Thread Tips ~

Welcome dear friends!

My neighborhood is really experiencing a finicky Spring,

Sunday was a glorious 72° day, and today it has

dropped 30° and is lightly snowing!

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Studio News...

  

~ This will be a very busy week, "Martha Howells 1849" will be

back from the print shop and ready to ship on Thursday!

~ A new "Secret Samplar" is underway...watch for updates!

~  New finishing supplies coming to my Etsy Shoppe

~ It's time once again for The Sheepish Needle Samplar Club...

This will be the fourth and final Sheepish Needle club kit.

I'll be sharing updates throughout the month...

Hope to reveal the model by mid April,

with a scheduled ship date of April 30th.

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Have you ever been frustrated with "dry hands" 

while trying to stitch?

Living in the Midwest this can be a real challenge,

especially during the winter months, but also during

the gardening months!

Here are a few tips that work for me...

First I start with clean hands, then use "Aveeno" lotion

which is non~greasy...I've tried lots of different brands and 

this is definitely my favorite!

Stitching with Cotton Thread, I use longer lengths 

of thread cut to 36" long, BUT when stitching with Silk Thread

I use shorter 18~20" lengths of thread.

Next, I lightly run the strand of cotton or silk only once over

the top of my beeswax bar...then slide the thread between my fingers 

 to evenly distribute...greatly helps to prevent tangling!

I'm right handed, so my right thumb is usually the worst

culprit...I'll use either a thin soft style thimble to cover

the roughness or a small round finger pad.

All these tips make stitching

 with my beloved Silks a breeze!

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The weather may be finicky, but I know spring

is just around the corner, because look what I discovered...

Sure enough the weeds are the first thing to blossom and

bloom here in Wisconsin!

Dandelions bring back good memories of our

two big Labrador dogs; Chester (yellow) & Jake (Black),

they were brothers and both were laid to rest at the 

old age of 15!

Anyway, they both LOVED eating Dandelions...especially Jake!

When I designed the pattern "Faithful Friend" Tool Tray 

last year, it was in memory of sweet Jake...truly a faithful friend!

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Sunday is my special day of the week, spent hanging out

 with my family, we love to go for Sunday drives in the country...

An Amish buggy headed to their country church gathering!

I love when our son Sam joins us, 

because he's so quick with his camera...

Wow, a beautiful Pheasant! 

Such a rare sighting...

Look at all the gorgeous colors...love the long tail feathers!  

Not approving of being photographed...

Made a quick dash to shelter!

We enjoy driving through old country cemeteries...

Love the ancient character of this one! 

A Bald Eagle just landed in this nest...

Zoomed in we were still to far to get a good photo.

But, if you look real close...

The small white spot in the center of the nest

 is the top of its head!

Did you know the lifespan of Bald Eagles is 20 years!

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Weekly Soul Food...

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall

renew their strength; they shall mount up with

wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be

weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31...KJV


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Undertake pleasurable tasks each day...work your
needle with passion and pride!

Spring Blessings, Tammy