PFOS

 (under new ownership) has a new blog.  I only found it today when reading my snail mail. I never pass up their snail mailings-always something great going on. I am adding them to my blogmeisters so I can keep track of things I might need. :) Have a peek here.

I am hoping you all have a wonderful weekend and that you'll be able to get some stitching or, at the very least, stash enhancement in. I'm hosting another Stitchin' with my Peeps tomorrow. Always a good way to start out a Saturday morning. Hope I have some progress to show you on Monday.

OH Happy Day!

So I've been sulking a little lately in anticipation of Pocket Full of Stitches (PFOS) closing this Spring. My favorite travel odyssey every July was to fill the car with snacks and drinks and trek on down to Lubbock, TX with my daughter and/or husband for the annual Christmas in July sale. So when Nancy and Rhea announced their much deserved retirement, I was happy for them but.sad for their customers and designers alike.  All good things come to an end right? WRONG!!!!! I just became aware that two POFS' employee's are purchasing the business. Oh happy day indeed! This info is on their website so I'm not spilling any beans here. In fact, as usual, I was probably the last to find out.

In their usual generous fashion, when they announced the closing they offered 25% off painted canvases. Ears perked I hit the website with my Christmas gift certificate in hand and treated myself to a canvas I would not otherwise invest in but that I very much wanted to stitch something by this particular designer. Well it arrived yesterday and when I opened the box there it was, wrapped with care and tulle. It looked as nice as a diploma! See. They do everything with such thought and style, it's part of the joy of going to the shop; your treated like royalty at Harrods!! Once opened I saw how beautifully painted this Brenda Stofft piece was and I noticed a card in the box. You can see it here.

I don't know, it's just the idea that the staff at PFOS put so much heart in everything they do. Maybe they should change their name to Pocket Full of Special Touches. Customer service goes a long way with me and when you pair that with well informed helpful staff and a well stocked shop, I'm happy to drive the 6 + hours.  Indeed, there are many fine shops around our country, I just wanted to publicly say how pleased I am that this wonderful west Texas business will continue to thrive and satisfy customers. Woo Hoo! P.S. I'm not planning on putting this in my stitching queue until 2011. : (

COZY TOE #8

Yippee, PFOS' Cozy Toe #8 is finished. Well it's stitched anyway. Only four left! "Jill" as in Jack and Jill has bright and vibrant reds, pinks and turquoise in combination to make this lifesaver stocking a joy to stitch. Using one of my favorite threads, Petite Very Velvet in three colors of brick stitch on the cuff and toe made for very fast and easy stitching. Frye Werks, Sprinkles, Spun Silk, Floss and Kreinik #12 Braid are all included in the kit from PFOS of Lubbock, TX. I'm on the downhill to finishing these cozytozies and hope to have them all in time for the tree this year. Will keep you posted. Hope you're all well into getting your Holiday stitching ready for the finisher, it's nearly September, where has the year gone? Don't ask!

The Return of the Cozy Toes 6

CUTE!
My Cozy Toes found their way back from the finisher today. I am very pleased with how they turned out. I especially like that the cording wasn't glitzy because the stockings themselves are full of sparkle. Though you cannot tell it from the photograph. These were so much fun to stitch and the finisher enjoyed adding her touch as well. Do I hear sleigh bells? I hope not. The next 6 will not be even thought about until 2009! CUTER!

Now don't forget the kits came from PFOS in good ol' Lubbock, TX.

Say Hi to Lucy, Desi, Laverne, Shirley, Sonny and Cher

This year's Cozy Toe intentions are coming to a close. Close of the toes. I am not sure how their names were chosen, but they are all identified by first name. Five are complete and off the bars, one last sock to whip up! I loved these tiny projects, they work up in a couple of days, a mere weekend and that is for a slow stitcher like yours truly.

I know I thought I'd get all 12 done this year, but I have a clear conscience and can only afford to have 6 finished anyway. Perfect. Excuse me a moment while I add the next 6 to my 2009 queue. Hmmm, getting crowded in there.

These have been a joy to stitch for a number of reasons, first of which is that they were expertly hand painted, the stitches were all tested in advance and appropriate for the space, likewise, the fibers were also well chosen to accommodate the space and design. They all came taped up, individually packaged with threads, instructions, photo of finished piece and stitch diagrams. No wonder they work up in just days. All that arriving monthly from PFOS in Lubbock, TX. They sure know how to do things in Texas and in a big way too. Since the yearly series has closed you can buy them individually.

Now marching off to the finisher, well as soon as I get the last one off the stretchers.

PFOS and Home

First, the date on this post should read September 4. Like most people when they've been away from home for a few weeks, they have a little anxiety about returning to reality. On the road trip traveling back to Colorado, this very thing hit me too. Oh, I wasn't worried about the house, the mail piling up, or even being invaded by squirrels or mice (a very real possibility here on the high prairie). My mind was on my stash closet. Where would I put everything I found on my trip? Will I have room without crowding? Do I need to expand into the linen closet in the nearby hallway? Maybe take over part of my husband's home office? I just wasn't sure. Would there be resistance if an expansion was necessary? And then as one thought led to another it dawned on me that I may have to re-arrange the projects in my stitching queue; something I hadn't anticipated as I was perfectly happy with the content of my queue drawers, before my trip. That was then, this is now.I never said discipline was my middle name, new stuff comes out all the time, it's not my fault. I knew you'd understand. Well it turns out it wasn't THAT dire. Just a little juggling and layering and voila, all in! I do know how to have a good time.

