A very busy start to the new year!

I can remember many years ago when the holidays were over it was time to sit and relax and stitch. MANY years ago! I have not had that pleasure for the last 10 years since I started this business. There are occasional summer stretches when I have some slow time but never in the winter. When stitchers are busy I am busy.

I think I previously mentioned that I had quit making the motto frames for at least 6 months about a year ago. After hand carving over 500 of them, and 4 hand carved corner leaves for each one, my arthritic hands told me to quit. Well...I was swamped with requests to continue to make them so I had my son take over making the frames since my husband wanted to quit. I then do the carving and staining and the story continues. I also stitch mottoes for many of my customers who do not stitch or are intimidated by stitching on paper and want the antique style needlework. And do they keep me busy? In the last 3 weeks I have stitched 7 mottoes (they take 8-12 hours each) and carved 12 frames. I also stitched my two newest mottoes in the large and the mini sizes. And now.....I have 3 mottoes and 5 frames to do in the next 6 days for orders I just got in the last two days. Any why am I telling you this????? Because my new floss line is on the back burner once again until I get these finished. I had hoped to be done by the end of January...now I am hoping for the middle of next month. The ebay orders are a priority as they have to be completely quickly to maintain a good rating.

This has been a very busy new year so far! Keeping busy is good but there are times when I am too busy. I prefer to do all the custom stitching myself for quality control. I had a gal stitch a few model samples for me years ago but it didn't work out. And as for frames....I will continue to do the carving for now. I have been teaching my son a little of the carving but I think it has to be a real fascination and interest in carving to attempt all that work. They are carving duplicating machines that we have seen but I don't like the look of the finished product and to spend $12,000 on a machine....I need to like the finished product. And they can't carve the sides of the frames so here we are. Hand carving.

I hope you are having fun with new projects for 2016. I hope to do a few mini sampler patterns this spring and maybe....just maybe....have the time to sit and stitch a little. Sounds heavenly!

I thought I would share what has been keeping me busy. Thanks for stopping by...thanks for listening.
Nancy