Halloween ruler and basket, at least two Christmas ornaments, a Bees Ruler Pocket, hopefully the next in the sampler motifs and meaning series and finally a new box with an Adam and Eve theme. These are the projects currently in the works. If all goes well, some of them even might be ready to release before market!

I better sign off now. Included the forest picture to remind me to relax and smell the roses. I hope you will all have some stitching time this weekend.

Relax and Enjoy!

Gloria

Loose Feather's Pin Cushion

I just thought I would post a picture of the pin cushion that I talked about in an earlier post. The lovely Blackbird Designs ladies have used our large walnut pin cushion for their bonus pattern in their recent release. A very cute addition to a stitcher's smalls collection. Back to work now. :)

Stitch to your hearts content!

Gloria

July/August 2009 Just Cross Stitch

The new Just Cross Stitch Magazine (July/August) is now out and contains an ornament from Milady's Needle. It's called A Spot of Christmas and will be followed by the companion in the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue in September. Not sure why they chose to use lime green as a background...but designers don't take the pictures for the magazine spread. Ah well. Hope you like the new ornament.

Today has been a lazy kind of day. Although Rick was busy turning pin cushions, he stopped a bit early so that we could get take out and watch a ball game. I will be stitching on a new design, which is always hush, hush until it's officially released. Shops like to have them in house before customers start to ask for them. I may decide to give a sneak peak when I am further along, but that depends on when it actually gets done. :)

Hope you are all enjoying some time with family and remembering those no longer with us...especially those who have died in the service of our country. Have a safe holiday .

Gloria

A book worth reading!

Last night I finished reading the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova. I couldn't put it down. My father has been diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment which could move to Alzheimer's Disease in the future. This book gives you an inside look at what it's like from the perspective of the Alzheimer's sufferer rather than the care giver. Even if you don't know someone who has this awful disease, I highly reccommend reading this book! It's moving and eloquent. It will change how you view this disease and your own life.

On another note...we are working on turning pin cushions today. I help with the sanding and buffing when needed. I am also the quality control expert. :) After all the peasant in the workshop needs to turn to Milady's standard! :)

Have a fun day stitching!

Gloria

An orament released at the Online Needlework Show

Although some of you may collect the Just Cross Stitch ornament issues, there are those that don't purchase this magazine. I have released this ornament from the 2007 JCS ornament issue so that those of you who don't have the magazine might be able to purchase the pattern.

It's called Christmas Blessings

I really enjoyed designing this one and I think you will enjoy the preview issue of the Just Cross Stitch Magazine which came out this month. It has a new ornament in it that will have another ornament in the JCS Ornament Issue that compliments it nicely.

Enjoy your stitching today.

Designs Released at Nashville

Hi All,

Here are the designs released at Nashville in February 2009:

Milady's Acorn Box:

Floss Tag-Alongs

Le Jardin Accoutrements:

Front

Back

Precious Pin Cushions


I am going to post as many of the designs not posted on the website untill we get that back up and running with all the designs listed. Thanks for your patience.

May your days be filled with stitching pleasure.

Gloria

Latest Designs

Hi All,


So, I have figured out how to post pictures to this blog!! Yeah!!! I will have my husband put a link on my website to this blog so that those of you who are tired of seeing no new updates there, can see them here. :)

But I just have to put one of my older favorites is Needles & Pins:

I will post my latest designs in my next post.

Happy Stitching,

Gloria

Birthday

Today is my birthday! I woke up to two bouquets of flowers, two movies, a cake and a ton of cards. I have had calls from well wishers all day. It's nice to be remembered!

I am working on several new designs for the St. Charles Market. I hope to release a few in June, but I am not holding my breath. Lots to do and never enough time.

Hope you got a chance to see the new Loose Feathers pattern by Blackbird Designs. It really is a cute pin cushion. Would love to show you a picture, but I am still trying to figure out how to post a picture. Maybe I can show you one of my designs that was a show special last summer. If I can do that...then maybe I can start posting some pictures.

Happy Birthday to me!

New Blog for Milady's Needle

Hi All,

I am starting a blog with the hopes that maybe I can update you better by this blog than I can on my website which is woefully behind.

Things are just crazy at Milady's Needle. My time is stretched to the limit as is my husband's so the website had been placed on the back burner in favor of designing new things and hand turning wooden pin cushions. With the release of the new Loose Feathers pattern, the orders for Walnut pin cushion bases has hit the roof, so Rick will be busy until who knows when. So, hopefully I can let you know about new product here. This is an experiment, so be patient while I figure out how to post pictures.

Hope you have a wonderful day stitching.

Gloria