The Toronto Sampler

While having breakfast this morning I was flipping through some of my regular tv channels, and one thing caught my eye on "Property Virgins".  I love home renovation shows, but I only watch this program when nothing better is on, and such was the case this morning.

On "Property Virgins" a couple, ready to purchase their first home, is shown 3 houses/condos.  From these they are then assisted in the purchase of their preferred property.  In this morning's episode, as the couple was viewing the 3rd house I spied a bell pull hanging on the entrance wall.  It was Jeannette Douglas' Toronto Sampler.  How awesome is that?

What made it even more thrilling for me is that chances are pretty good that the sampler may have been purchased at Gitta's.  The stitcher may even have taken the workshop at Gitta's.   We have had Jeannette Douglas teaching twice at the shop, once for the Toronto Sampler and once for the Mississauga Sampler.  She will also be our Designer of the Month this October.

Designer of the Month - Maria Gollek

This month's designer is Maria Gollek of Marnic Designs.  Maria's first original designs were her Mother & Child series, designing mothers with their children from many countries. Each pair reflects images that identify their heritage, my favourite being her Inuit Mother & Child.

Many of the models Maria has brought to Gitta's to be displayed for August are from her Welcome Series, the newest in this collection being her Loon Welcome.  With so many to choose from you can hang a "stitched welcome" for every holiday, season, and occasion.

Whether dropping by the shop or purchasing one of Maria's designs through Gitta's website don't forget to ask for Maria's free design for the Designer Collaboration Sampler.

I'll miss you mom

This past June, my mom lost her battle with cancer.

I feel lost without her, and found going back to the shop extremely difficult.  As long as I can remember, my mom & I have shared a love of stitching, and Gitta's was our shared expression of this love.
She was my best friend and there will never be a day that she won't be on my mind.
I have many wonderful memories that I hold dear to my heart, and this one is one of my favourite photos of the 2 of us.  It was taken in 1978 during a family outing on the 30,000 Island boat tour in Parry Sound, Ontario.

I love you mom, and miss you every day.

Designer of the Month - Jo Gatenby

This month, our Designer of the Month is Jo Gatenby of X's & Oh's.  Jo has a broad range of talents, she designs and charts her own original cross stitch and hardanger patterns, she turns other artists' artwork into cross stitch designs, she teaches, and publishes other cross stitch designers.

Jo arrived in the shop this past Friday.  She brought one of her newest designs, Banbury Cross by artist Frances Tyrrell, with her.  She had only just picked it up from her framer that afternoon.  It is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING !!!

On Saturday, Jo was in the shop all day.  We had many regulars and a few new stitchers in the shop to meet and chat with her.   Her table toppers were a definite hit, I love the one with the Bunnies in the Pumpkin field.  I think the bunnies would also look great on a banding, which can then be attached to a towel or wrapped around a basket.

 
That evening we went out for a "home cooked" meal at my kids' favourite family style restaurant.  It was a great way to end a wonderful day.







 
This was the only day that Jo was able to be in the shop during her Designer Month, but no worries.  Her models will be on display all month, and I will be teaching a beginner hardanger workshop, "Basic Hardanger", on June 22nd using one of her designs.


 
 And let's not forget her FREE contribution to our Designer of the Month Sampler.   We stitched her Hummingbird into the top left corner square of the sampler, and it looks great.  Drop by and collect each designer's FREE pattern every month.  Unable to drop into the shop, no problem!!  For all web/phone orders of one of the designer's patterns, we will include these patterns.

A stitching and working weekend

The summer officially began for me this past weekend.  Not only was the weather fabulous, it was also our first weekend back up at my parents' cottage.  Although there is always work involved in  re-opening the cottage for the summer, I did find time to relax by the lake and stitch.
 



 And one of us was even gutsy enough to brave the still FREEZING lake (only 5 weeks ago it was still frozen in spots)





It was a very successful weekend.  My parents were pleased with all the work we accomplished and I completed the next designer square on the Designer of the Month Collaboration Sampler.  It's adorable, but I'll make you wait until next month to see it.

I also started a new needlepoint project.

I always have at least one needlepoint project on the go.   These are great for stitching in the car, because the canvas is a 10 or 11 count (easy on the eyes on bumpy roads), and the wool is a single ply.  I generally choose a painted canvas, but I was so taken with this pattern by Iryna Varabei, our "Designer of the Month"  for this month, I couldn't wait to get started.

Iryna has also stitched hers in the continental stitch (pattern available in the Spring 2012 ANPT magazine), but with DMC floss on a 24 count canvas. She then finished hers into a small rug, great for a doll house or mouse pad.  Obviously just by the difference in the canvas count, mine will be larger and I will finish mine into a needlepoint pillow.  While converting the cotton into wool, I also changed two of the colours: I changed her corals into golds.  Once finished this will look great in my family room, and with all the driving we will be doing this summer it shouldn't take too long.

Happy Mohter's Day

A little gift to all the mothers.

A stitching friend had found a rather interesting red napkin with a rose pattern on it printed in white x's.  With my interest in monochromatic design she naturally thought of me.  Although the napkain was square the pattern was not; so I tweaked it a little  to square it off. 

I think this pattern would look awesome in a variegated red silk thread.  

One that comes to mind is SNC 074 "In the Burgundy" by The Thread Gatherer.
Stitched in the continental stitch on Gitta's 40ct silk gauze
 it would even fit into a 1.5" pendant.

Enjoy your day!!!

Stitch Night with Iryna Varabei

Iryna joined us Wednesday night for Stitch Night.  She introduced us to a stitching technique, Nizanka, from her home country of Belarus.  We followed a bookmark pattern she designed and one of us even managed to complete it.  I really enjoy such work, as it is a quick way to dress up almost anything.
                                                                             To finish the bookmark, all that remains is a 3 sided hem stitch and then to trim the fabric and fringe the ends.

If anyone was unable to drop by for Stitch Night, but would still like to see Iryna  and her unique designs, she will be in the shop this Saturday (May 11) for the afternoon.  She will also teach another Nizanka pattern on Saturday May 25th.  Click here for more information regarding the workshop.