Where to start? I had this little idea for the “A Year in Chalk” series. I do all kinds of research on chalk art: fonts, styles, borders, etc… I keep running across this blog with beautiful pictures of someone’s home and all of her chalk art (seriously, this is a home worthy of HGTV!)… &

… construction season! I have been waiting ‘patiently’ to redo some parts of our house and since it would be just the 4 of us this year, I bought into the whole ‘even if I have to set up a Christmas tree on subfloor’ school of thought. At first I thought that I wouldn’t put

… on a snowy night. It started snowing yesterday afternoon (I love the first snowfall, but after that, well, you know…) I usually work while I watch tv at night with my husband. This time of year I am still wrapping up a few finishing jobs, but tonight I felt called to stitch. This model

I am just back from Salty Yarns Fall Jamboree in Ocean City, MD! Let me tell you, this is one great retreat: fun stitchers against the perfect stitching backdrop…the beach! I’ve loads of pictures if you can stand it! Last Fall, Sara (Salty Yarns) asked me (Hands On) and Rachel & Cecile (Just Another Button

I admit it – I love designing for the Fall season. With it’s rich colors & textures, the words flow easily. I wrote this ditty a few years ago when I was asked by Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine to design an acorn door hanger (do they sit in a meeting and say ‘we want

It’s almost October & no post since July…not gonna’ apologize. It’s just been that crazy getting ready for markets, teaching, kits, company, kids…ya’ know – life! So, good to ‘see’ you again – I’ve got some important info! A loooong time ago (which is like yesterday in magazine publishing terms) – I was approached to

Long story or short?? How about the highly edited version! 17+ years ago I opened my needlework shop. After a difficult search looking for affordable, convenient & not falling down commercial space, I dipped my toes into the retail world…in my basement. At the time, we lived in a house with a separate entrance so

Last summer was…well, not fun. Bill & I worked and worked and the next thing we knew…it was September! So. Not. Happening. This. Year. To kick-off “Fun Summer 2015” we went “on the hunt” last weekend at Junk-Stock (think Wood Stock, but with Junk) It was so much fun! I kind of went with a

For someone who is very “in tune” with color…I was apparently in an all “red” mood when I ordered this year’s plants. It’s been an odd Spring weather-wise, so some blooms are struggling. This group seemed to be bouncing back in this morning’s early humidity. I retreated back inside to grab toast & coffee, turn

I don’t do many complimentary charts – most of you know to grab my annual “gift” for my husband. Other than that, I keep mostly busy working on all of the projects going on in my head (you know that joke about a woman’s mind & 2,478 browsing tabs open in her brain? – yep…that’s