. . . . . . . that Gigi has informed me that the UNICEF ornament project raised $3,600.00! The money is being used by UNICEF to provide clean drinking water to 300 children in West Africa for one year.  I found this map online of West Africa.   A BIG “thank-you!” to all of you who made the purchase.  None of this could be possible without you.  It is my hope to do this again next year with Gigi.  

Diane

I have posted the supply lists for the first two ornaments.  Go to the LHN web site and click on “Ornament of the Month”.  This should help those that want to stitch in SAL’s!

I’ve had LOTS of emails and phone calls regarding the ship date for the first ornament.  We will either be shipping to our distributors on the 13th or 16th of this month.  I’ll be updating my web site this week with supply information for the first and second ornaments.  Keep an eye out for the update! 

The word is out that I snuck a photo onto our web site with the photo of the first ornament.  I know that not everyone visits the web site so I’ll post it here too.  I have had shop owners emailing and calling me in regards to the year of releases which makes me really excited.   AND, I know of two SAL’s that are forming to help you complete them.  One will be in the LHN/CCN Yahoo group and the second is by Vonna at the Twisted Stitcher Blog (though I believe she is starting a new blog just for the SAL).  The first one is “Fa-La-La” and will be followed by “Pear Tree”.  Look for details on our web site in the middle of November.

A BIG thank-you to everyone who has bought the pattern “Love One Another”.  The first donation went to a village and families living in Zambia, Africa.  The second and most significant donation was made to provide aid for hunger around the world.  What I loved most about that donation was that the gift we gave was multiplied many times over by sponsors who matched our gift.  This meant that your dollars went SO MUCH further!!! 

We get such joy sponsoring our two children.  If you haven’t already done so, go to the World Vision web site and take a look at the children there who need sponsors just like you.   You can make such a difference, one life at a time.

Soft muted shades of thread adorn this last design in the trio of patterns we are shipping this week.  Poinsettia House, Winter Greens and Joy will be available soon in your LNS!

Hoping all of you who are experiencing early winters don’t have looooong winters!  On the other hand it’s supposed to reach 90 here in Tucson this week.  Kinda hard to think about Christmas when it’s so hot outside!.

I love doing the alphabet with words slipped in! 

We’ll ship this pattern on Friday along with the other two.

“Joy” is one of the three new releases we are shipping next week. 

It’s an “easy stitch” and can be finished in multiple ways.  I chose to use Weeks Dye works wool to create a flattened pillow with an attached cord for hanging on a knob.  There are small seed beads in the design that add just a bit of holiday sparkle.

We’ll be shipping our holiday designs next week so I think I’ll share some previews in the days ahead.  We’ll have Winter Greens, Joy, and Poinsettia House.  Two are from the “All Dolled Up!” pattern line.

Check back soon to see some snippets!

Diane

I have received so many emails regarding the purchase of the LHN ornament for UNICEF.  To make this easier for those still wishing to purchase it I am including the link for the website where the three ornaments are posted:  http://gigir.canalblog.com/

Scroll down the page until you arrive at the tree filled with the three ornaments and then look below it to find the translation that you can read (the English one is the third one down and is preceded with an American flag).  Email Gigi with your request and she’ll email you back with purchasing instructions. Wa-la! That’s all there is to it!

Ours is not the only ornament available so be sure to consider all three.  Remember . . . . . . this purchase raises money for UNICEF and the designers have donated the patterns.

Thank you!!!

Diane

I just had to show you all this sweet finish of our 2009 UNICEF ornament by Brenda Wilson.  The trim looks like frozen ice wrapped around the edges.  You can email Gigi for ordering information at : jancaro@skynet.be. 

“The Library” is finally being shown as a whole design!  We will be shipping later this week so that the boxes will arrive with distributors the week of the 20th.  As you can see, each window sits on a book and tells a story.  The windows can be stitched alone to create smaller designs so you can say that pack holds five patterns in one!

Ron and I took the kids and grandkids to Disneyland this past Labor Day week.  We had a wonderful time between California Adventure and Disneyland.  We saw the spectacular fireworks on Labor Day and even caught a glimpse of Tinkerbell floating across the night sky.  So now it’s time for all of us to get back to work and get ready for the upcoming releases!

Number four is here!  Anyone like romance novels?  Or how about a good classic with just a little romance thrown in on the side?  As you can see, this window takes a look at love and all that it entails in some of our favorite books.  It will remind you of your beloved Jane Austen novels, Gone With the Wind and many others.  Next week I think I’ll unveil the entire piece. . . . . . . .you’ve waited long enough!

If cactus were inspirational I’d be all set.  These beauties are in our back yard.  They started out as small barrels and have now grown to at least four feet.  The blooms are quite beautiful.

Gigi has posted the information on her web site for the three designs being offered for UNICEF.  To read in English you need to scroll down a bit.  The children who receive the benefits from UNICEF  thank you!  And so do I! 

LINK:  http://gigir.canalblog.com/

Diane

Would a library be complete without an Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes mystery?  This third snippet reveals let another peek into one of the windows.  I’m sure that by now you’ve guessed which one!  We used 32 count Vintage Light Examplar for the design.  The stitch count is 257 x 129.

You will need the following Crescent Colours  thread to stitch the design (note that six of the colors use two skeins):

Roasted Chestnut     2
Caterpillar    2
Cayenne    2
Pea Pod    2
Brandied Pears    2
Stepping Stones    2
Dublin Bay    1
Bean Sprout    1

You will also need the following DMC thread:  #’s 355, 644, 729, 936, 950, 3371, 3865

My dear friend Gigi invited me again this year to participate in the fundraising she and her colleagues do for UNICEF.  I eagerly accepted the invitation and created a sweet little ornament in a winter setting.  This sale takes place in cyberspace but the actual origin of the chart will come from Belgium.  What this means is that if you want it you must (I’m almost sure) have a PayPal account to make the purchase.  I’m just letting you know ahead of time.  You will not be able to get it from me or any shop, anywhere.  AND, the amount of time it will be available is limited.

Can you help us to set new records this year by purchasing a pattern for UNICEF?   I’ll be posting information on my web site next week. 

From UNICEF web site:  “UNICEF is committed to changing the world for children. It strives to protect their rights, improve their health, and nurture their development through sound planning and monitoring of policy results.”

Also, we will have an ornament in the upcoming JCS ornament issue.  I believe it’s due out in September also.

Thank you!

Diane

Every library has windows, doesn’t it?  This window depicts a Classic scene which has come to life from the pages of some of our most beloved books.  Ships returning from far away lands. . . . . . . . coming ashore to a  place they call home.  Tune in next week for a second peek into one of the windows of “The Library”.

We’re unfolding our next design the way a Mystery evolves . . . . . . . one clue at a time.

Snippet #1 of the September release, “The Library” is a look at the bottom of the design.  The verse spans the length of the design, making this piece largely horizontal.  Tune in next week for a second snippet of the design.