This newsletter was originally sent to subscribers on January 31, 2010.

Welcome!

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In This Issue

QUESTION OF THE MONTH: WHY HAVE I BEEN DUBBED “KINDLERELLA”?

LINK OF THE MONTH

MARKET SPOTLIGHT

S H A M E L E S S SELF-PROMOTION

Mayra Calvani is an award-winning multi-genre author for children and adults. A reviewer for more than a decade, she’s a regular contributor to Blogcritics Magazine and the Latino Books Examiner for Examiner.com. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, the CBI Clubhouse and the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Visit her website at www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com.

Mayra’s latest book is Humberto the Bookworm Hamster.  

Humberto is an antisocial little hamster… he’s totally addicted to books! His neighbors, the squirrel, the rabbit, the skunk, the hedgehog and the beaver want to become his friends, but Humberto doesn’t have time for them. He’s too busy reading! Then one day, disaster strikes and he must choose between saving his books and helping his soon-to-be friends.

Humberto the Bookworm Hamster explores the joys of reading and friendship. Humberto’s gift of imagination will delight children as much as his kindness towards others will inspire them.  –The Kids Book Connection

You can purchase Humberto the Bookworm Hamster at Guardian Angel Publishing.  Also, visit Mayra’s site containing informative information about children’s writing, publishing and book promotion.

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, there! It seems the groundhog didn’t do us any favors with its prognostication yesterday (at least, not for those of us who are ready for warmer weather).  But, at least, we have a few more weeks of not needing an excuse to simply veg out in front of the T.V. on Sunday afternoons and stitch.

Be sure and click over to Gayle’s FreshFiction contest to enter to win a signed copy of Dead Pan and a beautiful sterling silver locket.

Store Spotlight: Grandma’s Attic

While The Seven-Year Stitch may be the only shop of its kind in Tallulah Falls, it isn’t the only embroidery specialty shop in Oregon. Grandma’s Attic in Dallas, Oregon is a charming shop I think you’d enjoy visiting. The shop even won the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award in 2001 (something for The Seven-Year Stitch to aspire to).

Grandma’s Attic was founded by Rachel Greco; and in addition to having a physical location, the store has an online shop to meet the needs of stitchers who live outside of Oregon. (Does anyone else want to sit in that chair, cuddle up in the quilt and chat with Grandma?)

According to their site, Grandma’s Attic has one of the largest collections of reproduction fabrics on the web. The store has large redwork and embroidery selections. The online site also features an “Ask Grandma” section and a recipes section that boasts Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge.

Stop by for a visit!

Welcome!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful January. It’s almost over, you know; and a couple exciting things are happening on February 2. First off, it’s Groundhog Day. So if you’d like to celebrate the little guy seeing his shadow, you might want to make a bundt cake, sprinkle crushed chocolate cookies on the top and use a devil’s food cake or Twinkie(TM) decorated to look like a groundhog popping out of the hole.

February 2 also marks the long-awaited return of Lost. Since this is the final season (gasp!), you might be having a Lost premiere party. You could make a cake of the island, of course, or of the plane, or you could simply make a white sheet cake and pipe the Dharma logo on it in black.

Site Spotlight: Cake Central

Cake Central Magazine

As many of you may already be aware, Cake Central is a place for cake decorators to share photographs, techniques, recipes and encouragements.  The site also features contests, links and articles.

Now, however, Cake Central has launched a magazine. And who should be featured on the cover but none other than Kerry Vincent, host of the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show, frequent judge on Food Network’s Challenges, member of ICES Sugarcraft Hall of Fame and gracious guest star of Dead Pan. The cover promises Mrs. Vincent will dish on reality cake-tv as well as share her personal story.

Check out the magazine and see what you think. And please share your comments with Killer Cakes!

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, there! Have you settled into a post-holiday routine yet? I’m trying to, but it’s really hard. It’s easy, though, to lose touch with those you connected with or reconnected with from the end of November through the first week of January. Let those people know you’re still thinking of them by doing some easy stitching, placing your work in a card frame and sending it off with a note. You’ll make someone’s day!

Stitch Spotlight: Candlewicking

Since candlewicking is all about easy stitching, I’m spotlighting this needlework technique today. I’ll give you some pointers on how to do it (it’s basically just Colonial or French knots along with some straight or back stitches) and links to some free patterns. Plus, the white-on-white designs mean you don’t have to spend a lot on or waste time changing threads. See Gayle’s article on candlewicking in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (p. 180).

This post on About.com has a lot of information on candlewicking techniques, and there are pages and pages of free patterns. I love the L O V E hearts and the kittens! For a history of candlewicking, see this article on BellaOnline written by Megan McConnell. Connie’s Cross-Stitch Blog has some beautiful square candlewicking patterns that would be beautiful on a pillow. If you’re really industrious, you could even make a quilt!

