as if that's not enough, this too!

SPRING SALE! 

25% discount on ALL our Thread Assortments on ETSY!

CODE: SPRINGSALE 

(easy to remember, right?)

These are going fast, don't let them get away!

SHOP HERE!

25% discount on ALL our Needlepoint Kits and Instruction Guides on ADORN!

CODE: SPRINGSALE

Delivery on some items may take longer as we run out of stock very quickly on these sales.
Just a little bit of patience will get you some amazing kits and designs!
Thanks for your patience!!

SHOP HERE!

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How did I do that?

I have had many questions about the frame I made for my miniature piece which has left for Rome. I thought I would share how I made it with you. 

I was not sure what to do about a frame. I looked everywhere for a frame that would be to my liking, work with the stitched piece and be no larger than 3"x3". When I couldn't find anything that would work I decided to try and make my own. I used heavy watercolor paper and Rapidograph pens with 0.125 and 0.35 mm nibs. These very fine pens allowed me to draw with lots of detail in a very small space. 

I knew I wanted small detailed drawings in black and white to offset the colors of the silk fibers. I began doodling and playing around and came to a point where I knew what would work. I measured two pieces of the paper to the size I wanted.

With one piece of the paper I cut an opening in the center the size of the needlepoint piece. I began carefully drawing the frame decorations. I then cut the silk gauze with a border around the stitched area and taped it to the back of the paper. Next I taped the second piece of paper onto the back of the frame thus closing the silk gauze in place. 

I forgot to mention that I also cut out a little star shaped leaf on the top of the frame for a bit more interest. 

Voila!!

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Really fun news!!

At the end of the week this little baby is traveling to Rome! "Sweet Dream" will participate in The Tiny Biennale, an exhibit of miniature works of art. The theme of the exhibit is Night/Notte. All the pieces in the exhibit must be 3" or smaller.
My piece is stitched on 40 count silk gauze. I decided to make my own frame, and drew an ornate design on the matt board, matching it to the finished stitched piece.

Wishing you a safe journey, Sweet Dream! Hold your little head up high and soak it all in!

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MORE discount codes...

We have added a new Coupon Code for all Thread Assortments and Beads in our Etsy Shop!

Head on over to the pretty red home page of the shop and enjoy the discounts!

Use code: VALENTINE20

And then,  of course, there are the other discounts on our Dangles by Orna page!

Check out all the beautiful Dangle gifts and use: HEART for $6 off your purchase.

AND...

Use: 20HEARTS for 20%off any order over $65 total.

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Valentines Day lovies with discount codes!

Lovely enamel locket HERE!

Check it out HERE

A beautiful series of enamel lockets with stamped hearts attached to a fun necklace HERE!

Check out all the beautiful Dangle gifts and use: HEART for $6 off your purchase.
AND...
Use: 20HEARTS for 20%off any order over $65 total.

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There is nothing like the creativity of artists, Nothing!

Ruby Silvious paints miniatures. Ruby Silvious paints miniatures on used teabags.

There are a few series: 26 Days of Tea in France,
26 Days of Tea in Japan,  52 Weeks of Tea and 363 Days of Tea.

Here's Ruby's website.

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Triumph!! Thank you, Gayle!

Gayle has worked with me for over 20 years. She has proof stitched many of my designs beautifully! We raised our kids together from when they were in Junior High and now we are enjoying their kids! Gayle still works with me and I am very grateful for her work and friendship.
Recently I asked her to stitch a design that's been around for awhile, Shields of Life: Triumph. Since I didn't have a model in the light colorway, I asked her to stitch one for me and at the same time double check the instructions. She did!
Thank you Gayle! May we continue to work together for many more years to come!!

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I'm in love.

With this tile which I will use somewhere in the new house! I think I'll go with the colorway in the first photo for the kitchen.

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Our house.

There it is, from about a block away, on a small city street, tucked away and yet jotting out. Standing in there you get the feel of a tree house. When talking to my architects during one of our preliminary talks, I said I wanted a house with so much light that I would need sunglasses indoors! 

It's still months away, far from completion, but I thought I'd share a bit with you. Below I'm standing in the kitchen, looking onto the living room and one of my favorite elements, my indoor greenhouse! The square frame on the floor near the windows will be framed with glass and inside I will have a lush, (cross my fingers), indoor garden. There is a skylight way above the greenhouse. 

Here I'm standing in the kitchen, this time looking in the opposite direction. The framed rectangle in the back is the elevator. I know, it sounds extravagant, but we are looking into the future and would like to be in this house for many years to come.

The studio is on the entrance level, in the back with sliding doors onto a small patio, backyard. It's about 14' x 14'.

Here are the plans:

In the center of the room there will be a big work island with large base cabinets and two sitting spaces. Along the back wall (top of plan) we will have a long desk, two seats, with upper and lower cabinets. At the bottom of the plan is a partition  a millwork cabinet which opens on both sides. It will be about 6' tall so as not to block light from all sides. On the right and left of the plan you can see the small print "slat wall" which is for hanging all the wonderful fibers! Although there is lots of storage I already know there will never be enough, but I hope we will be able to find the right spot for everything. There is a full bath adjacent to the side wall which will also serve for overnight guests.

Knowing how colorful the studio will be thanks to the abundance of fibers all around, I plan on leaving the furniture light, with wood counter tops.

Cabinet doors

To be continued...

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