Gingerbread Designs

Hi!

What a busy week this has been. The Gingerbread designs are nearly ready to release. I'm just waiting for any additional editing notes from my testers, and after the tweaking is done, they'll be ready.

I added another project photo to the page with the designs, but thought I'd upload it here. I found the nicest woven towels with the cutest woven border, that I knew they would be perfect for a set of Gingerbread towels. The new towel set is available at the link above.



Let me know what you think!

The Gingerbread Redwork designs are also being tested right now and they should be ready for unveiling within the next week or so, complete with a project photo or two.

Until later, have a wonderful rest of your week.

Shari

Adorable embroidery projects

Greetings everyone!

Well, a hint of Spring is in the air. That will certainly be a welcome sign for all of us who've been buried under snow since December. We're itching to get out into the garden, but that may have to wait for a while yet.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some adorable projects my testers (and friends) have been creating with the new Gingerbread designs. They are almost ready to release for sale.

Shirley embroidered two different gingerbreads on her can opener cover and I think they look so cute!















And Joanne created this wonderful gift bag, complete with towels and a cookie cutter. What a fun project to give as a gift to anyone who loves to bake! I especially like the cute gingerbread fabric she used for the bag.


I have a couple of projects in mind myself and hope to be able to work on those this week. And of course, I'll post pictures so you can be inspired by all these ideas.

In the meantime, enjoy the sun and increasing warmer temps!

Shari

Mascoutin Society - Events - Winter Benefit Pow Wow

Mascoutin Society - Events - Winter Benefit Pow Wow

First Goal Met and an Event

Hi everyone,

Well, I've completed the Funny Gingerbread Men and the set is being emailed to my testers today for them to test stitch. While most of my testers use similar machines, it's always good to have designs tested on other machines than my own, since no two machines stitch the same. Here's the last design in the set and I'm really thrilled with how it came out.



So, that's one goal I set to accomplish before the end of February :) Diane, one of my Yahoo group members, asked if it would be possible to create a set of these designs in redwork. But of course I answered! So, I'm now in the process of redrawing the designs for colorwork and redwork. Colorwork designs are redwork, but giving you the option of using different colors for different parts of the design, if you choose. Here's design #1 so far.



One of the projects I had started a while back but had to take a break from, was the Fairyland quilt I am doing for my two younger grand-daughters. I never took a picture of the first block I finished, but finally did the other day so you could see my progress. I have 7 more blocks to do for the first quilt and then do all the same 8 blocks for the second quilt. Here's how the first block turned out. I'm using some additional scrap fabrics in addition to the main quilt fabrics to give my grand-daughters something different to look at each time they cuddle with their quilts.


As I complete each block, I'll post a picture here so you can see how wonderful these blocks are. The applique designs stitch out so fast and beautifully!

We have an event tomorrow (Saturday, 2/13) at the Will County Fair Atrium in Peotone, Illinois. If you are close to the area and have nothing to do for the afternoon, why not stop over to say hello and enjoy a really fun and educational Pow Wow. Here's a link to read more about the event and get directions - http://www.mascoutin.com/winterbenefitpowwow.php

See you next time!

Shari

A New Year of Challenges and Goals

Greetings everyone!

I have to be the worst blogger in the world :) I read other blogs on a variety of topics, but I just can't seem to post to my own blog on a regular basis. Well, hopefully that will change in this new year. I've challenged myself to post something fun and interesting at least once a week. Oh dear!

There are so many things that are happening around here. I feel some excitement about our possibility of transferring this year in a way I haven't felt before. We are hoping that at least one of the new applications my dear husband has submitted will produce not only an interview, but an offer this year. To that end, we've been putting more "finishing touches" to various rooms in our house because when you are planning to sell, you're always trying to make your home look even more special. We've continued the de-cluttering process until I think there's nothing left to get rid of, but there always is!

During the de-cluttering process, I found some additional raw goods for our still existing first business that we are trying to sell off. Maybe that will happen this year too. One can only hope :) Of course, one of the locations we are hoping for a transfer to would really be a great place to try and sell off the inventory for this business.

I've also challenged myself to complete some projects that have been sitting on the back burner for a while, including a bed quilt and a wall hanging I started some months ago. Plus, I've been setting some new goals for digitizing design sets. One of those sets that I've been working on for a while, the Funny Gingerbread are nearly complete. I have one more design to finish and then send the entire lot to my testers. I'm so happy to be nearly finished with this set. The designs are so cute and can be used to decorate a number of different items.

Well, that's all the news for this week. I'll check back in next week with more news to share with you. In the meantime, have a wonderful week!

Shari

Memory Bears, Embroidery and Gourds

Greetings everyone!

The Christmas holiday is now fast approaching and in 12 days, families here will be cheerfully opening packages. I'm getting a late start on my planning and shopping, but once my husband begins his vacation, we'll be adding to the economy!

For those who have ordered Memory Bears as gifts, they are all on their way. I have several orders that will be completed after the holidays, but once these are completed, I won't be making Memory Bears except for charitable donations, such as the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots. This is one cause that is near and dear to my heart.

The great news is I'll be devoting a lot more time to digitizing designs from all the art work I've purchased over the past year. I really miss digitizing new designs and I'm looking forward to it again. I've even created my new Yahoo group for machine embroiderers to promote my designs.

I'll also have some extra time to work on some of the gourd art I love to do. There are several started gourds on my shelf that are waiting to be completed, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

And of course, I'll be adding new gift ideas to the various pages for shoppers who are looking for something unique. They will feature in-stock designs as well as my new designs as they become available.

I'd like to take this time to wish all of you a very happy Holiday season! May you enjoy good health and happiness throughout the season and all the best of everything in 2010!

Shari

Memory Bears and Site Updates

Greetings everyone,

I haven't posted to the blog for a while because I've been so busy, but I hadn't realized how much time had passed since my last post. Lots of things have been happening and with the holidays fast approaching, the next 6+ weeks will be equally as busy.

One thing you will notice when you visit the site is that the Memory Bears page has been removed. I've been making Memory Bears for 16 years and have enjoyed creating these for families very much. I have orders that will take me through February, but once those bears are all sent home to their families, I won't be taking new orders for a while. This was a difficult decision to make because so many families I have made bears for continue to refer others to me. My bears have always been very special to me, and I am humbled by all the wonderful letters and emails of praise from families who have received them. Unfortunately, because of all the time I spend on orders, other things have had to be pushed to the "back burner". I need to take a bit of a break for now and work on some of these other things I love so I can re-energize myself.

Two pages have been updated with items and I hope you'll take a look when you have some time. The Holidays page has been updated with a cute gift item for those who like to bring a bottle of wine or champagne as a hostess gift, or even as a "Secret Santa" gift. The apron set features an embroidered wine bottle apron and chef hat. The apron can be embroidered with a holiday or other occasion design, or a monogram. The set is priced affordably for even the modest of budgets.

The Kitchen Decor page has also been updated with a new set of towels in a theme for those who like Southwestern pottery. Also, a fun apron design has been added based on a Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson song "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere". The displayed design illustrates the text in a variegated thread color, but the color can be any you prefer. My husband really liked this one and he doesn't normally get too excited about aprons!

My plans in the Spring were to finish off a design set I was working on and have it ready by June. Unfortunately, due to my schedule of orders, that set hasn't been completed yet. I am hopeful that I'll be able to get back to them shortly after the holidays.

We will be out of town for a brief get-away between November 13 and 22, so if you contact me through email, I'll reply as soon as we return. In the meantime, I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday. I know I have a great many things to be thankful for and I feel very blessed.

Take care and God bless you,

Shari