Another Month with the Victoria Sampler

It's been a crazy few weeks, and as well as not finding the time to blog

I had also forgotten that I was to be the "Designer of the Month" for March.  Oh my !!
Needless to say, the models for the Victoria Sampler will remain on display this month, and if you have not yet collected her free pattern you still can.

Tonight, I am heading to a trade show in Germany.  I'm looking forward to seeing all that is new.  It should make for an exciting few days.  I will try to tweet daily, follow me on Twitter @GittasShop.

Designer of the Month: Thea Dueck

This month we actually have 3 for 1.

Thea first began designing and self publishing her cross stitch patterns under Lampost Designs in the late 1980's and later in the early 1990's she further exhibited her talents by designing and self publishing samplers under The Victoria Sampler.  Today she also features other designers under her label, The Victoria Sampler.
Thea lives in British Columbia, but teaches and sells her designs around the world.  She loves working with silk and her samplers are truely heirloom pieces.  Many stitch her samplers for special occassions such as weddings, anniversaries, friendship, birthdays and other remembrances.
Each of her samplers is a pleasure to stitch with a combination of different techniques and specialty stitches.  Thea's teachings and excellent step by step instructions also add to her popularity with today's stitchers.  Pictured is her sampler, Love is Patient.  It has long been one of my favourite, and although it is a Wedding Sampler I want to stitch is as a Remembrance of my Mother.

Cathy Jean's adorable country folk art designs are very different from Thea's.
Her Button Up Birdies series have been extremely popular in the shop.  She has unique finishing suggestions that incorporate  homemade country flair.   But framed they will  add some whimsy to every decor.



Linda Rosser is the newest designer to join
The Victoria Sampler family.  Linda owned her own Needlework in Florida, and today is a budding new designer.  Her pretty exquisite designs, from her Ort Bag to her Biscornu ornaments, bring a new dimension to The Victoria Sampler.

So please drop by the shop this month and view the wonderful selection of models we have on display from these 3 talented designers.

Blackwork - Valentine Celtic Heart

Blackwork has changed a bit over the years, but the concepts and techniques have not.  Blackwork dates back to the Moorish influences in Spain and was later brought to England in the 1500's by Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIII's Spanish wife.

The Elizabethans would decorate their clothing with elaborate and beautiful floral designs.  Worked with black silk on white linen, the strong outlines would be filled with lacy stitches.  Today Blackwork refers solely to the technique, as we incorporate other threads and colours, and I love the effect of variegated threads.

But the technique is still the same, and the stitches unchanged.  Some popular stitches for Blackwork are double running (holbein) stitch, backstitch and stem stitch (for outlines).  What makes blackwork so intriguing to me is that it can be (but not always) reversible with a pattern on the front and on the back.

Carol Storie, the designer we are exhibiting this month at the shop, has a few wonderful Blackwork designs.

 This is her Blackwork Medley, and it features some wonderful Blackwork patterns that can be applied to other designs.  With Blackwork, the openness or density of the repeating filling stitches creates different shades.

Carol's designs will remain on display until Saturday. I will be putting up our "Designer of the Month" for February on Monday.

To commemorate Blackwork and Carol's designs, I have designed a Blackwork Celtic Heart as a Valentine's gift to you.  I also wanted to share one of Carol's Blackwork tips with all of you.  As not all Blackwork patterns show the stitch path to ensure it is reversible you yourself must plan the path.  Carol suggests to highlight every second stitch to make the path more visible.

Click here for the Blackwork Celtic Heart chart

Designer of the Month: Carol Storie

Carol Storie publishes her designs under Heartfelt Designs.  She has been designing for over 25 years and has sent us a wonderful selection to display at Gitta's for the month of January.

Carol designs and teaches all kinds of needleart techniques - hardanger, canvas work, blackwork, pulled thread, cross stitch and embroidery.  One of my favourite is her inspirational design "Wind beneath your wings.  I love her colour choices, layout and finishing.

