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Issue: November  2008

Welcome . . .

to this issue of my e-newsletter! The snow is flying here in NE Ohio - unbelievable! Where did autumn go? Thanksgiving week is approaching and I wanted to make sure to say Thanks to all of you! I am so thankful for all of my readers and customers who support my design efforts year after year. It is very gratifying to know that you appreciate and like my designs and that you continue to support my efforts by purchasing my patterns, kits, and even supplies from me. I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

quick links

Quick Links are links to other websites that I think you will find useful and interesting. Places that are fun to explore, articles that are interesting to read, and people I just love!

Free Holiday Needle Punch Pattern!

Check out Better Homes & Gardens site for a free pattern to needle punch.

Gene Shepherd's New Site

Visit Gene's site and see the proddy book, as well as Gene's incredible work.

What Is It?

Do you know what these shoes were used for?  Email me with your guess. Watch here next time for the correct answer.

Last What Is It?  item - a silk thread winder.

Subscribers: Do you have a favorite website or shop you'd like to share with everyone? Send me the link in an email and I will share related information in a future Quick Links column.

Business owners: Want to advertise here? Just  email and ask how.

Finally - Weaver's Cloth is Back In Stock

Everyone seemed to run out of weavers cloth about the time the most popular manufacturer began having trouble with their milling process, or something like that. Anyway, I eeked out the last of my supply a couple of months ago, and have been on back order for quite some time. Fortunately, I have found a new supplier and I have oodles of weavers in stock now.

So if you have been waiting for, or have had trouble finding, weavers cloth - you can get it here - all you need!

Proddy Hooking

I recently received a new book by Gene Shepherd entitled Proddy Hooking for a Three-Dimensional Effect. It was published by Stackpole (the folks who bring us Rug Hooking magazine.) It is really incredible and so very cool. It incorporates Gene's technique for proddy flowers with hooked backgrounds, and the CD that comes with the book is extremely helpful in teaching the flowers step-by-step. I highly recommend it to any of you who are up for a new hooking challenge and want to step outside the box a little. Use the Quick Link at the right to visit Gene's new web site and check out the book.

Life Throws Curve Balls

As most of you know, my sweet Mother passed away at the end of September - it was sudden and devastating for me! As her sole heir, I have a 'new' house - it's the house where I grew up and the house where my Mom  spent her entire life.  It was filled with all the things she cherished and loved and I have had the hardest time trying to decide how much, and what, I can keep. Mom had no siblings, but she did have sisters-in-law and cousins who loved her very much and were happy to receive a few keepsakes. However, I am still trying to sort through and part with furnishings and many everyday household items.  I am now the owner of two of everything of necessity - irons, ironing boards, mixers, sets of silverware, etc.

So dear readers, bear with me and wish me luck as I make my way back "home again! If I decide to list some things on ebay, you will be the first to know. I notified my subscribers that I would do so, and after one round of listing books, time has flown away from me. Another curve ball . . . ah well.

On the other end of this dilemma is my own home of nearly 30 years, which is also filled with life's collections and treasures, and just a lot of "stuff" that I wonder why I kept and what I shall do with it - local auction, Goodwill, and trash are likely places. . How does one consolidate two life times of things, with memories and sentiments attached, from a two-story colonial into a 1920s bungalow and not get rid of many things? And when you do decide to part with things, what do you do with them? Initially I thought I'd list on ebay - but it is so time-consuming and can get very expensive; time is one thing I don't seem to have much of these days.

I find myself with the daily tasks of ripping out old carpeting to expose hardwood floors that are worn by the steps of my grandparents, my parents, and even myself, many years ago. I am stripping layers of wallpaper, and with each pattern that emerges, memories spring  forth; I remember the decade it was chosen, the trips to the wallpaper store to pour over pattern books, the bickering between Mom and Dad as they "helped" each other hang the paper. And so it goes, day by day, getting it done, waiting to move to my new "old" house.

Keeping up with business, filling orders, designing projects, are each taking longer to get done - if you are one who waited longer than usual for an order, please accept my apologies! The curve balls keep coming, but every once in a while I am able to connect and hit one. As I advance each project and task, I get closer to getting my life back to 'normal' - whatever that is! I thank you all again for your kind condolences, your patience and your support these last few months. It is my hope and goal to be settled back 'home' again by February -- yes, Santa still has to come for the grown kids and for the grand kids, so the mundane and difficult tasks will be put aside in December for a bit while I "do" Christmas, as usual.

Still In the Works . . .

As I mentioned in last month's newsletter,  I am designing a line of antique sampler adaptations to work in punch needle. They will be miniaturized versions of actual antique samplers, and worked with a single strand of cotton floss  or silk threads. Some of you have emailed to inquire as to when these patterns will become available. I am sorry to say that since my Mom passed and I have been in the consolidating and moving mode (from one home to another) not much has progressed in this line. As soon as I am settled in the new place, I will be able to concentrate on new designs and get more patterns updated and available. I will keep you all posted. Sorry to make you wait.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless . . .

Sally

If you are a subscriber, be sure to click the link in your email to see the Subscriber Special for this issue.

Sally Van Nuys          Amherst Folk Art & Rug Hooking      141 Woodhill Drive     Amherst, OH 44001         440-984-3486 Home Studio

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