New Releases for Fall 2012

Well in Calgary there is a distinct crispness in the air especially in the morning. I bought a couple of big mums to put out at the front door, I love those! I took a picture with my phone and maybe I will post a picture of those beauties. New releases this fall include the following:

In the ‘STITCHES’ series we have Pumpkin Stitches, with some absolutely lovely oranges, that was a challenge for me who hardly ever uses orange, lots of reds but not necessarily orange. It was fun. It has a thread pack available with the great handpainted pumpkin charm. Also in the ‘STITCHES’ series is Apple Stitches, what is fall but a wonderful fresh apple. Again also a thread pack with this pattern, but no charm funnily enough, it just didn’t seem to need it with those big apples in it.

I have to tell you, I designed this next piece called “Christmas Sampler’ on white fabric, I had so much fun and enjoyed the colour palette, but it also called to me in the more natural, primitive colours, so yes, I did it both ways. In the chart is White Winter and Au Naturale – both charts in one leaflet, just the thread pack is packaged either one way or the other, so depending on what you want to stitch you can get the white glitzy number… or the primitive au naturale stlye. Nearly all the motifs were the same but one, it is just the colour changes that make the difference!

Then of course, we have had so much fun with the pincushions, that yes with the help from Just Another Button Company we did Hallowe’en Quaker Pincushions and Christmas Quaker Pincushions. I designed one pincushion like the original and the others are different quaker motifs again to make these. The finishing remains the same the WDW Wool Fabric and JABC has packaged up the buttons and pins in a button/pin pack in whatever colour you might want! It is awesome.

In a couple of weeks I am off to Ogden, UT to go to the Shepherd’s Bush event, what a treat to be invited again to this wonderful retreat in Park City. I hope that I get to meet you again or for the first time and look forward to seeing you all. And you know that I had fun with the theme for the event and have some great smalls to go with it! It’s going to be great!!

Then come mid October off to the west coast I go…. to Portland, OR – Acorns and Threads – and you who signed up with no idea of what I was doing…. I love you! you made my day! I look forward to seeing you and sharing in our wonderful passion for needlework.

Just a quick note on the Just Cross Stitch Issue of Sept./Oct. that has Pumpkin Sampler in it – I do have thread packs for this design available, just email me at info@jeannettedouglas.com or shop@jeannettedouglas.com

May your autumn be filled with colourful events just like the season!

August 2012 Notes

In the mail came a lovely note and picture this week, that I want to share with you from Marilyn Skuce of Port Stanley, ON. She writes: Thanks to both of you for creating and publishing “Summer at the Ocean” (Jeannette’s) and ” Seaside Garden Sampler” (Thea of Victoria Sampler). It has been a goal to stitch a design to reflect our waterside retirement home. Finding …both designs, I’ve been able to accomplish this goal. The design is built around my Haiku poem…

Summer… tranquil, cool. ebb, flow

driftwood…relax, sand ripples,

peaceful waves….welcome.

I’ve added 3 local restaurants in their traditional paint colours….

Neale at Thread and Eye in London, ON has worked his magic to mat and frame this design.”

Marilyn what a treat you created. By expanding the rows of water and sand you have created a peaceful tranquil place on this piece of fabric that extends outward. Thank you for sharing, and now I share with you all.

Just a little piece of news, look for your latest edition of Just Cross Stitch as there is a lovely Pumpkin Sampler in there from JDD, I hope that I can get the instructions finished in time to release ‘Pumpkin Stitches’ the new piece in the Stitches Series set. Also look for Apple Stitches, it is done and waiting to be printed. Also new will be a Christmas Sampler, I haven’t done Christmas since about 10 years ago, so it was high time! I had so much fun with this that I did it 2 ways! One is called White Winter and the other Au Naturale…. I think the titles give it away…..

Summer 2012

While many parts of the continent have very high temps, we in Alberta are enjoying a lovely summer. At the beginning of July Dale and I took a week to go to Whitefish, MT. We had a super week, weather was terrific and all the July 4th celebrations are always a sight to behold to Canadians. On my JDD facebook page I think I posted a picture of both the CDN and US flag flying that week, that was so nice to see. So we celebrated July 1 – Canada Day in America! It was great. On the way home we took the way through Glacier National Park, it was awesome, there are just no other words. If you have never done the “Going to the Sun” road it is a must at some point. We have done it a few times and each time it gives awe inspiring visuals. We had a perfect day and once at the top – Logan’s Pass – you could see mountain flowers side by side with glaciers, so neat to see. We saw mountain goats too, with a little baby goat, so cute. This will be the first year in many that I will have a few autumn releases, it always seems that my classes take up so much time, but even though I have classes and busyness…… as usual! I did work on some general releases. Look for them to come in September. Working on the instructions and covers etc. in August after I get back from my niece’s wedding in Ontario!

So looking forward to Shepherd’s Bush retreat Sept 26-29th! An absolute delight to go! and the bonus is that they are in my time zone!! Mountain time, terrific to go to an event and not have to do time change. In October I will be at Acorns and Threads in Portland, OR – October 20,21. The pieces are surprises – but totally fun!! Looking forward to sharing them with you all!

Here is picture of Lake McDonald in the Glacier National Park, did you know that it is connected to Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta to make one -they (the US and Canada) created the world’s first International Peace Park: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP) in 1932-it’s kinda cool.

Lake McDonald July 2012 in Glacier National Park