If you do get into candlewicking and stitch up some wonderful things, please share them with us.

Marcy’s Musings

Happy New Year, everybody! Remember, if you’re snowed in, there’s no better excuse than that to stitch or read.

As for our site spotlight, all I can say is “Wow!” You will, too, when you take a look at the beautiful embroidery designs offered at this site (some are free).

Site Spotlight: Solaria Gallery

This is Stoyanka Ivanova. She lives in Bulgaria where she is an architect and a chief assistant professor at the University for Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy. She also has her own company called Solaria. With Solaria, Stoyanka is able to combine her love of painting and stitching.

I’m not kidding when I tell you that Stoyanka’s designs are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

This free design, a red Faberge Valentine heart, would be gorgeous to put in a card and send to someone special for Valentine’s Day. Other Valentine’s Day-related complimentary designs include a teddy bear holding a heart, a rose and blackwork tulips.

And if you’re way more ambitious than I am, give this one a try. Isn’t this amazing? Look at the detail. I might get brave enough to give a try one day…but not today.

So, click on over to Solaria Gallery and see what gorgeous patterns you can find. After you complete one, be sure and share a photo with us!

On January 1, Jodi Webb began a new blog, Words by Webb. The blog is a combo of information for writers and readers. On Fridays,  Jodi will be doing book reviews; so contact her if you have a book you’d like for her to review.

Congratulations, Jodi!

I hope all of you have a wonderful and blessed 2010.

Marcy’s Musings

Hi and Merry Christmas! I know it’s still two days away, but it’s snowy and gorgeous and . . . Christmas. Anyway, she did it. Gayle made the things she said she was going to try. So without further ado, I’ll turn the newsletter over to her.

Gayle’s Stitchery Spotlight

Marcy is right. I gave everything a try these past couple weeks. To the left is my attempt at Hardanger. I told my husband I figured out why this particular form of embroidery is called Hardanger. “It’s hard, and it makes you say ‘dang.’” So, I have to admit, I wound up taking out almost as many stitches as I put in; but I would try Hardanger again . . . as long as it was another “easy kid’s pattern.” If I’d tried an “easy adult pattern” right off the bat, I think I’d have given up.

I love my little snow people. I put them in greeting cards, but I doubt I’ll send them anywhere. I’ll probably put them on a shelf. I love the snowman’s eyes and the expression on his face. He just looks so sweet. I think the girl looks sweet, too.

One reason I wanted to do the swans is because this pattern reminded me of the swan embroidery on Marcy’s wall on the cover of The Quick and The Thread. This was the first time (with this pattern and the snow girl, above) I’d ever done redwork, and I enjoyed it. I’ll probably do more of this kind of embroidery, too.

Like Marcy, I hope all of you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, everybody! How are you? I hope you’re fine and not too stressed out with Christmas shopping, preparing for holiday parties and worrying about all those extra calories you might be consuming. Who am I kidding? There’s no might about it. I’ll be consuming extra calories! I did see a piece of advice on controlling your holiday calorie consumption, though. The article advised, “Splurge on what you love, not on what you like.”  My problem is that I love everything!

Pattern Spotlights:

Rather than do a site spotlight this week, I’m going to do a pattern spotlight. You guys still have two weeks until Christmas, and I thought you might want to make some last-minute gifts.

Here is an adorable cross-stitch fingertip towel from Michaels which wouldn’t take very long at all to make.

Here is a “hardanger for kids” pattern. Now, please don’t be offended. If you haven’t ever done hardanger, it’s a great introduction to this needlecraft. If you’ll scroll down to the bottom, you’ll see the pattern done in all white, which would make a beautiful Christmas ornament. {Note from Gayle: I printed it out, and I’m going to try it!}

Here are some adorable needlepoint ornaments that you can do as a sampler or as individual ornaments; and a needlepoint Santa who is as cute as can be.

Here is a sweet cross-stitch ornament titled “not a creature was stirring.”  

Here are some vintage Christmas embroidery designs you could do in redwork or blackwork. {Note from Gayle: I might try a few of these, too!}

Monograms are nice touches to add to gifts, such as hand towels, scarves or handkerchiefs. You could also make monogram Christmas ornaments. Here is a pattern from Plaid Online. This pattern is backward, so you can print it out on iron-on printer paper and then transfer it to your fabric. {Note from Gayle: I might give it a try!}

Okay, that’s all I’m doing today. Guys, please pray that Gayle doesn’t hurt herself trying all these new things. I think sometimes she forgets I’m the embroidery person; she’s the writer.