Santa Needle Nanny meets L*K Magneto-Man!

We have a new "super hero" at L*K world headquarters. I'm calling him Magneto-Dot Man, but you know him as Alan,  aka Mr. Lizzie Kate. He left his cape at home today, but he's still my super hero.

We're super busy assembling NOEL Limited Edition Kits - one of 2 last minute kits for 2016 that are shipping to shops everywhere this week. 

In addition to all the regular kit goodies, NOEL kits include a Limited Edition Needle Nanny. We used our 2016 Snippet Santa, and he's pretty darn cute - in "dot" form.

We worked with the dot experts at Quilt Dots to create these amazing magnetic Needle Nannies. Each Needle Nanny incorporate 2 very strong Rare Earth magnets. The magnetic surface acts as a needle minder to keep your needles and your scissors firmly (and I mean, FIRMLY) in place while you stitch.

Back to our Magneto Dot Man story...we add a Limited Edition Needle Nanny to each kit. Below is our stellar helper, Carmen, assembling the kits (without Needle Nannies). There's stitching fabric, 2 finishing fabrics, rick rack, embellishment pack, pretty cover and graph. 

Did I mention these magnets are SUPER STRONG? The dot whizzes at Quilt Dots told us this, and sent us some helpful tips for working with hundreds of strong magnets. 

The Santa Needle Nannies arrived on thin metal sheets - see top of photo below. Then there were also neat towers of magnet backs wrapped in tissue - left below. 

When we unwrap the magnet towers, they have little white spacers in between each magnet. Without that, we would have a helpless magnetic mess on our hands!

Alan picks up a magnet front (with Santa's smiling face), holds it on front of our insert (below)

Then firmly slides a magnet off the magnet tower. These things are so strong, you can't easily lift it off...sliding works the best. Then he gets it near the back of the insert and ZING...it hops into place!

Then Magneto Dot Man spaces these Needle Nannies to cover our fabric cutting board. If you put them too close to each other, they just jump and stick. Actually, our cutting table is a piece of plywood on some metal stands. These magnets move around a bit as they attract to the metal table legs...believe it!

When the cutting board is full, he adds one Needle Nanny to each kit. As photo above shows, he alternates putting them on right and left bottom of each kit. You guessed it - the kits like to magnetize to each other (right through multiple layers of fabric and paper!), so this helps.

Then our NOEL Limited Edition Kits are ready to ship!

Need a little needle magic in your stocking this year? Contact your favorite needlework supplier to order K93 NOEL Limited Edition kits. When these Santa Needle Nannies are gone, they're gone - back to the North Pole, I suppose!

We have 3 other newbies coming this week, including our O Christmas Tree Kit.

Scroll back to previous blog posts for the other 2 new L*K designs coming SOON!

Wishing you all lots of holiday merriness!!

L*K holiday charity project!

Here's a preview of our final 2 releases for 2016. Scroll back to previous post for the 2 new kits coming to a shop near you in early December.

#178 Prayer of St. Francis

I've had a lot of (prayer) requests for this one over the years. I had planned on releasing this in 2017, but now seems like the perfect time. It's a big piece for L*K, but every word is important. I found that stitching these lovely words, one little cross at a time, was comforting and meaningful.

B55 I Am Only One Inspiration Boxer

It's our first Inspiration Boxer where the proceeds go to charity - yea! Just in time for the holiday gifting season, we're inviting you to be part of our L*K holiday giving. We used a classic inspirational saying and also included a BONUS design. Kit includes 30 ct. lambswool linen, embellishment and BONUS design.

We're donating to a favorite charity of ours - Stove Builders of Guatemala  We included an insert in kit so everyone can learn about this useful and environment project to improve the lives of Guatemalan women and families.

