Bent Creek: Kitty Cat Row came and went. More are on the way. It's been a huge hit. Flatbed Zippies? An odd and cute concept -- see a chicken and a snowman being pulled along (more to follow, I'm sure).

Blackbird Designs: Tokens of Friendship, great, groovy, wonderful. You get a bunch of patterns in this $18 book. I have pictures of three of the projects on my site, so you can see what they look like. People really like American Star, too (it was almost my Kit of the Month this month!)

Brightneedle: Needlework Shop ... if you bought A Doll House, you'll need to get this one, too, which has all kinds of nooks, crannies and stash to stitch. The newest Mary Kirby is on the way, too.

Chessie & Me: What little girl doesn't dream of having a purple house? Lavender House is a nice old-fashioned style sampler in a different shade.

Cross N Patch: A big surprise. In My Garden is a LOVELY piece (you'll see a picture on my site of the piece stitched on lavender linen.) But I haven't sold much by Emie lately. Loads of stitchers have been drawn to this piece which uses challenging stitches galore. And look at that gate! A must-see/must own.

Ewe & Eye & Friends: These just came yesterday. Fanciful Blooms -- HUGE flowers. Spring Two has a polka dot egg with legs that any kid would think was hilarious (I do, anyway.) Pomegranate Sampler is another spot sampler (I know some of you are collecting this fairly new series of spots). And C is for Coffee and Green tea would be cute in a kitchen. Great colors all around.

Full Circle Designs: I'm usually not big on Spring designs (the colors are usually too pinky-sweet). But I really like this Angel Hair Garden. Nice soft colors, but not too pastel-y, and a fun one to stitch, it looks like, too.

The Gentle Art: The new Sampler Threads are here, the new Sampler Threads are here! The new Shaker colors are Fragrant Cloves, Briar Rose, Walnut, Grape Leaf and Parchment. I've also got the limited editions in: Pink Carnation, Kaleidoscope, Autumn Gold and Pacific Green. It's $15.75 for the set of new colors, and designers are already starting to use them.

The Goode Huswife: A Thee Wed is a really cool wedding piece. The bride and groom are dressed in period clothing. The colors are really interesting, too -- shades of peach and olive.

Heart in Hand: Snowden is awfully cute (can you stand just ONE MORE snowman?) Summer Alphabet is a great kit, too, and if you've been collecting the Little series (Little Pumkin in a Patch...), now there's a Little Angel in the Clouds.

Hillside Samplings: Hillside School is a MUST for a serious sampler lover. This kit of a great old-fashioned sampler comes in a hand-painted house box. This edition is limited to 800, and I only got a few in. Grab them before they're gone. Leslie also has a new Topiary (if you're collecting those...this is number 4) and a really cool Garden Scissors Pocket kit.

Just Nan: Lady Scarlet is available again as a "retro" print (with embellishments.) You can buy any or all three parts, so if you have an incomplete set, you can finish it off. I also have several more of her limited editions in: Tuscan Sunrise and Beaded Rose (I have the jeweled frames in for that, too.)

La D Da: Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, All dressed in Black, Black, Black. I remember this rhyme from childhood (and you probably do, too). My Friend is very sweet (and would be a quick stitch for a good one.)

Little House Needlework: I love all of the new ones -- Two Red Houses, A Stitcher's Prayer and Moon and Stars (which seems to be the popular one with my customers.) If you haven't tried one of Diane's charts yet, you'll get one (see above) free with any order this month.

Lizzie Kate: Linda's new Block series is a hit (my customers are saying its her best series yet.) I have my eye on the series for a 40-count silk gauze project -- how cute would that be? I can also see these blocks finished as stuffed cubes and thrown in a big basket. Don't miss her latest stand-up, Needle Nana, and another cottage in her seasonal series.

Monsterbubbles: I'm a sucker for trees, so when I saw Strength a while back in a trade publication, I couldn't wait to get it in. Turns out, it's stitched in wonderful over-dyed Silk N Colors. This is the curliest tree I've ever seen.

Prairie Schooler: These started flying out the door before they had even warmed up properly from the mail carrier's truck. The Needle's Eye and Pins and Needles have been fast-favorites, and we're nearing the end of the Prairie Schooler alphabet series with STU and VWX. With the purchase of any/all of the new Prairie Schooler charts, receive one of Pamela's pattern cards -- Stick It Here (a pincushion).

Sheepish Designs: This was my biggest market surprise. I LOVE the new Sheepish pieces. These are some of the best things out of this company in a few years. Nice colors, nice balanced designs. Look for Shady Day, Sitting Pretty and Betsy. They're all great.

Sisters & Best Friends: Fruit Salad! My favorite is Cherry Salad, but you can do a series with Apple, Pear and Strawberry, too. These are much like the seasonal samplers from last year, with embellishments and a swirly alphabet on each. I'm also a big fan of Cherry Wreath (another new chart).

Six Stranded Sweets: Buy a set of the 50 most popular colors for just $35...yes, $35. That's 70 cents a skein, which is the regular retail price for these wonderful over-dyed flosses. You get 4-yards per skein, and they are all named after treats and sweets (needlework and sweets...who'da thunk it.) Use these as substitutions and watch for designs using these wonderful fibers.

Twisted Threads: Gingham Ties is really cool (I think, anyway). Kind Heart and Good Cheer are quick-stitches, and come with Weeks Dye Works hand-dyed wool pieces for blanket stitching onto your needlework. Great colors, and a fun new way to do needlework.

Weeks Dye Works: New colors from Miranda, too. These are all permanent additions (no limiteds). There is a picture of the new ones on my site -- get all 8 for $16 (heavens, your stash won't be complete without them!)

I am still waiting for more to come: The Trilogy box should be here any time. There are a few new Carriage House Samplings charts that are really cool (and on the way). We're about due for another Loose Feathers chart (I'm on the auto for that, so watch my basket.) Also, I'm hoping Birds of a Feather sends me a package soon, too. Summer market has switched all around, so summer market season will start much earlier this year (it'll seem like I'm just getting caught up from this, and it will start all over again.)

Just read: The Garden of Eden (Ernest Hemmingway). Next up: Me Talk Pretty Some Day (John Sedaris). Just stitched: Spring Sampler (Prairie Schooler). Next up: Star Light, Star Bright (Little by Little).

Have a great month!

© 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