Preparing for Easter, the NWMP & Gitta's Getaway

What a glorious week!  The weather was wonderful, with sunny and exceptionally warm days.  I also got much accomplished in the shop - finishing the kits for my Make-it & Take-it demo at the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace, decorating the shop for Easter, and finalizing the games and oraganizing (with Margaret's help) all the donations from our suppliers for our Gitta's Getaway Retreat. 

My mom & I spent most of Monday decorating the shop window and the front counter.  At first I wasn't in the mood to haul everything out of storage, but I'm really pleased with the results.  The window looks great - fresh & Springy, just in time for Easter.

Over the front counter we hung some greenery (fake of course) with many of our stitched Easter ornaments.  The rest of the ornaments will be hung next week onto our Pussy Willow bouquet. 







Having received our canvas order this week, I was also able to finish the kits for my demo at the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace.  The kits will be $10.00, including all threads, canvas and charm, as well as a blocking board and magnetic backing to finish it into a fridge magnet.  I will demonstrate the Continental/Tent Stitch twice each day.  With limited spaces, there will be a sign up sheet for each session.  Purchase a kit, sit and stitch, and see just how easy the Continental stitch can be. 

In the evenings I also managed to finalize the games for Gitta's Getaway Retreat.  The games, with a bit of fun and some friendly competition,  are intented to help us get to know one another and... of course to win prizes.

At stitch night this past Wednesday Samantha surprised me with the leaflets of her first two published designs.  I was so excited for her.  She is an avid and talented cross stitcher and although she has designed for her personal use for many years, these are the first she has published.
Samantha has been a regular in the Gitta's community since she was a teenager.  Her and her Mom first came into the shop in the mid 1990's, and even with 2 young children she rarely misses Stitch Night.



 Inspired by my 15 sided biscornu, her first 2 published designs each have 15 seasonal specific motifs that can either be stitched as a sampler or finished into a 15 sided biscornu.  They are both adorable and a Fall and Summer version are soon to follow.

Having attended every Gitta's Getaway Retreat with her mom, Samantha has enjoyed meeting other stitchers and sharing her love of stitching.  For this year's Retreat  she has kitted her first design, "Winter Sampler", to make it her gift to everyone attending Gitta's Getaway Retreat.






Gitta's is proud to be the first shop to carry Samantha's designs.  Her patterns are now available for sale in the shop and through our website    Drop by to see her stitched models, and on April 14th and 15th, 2012 you can see them on display in Gitta's booth at the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace

Butterfly Conservatory

This past week my Cousin and his family from New Brunswick visited with us for March Break (their March Break is the week before ours).  His wife and kids have never been to Niagara Falls, and I have never been there in the Winter.  So off we went.  We spent the morning in the Butterfly Conservatory - what a wonderful place!  It is filled with butterflies from all over the world.  As you walk through the conservatory, the butterflies are everywhere in abundance, landing on all the exotic florals and on you.  We all had a fabulous time.

At the entrance to the conservatory is a giant iron sculture of a butterfly.  When I saw it, I couldn't help think that it would look awesome stitched - and here is the chart.

We then spent the afternoon by the Falls, behind the Falls and in a new attraction, Experience Niagara's Fury.  Aside from the weather (although the day we were there the weather was not bad), the Winter is actually a good time to visit the Falls.  There's  not that many people, no line ups, and no problem finding a parking spot.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Click here to view the photo album.                              

Have a great 

March Break!!

Nominate your favourite LNS

Last week I received an email from the Cross-stitch & Needlework magazine.  They informed us that Gitta's was nominated in their facebook poll for stitchers to nominate their favourite LNS.

 How exciting!!

I was asked to answer some questions about the shop and send some photos.  These are some of the photos I sent

Thanks to everyone that nominated Gitta's.

Without you the shop would not be here, you are what keeps us going.

        If you have not yet voted for your Gitta's, 

log onto facebook and post your comments on the Cross-stitch &Needlework magazine facebook page.