The two MSD canvases are painted on 14 ct, something I've not worked on in a while. Seems I've been doing a lot on 18 or congress. I have books about beards, fur and feathers for consulting but I'm always open and begging for stitch and thread suggestions. The design size is approximately 8x8" and should work up quickly once they weedle their way into the queue. On my travels I found and will try a few threads that are new to me: Gloriana, a French silk and Walsh, Ltd. silk perle should also be interesting. Got a boxed set, Happiness (Pink) from Krenik, irresistible when all together. Was happy to find a few packages of BOHIN tapestry needles from France. I read recently these were the best and wanted to try them. Also going to add to my stash black and white with with silver glitter canvas for fun. Of course my new "straddle paddle" is pictured and I do love it. Really. How do you like the customer appreciation gift from Pocket Full of Stitches? It's the pink and brown tote, very well made and aptly name, Stitchers Anonymous! Thank you PFOS, you didn't have to do that. There are a few finishing items not shown but will be later once I have something to go with them. Oh, I also added Evertites and beads to the mix too.

I'm also proud to say that my DH was with me the whole time, he was hungry too, but didn't utter a peep throughout the whole time at the shop. We'll be celebrating 39 years married in December, do you think he might be used to this? He is, plus I let him win at cards.

Greetings from Carlsbad!

Well the standoff between my husband's laptop and my media card reader continues; doubt I'll have any photos up until next week. In the meanwhile I have been stitching like an Olympian during my "retreat" in Carlsbad, NM. It's been a great place to concentrate on my stitching projects without distractions. So far I have finished beading the kimono, stitched the ANG program model, finished stitching the Halloween fairy and the Lite Stitches Elk, another Cozy Toes and made great progress on my Rooster. I feel I've accomplished most of what I set out to do while here and can now proceed in good conscience to my stash closet when I get home. I will also be focussing on getting things to the finisher/framer. Can't wait.

If you ever go to Carlsbad you had better bring your own entertainment. Once you see the Caverns, the Living Desert (don't forget to adopt a reptile or two) and the Pecos, you're pretty much done. The people here have been great, very nice indeed and welcome outsiders. Lots of Texas accents here too. I guess because Carlsbad is situated on the verge of Texas, depending upon which direction you're traveling, Carlsbad is on the way to El Paso (going West), Lubbock (going East) and Midland, TX (going South).

Saving the best for last, I wanted to tell you that last Saturday we went to Pocket Full of Stitches in Lubbock. When we arrived we were met with a generous gift certificate from my dear daughter; naturally after all was said and done, I had matched her funds and then some as I tried to focus on various accessories rather than on painted canvas. Was I succesful? No. Without divulging here what they are because discussing them on my blog is like a sacred promise to start and finish, and I'm not ready to place them in my queue yet let alone stitch them. All I'll say for now is Melissa Shirley. Woooooooo Hoooooooooo!

As I've related in the past, PFOS has it all. Terrific, friendly, knowlegable staff; every frame, stand, light, magnifyer, book, canvas, thread, boxed sets, finishing items, trays, boxes, pillows, chart, canvas of all types and much much more. One thing I decided to buy, after trying it in the shop, was a lap frame that you sit on. It's like sitting on a wooden paddle but is not at all uncomfortable. I love that the clamp is situated directly in front of you and you can adjust it's closeness to your body depending upon the size of canvas and, of course, you. The trick is not to laugh yourself silly as you begin to "mount" this thing. It must look hysterical as is surely feels that way. You slip it between your legs and then sit down it. Then and only then are you able to compose yourself to begin stitching.

Speaking of which, it's time to get back on my paddle and stitch!
Madonna
Having a happy day in Carlsbad

It isn't as if I....

....need to go any further than my own stash closet to find a new project; however, as I was enjoying my first cup this morning I "tuned in" to PFOS for a little Christmas in July temptation. Look what I found: http://www.pfos.com/ChristmasClubs/Kelly%20Clarks%2012%20Days/KellyClarkTwelveDays1.HTM . Thank goodness I still have my Cozy Toes to work on and at least some semblance of constraint even though this particular club doesn't begin until January 2009....... Well this series is indeed extraordinary and I take no responsibility in the event of relapse. Anyway, I already have my 2009 projects lined up. OCD? Probably, but I think I'm just organized and motivated.

Here are two of the 2004 Cozy Caps series. I had PFOS finish these as I wanted to ensure that they turned out like their models. I found these after the series had ended and picked two favorites. After further investigation this morning I see there are a few more I "should" add.

Well, that's it for today, hope you're stitching something you love. Even just one line or one thread length daily will finish off those UFO's.

STITCHIN' WITH MY PEEPS

No, not those marshmallow things. My peeps, as in people, are in this case, my stitching friends. This Saturday is my turn to host our local ANG stitch group for breakfast and stitching. There are 11 of us that get together once a month at a member's home. I love this little group, I learn so much and it's a good time to just be together stitching. We are all very diverse and stitch at different levels. These are the times that I will visit in my happy memory bank years from now.

One of the best things is getting a tour of the hostess' stitched pieces, stash collection, stitching stations, etc. Fun. I'll only have 7 this time as it's Summer and people are gone or otherwise engaged. I will be working on one of my Cozy Toes from PFOS canvas of the month club. They're small and work up quickly with all the threads and stitch guide provided. This club subscription was a gift from my daughter Julie, who really knows how to treat her mom.

This is stocking #7 out of 12. The canvases are small and to keep the cost of the kits down, PFOS consolidates the various threads used throughout all 12 canvases. I like that. They also used a wonderful variety of threads and patterns to keep it interesting.

So after my volunteer obligations this week I needed to get some hou... hou... housework done. And while a clean house is not mandatory, or even expected, I felt I should do at least a little dusting and fluff the pillows for my "peeps". So that is what I'll be doing for the remainder of the week. How about you, what are you doing?