A new year! How exciting! Do you make New Years Resolutions? How soon before you break them, LOL? Isn't it funny that a new year... or a new month... or a new week... can make us feel like we're starting a new page? How often do you say "I'll start exercising on Monday"? Or is it just me, ROFLOL. Can't start today... have to wait for a new week / month / year...

So maybe this year's resolution is to stop procrastinating. I'm terrible, really! I have to set arbitrary deadlines for myself, or I don't get anything done. What I'm working on always seems like so much more fun than what I SHOULD be workiing on...

As many of you probably know by now, I'm really getting into writing.

I used to do a lot of writing before I started my company, but running your own biz is a LOT more time consuming than you would think. After all, you're the designer, photographer, printer, assembler, shipper, file clerk, bookkeeper, and supply manager. And that's w/o any shows, which is a whole other skill set to add on top of all those jobs...

Which brings me back to telling you I'm cutitng back a bit this year. I'm hoping to encourage ALL my creative sides, not just my designing... but don't worry, the designing is getting done too - I've started a new release that I'm stitching myself, with an adorable bunny (I'll sneak peek that one next month, when it's almost stitched)...

I've started charting the last of James Keirstead's works I have licensed, a couple boats in harbor... Here's what I have done so far... as you can see, a ways to go yet, but this will give you something to compare the finished design to, lol:

What else? I'm working on a new novel, and hope to have the 2nd draft done for the next newsletter... so I guess I better get to work! Happy New Year everyone!!

All the best of the holiday season to you and yours! A bit late getting this out there... so what's new!!  It's been a busy month, finishing up the last month of the year long SAL (which is still available on the website... ALL of the SAL's are shown there, so when you sign up you'll receive the entire project, and can work at your own pace!).

I managed to finish the children's book for our 3yr old granddaughter... and apparently she loves it, as she asks to have it read to her several times a day, LOL. I've put it up on Amazon, but I'm not really pushing it, so don't expect it to do much... but we'll see!

What stitching have I been doing? I designed a little tree ornament, which I gave to my newsletter recipients... and I started stitching a new release for January, which I have about 3/4 done, so fingers crossed I can get it to my distributors next week...

Of course, being the start of a new year, there are TONS of new releases in the works... an adorable snowman (the first in the series) which I showed you a few months ago, was supposed to be ready for December... but life got in the way. The stitcher had to go in for surgery, but she's back at work, and we hope to have this first piece done shortly...

There's also a Keirstead being stitched - a stunning horseback bronco riding cowboy - quite a departure from his stone houses and old watermills! My next (and possibly last) piece with him will be a harbour scene...

I have several McVittie artwork pieces to get working on - and one out being stitched, which I'm hoping will be home shortly... so lots of goodies coming in the new year...

One piece of sad news... I'm starting to slow down, so will only be releasing SIX new design in 2022 (rather than my usual twelve). That DN count the magazine piece I'm doing with A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD though... There are two reasons for that... I've started doing more writing, and with all the classes I'm taking, as well as the books I'm working on, there just aren't enough hours in the day! But the main reason is that I'm starting to slow down towards retirement.

Never fear, its a couple years off yet, but in 2022 I have only booked two shows - I am teaching at Seminar 2022 (for Embroidery Canada members) in Toronto in May, and I'll be doing the needlework fair in Kingston, which the Cataraqui group host. I love this event, and have really missed it, as it was cancelled the last 2 years due to Covid.

Fingers crossed things improve enough to allow both these events to proceed!

Well, that's enough from me for this month... have a GREAT New Year, and I'll talk to you in 2022!

What a whirlwind this month has been! I was stitching my fingers off to get a gorgeous topp/runner combo done for my distributor - you guys will get to see it next month, but here's a peek for you...

As you can see, it's stitched on a beautiful Damask imprinted fabric, but I've also included a "stitch it yourself" background, which echoes this look, for those who want an entirely stitched piece. Look for next month's newsletter for more details!

And if you read my newsletter, you know I have also been writing up a storm, trying to get gift books off to England so they arrive in time for Christmas - and I'm happy to say, they shipped last week! You can see them on my website - though the page isn't linked yet, so just type BOOKS on the search line - select the picture of the dog, LOL, as that is my printing logo... both books will show up on that page.

What else have I been doing? Well, I pinched a nerve in my back, and ended up in bed for a couple days, but I'm on the mend now - just can't sit too long in one place... excuse me while I walk around...

OK, I'm back (GBG)... I've also started working on a new Hardanger design, since I haven't done a new one in a while... this one will be a Candy Cane doily... so I likely won't release it until next summer, for Christmas 2022...

I have started my new design schedule for 2022 already - including A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD... I think I'm about 3 issues ahead on designs, so yeah me!

Much of the next month will be spent working on Christmas and spending time with family... maybe getting back into my exercise routine, to fix up my back (!)... hope you all keep safe... talk to you next month!

Guess what, we had TWO Thanksgivings, LOL. One with my brother and SIL (when they were here at the end of September), then a smaller one on actual Thanksgiving. Spoiled and loving it!

You may know that I had an OPEN HOUSE this month, with guest designer CHRISTINE'S SWEDISH WEAVING. For those who missed it, click HERE for a walking tour, to see what you missed. Unfortunately I didn't think to take pictures until after Christine was gone, so her lovely work isn't shown, but visit her website HERE to see what she has to offer!

As for stitching... its been all about the GNOMES, baby! They are FINALLY done, and will soon be off to the distributor... though I do still have to add some treasures and take photos (sigh), always more to do! Now that these are out of the way, maybe I can get to work on converting more of Frances Tyrrell's adorable snowmen artwork to delicious needlework designs...

AND I have 2 children's stories I need to finish drawings for, which have to be mailed soon if my grandkids are going to have them for Christmas!! Which means, as much as I enjoy chatting with you, I really must run... take care until next month...