• My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

Hands On Design

Needlework and Cross Stitch Designs by Cathy Habermann

  • Shop
  • Tutorials
  • Floss Tube
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • 0 items$0.00

Happy Labor Day!

September 1, 2014 By Cathy Habermann Leave a Comment

So many kids around the country head back to school tomorrow, but here in the Midwest, in homage to harvest season, our local kids have been back for several weeks now. The big yellow busses have been dieseling their way through the neighborhood and when the wind blows the right way, I hear the horn section of the marching band at early morning practice (retired band mom here). Leaves are even starting to turn.

I know it has to come and I know what the Farmer’s Almanac is saying about this coming winter, but this Fall is even more bittersweet as our Pastor for nearly 17 years is moving on to his next call. All 4 of us have gotten to know him over the years as my husband served on Council, we have both taught Sunday School & Confirmation, & the kids studied through confirmation classes.

In 2011, I read his letter in our monthly newsletter & was so taken with something he wrote, that I wrote it down. I even e-mailed it to myself so that I would not lose it! Long story short, with his permission, I used his words to create the Everyday Sampler. (New Release at this past St. Charles market)

Happy-Labor-Day_Blog-Pic_1

The large sampler created itself one Saturday morning. I had been hemming & hawing about how to start it, and as my husband left for work, I sat down at the computer to put on the screen what I had drawn in my notepad. Amazingly, by the time he came home, I had the basic framework & details started to fly.

Happy-Labor-Day_Blog-Pic_2

The idea for the smaller banner sampler was purely selfish. I knew I wanted to stitch the sampler, but time would not permit…same sentiment, same rich colors.

Happy-Labor-Day_Blog-Pic_3

Here is Pastor Al with my youngest on his confirmation. Yes, I’m being one of “those” mom’s putting this pic out there. Our family wishes him well as he moves on to the next chapter of his life & call.

A quick side note: I had the funniest thing happen not too long ago on FB. I reconnected with a friend I had worked with over 23 years ago. It was a PT job for me at our LNS until I could find my “real” job. After I left, we saw each other once or twice. Now, many states away, we have once again become “friends” and are realizing how both of us have continued very much in the industry in which we first met. Funny how this is my “real” job now.

It’s a little early for #TBT but I came across this photo on FB – days back in the college years!

Happy-Labor-Day_Blog-Pic_4

This was during my freshman year & my future husband is in that picture somewhere!

Enjoy your Labor Day & thanks to all of those that Labor today.

Enjoy the Stitch!

Cathy

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Like this Post? Subscribe to My Newsletter!

Home Again, Home Again…
The end of the Celebration!

Comments

  1. CalamityJr says

    September 1, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    The sampler is beautiful, and even more meaningful with "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Marilyn says

    September 2, 2014 at 3:53 am

    Beautiful Sampler.
    Marilyn

    Reply
  3. Lorene Frischknecht says

    September 2, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Beautiful charts!

    Reply
  4. Bernie Juracek says

    September 5, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Beautiful Cathy! Sad to hear your Pastor Al is moving on. I just had to look, and I found Bill! Sort of like "where's waldo!!!" lol!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shop By Category

Newsletter Subscription

Search

New in the Shop

  • LADYBUG PICNIC LADYBUG PICNIC $8.00
  • THERE'S A HARE IN MY GARDEN THERE'S A HARE IN MY GARDEN $12.00
  • THE STITCHING PARLIAMENT THE STITCHING PARLIAMENT $14.00
  • CALL ME CRAFTY - THE CRAFT ROOM CALL ME CRAFTY - THE CRAFT ROOM $12.00

Hands On Design Instagoodness …

I love this part of my job! We were in Ames, IA f I love this part of my job!

We were in Ames, IA for a few days (Special Olympics Summer Games on the IA State campus). On the way home, we stopped at Prairie Rose Needleworks to visit Amanda! She opened her shop a year ago & it was wonderful to see it all in person!!

- love her storefront - great parking with restaurants close by
- I took home several of those nurge hoops
- a great selection of charts and threads
- awesome embroidery kits with books on Sashiko & Kogin
- I spy binders of my designs (I couldn’t help it 🤣)
- there we are…I’m fresh off the tennis court so not loving my hairdo!

It was great to see her again after Nashville Market. Check the shop out if you’re in the area or see her website!

#handsondesign #localneedleworkshop #prairieroseneedleworks #brickandmortarshop #xstitch #sashiko #kogin #stitchsomehappy
Feeling like a patriotic pop of color? Liberty P Feeling like a patriotic pop of color? 

Liberty Pennies is filled with red, white & blue and stitches up quickly. Finished on our 4 3/8 rounds, this folk vignette can stay on display all summer long (mine will stay up probably until the pumpkins come out 🤣).

Liberty Pennies is available at your local and online shop as well as my website (hard copy & PDF). 4 3/8 rounds are available on our website too.

 #handsondesign #liberty #patriotic  #redwhiteandblue #justanotherbuttoncompany #fabricsbystephanie #primitive #primitivedecorating  #stitchsomehappy
Comfort stitching. That’s exactly how I would de Comfort stitching. That’s exactly how I would describe A Homestead Gathering. 4 projects in 1 chart, a folksy color palette & classic design. I love the patriotic bee skep this time of year 🇺🇸

A Homestead Gathering is available from your local or online shop as well as my website (hard copy & pdf)

#handsondesign #homestead #patriotic #patrioticdecor #comfortstitching #stitchsomehappy
I always forget how busy the month of May can be!! I always forget how busy the month of May can be!! It’s been a hectic day (not over yet), so I will just leave you with a picture of some pretty posies ❤️. I hope your week is going well!

#handsondesign #monthofmay #geraniums #stitchsomehappy
Who's up for some BBQ? July from the OG Year in Who's up for some BBQ? 

July from the OG Year in Chalk series is still available through your local & online shop as well as our website (hard copy & PDF)

#handsondesign #letsbbq #stitchsomehappy
Happy Monday - I hope it's a bright & colorful wee Happy Monday - I hope it's a bright & colorful week for you!

#handsondesign #stitchsomehappy
Join Me on Instagram

Helpful Links

  • My Account
  • Lost Password
  • About
  • Wholesale
  • Store Locator
  • Classes
  • Events
  • OOPSIE

FOLLOW US ON:

Facebook-Logo_For-Website Instagram-Logo_For-Website

Get My Newsletter

And be the first to know about new products, events, tutorials and more!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Hands On Design

A Habermann Company · cathy@handsondesign.biz