Bent Creek's new Cracker Kits are here, and boy are they neat. I don't know where they come up with their packaging ideas, but these look just like those old fashioned Christmas crackers. Easter and Patriotic Crackers are available now. Four others will come out over the next year. Don't miss Summer House, the latest in the series of boxed house samplers (others are Silver and Gold, Showers and Flowers and Fall House).
Birds of a Feather has some cute new charts. A Very Fine Sampler has been the most popular, but I have to say I'm partial to French Lesson. If you haven't tried Birds of a Feather hand-dyed linens, you're missing out. They are incredible!
Brightneedle Designs is a new design company for Shakespeare's Peddler. I also have just added the rest of the Brightneedle patterns to my catalog (see http://www.shakespearespeddler.com/brightneedle.html), but look in the basket, too -- the Shaker Trees Sampler is really sweet.
Chartmakers (Goode Huswife/Barrick Samplers/Elizabeth's Garden) is a prolific set of women. These three gals have 16 new designs. My favorites? The Inventory Pyllow, Another Carnation Sampler, and The Quaker Sewing Roll.
Chessie & Me has four new designs. A Happy Few is a wonderful little sampler to stitch for a friend, and of course you'll find Chessie (the cat) on just about every chart.
Of course the news all of my customers have been waiting for is about the new Drawn Thread designs. These came in two weeks ago, and I have already had to reorder. I can't pick favorites, but I can tell you they are too wonderful. The Sanctuary is the big hit (along the lines of Random Thoughts from last year -- a wonderful garden with many motifs and fun stitches.) I have put together thread packs for The Sanctuary -- 21 skeins of Needlepoint Silk and 3 half skeins of Caron Waterlilies over-dyed silks for $55.60 -- more than 10% off off the regular price, plus you only have to buy half skeins (which saves you another $7.50). I plan on stitching Sampler Game Board on 32 ct. Belfast (add it to my "wish" pile.) And The Acorn: Little Learning Band Sampler has previously been available only as a class piece. Now you can get it kitted up for learning on your own.
Ewe & Eye & Friends promised lots of hearts at market, and they delivered. Look for the Purple Heart kit, You and No Other (Vous et nul autre) chart, and Offering from the Heart. But my favorite is Sweet Baby. There are also a few new fob kits (Purple Heart is one) for those of you who are collecting them. Cute cute.
The Gentle Art has released seven new Sampler Thread colors, three permanent, four limited editions. I love the limited edition colors and hope one or two may find the way to the regular line (I love Mango and Moonlight). Buy all seven colors for your stash for $12.25. See the basket for the other colors!
Look for Historic Needlework Guild's new designs. There are a few Shaker Workbox designs, and some neat motifs that can be done over one as ornaments, fobs, whatever. I also have admired Acorn Sewing Roll (now to find time to stitch it.)
Just Nan's Barnabee's Quest is now out, and it's even more popular than Lady Scarlet was last year. Follow this sweet bee on his quest for the perfect flower (you must commit to all three parts when buying any part of Barnabee's Quest.)
I've added fob and needle roll kits from Lorri Birmingham. These are really cute, and come with sweet charms, floss, and fabric. My favorite is the Teapot Needle roll (with tea bag charm) and the Bumble Bee Fob -- he's done in French/Colonial knots, so he looks cuddly (if a bee can look cuddly). Don't forget to buy needle roll stands for your needle rolls -- I have a Shepherd's Bush roll on a stand in my office, and it works great (plus, they're only $5 each.)
Prairie Schooler has four new wonderful charts, including two that celebrate the months of the year (you get six patterns in each chart). But I think my favorite is Village Green -- in one chart, you get three horizontal pieces, one of which is a cute farmstead.
Sheepish Designs has the neatest themes. I love "Haste Ye Back" and Life is a Flower. The most popular is That Dern Parrot -- one chart in the pack is a design for a parrot in a cage scissor fob!
Shepherd's Bush has released three new soft and wonderful kits: Snow Scissors Fob (the most popular), Heart Treat Bag, and Snow Hill (reminiscent of Shepherd's Hill, only with a snowman!)
Sisters and Best Friends have fun new charts and embellishment packs. My favorite (and luckily, they sent me an extra one for free, for me!) is Apple Betty. She can sit with Forest, Violet, and the other monkey sock friends you may have done. Betty has an apple body with apple seed buttons. Spring Sampler is also really cute (love it over one!)
The Thread Gatherer new colors just came in tonight, and they are lovely. Choose from new colors Raspberry Frappe, Slate Blue, Old Lace, Sweet Lavender, Fairy Quilt Cottage, Light Moss, Lilac Arbor, Sienna Bisque, Zuni Sunset, Regal Orchid, Pond Scum, Sophie's Strawberries and Wild Violets for $5 per skein or $2.60/half skein. (I really get just as excited about the new silks as I do about new designs!)
Nancy at Threads Through Time has been busy. I marvel at her ability to generate so many designs every year. Her latest charts/silk gauze kits are wonderful (you may buy these designs as charts, and stitch them on whatever count you like; they do not have to be done as silk gauze pieces). I think my favorites are Nelly's Home and The Bunny Sampler, which can be done with a cream or black background.
Weeks Dye Works new colors of over-dyed flosses are here -- get all eight for $16 (Teal Frost, Tiger's Eye, Hazelnut, Buttercup, Kudzu, Rum Raisin, Chesapeake, Crimson). A DMC conversion is in the Basket.
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com