Our NEW Selfie Sampler

You know what a "selfie" is...right? Those annoyingly revealing (but fun) photos you take of yourself (and maybe a couple friends) while holding your cell phone at arm's length. Well, put that image out of your mind, because we're talking a different type of "selfie" here...a "selfie" in stitches!

While brainstorming about kits for market, I was inspired by this fabulous linen! It's called Red Pear (Weeks Dye Works) and it is yummy. It's the most glorious shade of pink and it was calling my name. So I designed a kit around this lovely fabric. **Linen is actually a little darker than my photo shows...trust me, it's a fabulous color that I still love after cutting yards and yards.

In 2016, I've been working on a theme at L*K. Sort of an "empowerment/encouragement/you can do it" sort of vibe. When I found the phrase "Dear Self, Today I Will Shine", I knew it was perfect for my pet pink project.

I've been wanting to do a really wide, height challenged design for a while. So I got to work graphing my saying with a fab pink background on my computer. I stitched the little bugger, and then got a little worried. I heard voices in my head that sounded like..."will anyone like this shape of design?", or "is this design TOO wide and weird?".

So I returned to the computer and rearranged the design, added some things here and there, and got a more traditional rectangular shape...and STITCHED that shape! Then I was really CONFUSED...which "selfie" did I prefer???? After I got a frame on the original shape (#1), and made the other into a pillow (#2) with chenille trim, I decided to include them both!

Clearly, this "selfie" (myself!) is a little indecisive. But more fun for you all is how I prefer to see it!

While I was waiting for the frame to arrive, I designed a bitty little BONUS project and sent it to Mona to finish along with the project #2. She returned the cutest little "weenie" project. It's adorable! I predict this weenie is going to get a lot of attention at market. Check out the "self" (little girl) on the pic...this is supposed to be "me/you/our little selves"!

So choose whichever shape you want for your Selfie Sampler. Fabric included is enough for either shape. We're also including some pink beads, silver "Made with Love" charm, and complete finishing instructions for pillow and BONUS weenie.

We hope you enjoy your Selfie Sampler, whichever shape your "self" chooses! We will be anxious to see what creative finishes you dream up. My original vision for shape #1 was an uber-wide pillow with wide rick rack trim...and then a beautiful frame caught my eye. 

Selfie Sampler will be premiering at the Nashville Needlework Market on March 4-6. Look for it in your favorite needlework shop soon after. If you want to make sure you get one, contact your fave shop NOW to pre-order. Shops love pre-orders, because it makes their buying decisions at market easier.

Which shape do you prefer? 

More Market Peeks!

The countdown to market is on and we're finishing up our last 2 NEW KITS for the big needlework party in Nashville. Check out our other new kit, Love Summer, in the previous post.

I'm feeling very patriotic this year...thankful for the wonderful country I live in (despite the annoying political buzz surrounding me) and all the blessings and opportunities I have daily. 

So I decided to celebrate a new year with a new patriotic design. I began with a long wavy flag and worked a design around beautiful red, white and blue hues. Hence, the name of this kit!

Red White and Blue Kit (K89)

I got a little carried away with lots of fun finishing goodies, and decided to include them all so you could enjoy them, too. Here's a list of all the goodies included in the Red White and Blue Kit. Everything is also pictured below.

* 32 ct. Lambswool linen

* Deep sea houndstooth wool 

* Navy/cream cotton backing fabric

* Red/white stripe ribbon

* Round mother-of-pearl button

* Iridescent white beads

* Jute for cording

* Complete finishing instructions from our finishing guru, Mona

It was a busy weekend assembling kits. Actually, the really time consuming part is prepping all the components for a kit...cutting/folding linen, cutting/folding/ironing cotton backing, cutting ribbon, sacking embellishments...you get the idea. Actually assembling them is like the reward for all the busy work. 

And after a long weekend, the trunk of our car looks like picture above. And that's just one trunk load of many trips to/fro the L*K office and home. Who wants to spend the weekend at the office when you can work from home, and and enjoy the company of friends and a great basketball game?! Most people clean up their homes when company visits, but our pals are used to the L*K routine. They keep asking "when do you guys leave for market?"

Ready for some Red White and Blue at your house? Contact your fave needlework shop and ask them to pre-order NOW. We'll be releasing Red White and Blue officially on March 5. It will be available in shops everywhere soon after.

But just so you don't think we are all work and no play, here's a pic of us riding a nearby rails-to-trails conversion. I literally took my new knee for a spin! We have had the strangest winter, with temps reaching near 80 degrees last week. We basked in the gorgeous 60s temps on our Saturday ride between 2 little towns west of Wichita. It was just us, the grazing cows, a few horses and goats along the way, greening winter wheat and beautiful sunshine. Even better, no slimy snakes slithered across my path, the absence of which always makes me happy. A snake on the path is so alarming to me, my shriek is usually delayed until after I roll by the unwanted wildlife. 

One more NEW KIT info coming later this week. Check back soon tosee our new super fun Selfie Sampler.

To market, to market we go!

We leave for market in less than 2 weeks, so the crazy market prep countdown is ON!!!

Market madness isn't confined to the crowded L*K office...it's invaded our house. You may trip over a piece of twine cording or encounter rolling beads on the floor almost anywhere.Below is a pic in our lake level family room/mini kitchen.

I LOVE my vintage rolling kitchen cart. Do/did you have one? Did your grandma have one? What color?

I get comments on this cart almost every time someone visits. I guess these colorful carts are a big part of kitchen history for many of us! Bonus for me...it matches my aqua retro refrigerator (top of picture). And it's super useful for all sorts of projects - maybe even food related.

Today my rolling cart is full of Love Summer Limited Edition kits. They're ready to roll to the car and be loaded for the L*K office. Then they'll be counted and packed in large boxes to carry to Nashville Needlework Market.

I'm continuing a fun little "Purse/Pocket" Limited Edition Kit series. We're doing seasonal designs, so the new one will be Love Summer. I do truly "love summer" and especially the idea of summer...relaxing, enjoying, being outdoors, and extra time with family and friends.

Love Summer has our first ever L*K mermaid, merrily floating at the bottom, holding a golden seashell. How to draw a mermaid? I was a little perplexed so I began by cut/pasting another character I graphed before...an elf. The elf head got me started - I removed the hat and add some floaty hair and a crown.  Then got to work on her wavy lower half. She's pretty cute and I'm hoping the needlework censors won't get me for her bare top. 

Here's the Love Summer cover with a nice denim-y background and some rope. I love designing these covers!! You can't imagine how many different background/elements I try and reject before sending the final to the printer. The final version is always unrecognizable from my earlier efforts. 

As always, Love Summer Limited Edition Kit comes with stitching fabric (30 count Lambswool linen), picnic-y bandana finishing fabric for top and back, seashell charm, twine for handle and complete finishing instructions. This kit is such a quick stitch, I promise it won't interfere with your summer fun!

Want to bring Love Summer to your house soon? Contact your favorite needlework shop and pre-order. We'll be releasing Love Summer on March 5, and it will appear in shops around the world soon after. 

Check out the companion purse/pocket kits, already available at your fave needlework shop. Now is the perfect time to work on Hello Spring. The vintage-y finishing fabric is so lovely, and the burlap-y ribbon handle is accented with flower shaped mother-of-pearl buttons. And that little chick!

K86 Hello Spring

And don't forget Merry St. Nick, who was the first purse/pocket kits last holiday season.

K84 Very Merry Santa

Check back soon for more market previews! It's back to the kitting table for us...1 kit done, 2 more to go!