She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Unfortunately Carol will be unable to drop by the shop so I will teach a beginner Blackwork workshop at the end of the month using one of her designs.



While in the shop don't forget to pick up Carol's free pattern  for the "Designer of the Month" Collaboration Sampler.  If incorporates several stitching techniques, canvas work, cross stitch and blackwork.  The wings were fun to stitch.

Unable to visit Gitta's?  Then please visit her designer page on our website and order your favourite.  With every on-line order of Carol's designs we will also include her free pattern.

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Carol Storie is the owner of Heartfelt Designs, and has been stitching for over 25 years.  She creates designs in many techniques of counted thread including hardanger, canvas work, pulled thread, and cross stitch, incorporating specialty threads and a wide variety of stitches. - See more at: http://heartfelt-designs.com/?page_id=2#sthash.EDjLgCIi.dpuf

Christmas Open House 2013

I have three more hours to post my last blog of 2013.  I'm sitting at my Dad's house with my husband, our kids and my Dad watching some New Year's Eve specials and snacking on gifted Christmas cookies (like so much this Christmas, I did not feel like baking), shrimp, and sipping warm German Spiced wine.  It's not the wild family celebration of past years, but this feels just right.

The Christmas season for me always starts with the shop's Christmas Open House on the first Saturday of December.  The shop was decorated with cross-stitched Christmas ornaments, stockings, and framed Santas.  There were nibblies, specials, gifts for all, and lots of Christmas cheer.  To view all the Open House photos Click here.
This year's Open House was very much like those of previous years, with one exception.  My mom was very much in my heart this day, and sharing the day with many friends made it easier.
My mother always loved the festivities and cherished each and every one of our dedicated stitchers.


For those of you who were unable to drop by the shop and partake in the festivities, I would like to extend my Christmas gift to all of you.  Every year I design a Christmas Ornament, which is kitted and then gifted at the Open House.  And as it happens this year's was another Reindeer.
Click here for the chart.  Enjoy!!
And enjoy the remainder of this Festive Season.



Hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas, surrounded by the love of family and friends.

And wishing you all peace, hope, love and good health for every day of the coming new year.


Gitta's gang appreciates your business and we hope to serve you again in 2014.  Without you the shop would not be here.

A wish of Christmas!

Wishing you all the gifts of peace, hope and love for this festive season and for every day of the coming new year.

This year has been especially hard for me, and it is the love of family and friends that gets me through the days.

Have a Merry Christmas and I will post some photos from Gitta's Christmas Open House as well as my annual Christmas gift to all of you before New Year's Eve.

Where has the time gone

Much has happened since I returned home from Germany, and as I sit here writing this email I am struggling to remember it all.

Two weeks ago Carolyn MItchell was in the shop teaching her "Allure" workshop.

The ladies had a great time and plans are already underway for next year.  Carolyn is designing something new just for us.  One  idea her and the ladies were contemplating is a frame weight with pockets for all our favourite tools.  Sounds great to me, I may even join that workshop.  See you next year ...
 
I have also been busy decorating the shop and preparing for our annual Christmas Open House.   As I do every year, I design a free pattern that is then kitted and gifted

to the first 100 stitchers that visit Gitta's that day.  I thought I was well prepared this year by having designed my reindeer already in the spring.   This one, however,  along with two from previous years were then published in A Needle Pulling Thread magazine, when they invited me to be one of the featured designers in their first ornament issue.  I was both honoured and excited to be able to partake, but this then meant I needed to design another reindeer for our Christmas Open House.  I believe my mission has been successful.  I'm sure you will love "Reindeer Elegance" as much as I do.

 This year's Christmas Open House is on December 7th,

 ( as every year the Open House is held on the first Saturday of December).  

To collect the Holly Reindeer, you will need to purchase A Needle Pulling Thread magazine, but the  latest, "Reindeer Elegance", will be unveiled at the Open House.  See you in less than 2 weeks.