Why build stoves in Guatemala? Here's the short scoop:

I was fortunate to visit Guatemala several years ago, and am hopeful to return again to build more stoves. Women typically cook on open fires inside their homes. The #1 killer of Guatemalan women is lung and eye diseases from these fires. Women's long skirts often catch fire and small children often fall into the open fires. In addition, a lot of wood is burned, deforesting the countryside. Everywhere we traveled, we saw people carrying firewood.

Long story short...an American who had lived in Guatemala developed a fuel efficient stove that could be built using local materials. Besides being fuel efficient, the stove got the cooking fire off the ground and vented the smoke outdoors. It could be built for about $120.

Stove Builders Juan and Diego

Local "stove builders" have been trained (pic above), and they continue to build stoves and train more stove builders. Twice a year a group from our church returns to work alongside local stove builders and provide financial help. Can you believe Stove Builders have built over 850 stoves?!

$120 is a big price for a family where a good wage is $6 a day. Stove Builders provides $100 per stove through donations and the family pays $20. In addition, the family helps with construction of the stove.

Our hope is to provide a stove for every family who needs one. By purchasing this L*K design, you are partnering with us and stitchers around the world to provide safe, efficient stoves to Guatemalan families. ***Check out those tiny tortillas above. Tortillas are a staple food - breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

I couldn't finish this post without sharing this pic of the beautiful women and their gorgeous handmade clothing. I fell in love with the traditional clothing of these Mayan descent women. These ladies aren't "dressing up" for tourists - this is their everyday wear. Every village has it's own "pattern" of embroidery, and you can identify a person's home from their clothing. I also thought the wrap skirts were genius! No matter what your current weight, you could wind these skirts to a comfortable, cozy fit. And the COLORS!!!

BTW - this is "the gift that keeps on giving". We will continue to buy stoves - with your help - for years to come. This giving doesn't end with Christmas 2016! We really look forward to keeping you posted on our adventures in Guatemala.

"I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do Something".


****If you need any of these L*K newbies under your tree...or the 2 new kits previewed in previous post...let your favorite needlework supplier know NOW. We're shipping to shops right after Thanksgiving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!

Final 2016 Christmas Newbies!

We have a few more holiday surprises in store for you...just in time for holiday giving, tucking in your own stocking or adding to your wish list.

There are FOUR special and unique new designs coming later this month - including our holiday charity project. Check out the info on our 2 NEW KITS below! We'll share about the remaining 2 designs next week.

K93 NOEL Limited Edition Kit

This vintage-look kit includes a sleigh-full of holiday goodies...30 ct. linen, 2 charming finishing fabrics, ivory rick rack, antique gold heart charm, golden beads, twine and complete finishing instructions. It's a pin pillow, bowl filler, door hanger...whatever your holiday heart desires.

These are my favorite kind of little projects because they're so versatile. You can display them anywhere around the house...tuck in a bowl, lean here or there, put in a little easel, just a bit of holiday fun and handmade warmth.

This little kit also has a special treasure...we're including a charming Limited Edition "Old School Santa" needle nanny! What's a Needle Nanny? It's the cutest little Santa "dot" ever! The Needle Nanny incorporates 2 very strong Rare Earth magnets.

The magnetic surface acts as a needle minder to keep your needles and scissors firmly (and I mean firmly!)in place while you stitch. We worked with the talented ladies at Quilt Dots to make a Limited Edition "Old School Santa" Needle Nanny, and it's only available in this kit! Invite Santa and this sweet kit to your house for Christmas!

K94 O Christmas Tree Kit

Who doesn't love a colorful Christmas tree? We included 10 bright trees on this quick-to-stitch design! Then we found the perfect finishing fabric with more tree and sparkly gold accents. Kit includes 30 ct. linen, 2 finishing fabric, red rick rack, 4 white snowflake buttons, red and white beads, and finishing instructions. You supply the bits of thread from your stash and the holiday cheer!

We will preview the other 2 new projects next week, so don't forget to check back SOON!

If you want to receive these kits in your stocking this year, be sure to let the elves at your favorite needlework supplier know. Sometimes Santa needs a little help!!!