Hands To Work

My Calendar Dilemma

I love calendars.  Especially calendars that I can throw in my purse.  But I'm so picky.  Did you know that about me?  I will pass over most calendars that I find in discount stores or pharmacies.  Even popular and well made calendars in book stores don't do it for me.  I want quirky.  I want pockets.  I want room to paste magazine pictures and ticket stubs and doodle.  I want a soft cover.  I want pretty pictures.  I want hand drawn.  I want something that is NOT mass marketed.  Any suggestions?

  This is a journal page by Pam Garrison.  Think she would make me a calendar?   I would be happy to color it in myself.  Here is another page that hasn't been finished:  Cute, huh?

Several years ago, I drew up a calendar with a stitched design in the back.  I love it and have a few more copies to use but it's not quite right.  Thin paper, not much room for writing, and NO POCKETS. 

 Soooo, I'm looking for some inspiration.  I need a calendar sooner than later.  Help a girl out, would ya?

Home Again!

This summer has been so incredibly busy!  I've not only done a lot of traveling but have had company several times as well.  I just got home from a trip to Indiana that I took with Lily, Elisabeth and my mother.  We had a great time and I can honestly say I have never seen so much corn in all my life!

Now that I'm back home, I'm working on finishing up my new designs that will be available for the St Charles cash and carry show in September.  I will update you with information about the new releases as they are done.

I am so excited to see Maggie Bonanomi's new book has been released.  I'm waiting for mine to arrive.  The advance buzz about the book is that it's fantastic!  I was lucky enough to see one of the projects in the book when Maggie was here for the retreat last year.  It's a small pocket with a bird stitched on the front.  She has also included the instructions to make the sewing roll that we made at the retreat.  So for all of you that were begging for a kit and couldn't get one, buy the book!  You can find it at Colonial Crafts.

Another fun book that has recently been released is Barb and Alma's new In Full Bloom.  This should also be arriving at my mailbox very soon!

Hope you all are having a wonderful end of July.  Don't forget to pick up your needle every day and stitch, stitch, stitch!